Your favored 6.5 CM bullet for black bear?

[Megastink]

I just ordered a Savage Ultralight in 6.5 Creedmoor for a long-haul-in mountain rifle. I’m planning on hunting black bear and deer with it. I was wondering which bullet everyone prefers for bear pit to 400 yards. I’m leaning towards the 143gr ELD-X, but would like to hear from successful hunters. TIA!

 

[nobody]

143 ELDX, 140 ELDM, 130 ELDM, or 130 TMK. I’d shoot any of them at anything on god’s green earth from point blank to 800 and not bat an eye. My personal favorite is the 140 ELDM.

 

[Megastink]

143 ELDX, 140 ELDM, 130 ELDM, or 130 TMK. I’d shoot any of them at anything on god’s green earth from point blank to 800 and not bat an eye. My personal favorite is the 140 ELDM.

Wasn’t expecting to see a match bullet on the list.

 

[nobody]

Wasn’t expecting to see a match bullet on the list.

There’s a HUGE group of us here on Rokslide as well as outside Rokslide that only hunt with match bullets. The most effective kills I’ve seen and the most effective terminal performance I’ve seen in the last 5-ish years since switching have all been from match bullets, and the longest time to incapacitation and lowest amount of damage I’ve ever seen in my hunting career has been from “traditional hunting bullets.” There’s lots of reasons, it can all be disseminated and understood through these. Warning, there’s lots of reading and lots of traditional wisdom being challenged:

.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.

DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ 176 PAGES? HERE'S THE CHEAT SHEET. “Bullets matter more than headstamps.” “Spent primers offer the supreme tutorial”. I’ve read it here and elsewhere online. It got my attention. I started digging and asking questions and listened. The 77gr TMK delivered by a .223...

rokslide.com

6.5 Creedmoor/260 for Deer, Elk, and whatever else.....

Seeing that the 223 thread is such a success, I thought maybe I would start one for the Creedmoor/260. Seems like people are asking a lot about using them and various bullets, especially for elk. I've used mine for the last few years almost exclusively. I have some pics of bullet damage, albeit...

rokslide.com

Bottom line: energy is irrelevant to “killing power,” it’s all about bullet performance and wound channels. Understanding minimum expansion velocity of your given projectile and how it behaves in tissue is what matters, traditional wisdom be damned.

Welcome to Rokslide, kick off your boots and have an open mind and stay awhile, hopefully you enjoy what we have to share around here.

 

[HNTR918]

Shot a 7ft bear in SE Alaska at 300 yards. Berger VLD H dropped him on the shore's edge.

 

[Megastink]

There’s a HUGE group of us here on Rokslide as well as outside Rokslide that only hunt with match bullets. The most effective kills I’ve seen and the most effective terminal performance I’ve seen in the last 5-ish years since switching have all been from match bullets, and the longest time to incapacitation and lowest amount of damage I’ve ever seen in my hunting career has been from “traditional hunting bullets.” There’s lots of reasons, it can all be disseminated and understood through these. Warning, there’s lots of reading and lots of traditional wisdom being challenged:

.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.

DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ 176 PAGES? HERE'S THE CHEAT SHEET. “Bullets matter more than headstamps.” “Spent primers offer the supreme tutorial”. I’ve read it here and elsewhere online. It got my attention. I started digging and asking questions and listened. The 77gr TMK delivered by a .223...

rokslide.com

6.5 Creedmoor/260 for Deer, Elk, and whatever else.....

Seeing that the 223 thread is such a success, I thought maybe I would start one for the Creedmoor/260. Seems like people are asking a lot about using them and various bullets, especially for elk. I've used mine for the last few years almost exclusively. I have some pics of bullet damage, albeit...

rokslide.com

Bottom line: energy is irrelevant to “killing power,” it’s all about bullet performance and wound channels. Understanding minimum expansion velocity of your given projectile and how it behaves in tissue is what matters, traditional wisdom be damned.

Welcome to Rokslide, kick off your boots and have an open mind and stay awhile, hopefully you enjoy what we have to share around here.

I know there’s a guy on LRH who swears by Lapua Scenars. I think his handle is of that likeness. I’ve added this podcast to my list. Very very good info. I can tell this single post is going to send me down a rabbit hole.