6.5CM hunters, what ammo do you recommend?

I think the velocity of the creedmoor is perfect for 129-140gr cup and core bullets. The bonded or mono bullets might not quite do what you want. I load 120 gr TTSX to 3000 in my swede and that's a bullet that likes velocity. The creed can make almost 2800 with a 22" with the barnes ammo. It is a reasonable cartridge balancing a few things at the same time. Straight up power isn't one of them. Probably zaps deer with a 129 sst. I had a great deer kill with a 140gr rem soft point factory round in a mule deer and it was slow, like 2500.
 
Smokinyotes said:
If I was going to hunt with a 6.5 cm I’d be using a 127gr LRX, Lapua brass, H4350. I’ve shot enough game now with the 200 gr eldx out of my 300wm, 145 gr eldx out of my 270wsm to know that they are far to frangible for my liking. I gave 300 143 gr 6.5 eldx away.
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I could be your friend for three hundred free bullets lol. Do you think it was because of the velocity? The creed isn’t known for excessive speeds.
 
I am in the process of purchasing a 6.5 Creedmoor and have been watching videos for hours. There is a guy online that gel tested a dozen different factory offerings. Based on his results and others I am going to try a regular cup and core in 140. I am hoping the cheap Federal rounds shoot well as they performed very well for several guys. The old Remington Core Lok were impressive as well but not so much the new tipped stuff. I am also going to grab a box of Hornady Interlock in 129. Of those 3 hopefully I can find one that is accurate.

People that are complaining are using premium bullets that are not expanding. I think because of the larger than life reputation, people believe these things are producing speeds they are not. There was also some mumbling about the ELDX 143s blowing apart but they didn't seem all that credible.

I am very excited about the accuracy as even the cheaper rifles are performing with this round. I hunted with a 250 Savage for years and am not even a little bit concerned about killing stuff with the 6.5.
 
FLHTCUI said:
Sellier&Bellot, good ammo and great price.
Check and compare the price for value and it gets even better.
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I have been using S&B 140gr primarily for several months already. Although, it is quite good for the price point, I don't think the FMJ's that I use often for target shooting, would be that great for hunting.
I have also found that I get more fliers and misses using that ammunition, as it tends to suffer from more random deviations than other brands like Hornady or Nosler do, especially the farther you push it out. Not every shot, by any means, as I have shot that S&B stuff out several hundred meters with pretty consistent impacts and a friend of mine has made impacts at 750m with it fairly consistently as well.
I am going shooting this weekend, with that S&B 140gr, and will be shooting out to 1KM, so we'll see what it can do against my buddies with factory Hornady and various handloads.

I am seeking a purpose designed hunting round with good expansion, not a target round that I can shoehorn into being a hunting round for the cost savings. Although, I can check if S&B has something like that because I haven't ventured out beyond the 2 types of S&B ammo that I have tried before, so maybe there is something there that I have overlooked.
 
Joel said:
I'm in the "if it makes a hole in the vitals that stops air and blood from circulating its gonna die" camp and a good 6.5mm bullet does that with aplomb. But hunting rifle/cartridge is a very personal and somewhat subjective choice. That point about reaching far is good too if you put the work in to mastering it.

Most importantly though...you should always buy another gun!

Maybe a 280 Rem or 7 PRC really does belong with ya. Or anything else! Why not.
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Agree on all points made there, Joel. It is subjective and a very personal choice for sure. I think if I can gather enough data, subjective or not, I can make a better overall decision. I am always a student, never the master and I appreciate all inputs and thoughts put forward here.

Another gun is always the right choice! Although, I do have a problem with that already, so please don't encourage me or I will be divorced with no guns in no time. haha!

I am thinking a 7PRC Sawtooth is in my future to be honest with you though and hopefully no divorce... I really enjoy her cooking lol.
 
Clayton Bigsby said:
In the past 12 months I’ve seen 4 black bears and 2 deer killed with the factory 143 eldx out of a 6.5 PRC at 2920 muzzle velocity. 7 impacts with distances from 20 yards to 375 yards. Velocities will be a little lower with the 6.5 CM but you can extrapolate results. Recovered 4 of 7 projectiles against the offside hide. All wounds were incredibly traumatic, with more damage than the mono copper or bonded bullets I’ve used in 308 and 7mm rem mag recently.
Considering all 4 recovered bullets had over 60% weight retention and penetrated to the offside hide through bone and meat, and the other 3 exited, I have zero concerns about penetration with the eldx at high velocity.
Honestly, if I was shooting the lower velocity of the 6.5 CM I would consider switching to the ELDM to get better fragmentation, especially at distance.
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First off... amazing user name lol. Made me laugh a lot. Just watched that episode recently for the first time in a long time, probably since it came out. What timeless comedy haha.

Thanks for the great input and extensive reply on your experience. I was wondering about penetration and expansion issues at higher velocities with the 6.5CM and bullet weights etc. so that's helpful to me. I think ELDM sounds like a good place to start
 
hawk-i said:
143 ELDX, kills 'em dead on the spot (mostly, sometimes they go 20 or so feet). I bought 4 boxes of 120 TTSX's but haven't used them yet on any game cuz I still have 600+ ELD-X's and I get tighter groups with the 143's as compared to the Barnes monos in my Kimber Montana.
My experience is the cup and cores kill way quicker than the mono...YMMV, just my experience and my 2 cents worth on the subject
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Thanks for the info. I appreciate your .02!
 
SilentKnight said:
I have been using S&B 140gr primarily for several months already. Although, it is quite good for the price point, I don't think the FMJ's that I use often for target shooting, would be that great for hunting.
I have also found that I get more fliers and misses using that ammunition, as it tends to suffer from more random deviations than other brands like Hornady or Nosler do, especially the farther you push it out. Not every shot, by any means, as I have shot that S&B stuff out several hundred meters with pretty consistent impacts and a friend of mine has made impacts at 750m with it fairly consistently as well.
I am going shooting this weekend, with that S&B 140gr, and will be shooting out to 1KM, so we'll see what it can do against my buddies with factory Hornady and various handloads.

I am seeking a purpose designed hunting round with good expansion, not a target round that I can shoehorn into being a hunting round for the cost savings. Although, I can check if S&B has something like that because I haven't ventured out beyond the 2 types of S&B ammo that I have tried before, so maybe there is something there that I have overlooked.
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Yours to choose from....
https://www.sellier-bellot.cz/en/products/rifle-ammunition/rifle-ammunition-sp/detail/564/
https://www.sellier-bellot.cz/en/products/rifle-ammunition/rifle-ammunition-sp/detail/565/
https://www.sellier-bellot.cz/en/products/rifle-ammunition/rifle-ammunition-sp/detail/566/
 
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Well - You could step up to 6.5 x 55. ;) I've shot 6.5 calibers for many years, never felt undergunned. Comparing ballistics to 308, the 6.5 surpasses it @ 300 y. Given the muzzle velocity for 130-140 g bullets, I see no need for expensive hi-tech bullets, opting for Hornady Interlock spire points in my reloads. (I should point out that the Interlocks outshoot any premium bullets I have tried - Nosler, Barnes, etc.)
Why dont you take up reloading? This would allow you to get the most of your rifle, as you can "tune" your loads. It wouldnt be hard to beat the S+B fodder you are currently using.
 
In my opinion, the cheapest ingredient of the entire hunt is the shell youll shoot. If you find a round thats accurate in your rifle with a good bullet whether CNC, bonded or mono then buy as much as you can afford of that lot number and carry on. If you have to worry about $28 a box and $75 a box then you shouldnt be hunting to begin with. Like many have said ,Its the shot placement that really counts.
 
cosmic said:
Well - You could step up to 6.5 x 55. ;) I've shot 6.5 calibers for many years, never felt undergunned. Comparing ballistics to 308, the 6.5 surpasses it @ 300 y. Given the muzzle velocity for 130-140 g bullets, I see no need for expensive hi-tech bullets, opting for Hornady Interlock spire points in my reloads. (I should point out that the Interlocks outshoot any premium bullets I have tried - Nosler, Barnes, etc.)
Why dont you take up reloading? This would allow you to get the most of your rifle, as you can "tune" your loads. It wouldnt be hard to beat the S+B fodder you are currently using.
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Absolutely agree Cosmic. I do plan to get into reloading shortly. I already press bullets for my brother on his reloading setup, mostly just to learn how because I am more limited in my work space at my current residence, so I have been slow to get started myself.
We will be moving this year though so I plan to get reloading by the fall. It certainly opens up the options and provides the ability to custom load to my liking.
 
Longstud said:
If you have to worry about $28 a box and $75 a box then you shouldnt be hunting to begin with. Like many have said ,Its the shot placement that really counts.
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I am not worried about cost at all. I am focused on buying the appropriate cartridge for the task, the price will be what it will be and does not concern me in the slightest. I actually never said I was worried about anything...
I am also already very aware that shot placement matters more than what cartridge used, however just because the cartridge may be the cheapest part of the hunt, does not mean it is the least important.
 
This is what my rifle shoots currently with factory S&B 140gr FMJ target ammo. That's a 3 shot group at 100y.

I consistently shoot a 4" plate at 500m currently with that ammo and rifle. I will be testing it on a 2/3 silhouette and a 10" gong, out to 1km this weekend.

Disclaimer: I do not plan to hunt with this ammo. Just to be clear, I am simply showing how my rifle shoots currently with the cheap factory target ammo that I have been using on steel/paper.
 

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Pick any hunting round, 127 grain and up, and you will not be disappointed. I would stay away from the match ammo if using if for hunting. Some match rounds are not good for hunting, while others are. But all hunting ammo is good for hunting.

The federal fusion is a great affordable factory round, that is bonded. And has grouped amazing for me out of multiple rifles. But any hunting ammo that groups great in your rifle will do perfectly for black bear, and mule deer.

The only factory rounds, or hand loaded bullets for that matter, that I have not shoot good in a creedmoor is the 120 grain gmx. Every single other round has been sub moa, or extremely close, at a hundred yards.
 
Denver Steve said:
Pick any hunting round, 127 grain and up, and you will not be disappointed. I would stay away from the match ammo if using if for hunting. Some match rounds are not good for hunting, while others are. But all hunting ammo is good for hunting.

The federal fusion is a great affordable factory round, that is bonded. And has grouped amazing for me out of multiple rifles. But any hunting ammo that groups great in your rifle will do perfectly for black bear, and mule deer.

The only factory rounds, or hand loaded bullets for that matter, that I have not shoot good in a creedmoor is the 120 grain gmx. Every single other round has been sub moa, or extremely close, at a hundred yards.
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That is loads of helpful information! Thanks a lot Steve.

Yeah, I am after specific hunting ammo, not planning to use target or match ammo for shooting animals, even if it "could" work alright. I am after something along the lines of Hornady Precision Hunter so far, from the data I have collected, but the Federal Fusion and Terminal Ascent intrigued me as well. I will test some out soon and see if my rifle likes it. Thank you for the info again, much appreciated
 
Longstud said:
I could be your friend for three hundred free bullets lol. Do you think it was because of the velocity? The creed isn’t known for excessive speeds.
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My first kill with the eldx was a big mule buck with a 200 gr out of my 300wm. I shot the deer at 760 yards and even at that distance the biggest piece of bullet I found was 15 gr.
I then shot a small bull moose at roughly 250 yards with a 145 eldx out of my 270 wsm. Moose was quartering away and I stuck it behind its shoulder through the lungs. The bullet was in a bunch of little pieces up against the ribs.
Last spring I had a broad side shot on a pretty good black bear at a little over 200 yards. With the 200 gr eldx out of my 300wm. I hit it high and it dropped the bear cause I broke its back. I was very surprised that the bullet didn’t go all the way through and was laying in many pieces around the back bone.

Yes all 3 animals died but I prefer my bullets not to disintegrate on impact.
 
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