6.5 CM -- Starting over, bullet selection

[aftriathlete]

Been shooting factory 140 ELDM loads out of my Tikka. MV with this factory load is about 2650 measured by Magnetospeed.

A buddy is going to help me work up a load to try to get more MV and accuracy. So if you weren't wedded to a factory load all of a sudden and had a clean slate, and had your choice of bullet for game up to elk size (likely hunting red deer in NZ in April), would you go with the 140 ELDM, 143 ELDX, or a 156 Berger? Expected MV with the 140/143 probably 2800-2850, 156 maybe 2750-2800. Longest shot I would ever take on an animal is 600 yards.

 

[Flyjunky]

140 Berger, 140 Eldm, 135 Berger. The creed can't push the 156 fast enough to get the better bc over the lower weight class/higher speed.

 

[Mulyhuntr]

My tikka shoots the 147 eldm exceptionally well with rl16 at 2,725fps. Still around 2,100fps at 600 yards depending on elevation.

 

[SouthPaw]

If you're going to reload, try the 130tmk. Less recoil and more speed than the others. 24" barrel = H4350, 20" barrel or less = Varget.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

i really like that I can buy 2,000 140 ELDMs from the same lot.

 

[JGRaider]

None of the above. A 139gr Scenar running 2750 is the ticket.

 

[The Guide]

Been shooting factory 140 ELDM loads out of my Tikka. MV with this factory load is about 2650 measured by Magnetospeed.

Seems slow unless you have a really short barrel. My 6.5CM runs the 147 factory load @ 2689 in a 24" barrel. If I had to do it again, I wouldn't change a thing. I bought several cases of 147 loaded ammo when I found it on sale.

Jay

 

[PNWGATOR]

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130 TMK, 140ELDM, 143 ELDX, 147ELDM, 156 VLD.

 

[UpSideDown]

147 ELD-M would be my pick. It's got great BC and terminal effect. @Flyjunky is spot on that the 156 Berger is right on the edge of stability and generally doesn't play well in 6.5 creedmoor chamberings.

Edit: My 20" Tikka factory barrel sends factory 147ELD-M's at exactly 2,600fps

 

[aftriathlete]

Seems slow unless you have a really short barrel. My 6.5CM runs the 147 factory load @ 2689 in a 24" barrel. If I had to do it again, I wouldn't change a thing. I bought several cases of 147 loaded ammo when I found it on sale.

Jay

Stock 24" barrel, but that seems to be the norm on the Tikkas 6.5 CM from what I've read. Maybe you got a unicorn, yours seems to be a lot faster than most.

 

[aftriathlete]

Should've added it's 1:8 twist. So I gather that's affecting a lot of recommendations away from the 156, since Berger recommends 1:8 or faster.

 

[The Guide]

Should've added it's 1:8 twist. So I gather that's affecting a lot of recommendations away from the 156, since Berger recommends 1:8 or faster.

Depends on your elevation. Lowest we shoot at is 2000'. I have a bunch of factory Berger loaded ammo in 156 6.5CM. My daughter's rifle (T3X 24" 8 twist SS Lite) shot tight groups with it but she didn't like the recoil impulse with those rounds so we went to a 120 grain load that didn't push as hard. We will use the 156 loads once she uses all her 120 grain up since she is a couple years older and has more body mass now.

Jay

 

[Flyjunky]

Should've added it's 1:8 twist. So I gather that's affecting a lot of recommendations away from the 156, since Berger recommends 1:8 or faster.

It’s not that you couldn’t stabilize the 156, it’s that a 140ish will have better speed and the higher bc of the 156 won’t make up for its slower speed until past your 600 limit.

 

[wind gypsy]

Stock 24" barrel, but that seems to be the norm on the Tikkas 6.5 CM from what I've read. Maybe you got a unicorn, yours seems to be a lot faster than most.

Yep. I clocked my buddies 24" tikka @ 2600 fps with precision hunter 143 factory.

 

[woods89]

I've shot the 156s some. I had to lean on them pretty hard with RL 16 to get 2650fps (22" barrel). I shot 1 bull elk and 1 whitetail doe with them.

Terminally they were great. It's also worth remembering that BC doesn't just help with elevation, it also cuts wind drift. They were also probably the most consistently accurate bullets I've shot in that rifle.

Ultimately I'm moving away from them, though, as like has been mentioned they are on the edge for a Creedmoor. I'm switching to 130 TMK for my all around hunting bullet. Partially because I have a lot of H4350 which works great with them. They are a very impressive bullet, terminally.

 

[JGRaider]

At 6.5CM speeds, it's hard to pick a really bad hunting bullet IMO.

 

[aftriathlete]

I've shot the 156s some. I had to lean on them pretty hard with RL 16 to get 2650fps (22" barrel). I shot 1 bull elk and 1 whitetail doe with them.

Terminally they were great. It's also worth remembering that BC doesn't just help with elevation, it also cuts wind drift. They were also probably the most consistently accurate bullets I've shot in that rifle.

Ultimately I'm moving away from them, though, as like has been mentioned they are on the edge for a Creedmoor. I'm switching to 130 TMK for my all around hunting bullet. Partially because I have a lot of H4350 which works great with them. They are a very impressive bullet, terminally.

Care to share your load and MV? Been reading the last couple days and I’m leaning towards either sticking with the 140 ELDM or switching to the 130 TMK.

 

[woods89]

Care to share your load and MV? Been reading the last couple days and I’m leaning towards either sticking with the 140 ELDM or switching to the 130 TMK.

156 Berger-41.3 RL16-2650fps
130TMK-42.0 H4350-2820fps

Work up carefully in your own rifle!

 

[SamsonMan22]

If handloading the 130tmk is my pick followed by the 147eldm. The 147s served me well but I made the switch to the 130tmk and I’m liking it better so far.

 

[TX_Diver]

If handloading the 130tmk is my pick followed by the 147eldm. The 147s served me well but I made the switch to the 130tmk and I’m liking it better so far.

Why out of curiosity?