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

[yeti12]

This is a 147gr eldm with a impact velocity of 2225fps. Caught by the hide near the opposite side shoulder.

 

[pilgrim7]

120 grain GMX from 240 yards

 

[nidahobrushswimmer]

Does anyone have experience running the 120 ballistic tips? I realize the further out they get that the heavies are better, but am looking at probably 400 yds and in.

 

[Reddish]

120 grain GMX from 240 yards

I've shot a few whitetails with the 120 GMX, but never had any damage like that. Most were small holes in and out. Did you hit shoulder?

 

[gerry35]

Does anyone have experience running the 120 ballistic tips? I realize the further out they get that the heavies are better, but am looking at probably 400 yds and in.

Yes. No pictures but they work great from my experience. Exit wounds around 1.5 - 2" usually and a good sized hole through the lungs. This has been on deer sized game.

 

[pilgrim7]

I've shot a few whitetails with the 120 GMX, but never had any damage like that. Most were small holes in and out. Did you hit shoulder?

Wish I had taken pics of the entrance. But no it entered the ribcage behind the shoulder. If you zoom in there are actually two exit holes. I still can't quite wrap my head around that exit, as two friends also used my rifle and ammo on that hunt and the damage on their goats wasn't nearly as dramatic.

I shot a black bear at around 90 yards with this load and didn't see that much damage on the exit. The bear was lights out and didn't take another step. Same for several whitetails with GMX or the ttsx from that same rifle.

 

[HGL]

Does anyone have experience running the 120 ballistic tips? I realize the further out they get that the heavies are better, but am looking at probably 400 yds and in.

I've loaded them a good bit and they kill just fine. I switched to the 140 ballistic tips (mainly because of availability) and my impressions are the 140's tend to produce more consistent "bang flops", so to speak. But I would never feel "undergunned" with the 120 BTs on deer sized game at average distances, as you noted, of 400 and in.

 

[nidahobrushswimmer]

I've loaded them a good bit and they kill just fine. I switched to the 140 ballistic tips (mainly because of availability) and my impressions are the 140's tend to produce more consistent "bang flops", so to speak. But I would never feel "undergunned" with the 120 BTs on deer sized game at average distances, as you noted, of 400 and in.

After reading through all these forums, there aren’t too many bullets I would feel undergunned with. Working up a load for my daughter’s rifle, and unfortunately it doesn’t like the 130 tmk’s. Ballistic tips have shot great in every other rifle I have loaded for, so I figured that should be my next stop.

 

[diverc18]

147 Eldm at 358 yards out of a T3x. Entrance was right behind the shoulder mid way up. Picture of the leaves was where he was standing. Went about 10 yards and fell over

 

[JBradley500]

I had similar components but Starline brass and for both 130 ELD and 130 TMK I did 42.5, 43 and 43.5 and 44 grains of powder. I never had pressure with 44g using TMK’s but did have pressure on 3/5 rounds with 44g and ELD’s. I decided to use 43.5g for both loads and now about 200 rounds in I haven’t had any issues so far.

Edit to add this is a 20” Tikka CTR blued and I’m getting 2730 FPS with a suppressor attached.

Just to follow up I just shot mine at 43 grains and shot 2866 average at saami oal and 2816 at a long oal for 0.010" jump. Shot 5 shots in 0.92" and 0.80". Pretty good for my first CM load(s) out of a 24" hunting gun imo.

 

[General RE LEE]

Just to follow up I just shot mine at 43 grains and shot 2866 average at saami oal and 2816 at a long oal for 0.010" jump. Shot 5 shots in 0.92" and 0.80". Pretty good for my first CM load(s) out of a 24" hunting gun imo.

I might have missed it but how’s terminal performance been on 130 grain ELDMs?

 

[JBradley500]

This is the first time I've shot any, but it seems to get a lot of praise on this site. I was going to just used 140 ELDMs in factory ammo but it seems like it's only running 2600-2650 fps range.

 

[ztc92]

I might have missed it but how’s terminal performance been on 130 grain ELDMs?

I’ve not tried them on game but I have to believe they would be similar to the 108 ELD-M in terms of damage. Thinking I may use the 130 ELD-M for antelope and deer, then save the 130 TMK for elk. We’ll see what fall brings!

 

[kkp005]

Maybe I missed it but has anyone killed with the Hornady 140gr BTHP ? Recently got a 6.5prc and wanted to try it… the 105gr BTHP has been my most favorite killing bullet so far in my 6creeds

 

[philcox]

The TMK’s create as close to an ideal wound profile as any bullet made to me. Having said that, ELD-M’s are very good and most/few people would ever notice the difference. Pick whichever is available to you, you won’t miss it fail because you used one or the other.


Having said that…. Given both on a table and in quantity- TMK’s.

@Formidilosus so based on this. I am thinking that using my 140 ELDM load in my 6.5CM is adequate and there is no real reason to try to swap to the TMK (until I run out). I would consider myself a very average shot. Hopefully this will change in June fo 2025 ...