6.5 creedmoor for whitetails?

[Stumpkiller]

I bowhunt and I don't mind a blood trail. With firearms I do what I can to avoid bones other than ribs coming and going, terming for both lungs and perhaps the heart. I'd rather walk 60 yards than loose a shoulder of meat.

Surprisingly I have had deer drop in their tracks with a roundball from a muzzleloader. The WORST possible sectional density and ballistic coefficient . . . but it goes in making a 0.54" hole and spends all the energy in the deer.

One was a frontal shot while I was sitting on the ground. The ball went in through the heart and lodged under the skin on the back side of a femur. 32" of penetration! The buck reared on on his hind legs and then collapsed.

[LHitchcox]

First of all, the 6.5 Cm and 7-08 are both really great whitetail cartridges with moderate/light recoil, but so is the .243. I know you have lost faith in the .243, but have you considered the tougher bullets in all three cartridges? I shoot Nosler 95 grain Ballistic Tips and get full pass throughs. If I didn't I would load a Barnes TTSX. In 7-08 I shoot 120 grain Nosler BTs. It is also a tough bullet. So far in 6.5 CM I am shooting Hornady 129 grain soft points. The recoil from 7-08 bullets in 120 grains and 140 grains is more than one would expect. For me the deciding factor in rebarreling would be that 6.5 CM ammo is the most accurate factory ammo I have ever shot and is usually more inexpensive than 7-08 ammo by a good margin.

[Orr89rocz]

I’ve hunted for a few yrs with a 6mm rem. 100 grain nosler partitions are fantastic. Never had one not go thru and do its job. But all deer shot less than 100 yds.

Consider a 257 roberts as well. Esp since you hand load. That will be my next gun. I like small caliber stuff.

I dont see how a 6.5 will be any better than a 7-08. Recoil wise bout the same imo. Either weigh the gun down, muzzle break it or get a slug gun scope with 4+ inch eye relief.

[PhilC]

Hornady factory rounds, velocity/energy at muzzle, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500yds.

6.5CM 129 Interbond:

2820/2277, 2615/1959, 2419/1676, 2232/1427, 2053/1207, 1882/1015

6.5CM Precision Hunter 143 ELD-X:

2700/2315, 2557/2076, 2419/1858, 2285/1658, 2156/1475, 2030/1308

7-08 139 Interbond:

2840/2489, 2608/2098, 2387/1758, 2177/1463, 1978/1207, 1790/989

7-08 Precision Hunter 150 ELD-X:

2770/2555, 2613/2274, 2461/2018, 2315/1784, 2173/1573, 2037/1381

243 100gn Interlock:

2960/1945, 2729/1653, 2509/1398, 2300/1175, 2101/980, 1912/812

243 Precision Hunter 90 ELD-X:

3150/1983, 2911/1693, 2685/1440, 2469/1219, 2264/1024, 2069/855

Generally accepted "minimum required energy" to effectively dispatch deer sized game is 1000ft lbs. They are ALL adequate for whitetail deer assuming shooter can do the job.

[Stumpkiller]

I don't see how a 6.5 will be any better than a 7-08. Recoil wise bout the same imo.

I agree. And vice-versa. Under 400 yards the 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 x 55mm, 6.5.x 57mm, .260 Rem and 7mm-08 all run in the same pack. We're talking 0.02" difference in bullet diameter.

[stumpjumper400]

I have a Bergara B-14 in 6.5CM with the 22 inch barrel. I shot the first deer with it this year that ran 30 yards. The load was a 123gr Hornady SST. The only reason I chose a lighter bullet was the short barrel. While that's not a tough bullet, it went through with a 2 inch hole on the offside taking out lungs and 2 ribs and there was a trail of material to follow. It would have been better if he was farther out. I'd consider taking shots on white tails at my max comfortable range with it. I have to tell you though, I'm pushing them pretty hard as it is a hunting load. Hornady brass only held up for about 4 firings before the pocket loosened up. I'm now trying starline brass with the small pocket so time will tell.

I shoot the 140 game king in my 6.5X55. It's recoil is that of a 243. The only downside is to see the full potential of that cartridge with the heavy bullets, you need 26 inches of tube for the 140 and up with slow powders. I've shot many deer with that rifle and never had to track more than 25 yards. Everyone has an opinion but that is mine based on my experience. YMMV

Steve

[hafejd30]

Shot quite a few with a 260. No 6.5 CM in my cabinet yet. At first I shot 142 smk because they were accurate as hell and had several people tell me they’d do good on deer. That wasn’t my results. Now we’re using 143 ELDX. Not going to lie, most deer do run after being shot. Much better blood trail to follow and very few lost deer (shot placement). I personally have dedicated my 260 to a target rifle and run the AR 10 308/300 WM/338 LM for deer now. The results with the AR 10 are about equal to the 260 running factory 165 SST. Many deer run but tracking is usually easy and they don’t go very far. The 300 is running a 200 ELDX and that thing is a machine at laying down deer. Of course the 338 Lapua does its job as well but that’s an entirely different animal running 300 gr bullets.

I have shot deer past 600 with the 260. The furthest being 1,121 yards. I wouldn’t consider this gun adequate for any distance like that. There just isn’t enough ft lbs of energy to get the job done ethically IMO

[Bigeclipse]

Shot quite a few with a 260. No 6.5 CM in my cabinet yet. At first I shot 142 smk because they were accurate as hell and had several people tell me they’d do good on deer. That wasn’t my results. Now we’re using 143 ELDX. Not going to lie, most deer do run after being shot. Much better blood trail to follow and very few lost deer (shot placement). I personally have dedicated my 260 to a target rifle and run the AR 10 308/300 WM/338 LM for deer now. The results with the AR 10 are about equal to the 260 running factory 165 SST. Many deer run but tracking is usually easy and they don’t go very far. The 300 is running a 200 ELDX and that thing is a machine at laying down deer. Of course the 338 Lapua does its job as well but that’s an entirely different animal running 300 gr bullets.

I have shot deer past 600 with the 260. The furthest being 1,121 yards. I wouldn’t consider this gun adequate for any distance like that. There just isn’t enough ft lbs of energy to get the job done ethically IMO

thanks for the info. The furthest shots on our property are 300 yards and that is in one field and only one shot opportunity at that distance. All other shots will be under 250 yards most being under 100 yards. I am thinking of using the new Hammer bullets, specifically the 117 or the 124 grain sledge hammers. They should expand pretty fast but are solid copper bullets so should also penetrate deep yielding pass throughs most of the time. Using these lighter bullets I should be able to get speeds in the 2900fps range out of the 21in custom barrel I ordered which will allow for a relatively flat trajectory out to 250 yards. Hope it kills deer just fine haha

[Colton]

Here is mine I shot with a creedmoor this year. Only a 100 yard shot but my dad has killed a few at 300+ nothing long range yet. Shooting a 143 grain ELD-X


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[Savage170]

If recoil is the reason for the change get the calculator and do the mathe for both caliber/loads. I would consider adding weight to the rifle via heavier stock, barrel, or both if it's a practical solution.

[JANDY]

My Daughter has used the 6.5 creed for the last 6 years . She started with when she was 12 and is now 18 , and has killed deer up to 300 yards with it . I hand load her 130gr nosler accubond for it and she has never lost a deer with the load . The recoil has never been a factor for her , its not much more than a 243 in my opinion. I have also killed a few deer with it and it has always preformed very well. Most of the time they are DRT only a few have made it 30-40 yards.

[deerhunter99]

I hunt with a 116ww in 6.5x284 norma it drops them in there tracks, 129gr Hornady SST BANG FLOP !!!!!