irishlad
Contributing Member
It’s a good round for cow elk too!
6.5 creedmoor for deer
- Thread starter Kwaynem
- Start date
Don't like change,don't like new. No school like the old school. But if a new name slightly somewhat improved cartridge brings in new shooters and hunters then I'm all for it. Even if it brings in the arrogant and braggers. That's what the block button is for. Go Chiefs
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JimKirk
Member
Place a 100 grain TTSX in the 6.5 Creedmoor..... run the velocity on up to 3150 fps .... Then you will have a pretty flat shooting deer killer with light recoil...
N555
Member
6.5 seems to be old school everywhere but the US.
md7
Member
I’m not in line to get a 6.5 CM, but that’s because I cut my teeth on 270 Win, 30-06, and 308’s. Being a creature of habit, I gravitate to what I know. Has nothing to do with the 6.5 CM. For the record, I’m NOT one of the 6.5 haters either.
But to me, and this being the hunting forum, either a cartridge is useful for dispatching animals or it’s not. And clearly, the 6.5 CM is effective on deer for certain and probably elk too.
The fact that it’s good for long range paper punching as well as being suitable for game, in a short action and light recoiling package are positive aspects and I can’t fault anyone for choosing the cartridge if it suits what they’re after. Bonus points for ammo availability, too.
In the end, you could do way worse than a 6.5CM and you may even enjoy shooting it. Shoot…. Maybe one day I’ll hop behind the stock, send a few, and end up wanting it for myself.
But to me, and this being the hunting forum, either a cartridge is useful for dispatching animals or it’s not. And clearly, the 6.5 CM is effective on deer for certain and probably elk too.
The fact that it’s good for long range paper punching as well as being suitable for game, in a short action and light recoiling package are positive aspects and I can’t fault anyone for choosing the cartridge if it suits what they’re after. Bonus points for ammo availability, too.
In the end, you could do way worse than a 6.5CM and you may even enjoy shooting it. Shoot…. Maybe one day I’ll hop behind the stock, send a few, and end up wanting it for myself.
KansasTrapper77
Member
I just got tired of the gunwriters hype and every Tom, Dick, and Harry buying one thinking it will turn them into Chris Kyle at 1,000 yards. You’d walk into a gun store and overhear an employee giving suggestions to a novice and the answer was always the same. Target shooting? 6.5CM. Elk Hunting? 6.5CM. Varmint Hunting? 6.5CM. No other options or suggestions. It just got to be so boring and unoriginal. And because of people like that you’ll see a gun manufacturer releasing a new firearm design or configuration and undoubtedly the only cartridges it’s chambered in are .308 Win and 6.5CM.
So, rant over. If it wasn’t for the overblown hype I’d probably own one. I’m just tired of it being the only option on gun rack.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
And this is a new phenomenon? Your opinion is influenced by uninformed, low info voters???
Lennyjoe
Member
I’m new to the 6.5 CM but not to hunting. I’ve used my tried and trusted Savage 110 for both Elk and Deer for years and years, but decided to give the 6.5 CM a try this year. Built a mighty fine 140 gr Hornady SST load with IMR 4350 for this deer season. I passed on 13 deer this year with the 6.5 CM in hand (Does and young Bucks) and will give it a try next Deer season if/when the right size deer comes along (or I need to fill freezer with a Doe). Until then, I’ll keep tinkering with different loads as I like the lower recoil and slightly flatter shooting out to the other side of the farm fields.
mgmorden
Member
6.5 Creedmoor has a persecution complex. Almost no one actually hates it. A few people consider the hype a bit excessive but that's about it, but many are still convinced that it is under attack and its honor must be defended 
.
I've got one. Its fine. Its a perfectly viable hunting cartridge for deer sized game, as are many other cartridges.
. I've got one. Its fine. Its a perfectly viable hunting cartridge for deer sized game, as are many other cartridges.
md7
Member
Persecution complex. You may very well have just hit the nail squarely on the head in regards to this topic.6.5 Creedmoor has a persecution complex. Almost no one actually hates it. A few people consider the hype a bit excessive but that's about it, but many are still convinced that it is under attack and its honor must be defended
I've got one. Its fine. Its a perfectly viable hunting cartridge for deer sized game, as are many other cartridges.
No one I know personally, that’s a hunter/shooter, has made negative comments I know of about the 6.5 CM.
Complex sounds right.
KansasTrapper77
Member
Oh I completely understand this is neither the first nor the last time something like this will happen. But you cannot deny the 6.5CM made big waves for a cartridge that did nothing new just its intended purpose well.
Although I’m not sure what you think my uninformed opinion is?
.38 Special
Member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2006
- Messages
- 7,355
I really haven't seen much if any "hate" for the cartridge. It's just that a lot of us roll our eyes when the half-educated (and I'm not referring to anyone at THR) start making claims about miraculous performance.
It's a perfectly adequate cartridge, is fine for hunting deer-size critters, and it benefits from modern tolerances. But it also is 100 to 140 grains at 2700 to 2900 fps, and there's nothing magical or miraculous about it: it is what it is, regardless of how much ink is spilled about it.
Speaking just for myself, if there is any "hate" involved, it's for the guy at the range who bought the thing so that he could shoot at deer a half-mile away. I mean, it's cool that you memorized the ballistics chart out to a thousand yards, but dude, your four MOA group is sitting right there.
It's a perfectly adequate cartridge, is fine for hunting deer-size critters, and it benefits from modern tolerances. But it also is 100 to 140 grains at 2700 to 2900 fps, and there's nothing magical or miraculous about it: it is what it is, regardless of how much ink is spilled about it.
Speaking just for myself, if there is any "hate" involved, it's for the guy at the range who bought the thing so that he could shoot at deer a half-mile away. I mean, it's cool that you memorized the ballistics chart out to a thousand yards, but dude, your four MOA group is sitting right there.
The Glockodile
Member
- Joined
- May 6, 2020
- Messages
- 1,688
Indeed!
Them Europeeens been usin’ ‘em six point fives an‘ harvestin’ ‘em bucks an’ does long before yer granpappy’s soiled his diapers.
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I'm usually more interested in the rifle than the cartridge.
Plenty of cartridges are usable.
Not a .308 fan but got one, in a cool rifle.
So for me that's "good enough".
Just not one that needs the latest and greatest.
Sub 300 yards I doubt many deer can tell what killed em.
Plenty of cartridges are usable.
Not a .308 fan but got one, in a cool rifle.
So for me that's "good enough".
Just not one that needs the latest and greatest.
Sub 300 yards I doubt many deer can tell what killed em.
Captcurt
Member
Try a 130 Nosler Accubond over a load of H4350. Has worked well from 20 to 350 yards. I have worn out a Honda Rancher hauling the deer that I have taken with that load.
md7
Member
This mirrors a conversation I had with a hunting buddy and friend today.
Inside 400 yards, most any centerfire cartridge works similarly on deer. Whether it’s an old classic like 30-06, 308, 270, etc or if it’s one of the new PRC’s or 6.5 CM. They all do fine in that range.
Long range is a different story, and things change the further out you go.
But not everyone’s a long range hunter. I’d say most hunters are not. And I am not for sure.
courtgreene
Member
I had my first experience witnessing the effects of a 6.5CM on deer this year. I wasn’t impressed with this particular performance, but it is a sample size of one. Below I’ll break down the takeaways I got from this minuscule test range.
1) the gun/cartridge delivered perfect accuracy. This was a new hunter’s first shot on game, and about fifteen minutes after the text saying “I got one,” I received another saying, “maybe not.” I stopped hunting and went to track, and quickly saw what he meant. The relatively small blood trail had gone cold. I started tracking and using what he didn’t yet have, experience, with the assumption that the shot was off. Eventually I picked up the trail again, and found out I was wrong. It hit exactly where I’d told him to aim, in the “vital v.” Hitting exactly where aimed is precisely what you want out of a round’s accuracy potential, so I was happy to be wrong.
2) once a bullet leaves the barrel, cartridges matter less than bullet construction, and that is where this incident went south. The shooter was using premium bullets, and at sixty yards they were humming. A nosler ablr at that range should have been very destructive, but game recovery and postmortem examination (skinning and dressing) showed a through and through with no expansion. 6.5mm holes on both sides. The lungs and heart were hit but not damaged to the extent one usually sees with such a shot. Again, this should not have been the case. Also, the nosler ablr has a pretty great reputation for terminal performance. So, I have to assume that an accurate round with a great bullet happened to fail to perform in that one incident.
But those are just my thoughts on the matter.
1) the gun/cartridge delivered perfect accuracy. This was a new hunter’s first shot on game, and about fifteen minutes after the text saying “I got one,” I received another saying, “maybe not.” I stopped hunting and went to track, and quickly saw what he meant. The relatively small blood trail had gone cold. I started tracking and using what he didn’t yet have, experience, with the assumption that the shot was off. Eventually I picked up the trail again, and found out I was wrong. It hit exactly where I’d told him to aim, in the “vital v.” Hitting exactly where aimed is precisely what you want out of a round’s accuracy potential, so I was happy to be wrong.
2) once a bullet leaves the barrel, cartridges matter less than bullet construction, and that is where this incident went south. The shooter was using premium bullets, and at sixty yards they were humming. A nosler ablr at that range should have been very destructive, but game recovery and postmortem examination (skinning and dressing) showed a through and through with no expansion. 6.5mm holes on both sides. The lungs and heart were hit but not damaged to the extent one usually sees with such a shot. Again, this should not have been the case. Also, the nosler ablr has a pretty great reputation for terminal performance. So, I have to assume that an accurate round with a great bullet happened to fail to perform in that one incident.
But those are just my thoughts on the matter.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I still don't know where people are being exposed to all this supposed "hype". Why does it matter anyway? Seriously. The cartridge was designed as an off the shelf option for off the shelf rifles to be competitive in PRS competition. It needed to fit the AR10 magazine (precludes the Swede), have a faster standard twist than the .260 and shoot flatter than the .308. That's it. It was intended for a sport that has already moved on from the 6.5's and was never meant to replace pappy's .30-06 in the hearts and minds of hunters. If that's why you're mad at it, you can stop now.
That's not what I said. I said your opinion is influenced by the uninformed. Good analogy. I hate Fox-body and later Mustangs. I don't hate Mustangs because I hate Mustangs. I hate them because the average Mustang driver drives like a D-bag. I know it's not rational but I can't help it. This is how I look at the anti-6.5Creedmoor rhetoric. Which as I've said a thousand times, always seems to far exceed whatever it is the "hype".
KansasTrapper77
Member
The “hype” comes from many fronts, not all of them are “uninformed”. Hornady’s admittedly marketing team is constantly swooning over the 6.5CM and its “do all” capabilities. And constantly bringing in guests to their radio show who share their sentiments. I believe I understand the history and design considerations of the cartridge pretty well. I just said I’m bored hearing about it.
Why so testy about my irrational dislike of the 6.5CM, to then turn around and describe your irrational dislike of Mustangs like it’s ok?
Can I not have a little streak of Fudd in me?
Why so testy about my irrational dislike of the 6.5CM, to then turn around and describe your irrational dislike of Mustangs like it’s ok?
Can I not have a little streak of Fudd in me?
Im a fan of the accubonds, not so much the ablrs......168s from my 28nosler didn't produce the wounding id have expected. Havent tried any more tho.
brewer12345
Member
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2015
- Messages
- 2,751
I shot a pair of does with ablrs in Grendel earlier this month. I don't expect or want massive wounding with this cartridge, but I got very good terminal performance. The slightly quartering broadside shot had a full pass through and blew out half the heart, scrambled the lungs, made through two ribs and the meat of the lower front leg. The farther shot was at the junction of the front shoulder and neck. There was about a 6 inch semicircle of stuff just gone at the top of the shoulder, tissue damage in a similar area around the neck and spine, and a small exit wound on the neck. Neither deer went more than 10 feet.
Seems to work well and the high bc is a big plus, but I had similar results with the sst but less penetration.
md7
Member
I think you’re right. Seems like the bullet failed to expand, for whatever reason, and this could be a bullet problem and not a cartridge problem. In this instance.
Bullets do strange things sometimes it seems like.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
The part you quoted wasn't directed at you.The “hype” comes from many fronts, not all of them are “uninformed”. Hornady’s admittedly marketing team is constantly swooning over the 6.5CM and its “do all” capabilities. And constantly bringing in guests to their radio show who share their sentiments. I believe I understand the history and design considerations of the cartridge pretty well. I just said I’m bored hearing about it.
Why so testy about my irrational dislike of the 6.5CM, to then turn around and describe your irrational dislike of Mustangs like it’s ok?
Can I not have a little streak of Fudd in me?
Yeah, companies market their wares. That's how it works. They make stuff, we buy stuff, they keep making stuff. If they don't market it, it goes the way of the dodo bird and the .260 Remington.
Everybody has a little Fudd in them, that's not really the point. Nobody has to like it. Just like the "hype & marketing" grate on your nerves, it grates on mine to see/hear all the whining and complaining from folks who obviously have no idea why the cartridge was developed in the first place. You're free to hate it, just not publicly for imagined reasons.
KansasTrapper77
Member
I think I’ll do as I please.
I’m fairly certain I have a good idea why & how it made, and the purpose it was meant to serve. Or at least how Hornady and their engineers and ballisticians explain in great detail.
As I keep stating and you keep missing or ignoring. I don’t hate the cartridge design. I don’t hate the purpose the cartridge was designed for. I don’t hate people who use the cartridge. I don’t hate rifles chambered in the cartridge. My Fudd comes out and I grumble that when I wander through Scheels what feels like 50% of the rifles on the rack are chambered in 6.5CM, it bores me. (Hence the admittedly irrational dislike.) I like some variety. Unless it’s 30-06, all rifles should be chambered in .30-06. (Thats a joke. I’m ribbing you Mr. CraigC.)
d2wing
Member
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
- Messages
- 6,418
I have never used one but I have shot dozens of deer with many different weapons. I think it would make a very good deer cartridge, but as always, proper expanding bullets and proper shot placement. Gun owners tend to be highly opinionated and some have wildly unscientific ideas all supported by a variety of unqualified experts.
