shenck
Member
What bullet weight for deer. Any advice will be appreciated.
Just purchased a 6.5 creedmoor for grandson.
- Thread starter shenck
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Varminterror
Member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2016
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- 14,907
120 - 156, any of it will work for deer. In general, I’d pick a 140 class, but a lot of different 6.5mm bullets are well proven on deer.
OP
OP
shenck
Member
Thank you, 140 was my thought also, 123-125 seemed too light.
sparkyv
Member
Good choice in the cartridge. For deer anything 120 and up is perfect, actually 120's would probably be ideal for deer. 120's from a 6.5 will basically duplicate anything you can do with a 130 from a 270.
But I like to use bullets in the 140 gr range because they are more versatile. Instead of dealing with multiple bullets and loads for different purposes the 140ish gr bullets have good BC's for long distance paper punching, deer or even game as big as elk. Hornady ELD-X 143's are commonly available, are reasonably priced and have proven effective on game bigger than deer.
I handload and use the 139 gr Lapua Scenar for everything.
But I like to use bullets in the 140 gr range because they are more versatile. Instead of dealing with multiple bullets and loads for different purposes the 140ish gr bullets have good BC's for long distance paper punching, deer or even game as big as elk. Hornady ELD-X 143's are commonly available, are reasonably priced and have proven effective on game bigger than deer.
I handload and use the 139 gr Lapua Scenar for everything.
marksman13
Member
I really like the 140 grain Sierra Game Kings, but it’s just one of probably a hundred really good bullets.
The wife , my buddy , and his kids have been using Hornady American white tail which is something like 123 grains. Maybe 129 . I would have to go look at the box and am not willing to do that at 4:30 AM. Anyway they have taken a pile of deer with it and we have not recovered a bullet. The sectional density is around the same as a 30 cal 165 and will penetrate about the same at similar speeds.
Anything you pick , made for big game, will work just fine on deer.
Anything you pick , made for big game, will work just fine on deer.
earlthegoat2
Member
Figure out what your gun likes and go from there.
Like a few above, I would lean towards 140.
I just went out and shot my 6.5 Creed recently. The Federal 140s didn’t like things it seems but the 140 ELD-Match and 125 gr Win Copper Impacts did. The Copper Impacts are more of a hunting bullet than ELD-Ms so I will use those. ELD-M pretty much always seem to shoot great from 6.5 Creedmoor as well. The 125 Cooper Impacts should act a bit heavier than they are as well since they are monolithic. That is something else to consider.
ELD-M on the left and Copper Impact on the right. The he Federal produced groups twice as large which still would be acceptable for most hunting situations but accurate rifles are more interesting.
Like a few above, I would lean towards 140.
I just went out and shot my 6.5 Creed recently. The Federal 140s didn’t like things it seems but the 140 ELD-Match and 125 gr Win Copper Impacts did. The Copper Impacts are more of a hunting bullet than ELD-Ms so I will use those. ELD-M pretty much always seem to shoot great from 6.5 Creedmoor as well. The 125 Cooper Impacts should act a bit heavier than they are as well since they are monolithic. That is something else to consider.
ELD-M on the left and Copper Impact on the right. The he Federal produced groups twice as large which still would be acceptable for most hunting situations but accurate rifles are more interesting.
rayatphonix
Member
I got on the Creedmoor bandwagon early. My first CM rifle was built around 2008. I’ve taken deer with 100 gn NBT up to 140’s of various brands. All resulted in a harvested deer that ended up in somebody’s freezer. My current favorites are 120 gn all-copper Barnes and 140 gn BT’s. Interestingly enough the loads I developed both have the same POI out of my primary hunting rifle so I can switch loads without any adjustment, which is nice. There are so many good options in the 6.5’s it’s hard to go wrong. Find a load that shoots well out of your grandson’s rifle and he’ll do well.
InTheSwamp
Member
Hornady 143 gr ELD-X.
Hornady 147 gr ELD-M.
Hornady 147 gr ELD-M.
WisBorn
Contributing Member
Have you decided on bullet type.
Lead core or other?
Lead core or other?
dh1633pm
Contributing Member
What a nice gramps you are. For mine I use 140's. They work well. If a 140 won't kill it, it don't need to be killed.
Dr T
Member
I have had excellent performance on game with the Hornady 129 gr SST Superformance factory loads. I find the recoil mild--more so than my 270 with 130s.
My brother loads 120-123s for his 15 year old granddaughter.
My brother loads 120-123s for his 15 year old granddaughter.
45/30-06OKIE
Member
I've heard you get optimum velocity out of the 120-130gr bullets? However I see lots of people using 140gr class bullets online. I have a 6.5 PRC so I use 140gr to 156gr bullets.
Edit, I'm sure these would be awesome for deer size critters. Wish they made a 140gr version for the PRC...
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irishlad
Contributing Member
Hornady 140gr BTHP work well.
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Dr T
Member
The 6.5 CM suffers from too many options for accurate loads. This leads to paralysis by analysis. To break this vicious cycle, just pick up a couple of boxes of Hornady American Whitetail. For the 6.5 CM, it is loaded with 129 gr. Interlocks. Also, the Whitetails (in other cartridges) have tended to shoot well for me. After he has a chance to cut his teeth on them, y'all will be left with 40 Hornady cases to play with for more exotic loads. But, this is just my opinion based on what is reasonably available right now.
45/30-06OKIE
Member
I second getting some factory ammo, I'm partial to the Federal Power Shok blue box stuff myself though... shoots very well for me no matter the gun or caliber.or the Fusion line which is also very nice. (basically the same thing but a slightly softer bullet I think)
FL-NC
Member
I have had good luck with the Federal 140 grain nontypicals and the Norma 140 grain.
45/30-06OKIE
Member
Nice, correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the Non Typical just Power Shok with a different box? I wish you could get their bullets for hand loading. They would be a good choice for OP.
rayatphonix
Member
+1 on the Norma ammo. I found some at a great price during the latest ammo shortage and thought I’d try some knowing I’d at least have some very good brass for my own loads. I was pleasantly surprised how well it shot and ended up buying more.
FL-NC
Member
I don't know. They are just what I bought at academy when I got the rifle and they work good.
JimKirk
Member
For whitetail deer ... the 100 grain TTSX shines in 6.5 CM
horsemen61
Member
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2011
- Messages
- 6,756
Rifle/scope details are much appreciated
