Light vs Heavy 6.5 Creedmoor Bullets?

Steve_O

Steve_O

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Aug 29, 2020
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#1
What do you guys recommend for a 6.5 CM target 1000 yard bullet light or heavy and include the weight please.

What do you recommend for a hunting bullet light or heavy?

Trying to decide what weight I should use up to a 156 grain Berger. I have heard two sides of the story one the light weight bullet will get there faster with less drop but the heavy bullet will be more stable and buck more wind. What do you guys recommend? Iam using a Tikka T3X Varmint 24 inch barrel. Thanks.
 
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#3
The one the barrel likes. At your particular place on the earth one bullet will shoot better than all the rest. The mass is just one factor. When I first get a rifle or barrel I try out several and go with whichever produces the best accuracy. It’s very likely that if I was to go to a colder higher altitude that I would get different results. There’s lots of variables and not a single best for this stuff. Good luck
 
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#5
Thanks guys. I do have a variety of light to heavy bullets, I will get them all out to see what shoots better. I have been hunting with ELD’X 143’s with good results and accuracy.
 
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#6
I think 143s are great. Let the barrel decide. I’m running a stock Tikka Tac A1. It’s a legit 1/2moa rifle but the barrel as is typical with tikka barrels is slow.
For me I feel I’m giving up too much speed with the heavy bullets so I stick with the 139gr scenar and 140gr eldm
 
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#8
Steve_O said:
What do you guys recommend for a 6.5 CM target 1000 yard bullet light or heavy and include the weight please.

What do you recommend for a hunting bullet light or heavy?

Trying to decide what weight I should use up to a 156 grain Berger. I have heard two sides of the story one the light weight bullet will get there faster with less drop but the heavy bullet will be more stable and buck more wind. What do you guys recommend? Iam using a Tikka T3X Varmint 24 inch barrel. Thanks.
Click to expand...
I use off the shelf Hornady 140gr BTHP with my lite weight carry bolt action, works just fine for me. Took a 9 point at 45 yards in the swamp this past weekend (off-hand). One shot & it was over to the neck. For longer bullet flight path once again 143 ELDX. Hornady, hogs hate it. Don't over think it. Enjoy the process.
R/
CBDR
 
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#9
Steve_O said:
Thanks guys. I do have a variety of light to heavy bullets, I will get them all out to see what shoots better. I have been hunting with ELD’X 143’s with good results and accuracy.
Click to expand...
That’s good thinking. I’d gather up the usual suspects like your Hornady 143 eldx and the Hornady 140 & 147 eld and some Federal or Berger. I suggest hanging on to stuff that doesn’t do as good as you’d like. You might end up doing some shooting elsewhere and have to run the test again. Just saying
 
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#10
jcmullis2 said:
That’s good thinking. I’d gather up the usual suspects like your Hornady 143 eldx and the Hornady 140 & 147 eld and some Federal or Berger. I suggest hanging on to stuff that doesn’t do as good as you’d like. You might end up doing some shooting elsewhere and have to run the test again. Just saying
Click to expand...
Agree 100 % my hunting distances are very close in / pop up. Heavy brush / thick timber.
 
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#11
I run the Berger 135 Classic Hunters.

They perform very well at distance, and are a hunting bullet.

Now, I have yet to take game with them, but being they're a hunting bullet, I would anticipate they would do well and would have no concerns on taking medium sized game.

So, kill two birds with one stone, er, bullet. I don't know. But I like having only one load for everything vs a target load and a hunting load.
 
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#13
I shoot 140 Bergers. The advantage to heavy, high b.c. bullets is in the wind. Bullet drop for a given load will more or less be constant, and therefore irrelevant as long as you know what correction to dial. Wind is the giant variable you’ll be figuring out.
 
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#15
I shoot the 140eldm's and have had great results out to 1000yrds. But after running some numbers through my ballistics app it seems that the 130grner's pushed at no less than 2800fps can give less drop out to 1000yrds then the 140's. Has anyone else had this experience or tried this?
 
#17
IMHO, 140gr is kinda the sweet spot in 6.5creed. Lighter bullets are faster and flatter, until extended range, but get knocked around in the wind more. Distance is easy, wind is the cruel bitch. I pretty much run 140eldm in my creeds, ive got an older ai that still gets 139scenars, but after I shoot the last 200 of those I'll work up a load with 140eldm. A newer ai with a 20" barrel gets 147eldm, but when those are finished I'll switch to 140eldm. Im sitting on 4k of the 140eldm, so....those 2 rifles will hate that bullet, lol.
 
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#18
You need enough velocity and BC to get the job done. I've shot 100's of groups at 1K and BC's above .500 are adequate. Velocity is all you can get within reason. But if it's not accurate you're just chasing your tail. Apply the 80-20 rule. Build a load that fulfills 80% of your requirements and does it well. You'll get by on the other 20%.
 
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#20
I might be the odd man out here, but I shoot 120 gn ELDMs at 2774 FPS out of my 20 inch Desert Tech to fantastic results. Haven’t tried going for deer yet, but I’ll report back in a few weeks. I have, however, gone out to a mile with this round with no complaints.
 
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#22
Crunched a couple numbers real quick, 6.5 creed pushing a 140eldm around 2700fps with a full value 10mph wind drifts 85.2 inches at 1,000yrds, but a 130eldm pushing 2900fps only drifts 87 inches. But the drop in the 140 is 335.8inches and the 130 only 315.5 inches. In most scenarios out to 1,000 yrds it seems to me a miss could be more of a factor with an incorrect yardage calculation then it would be due to an incorrect wind calc. Just has my brain turning since I haven't tried a 130grner yet. The key seems to be the muzzle velocity with both projectiles though.
 
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#23
I like Berger 130 AR hybrids. Good all around bullet that can be loaded to mag length for shooting out of AR's as well.

130Berger over RL26 is a potent little monster out at distance.

Can also be loaded into mag length 6.5G, which is a bonus.
 
#24
Generally, I don't mix/match hunting and target, especially not if chasing maximum accuracy at range. I have tiny group ammo (what the barrel likes) and I have maximum knockdown ammo (which, for me, has never been tiny group ammo.)
Bergers and Barnes, a healthy diet of both seems to be working out well for my 6.5s; I'll look up recipes.
 
#25
Just got back from the range. Shot out to 300 yards that’s as far as that range goes. Hornady 143 ELDX, Nosler Accubond LR 142 and Sierra Gameking 130 shot great. Tried the Hornady 120 grain GMX SuperPerformance and that shot like crap out of my rifle. Probably will stick with the ELDX for my hunting load, want to shoot more of the Nosler Accubond LR 142 to really compare between that and the ELDX.
 
#26
I run berger 135 classic, loaded by berger. I buy in bulk, so haven't needed to reload it yet. That bullet has performed well on Whitetail and hogs out to 500. It doesn't shoot bughole groups, but it'll keep 20 shots right around 1/2 moa. See attached 200 yrd target
20200616_232016.jpg
 
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#28
Jevaughn0823 said:
Crunched a couple numbers real quick, 6.5 creed pushing a 140eldm around 2700fps with a full value 10mph wind drifts 85.2 inches at 1,000yrds, but a 130eldm pushing 2900fps only drifts 87 inches. But the drop in the 140 is 335.8inches and the 130 only 315.5 inches. In most scenarios out to 1,000 yrds it seems to me a miss could be more of a factor with an incorrect yardage calculation then it would be due to an incorrect wind calc. Just has my brain turning since I haven't tried a 130grner yet. The key seems to be the muzzle velocity with both projectiles though.
Click to expand...
Except you’re estimating very low. My 140’s are running 2860. At 1000yds, w/ 10mph full value wind, I have 269 inches of drop and 53 inches of wind.

Run it again with the 140’s at 2800, and 130’s at 2900. That’s a much more normal difference for those weights.
 
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#29
Brisket said:
I run berger 135 classic, loaded by berger. I buy in bulk, so haven't needed to reload it yet. That bullet has performed well on Whitetail and hogs out to 500. It doesn't shoot bughole groups, but it'll keep 20 shots right around 1/2 moa. See attached 200 yrd targetView attachment 7463034
Click to expand...
Where the rubber meets the road. Those results are solid.

R/
CBDR
 
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#30
There's a lot of great recommendations already.

What your barrel/rifle likes and shoots well is a great start.

I have a 26 inch 6.5CM Criterion barrel and my 9 inch Form 1 can is ALWAYS attached.

I've used factory Hornady 129grain SST and worked great on a well placed double lung at 225 yards and also on a 440 yard base of skull/spine.

I tried to stretch the legs on the 129 SST to see where the limit was. It was a laser out to 635 yards, the next target was 750 yards ......seemed to really lose accuracy at 750 yards and beyond.

I used to handload 140 AMAX with IMR 4451 and they shot well on paper and steel.

My current preference is the 147 ELD-M. I run IMR 4451 behind it as well with good results.......2858fps

I have used the 147 ELD-M to harvest a few deer with stellar results.......416 yard head shot and 632 yard sweet spot behind should that exited out opposite shoulder.

Shot placement is king.

Here's the exit from the 632 yard shot, it's hard to tell but a baseball could literally fit in there

imagejpeg_0.jpg



For any interested in watching my self filmed hunt of the above harvest:

www.snipershide.com

Hunting & Fishing - Suppressed 6.5CM cold bore 632 yard Whitetail in KY

Well I've been meaning to make this video for a while but have been too busy with life. Prep started in late July with getting stand up, trees trimmed and getting deer moving through the area. I scouted many weekends and the deer movement was decent. I hunt in all weather conditions no matter...
www.snipershide.com www.snipershide.com
 
#34
I shoot everything from 95gr varmageddons, 123 Nosler CC, 142 Nosler ABLR and then some 140 ELD-Ms. The Noslers I shoot because I found them on shootersproshop.com when they were like half price and I have found a load to get them all around 1/2MOA. Good enough to kill stuff with and hit steel as far as I can shoot.
 
#35
Jevaughn0823 said:
Crunched a couple numbers real quick, 6.5 creed pushing a 140eldm around 2700fps with a full value 10mph wind drifts 85.2 inches at 1,000yrds, but a 130eldm pushing 2900fps only drifts 87 inches. But the drop in the 140 is 335.8inches and the 130 only 315.5 inches. In most scenarios out to 1,000 yrds it seems to me a miss could be more of a factor with an incorrect yardage calculation then it would be due to an incorrect wind calc. Just has my brain turning since I haven't tried a 130grner yet. The key seems to be the muzzle velocity with both projectiles though.
Click to expand...

Not picking on you, but your 140gr velocity is pretty low compared to your 130gr velocity. 200fps for that 10gr, definitely not loaded to same pressure. I get 2705 with 147eldm in a 20" pipe, 2835 with 139scenars in a tooley ai barrel, and 2670fps with 140eldm in a 17.8" bart. I have gotten 2930fps with a 123amax in a 24" barrel. These are accurate loads in their respective barrels, not max loads to see what they'll do.
20191115_131723.jpg
here's the 140eldm from that 17.8" 800, in some nasty Illinois winter wind, 14-18 mph gusts.
 
#37
I meant to include in my previous post that 2700fps is a little on the slow side. However most guys i've seen are around 2750fps with a standard loaded 140grner. The numbers can be pushed either way however hot we want to load them. My point or question though is the fact that the wind drift between of a 130grn and 140grn is not that great with the benefit of not pushing the 130grner that hard and achieving a better trajectory. But i'll have to look into this myself through hard evidence and not ballistics calculators. I was mainly curious if anyone had this kind of range experience as well.
 
#38
Your specific rifle is a larger variable than range tests and experience from others. I second the recommendation to go with what your rifle likes best. Thoroughly test (bench and range) all the ammo you're considering (quality, BC, seating depth & consistency, chronograph muzzle velocity and consistency, drop at various distances, group size at various distances, etc...) and select the bullet that you and your specific rifle likes best.
 
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#39
Be mindful and aware of how easy it is to miss, adjust and get on target when shooting paper/steel vs hunting

You may only have one shot (pun fully intended 😉)

Practice, practice, practice ......this includes going from shooting prone on range days vs positional in a tree stand/blind (if applicable.)

If you haven't practiced positional I'd recommend doing as much as you can and using gear that can assist in making a successful shot.

I'm don't consider myself a pro but I have witnessed how much above mentioned factors can lead to a missed shot VERY easily.
 
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#40
Longshot85 said:
Be mindful and aware of how easy it is to miss, adjust and get on target when shooting paper/steel vs hunting

You may only have one shot (pun fully intended 😉)

Practice, practice, practice ......this includes going from shooting prone on range days vs positional in a tree stand/blind (if applicable.)

If you haven't practiced positional I'd recommend doing as much as you can and using gear that can assist in making a successful shot.

I'm don't consider myself a pro but I have witnessed how much above mentioned factors can lead to a missed shot VERY easily.
Click to expand...
This. Also make an effort to intentionally practice on the days with the worst weather I.e. high winds, rain, heavy mirage, etc.

Shooting in nothing but perfect conditions give you a false sense of proficiency.
 
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#41
SonoranPrecision said:
This. Also make an effort to intentionally practice on the days with the worst weather I.e. high winds, rain, heavy mirage, etc.

Shooting in nothing but perfect conditions give you a false sense of proficiency.
Click to expand...
Agree 100%

The day will come when everything happens at once...wind, rain, freezing Temps, freezing rain, snow, fog, low light conditions etc...
..habe you checked batteries if you have an illuminated reticle?
 
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#42
MinnesotaMulisha said:
I run the Berger 135 Classic Hunters.

They perform very well at distance, and are a hunting bullet.

Now, I have yet to take game with them, but being they're a hunting bullet, I would anticipate they would do well and would have no concerns on taking medium sized game.

So, kill two birds with one stone, er, bullet. I don't know. But I like having only one load for everything vs a target load and a hunting load.
Click to expand...
Couldn't agree more, I don't like to over complicate when I don't have to...
 
#43
I like the 147's past 500. I don't have a 7 or 7.5 for the smk150. I ran that in a 6.5/06ai at 3110 for some very good results. Plenty of good options in the 130 to 156 weight class.
 
#44
147 gr. ELDM for me. Shot everything I could find as a newbie and found that everything would out shoot me so I worked up my hand loads using the 147s. Sub MOA performance consistently.

Not a hunter so I have no input there. I'm running 147 gr. ELDM over 47 gr. of RL26 Factory OAL.

VooDoo
 
#45
SonoranPrecision said:
Except you’re estimating very low. My 140’s are running 2860. At 1000yds, w/ 10mph full value wind, I have 269 inches of drop and 53 inches of wind.

Run it again with the 140’s at 2800, and 130’s at 2900. That’s a much more normal difference for those weights.
Click to expand...

If he’s talking factory loaded stuff those number are about right. Factory Hornady 140 ELDM out of my 24in tube is 2690-2700. Factory FGGM 130 Berger OTM is 2850-2870. At those speeds the 130 does much better.
 
#46
Running 130 Gamechangers and Norma GT bullets for hunting and target (respectively) work. Personally, I'm uncomfortable taking a shot on game beyond 500yds, so a lighter/faster bullet just makes more sense to me for hunting. And in most matches, the shots are from 400-700 yds. So again, in my mind, the 130gr bullets make more sense. As mentioned, go with what your barrel likes and practice. Get off your belly. Learn to shoot well off a tripod, they are money shots in the field, and certainly validate training.

FB_IMG_1604321901086.jpg
 
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#47
I've done:

Hornady 120 GMX
Barnes 120 TTSX
Berger 130 AR Hybrid
Norma 130 Golden Target
Nosler RDF 130
JLK 130
Sierra 140 Matchking
Berger 140 Hybrid
Sierra 142 Matchking
Hornady 147 ELDm

I've done pretty much all of the above bullets out of factory loadings and some only in handloads.

130's will do just fine and dandy out to 1000.

Pro tip:

6.5 Creed with a 130gr moving at 2850mv has less wind drift, less drop, AND more energy on target at 1000 than a 308 175 Matchking moving at 2650mv.

PRIME 130 factory ammo or Berger 130 factory ammo are the answer. They shoot well out of just about every rifle. Save the brass in case you wanna reload...

or

... even sell the used brass to us transient/scavenger reloaders who shudder at the thoughts of using factory ammo 🤣😂🤣😂🤣

My current bullet of choice is the 142 Matchking and Reloder 26. Its a thing of beauty. But 130-147 pair well with H4350, R16 also.... if you're into the reloading thing.
 
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