6.5 Creedmoor different round for different deer?

[ChesterP]

I think Dodgy had it right. Switched to HILAR and wonder why this isn't the favoured shot placement. Not a lot runs after a HILAR shot. I'd echo earlier comments that the 130gr Gamechanger is indeed an excellent choice for 6.5's for all deer species and providing you're shooting past 100 yds, I've found the 140grn SST an excellent bullet choice too, and one with match accuracy.

 

[Westley78]

I've found the 140grn SST an excellent bullet choice too, and one with match accuracy.

Do you have any experience with the 129gr SST?

 

[ChesterP]

I don't Westly. I found that my own 6.5 preferred most of the 140 class be that target or game bullets, and didn't get on well with some 123gr target bullets. Just about all of the 140 class were a doddle to load for in terms of finding a decent node. You don't need to chase MVs either as the BC's are relatively high and I felt that for smaller deer, reducing hydraulic shock through keeping MVs modest was a good thing as it reduces meat bruising and internal damage. Mine were all loaded to around 2,700fps and that was plenty. More importantly, they were highly accurate loads.

 

[Bowland blades]

I've no experience, but here's a couple of approaches from those who do know what they're about:





Around 25, 30 years ago, Norma introduced a factory 6.5X55 'Roe Load'. IIRC, it used the usual 139 or 140gn bullet, but loaded lighter to a significantly lower MV. In any event, stalkers obviously didn't feel the need for it as it was dropped after only two or three years.




I had a conversation with Callum Ferguson of PRS Rifles many years ago about the 260. This was before the 6.5X47 Lapua was introduced which I'm told is now his first vermin/stalking cartridge recommendation. Unusually, Callum built his 260s with a very short freebore chamber designed to handle both Varmint weight/length bullets and also the lightest of the 6.5mm Nosler Partitions. My memory says 90 or 95gn, but the lightest 264 Partition today is 100gn. Whatever it was, Callum said Nosler had introduced the bullet specifically for the then almost new 260 Rem.

In any event, these PRS 260s were built around this bullet at pretty high velocities, which Callum said was effective on any UK deer species and the bullet is constructed such that it would retain the rear section intact even at the fairly high terminal velocities as well as seeing major expansion from the soft-point tipped front end. The primary object of the exercise wasn't to cope better with Roe and Muntjac rather to be able to offer near match precision in long-distance varmint bullet loads while still having a fully effective short to mid-range deer number. This seems to be using the same basic approach as your 100gn TTSX load, only you're using a different / newer technology bullet that I'm assuming doesn't need a short freebore chamber with the longer copper bullet form.

I think you will find referring Callum , that we would possibly agree closely on the 260 rem choices as they are today- For Deer .
IMO it remains the best 6.5 mm medium action cartridge to shoot deer of all kinds with the likes of a 100 grain copper bullet. Very many reasons behind that , its shame its being pushed out commercially by the likes of the creed that has its own niche of better handling of the long for calibre 6.5 target bullets . 260 AI in a 30-06 class action would handle those even better and of course older 260s didnt come with the twist rates we use now ( mine is 1-7.5 ) . Think i might AI my next barrel as its tough to find factory or brass in 260 now anyhow , one step to expand 243 though

 

[Twodogs]

I think you will find referring Callum , that we would possibly agree closely on the 260 rem choices as they are today- For Deer .
IMO it remains the best 6.5 mm medium action cartridge to shoot deer of all kinds with the likes of a 100 grain copper bullet. Very many reasons behind that , its shame its being pushed out commercially by the likes of the creed that has its own niche of better handling of the long for calibre 6.5 target bullets . 260 AI in a 30-06 class action would handle those even better and of course older 260s didnt come with the twist rates we use now ( mine is 1-7.5 ) . Think i might AI my next barrel as its tough to find factory or brass in 260 now anyhow , one step to expand 243 though

Have you considered the 6.5 PRC? Early days but so far, in my experience, performs well with YewTree 114 gr TLR copper.

 

[Bowland blades]

Have you considered the 6.5 PRC? Early days but so far, in my experience, performs well with YewTree 114 gr TLR copper.

No its a different animal to what I look for tbf . If i was looking at the PRC i would look at the 7mm but then again its benefits come after 450-500 yards and you get more noise, more recoil and the next action size up and burn more powder for every shot you take and pay more for fresh barrels . 400 plus shots are just fine for me with the 260 running a 100 grain TTSX . Really a case of balance to need , if it was not for the law saying i cannot and the need to reach out further than say 200 ? i might very well chose a 223 for up to and including Red Stag if the law permitted - Spotting every strike! getting a waaay longer life form my barrel than the 260 even!
Shooting big elk , moose etc over longer ranges of say 500-600 plus - ideal perhaps ?