6mm creedmoor - which bullets for long range targets?

https://Immersive-optics.com/
S

.Skinner.

Well-Known Member
Hi all,

I am the happy owner of a new 6mm Creedmoor, and looking to get into some long-range target shooting. I'll be loading my own ammo once I've got everything set up (it's been many years since I last hand-loaded).

I realise that in an ideal world it's worth trying lots of different bullets to see what the rifle likes, but as my long range shooting opportunities are likely to be few and far between to begin (and considering the cost of bullets!) I don't really want to buy a load of packs of different bullets. On an online reloading site I saw that they do taster packs of various bullets, but currently they don't have the stock.

So, what would people recommend I choose as a fairly safe bet? I would be looking at bullets between 100gr and 110gr I imagine. The rifle has a 1/7.5 twist, so it should manage them fine. I know that there are bullets over 110gr but I'm assuming it'd be 'safer' to go with 107grains-ish to begin with.

I'm not competing, so don't need to be looking at super expensive top of the range stuff. An added bonus would be if the bullet is also suitable for stalking, in case I ever want to take the 6mm out rather than the .30-06.... however the whole idea of target bullets is very new to me so I'm not sure which, if any, bullets are also humane and legal for deer.

Any ideas gratefully received!

Many thanks

Ben.
 
Ben,

I have just had a quick look and both bullets I was going to recommend are out of stock most places. These being the 105gr or 115gr Nosler RDF and the Hornady 108gr ELD-M or the 103gr ELD-X.

There is the Sierra MatchKing 107gr which has been well established for a long time. I have found these in stock here Sierra 6mm Caliber (.243) 107 Gr. Hpbt Matchking 100 Bullet Heads

Good luck with whatever you try. I am hoping to collect my rebarreled Sako 85 @Ronin has fit a lothar walther barrel in 6mm creedmoor too. I will be shooting Hornady 87gr V-Max. A bullet I have used in 6mmbr for years as a fox and vermin round. However I find they aren’t great past 600 in the wind where the 105gr class bullets really shine.
 
have not run the 6CM but have a 243 on a 28" barrel chambered for 107gr SMK. It's a hammer.

115 DTAC was discussed but some chat about them not performing as well. 108gr ELD may well be a more "flexible" option and they seem to be very consistent in the 65CM
 
For all deer stalking the bullet must be of a type designed to expand/deform on impact. For example soft nose or ballistic tip.
You would have to target shoot with hunting bullets.
 
scotch_egg said:
Ben,

I have just had a quick look and both bullets I was going to recommend are out of stock most places. These being the 105gr or 115gr Nosler RDF and the Hornady 108gr ELD-M or the 103gr ELD-X.

There is the Sierra MatchKing 107gr which has been well established for a long time. I have found these in stock here Sierra 6mm Caliber (.243) 107 Gr. Hpbt Matchking 100 Bullet Heads

Good luck with whatever you try. I am hoping to collect my rebarreled Sako 85 @Ronin has fit a lothar walther barrel in 6mm creedmoor too. I will be shooting Hornady 87gr V-Max. A bullet I have used in 6mmbr for years as a fox and vermin round. However I find they aren’t great past 600 in the wind where the 105gr class bullets really shine.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your reply mate, very helpful. I'll look into the SMK option - seems like it could be an ideal starting point. The Sako 85 sounds nice! That'll be a great rifle. I may be looking for a fox/vermin round in my 6mm creedmoor too, but was thinking more along the 70/75grain sort of weight to get faster speeds/flatter trajectory. What sort of speeds are you going to be aiming for with the 87gr V-max?
 
Good luck finding anything in stock.

108gr Hornady ELD-M is my go to, albeit I’ve not pushed the range too far yet. Good foxing bullet also. I wouldn’t heart/lung a deer with it though. The damage and exit is substantial on Fox.

I played with the 109 bergers. The 108 Hornady gave better results in my rifle.
 
Thanks all - I’ve found and ordered some 108gr ELD-M

The variety of varmint-style bullets between 70 and 90 grains is somewhat bewildering, so I think I’ll take a little more time over what I go for in terms of a foxing/varmint bullet!
 
I use ELDM for deer in 6mm Creed, 6.5PRC and 300NM. Almost zero difference to the ELDX and I’d highly recommend it for both head/neck and cavity shots. The theory that you can’t use match bullets for hunting does not apply to the ELDMs.
 
Jax said:
Going by what they do to fox inside 100 yards. Not a like for like to be fair though

I’ve head a neck shot a couple of roe with the 108’s
Click to expand...
Yup, you're right there, a fox is not a good comparison.

We often see comments using the word "deer" without specifying which variety. This is important...

The 6mm 108gr ELD-M is proving to be an outstanding red deer bullet in the 6mm Creedmoor. But I'm only using it to shoot reds at (usually) double or triple the range that you guys normally shoot deer of any species. A hilar shot and they drop on the spot, a good H&L shot and they might make 20 or 30m on a dead run then boompha they're rolling down the hill (always try and shoot them above the access track!). Shot from front on and it like Thor's hammer. This is due to the construction, and the ability to come to almost a dead stop in the animal and not waste half it's energy in the neighbouring property.

Get a good match load shooting proper match accuracy, know your windage at match ranges, and how to translate those match skills into field shooting skills, and the 108gr ELD-M is lethal out to the kind of ranges guys get their panties knotted over.

It's the classic small small-bore vs big small-bore / "match" vs "hunting" debate. Someone will try and tell you hey, that's not a hunting bullet, that's a match bullet only good for such-and-such, you unethical ignorant this-that-and-the-other.

Ha ha, I say, watch this.
 
Last edited:
Based on my personal experience from shooting a 1:8 twist .243W & a 1:8 twist 6mmBR:

107gn Sierra MatchKing
105gn Lapua Scenar
105gn Hornady A-max

The latter will also give very satisfactory results on deer up to & including fallow.

Using the SMKs at the moment as I have several 000 of them in the cupboard 👍
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Sierra vs Hornady long range huntin bullet load
2
Replies
23
Views
1K
Colonel
C
None-Toxic Long range TARGET bullet recommendations
Replies
15
Views
2K
Dave_45
Dave_45
What is the deepest you have seated a bullet?
Replies
8
Views
619
Cottis
C
100% Burn
2
Replies
28
Views
1K
Tris88
T
Best long range factory ammunition.for .223 tikka t3x
Replies
5
Views
320
ashray
A
ALLHONE hunting knives designed and made in NZ
Back
Top