6.5 for deer...2600 fps <<< VS >>> 2800 fps...???

[CTK]

How many tags you guys got. I have four. Several buddy's have four So we do get quite a few bullets tested in a season. So I could see maybe 24 or so whitetails down this season if everyone scores. I usually get 3 for myself and family eat them. They there are always other guy's stories. So shoot a few at 2,600 and a few at 2,800 FPS and see if you see any difference and I doubt if they are hit where they should be you would. we shoot across the hills so most all of us are set up to shoot to 1K and we shoot and practice year round. So all my rifles are set to shoot as fast as I can make them go and still hit targets. So we shoot groups out to about 700 yards and hit's on targets out to 1K. Most of are shots are 200-600 but we can get further if you look for it. By buddy has wacked a few in the high 900's my furthest is 750. but I prefer 500-600 or really closer if I can find them. but we will sit on top a hill where we can see a lot of ground and glass until we find one you can't stalk them we shoot from where we are. then the long hike to get them I actually pass a lot of shots because I'm not going over there to get one..I guess because I have done it hundreds of times and it can take a half day to get there and get one out. At 53 years old I just don't shoot a lot of them shots anymore due to I know what kind of job it is getting to them and dragging one out from way over there. I shoot them where I can drag downhill to a road. lol.. My buddy's dad shot one once a year or two ago he is in his 70's about 800 yards. across two sets of hills, over a rail road track (a High one) then across a deep creek the kind you cant jump across. my buddy's went and got it for him.. I said no way been there done that.

In West TN (ugly side of state) we have a rifle season that runs late Nov-early Jan. We can kill 2 antlered bucks per season and 3 doe per day with no season limit. If you include Archery season and Muzzle Loader season, I have approx 150 doe tags per year. Sounds absurd but we have an overpopulation issue. I usually shoot 5-8 doe per year. I have only shot 3 bucks in the last 10 years. Some communities surrounding Memphis are going to have an archery draw for permits to shoot deer in the suburbs. There are some monster bucks within the Memphis city limits.

 

[daniel brothers]

Hooper.... does the 147 Eldm put them in the dirt...or do they run?

 

[Peebles24]

Hooper.... does the 147 Eldm put them in the dirt...or do they run?

I would not count on it, 147 eldm is a match grade bullet not recommended for deer.

 

[justinp61]

Anyone use a Sierra 120gr Pro Hunter on deer? I have some to load for my 260.

 

[CTK]

I just bought a Tikka youth rifle for my son last night. It has a 20” barrel and I will keep the loads fairly tame. Likely 2600 to 2700 FPS. I used to worry about 200fps and have learned enough now to declare it irrelevant for whitetail with proper bullet selection.

 

[Drop Port]

I would not count on it, 147 eldm is a match grade bullet not recommended for deer.

I take it you had less than desirable results? What were your experiences like?

 

[AckleymanII]

I called Hornady yesterday about their 6.5 match bullets, they said don't hit bone, and that they never tested their match bullets on animals.

 

[Drop Port]

I called Hornady yesterday about their 6.5 match bullets, they said don't hit bone, and that they never tested their match bullets on animals.

So in other words we need to hear from someone who has tested them and knows?

 

[oregonshooter]

So in other words we need to hear from someone who has tested them and knows?

Why on earth are we trying to make match bullets work for deer? Plenty of hunting bullets with good enough BC for long range shooting. Most guys never shoot anything over 400 yards.

 

[Peebles24]

I take it you had less than desirable results? What were your experiences like?

No i have not used them, but they are made for killing paper not animals. I use hunting bullets to hunt. I load my .243 with 95 gr nosler ballistic tips and it drops most in their tracks. Havent hunted anything but X's with my 6.5.

 

[Drop Port]

Why on earth are we trying to make match bullets work for deer? Plenty of hunting bullets with good enough BC for long range shooting. Most guys never shoot anything over 400 yards.

Not trying to, sometimes they are one in the same. I was using Berger VLD's for hunting years ago and getting flamed by inexperienced hunter who knew better but had no experience or extensive testing. Low and behold Berger put the same bullet in a new box, renamed it a Hunting VLD and all was good now it's in fashion. Soooo was I wrong for using it when it was a target bullet and am I still wrong for using it now that its a "hunting" bullet. A-Max 162's were fantastic hunting bullets also which Hornady admitted were good for thin skin game.
Cup and core is cup and core. The greatest thing about this site is when experienced people with real word knowledge answer questions based on experience and knowledge not speculation.

"sbhooper" thanks for posting your experiences, definitely valuable information.

 

[CTK]

Not trying to, sometimes they are one in the same. I was using Berger VLD's for hunting years ago and getting flamed by inexperienced hunter who knew better but had no experience or extensive testing. Low and behold Berger put the same bullet in a new box, renamed it a Hunting VLD and all was good now it's in fashion. Soooo was I wrong for using it when it was a target bullet and am I still wrong for using it now that its a "hunting" bullet. A-Max 162's were fantastic hunting bullets also which Hornady admitted were good for thin skin game.
Cup and core is cup and core. The greatest thing about this site is when experienced people with real word knowledge answer questions based on experience and knowledge not speculation.

"sbhooper" thanks for posting your experiences, definitely valuable information.

Berger told me that the hunting bullets have a thinner jackets. Said that the match bullets did not expand as reliably. I guess they could have lied to me.

 

[Drop Port]

Berger told me that the hunting bullets have a thinner jackets. Said that the match bullets did not expand as reliably. I guess they could have lied to me.

You just might not be familiar with the history. What they told you is correct as it stands the Hunting are thinner jacked, the newer target are made with thick jacket, unlike the past.

The current hunting bullet (thinner jacket) is nothing more than the original "VLD target" with new packaging and a new title "hunting" the bullet has not changed it is the original target bullet. It killed when it was called a target bullet and it still kills now that it is called a hunting bullet, the point I was making above. I did extensive testing as a result of culling deer, not speculation.

 

[fredo]

Yup

 

[sbhooper]

Hooper.... does the 147 Eldm put them in the dirt...or do they run?

I have never had to track one very far using the 147. I have shot and seen shot, enough deer/antelope to know that they work. I would not use them on heavier animals, but some have with good results. Deer are easy to kill, so even if a bullet does not act exactly the same every time, it will still kill with authority. I generally use "hunting" bullets, but I am becoming a real fan of the 147 for a heavy-for-caliber deer bullet.

One of the last does that I shot this summer was a pretty close shot-less than 100 yards. The 147 went through both shoulders. I found the jacket and some lead on the off side under the hide. No trailing needed! Is it a Partition, or Accubond? No, but it makes a deer very dead. Longer shots have gotten complete penetration, for the most part with equal results. Oh yeah, and they are superbly accurate.

 

[Peebles24]

I have never had to track one very far using the 147. I have shot and seen shot, enough deer/antelope to know that they work. I would not use them on heavier animals, but some have with good results. Deer are easy to kill, so even if a bullet does not act exactly the same every time, it will still kill with authority. I generally use "hunting" bullets, but I am becoming a real fan of the 147 for a heavy-for-caliber deer bullet.

One of the last does that I shot this summer was a pretty close shot-less than 100 yards. The 147 went through both shoulders. I found the jacket and some lead on the off side under the hide. No trailing needed! Is it a Partition, or Accubond? No, but it makes a deer very dead. Longer shots have gotten complete penetration, for the most part with equal results. Oh yeah, and they are superbly accurate.

Hornady makes a 6.5 143 eldx which has a .620 g1 and is made to expand for hunting. Might be worth a try and more consistent on game.

 

[sbhooper]

Hornady makes a 6.5 143 eldx which has a .620 g1 and is made to expand for hunting. Might be worth a try and more consistent on game.

I have shot a few that a buddy gave me and they shot well, but never shot them at game. I think that the 147 will work just as well on deer, but at least in theory, the ELD-X should be more consistent. I know a guy that shot a large Nebraska cow elk with that bullet and got complete penetration at 80 yards, so it must have held together pretty well. It was a lung shot, so not really a tough test, though.

If extra-long range is out of the equation, I really prefer standard Interlocks to anything else, for a "hunting" bullet. They are very accurate, inexpensive and after many years of shooting them in different calibers and weights, have never disappointed me.

 

[CTK]

You just might not be familiar with the history. What they told you is correct as it stands the Hunting are thinner jacked, the newer target are made with thick jacket, unlike the past.

The current hunting bullet (thinner jacket) is nothing more than the original "VLD target" with new packaging and a new title "hunting" the bullet has not changed it is the original target bullet. It killed when it was called a target bullet and it still kills now that it is called a hunting bullet, the point I was making above. I did extensive testing as a result of culling deer, not speculation.

Got it. They made a big point with me not to use the target bullet on game. This was in the last several years. Thx

 

[oregonshooter]

Not trying to, sometimes they are one in the same. I was using Berger VLD's for hunting years ago and getting flamed by inexperienced hunter who knew better but had no experience or extensive testing. Low and behold Berger put the same bullet in a new box, renamed it a Hunting VLD and all was good now it's in fashion. Soooo was I wrong for using it when it was a target bullet and am I still wrong for using it now that its a "hunting" bullet. A-Max 162's were fantastic hunting bullets also which Hornady admitted were good for thin skin game.
Cup and core is cup and core. The greatest thing about this site is when experienced people with real word knowledge answer questions based on experience and knowledge not speculation.

"sbhooper" thanks for posting your experiences, definitely valuable information.

I shoot long range targets as well, but it seems that every person must now use a Berger VLD or they lack experience.

I have seen just how well they work in the hands of ballistic bloggers who have no real world hunting ability and it wasn't always pretty. It would take 2 Fruehauf trailers to haul all the game I have killed so experience I have. I also have enough experience not to offer blanket advice to the masses when I have seen what the masses are capable of. VLD's are fine if you are an excellent shot and place your shot. Not all are capable so many favor a shoulder shot and I have seen first hand that the VLD is not always the best choice to put on the shoulder. This is why they are not my first choice to recommend to people when I have no idea if they have the ability to put a shot in the vitals at long distance or even close distance for that matter. I have seen all the posts about guys that have killed game with them and seen the blown up exit holes of a bullet that did not hold together as well. Some of the exit holes you could put your head in. What it all comes down to (IMHO) is what performance looks like to you. I like a bullet that I can kill cleanly with that does minimal damage to the eating parts. The Berger vld does that in many peoples hands but I would not offer that as advice to people who's ability is unknown.

 

[oregonshooter]

So in other words we need to hear from someone who has tested them and knows?

Or.... maybe we just use hunting bullets instead of trying to make a square peg fit into a round hole. 168 grains at 3000FPS hitting an animal behind the shoulder is going to kill it. This we know... But what about going through a shoulder? The animals we hunt deserve to be killed cleanly and mistakes do happen! This is why I prefer a good hunting bullet in general. Nosler ( and others) makes lots of great hunting bullets with wicked ballistic coefficient that will go right through both shoulders or kill behind the shoulder. It seems we are just complicating the issue by solving a problem that does not exist. I will continue to shoot match bullets for targets/varmints and hunting bullets for game.