6.5Creed Hunting Help

[Bully]

Howdy all.

I'm gonna build me a huntin' gun!!

Seriously though, I'm looking to build a nice little hunting rig for eastern whitetail.

I have a #4 sporter contour barrel coming in an 8 twist and want to use 130-ish class bullets in it. Shots will be no longer than 100 yards (he has the room, I just won't take them). I'm looking for suggestions on bullet/powder combos that will work as well as can be expected.
Accuracy trumps.

I've not gun hunted before (only bow) so I would really appreciate some guidance.

Thanks.

 

[Hohn]

I’ve been on a similar quest myself. The easy part is choosing powder: RL16, any 4350, 4451, all are in the right burn range for great results with this case.

Bullets are the trickier part. Because of the high SD of 6.5, you can get excellent results with just basic soft points and cup/core bullets. And because of the moderate speeds, bullets like SSTs will stay together pretty well.

You could drop down to 120s for deer and have comparable SD and speed as a 130gr .270. Definitely adequate.

I prefer a bonded bullet or monolithic because I don’t like the idea of little lead particles in the meat. Less meat damage in general.

140 gold dots are currently #1 on my list to test. Affordable, tough, and accurate supposedly.

 

[HTSmith]

I’ve been on a similar quest myself. The easy part is choosing powder: RL16, any 4350, 4451, all are in the right burn range for great results with this case.

Bullets are the trickier part. Because of the high SD of 6.5, you can get excellent results with just basic soft points and cup/core bullets. And because of the moderate speeds, bullets like SSTs will stay together pretty well.

You could drop down to 120s for deer and have comparable SD and speed as a 130gr .270. Definitely adequate.

I prefer a bonded bullet or monolithic because I don’t like the idea of little lead particles in the meat. Less meat damage in general.

140 gold dots are currently #1 on my list to test. Affordable, tough, and accurate supposedly.

Very good advice right here. I have had Nosler 120 Gr Ballistic Tips that grouped as well as match bullets and they generally kill quickly, but they are too soft for angling shots (IMHO). They may run a few steps further with the Accubond and the like, but I prefer them (like Hohn). I had a 260 Rem that loved the old Hornady 129 Gr Soft Point and they killed well. Lot's of options.

 

[effendude]

Berger 130 gr. OTM bullet, Lapua brass and H4350 is magical in my lightweight Sako A7
Scott

 

[STOMP442]

For 100 yard shooting I would just go buy a box of $20 ammo and call it done. It will be well within minute of deer.

 

[wbm]

There are some accurate factory ammunition choices available for the 6.5CM...Hornady Precision Hunter and Winchester Deer Season XP are two very good ones.

 

[ZenArchery]

100 Yards w/ 6.5 CM. Like STOMP said. Boxed ammo.
I’ve shot just about every model of .264 bullet out of the 6.5CM into hogs. 95% of them dropped on the spot.

 

[Bully]

Thanks all.
FWIW, I will be loading for this gun just like I do for every other gun I own. Hence my looking for bullets and such.

 

[STOMP442]

Thanks all.
FWIW, I will be loading for this gun just like I do for every other gun I own. Hence my looking for bullets and such.

Pretty much any combo you come up with will work then. The only reason I suggest factory ammo for this is because it's almost cheaper than rolling your own in that cartridge. You might only save a buck or two per hundred rounds but you will save hours of time. I mean I get it, if you like reloading and just enjoy the time in your own space. Just trying to help a brotha out.

 

[Bully]

Pretty much any combo you come up with will work then. The only reason I suggest factory ammo for this is because it's almost cheaper than rolling your own in that cartridge. You might only save a buck or two per hundred rounds but you will save hours of time. I mean I get it, if you like reloading and just enjoy the time in your own space. Just trying to help a brotha out.

I completely understand. And I thank you.
But yeah, taking the time is always a good thing for me.

 

[Bc'z]

140gr Berger elite hunters H4831SC very accurate.
If your worried about meat damage or lead tainted meat, at 100 yards I'd head shoot em.

 

[Bully]

140gr Berger elite hunters H4831SC very accurate.
If your worried about meat damage or lead tainted meat, at 100 yards I'd head shoot em.

I will look in to them.

 

[Fast14riot]

44gr of 4831 under a 140 is an excellent load in the 6.5cm and 260rem.

But for 100y whitetail, I'd probably start with using up any partial pounds of powder I have left and load to a similar velocity for each one

 

[HandgunHTR]

Are you married to the CM cartridge? If not, I would probably go with a 6.5 Grendel for what you are suggesting (eastern whitetails at <200 yards). Great deer cartridge, less powder per shot and with 100-123 grain bullets will kill deer pretty dang good.

If you are going to go with a Creedmore no matter what, then the powders listed above will be good ones, but I would step up to the Hornady 143 grain ELD-X, 140 grain SSTs, or the Nosler 140 grain BTs. They will provide a bit more penetration on sharp angle shots which will allow for you to have more options when the deer don't cooperate.

 

[Bully]

Are you married to the CM cartridge? If not, I would probably go with a 6.5 Grendel for what you are suggesting (eastern whitetails at <200 yards). Great deer cartridge, less powder per shot and with 100-123 grain bullets will kill deer pretty dang good.

If you are going to go with a Creedmore no matter what, then the powders listed above will be good ones, but I would step up to the Hornady 143 grain ELD-X, 140 grain SSTs, or the Nosler 140 grain BTs. They will provide a bit more penetration on sharp angle shots which will allow for you to have more options when the deer don't cooperate.

On the Creedmoor, yes. I already have a reamer.

I will certainly consider the 140 class bullets. However, I've never had an instance where the deer don't cooperate...

 

[grovey]

139gr Scenars atop H4350 in SRP Lapua brass provided a solid 1/4" match load in my factory Tikka. Leftover loads were used to smash a big doe last yr. Worked as well as any other "hunting" bullet I've used.

 

[Bc'z]

139gr Scenars atop H4350 in SRP Lapua brass provided a solid 1/4" match load in my factory Tikka. Leftover loads were used to smash a big doe last yr. Worked as well as any other "hunting" bullet I've used.

How did the bullet preform, expansion wise, weight retention? I have over 500 of these to play with.

 

[Kramerica]

Pretty much any combo you come up with will work then. The only reason I suggest factory ammo for this is because it's almost cheaper than rolling your own in that cartridge. You might only save a buck or two per hundred rounds but you will save hours of time. I mean I get it, if you like reloading and just enjoy the time in your own space. Just trying to help a brotha out.

I agree with your suggestions but I figured up what it cost me to load my own for my 6.5cm and off the top of my head it was like $0.60 a shot vs $1.20ish per shot for factory ammo. To me that’s a decent savings if you shoot a lot.

 

[grovey]

How did the bullet preform, expansion wise, weight retention? I have over 500 of these to play with.

I nicked/broke a rib going in with a 1/2" hole, and broke two coming out with a 1 1/2"? hole. This gave me the confidence to use them.
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/4977783/1

 

[Bc'z]

I nicked/broke a rib going in with a 1/2" hole, and broke two coming out with a 1 1/2"? hole. This gave me the confidence to use them.
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/4977783/1

Nuff said!! I'll sleep easy know what I just saw.