Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 6.5 Creedmoor Question

This winter, I picked up a Howa 1500 6.5 Creedmoor bedded in a McMillan, and tend to have this be my primary deer rifle. While I am sure any of the bullets I decided to use would be effective in killing whitetail, I was wondering what round you found to be effective in the field. With that said, I hunt in the Adirondack mountains, so 100 yard shot is the maximum distance I will ever have to shoot. Looking at 140 g Nosler partions over 41.5 grains of IMR 4350 shooting around 2700 FPS. Any input would be appreciated.

I have a 6.5 Creed arriving this week. I'm a big fan of Barnes bullets and plan to try Barnes LRX 127 grain and the TTSX 120 grain. I find the Barnes always provide pass-thru shots with minimal meat damage. I suppose it's probably the case with any of the mono-metal bullets.

That combo should work very well. The Partition is always a good option for any game. It expands reliably at modest velocities, but yet penetrates well.

Far as I'm concerned you found the perfect load......

Very nice! What did you get? I shot a doe a few years back with a 180 grain TTSX, out of my fathers 300 win mag--what a mess. I tend not to take that rifle out anymore. The problem though, is that I'm lights out with the rifle and it just fits me so well.

The Partition is never the wrong bullet for deer and at the ranges you'll be shooting it'll be accurate enough. You are ready to hunt!

I think so!

Your current "looking at" selection should be excellent.

For your specified application a wide variety of loads will work well.

I think it will be hard to beat your initial idea.

Just 10 more months, but who's counting 😒

My favorite bullet for deer at moderate ranges is the 130gr Accubond, 2900fps is easy to achieve with RL17 in my 22 inch barreled Cooper. We killed several deer with it this year and I was pleased the the terminal performance.

Good to know. Did you happen to hit bone on any of the deer you took? If so, did it break it just fine?

I bought a MRC X2 I found on gunbroker and I picked it up from my FFL today. I was wanting a .260Rem, but would have had to order it and didn't care to wait. It feels and points beautifully. I found a Zeiss HD5 2-10 x 42 for sale on Cabelas website. It shipped and should be here Thursday.

MRC is updating the X2 for 2018 and shaving some weight off of it. It'll be designated the X3. .

Killed two deer with the 6.5 creed this year...

129g interlock for me.

I've killled multiple Axis Bucks with mine from 60yards to 265 yards and all were DRT. Hornady 143 ELD-X. Factory round, accurate as well as consistent.

I load the 120 Barnes TTSX, it rips pigs a new ass.

I’ve used that same bullet in my 7mm Rem Mag and it obliterates pigs and deer.

As an avid 260 Rem shooter for many years I have used the Barnes 120gr X & now TSX to take numerous elk. They have always made complete pass thru. Never recovered one. As for deer I can state without reservation that the Barnes 100gr TTSX will take mature muley bucks with ease at any ethical range. They tend to pass completely thru. Since the CM will produce velocities almost identical to the 260 I see no reason not to use the Barnes 100gr TTSX. In addition with this 100gr bullet weight you will get 243 like recoil.. The Barnes have always weight for weight out penetrated the Noaler Partition. That is because the Barnes will maintain 100% of their weight which maintains momentum thus greater penetration.The Nosler will lose at least 40% of it's weight in the first 5 or 6" of penetration thus reducing momentum & penetration. Either bullet will take deer if properly placed. Your choice.

The upside of that is the lost weight is becoming secondary projectiles within the chest cavity of the deer. I've seen what the 125 grain Partition does in deer when launched from a 260, and it's quite effective.

[img][img]https://s25.postimg.org/bdlmj8avv/6.5_N_B_001.jpg[/img][/img]

Two bullets are on the link above. A Nosler 6.5 125gr Partition on the left recovered from a mature muley buck last season.It entered from above at steep down hill angle , Entered at the base of the neck where it joins the shoulder & lodged against the meat on the bottom of the brisket just under the hide.. No bone hit. This was fired from my Savage 260 at a MV of 2950FPS. It's recovered weight is 83grs & about 35 cal. The bullet to the right is a Barnes 120gr TSX fired from my 6.5-06 at a MV of 3235. It struck the dirt bank behind my 100yd target at about 3000FPS. It has expanded to 50cal & still weights 120grs. I would not use the Nosler 125gr Part. for elk but the Barnes 120gr has excelled on elk for me for years.