Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 6.5 creedmoor hunting loads.

Anyone have good 6.5 creedmoor loads for deer size game? What's your recipe? What velocity are you getting?

I can't be the only one looking to use the Creedmoor as a hunting round.

Check out the Hodgdon web site. They have lots of info; I gotta believe a 120 A-Max or NBT @ 2800-ish would do whatever needs doin...

I wish I could help you but I don't own a CM. .260 capacity is only a smidge more than the CM, so you could probably start a little low on .260 data and be fine. As far as 6.5 hunting bullets, I have great results with 120gr Ballistic Tips, 129gr Hornady Interlocks, 130gr Berger VLDs, and 130gr Accubonds. I really like the VLDs. Critters seem to make fewer tracks after being hit with them than with other bullets. Pick your poison...

John

Here is what I have. After talking some relatives into using my Hawkeye purchased last may was able to try three different loads. All worked well but there were not long or difficult shots. Loads were worked for accuracy not velocity so some may seem to be rather sedate.
1. 120 gr Sierra 45.0 gr H4350 CCI200 velocity 2934fps. Smallish mule deer 2x3 buck pretty much broadside behind the shoulder shot at about 100 yds. Dropped at the shot complete pass through.
2. 130gr Berger hunting vld 47.5gr Superformance CCI BR, 2870 fps. Whitetail doe across a small field ranged at 233 yds rather sharp quartering angle from the rear. Entered just behind last rib left side and stopped under hide rightside just behind shoulder, dropped at shot. Very messy with paunch being hit bullet was pretty mangled. Dropped at shot.
3. 100gr Nosler part. 41.0 RL15 CCI BR, 3147 fps. Mule deer buck 4x4 at about 150yds quartering slightly head on bullet entered at junction of neck and shoulder exited mid rib cage took out one lung and some major blood vessels deer staggered about 20 yds downhill and collapsed.
Wanted to try a load of Hornady 120gr Gmx, Hornady's max of superformance Fed match primer for a vel of 3080 but no deer volunteered.
All loads were fine in my rifle but should be worked up for safety's sake. Oh yeah my Hawkeye wears a 26 inch barrel but the chrono results indicate that it is not a speed demon.

130 Berger VLD huntings rocked in my 6.5 Gtredel....Creedmore might be on the list for my daughter though.