Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting 6.5 140+ for idaho....

The success of my new 6.5CTR/McMillan/Weaver Tact got me thinking on just what that rifle can do and cover. After thinking back over my last 5-6 years hunting the backcountry here in Idaho, it got me thinking - what couldn't this do for my hunting?

I feel pretty strong that I could hunt everything we have to offer here in Idaho and be plenty happy with a 6.5 shooting a 140-143 grain bullet in the 2700-2800 FPS. Within "reasonable midrange" say out to 500 maybe 600, realistically this rifle/cartridge could handle it all. Obviously, shooting a big trophy bull elk or moose at those distances isn't ideal - but it could serve in a pinch and be more than enough at the normal 200-400 yards I usually end up harvesting game at.

Mule Deer, Whitetail, Black Bear, Goat, Sheep, Antelope, Lion - there is nothing there that wouldn't succomb - even on shots way out there. I have already killed my once in a lifetime Idaho Moose, so thats out of the picture and two of my biggest bulls were killed with a 270 shooting 130 partitions. Heck, if you had to you could even load a 140 Nosler or Swift A Frame and chase big critters.

So I pose the question - even though I won't be doing it - Would you have any issue chasing those animals with just one super accurate, well scoped, 6.5 creed flinging 140-143 bullets in the 2750-2800 FPS Range?

I would never want to use only 1 rifle but my latest purchase would do all I need and is really just a little more gun then your debating. Mine is a custom 6.5 WSM and shoots the 140-147’s at 3200-3250 via a 27” barrel. If hunting coastal grizzly or something of that sort where I expected shots up close I would want something differnt but for everything WA. has to offer it should be an excellent choice.

I couldn’t fault your thought in the least and it’s likely an excellent choice.

I’d say you don’t even need 140s. I’ve got six elk under my belt with 6.5s .... all with 120-125 grain bullets and out to 435 yards. You could do everything with a 120 TTSX, 125 Partition, 127 LRX, 129 ABLR, 130 TSX or 130 AB. In fact, if you look at the sleeker of these bullets and crunch the numbers, you’ll see that in the Creedmoor the 140-class bullets don’t even catch up until 600 or better. And if you’re inclined to shoot game animals with target bullets, there are a slew of slippery Scenars and VLDs and Hybrids and such in the sweet-spot 120-140 class for you to try.

My current rifle likes the heavies ..... and the 127 LRX. I’m betting I end up running that 127 LRX for everything, as I know it will penetrate like 160-class 7mm or 200-class 30 cal lead bullets. All at about 12 ft lbs of recoil and very predictable accuracy out to more distance than I’m likely to take a shot.

Best of all worlds.

My 6.5 rigs both love the Berger 140 vld. Haven't ever shot flesh with anything else actually as I like the results a lot. I am sure all those other bullets you list would do fine too.

My 6.5-284 does very well with Hunting 140 VLD's. With RL-17 I get 3K fps with sub inch groups.

That bullet is deadly on WT's, pronghorns and hogs.

It can be a bit messy at the skinning shed, but DRT is the rule. They don't walk; they drop in their tracks. I've yet to have one do otherwise.

DF

Have you tried H4831SC? My 6.5 Shehane shoots ridiculously small groups with it - 23", 139 Scenars at 3050fps. 215M primers yield better groups than 210Ms with the 4 powders I've tried as well fwiw.....

Forgot to mention I've loaded 147 ELD-M's over RL-26 in my Swede. It's a strong FN action and I'm using Lapua brass.

When it quits raining, I'll take it to my range and report.

From what I've read, the ELD-M does very well on game, maybe even better than the ELD-X on WT and soft skinned animals. I think the X bullet may be better for tougher critters needing deeper penetration. The ELD-M seems less frangible than the VLD. The 140 ELD-M should be a good one. Haven't tried it.

DF

I had been using Vv n-165, RL-17 is the velocity champ. N-165 tops out at 2,950 fps. Also, I found that '165 had accuracy nodes, whereas RL-17 didn't. It shoots good groups as loads were increased until at 3,100 fps, groups opened up, pressure signs not much of an issue. I dropped back to best groups at top velocity, IIRC 48.8 gr.

Some say that RL-17 is tougher on barrels than other powders and the 6.5-284 is hard on barrel throats. But, I just shoot critters, not targets, probably won't shoot it out. If I do, they make barrels every day...

DF

I have 6.5 Creedmoor’s, but for that country I would take one of my 264’s or my 26 Nosler.

My 26 Nosler does very will with 120 TTSX and 120 E-Tips, about equal performance over max dose of 872 or 869, both of those have about the same performance. My gun has a 26" Shilen barrel and shoots those bullets half inch at 3,450 fps. They'll go faster, but at that speed, I get great accuracy and enough speed to do the job.

I'm going to try Vv n-570, which is a high energy, dense powder that QL shows as a top performer. It may be harder on barrels than 872 and 869, but gotta try it. n-570 is a very coarse stick, won't flow thru Uniflow powder measure without stacking. I remove the drop tube, drop load in a scale pan and weight. Actually goes pretty fast.

DF

R26 took me over 3200fps if you can believe it but H4831SC gave me best accuracy and consistency across the board.

I can believe it. RL-17 got me over 3,100 but accuracy wasn't there. It was something like 1 1/2" groups in a sub inch, sometimes 1/2" rifle. RL-26 should out perform RL-17 in a speed race.

I admit Vv n-165, in an accuracy node, was slightly more accurate than RL-17. I'm thinking, RL-17 pressure peaks aren't as sharp as n-165 pressure peaks and that may have something to do with accuracy nodes and the lack thereof.

I had two COAL nodes with n-165, as well. I used the longer one to preserve case capacity. I discussed this with a Berger tech. He said they had seen that, too, couldn't explain it. I guess there's a bunch of ballistic stuff we observe but can't fully explain.

RL-17 is definitely less finicky than n-165, almost as accurate and faster. I like it.

DF

Used a 264 for years but really like this 6.5CM using 142 ABLR's at 2750ish. Have some 129's to try. 45-70 for less than 200 yds. All that is needed within reasonable limits and I don't want a 700+ yd recovery anyway.

Hiaring8
My answer is - no I wouldn't have any issues chasing all those animals with a 6.5 Creedmoor.
Personally, I've always preferred to have one rifle that does me for everything (except dangerous game), and I settled on the Creedmoor several years ago.
I've taken tiny bucks at under 50 yards and an Elk at 590 - all with 123/139/140 gr bullets.

If I was loading for Moose, I might choose a Scandinavian 156gr bullet (Lapua or Sako), but their BC is so poor the advantage they offer largely disappears after ~250 yards, so a tough 140gr bullet would probably be just as good a choice

I use 869 a grain under max with a 140 Nosler Ballistic tip for deer and pigs. I would go Accubond for bigger game. Remington 700 Sendero with a Rock Creek Barrel. Heavy but I hunt in a stand.

AFraser, a 140gr Partition @ around 2800 worked great on last moose...he went 30ft before he fell. Bullet went in behind left shoulder and was under hide on right front.

“heavy is goot” - boris the blade

Hairing8 ,

Rock that CTR creedmoor , there's many other benefits to sticking to one rifle IMO .

Myself I've noticed my shooting has dropped off due to taking a variety of rifles - the ole - well I'll give this one a go this weekend . Different set-ups - different trigger pulls - all of that adds up to not shooting as well as I use to when I only had my 25-06 and 22-250 .

Lots of practise with the CTR and you'll get really good and make a believer out of a lot of big game animals .
Very cool set by the way , if a young person wanted to have a hunting/shooting rifle that rifle/scope would last them a lifetime .

Have you put those 142 ABLRs into any flesh and bone with your Creedmoor? I’m wondering about performance since it’s looking like mine is going to love them like a teenage boy loves his first piece of azz.

Sorry Seattlesetters I missed this until now. Only a very large buck thus far. In Mid-neck facing me about 85 yds. out spine at shoulder. Dollar coin size exit, no frag and no recovery...DRT like ton of bricks fell. So far, so good. Hoping for an elk with it at some point. Good luck. Mac