Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting What’s the best weight bullet for 6.5 Creedmoor on whitetails ?

How did they perform on WT’s and such?

My Creed loves the 123, my Swede prefers the 139.

DF

I know many animals have fallen to Scenars and SMK-HP, but I'd prefer a Barnes if I wanted to use a match type bullet for hunting. The 130 VLD is a known Deer hammer.....

That said, TOO many good hunting bullets from 120-130 which I feel is a sweet spot for the mid-sized 6.5s. The 130 AB is my Go to, even in the Swede. IF I hunted Really LR shots like over 500 yds, then I would lean on the 143 like H22 above.

120BT is an old bullet that does it's thing, just like the 129 SP. Hard to find a bad 6.5 bullet, but me personally, I just can't find a reason to want to use a pure target type bullet for hunting. I know they tend to often work, but I'd not personally take a chance on a pure target designed bullet on a game animal. Just my .02

For all around, it's nice to know 1) chosen bullet expands near and far 2) weight retention via jacket integrity ensures penetration and exits for the situation you might want a blood trail.

The 130 AB for me, blows thru both shoulders of a WT if so desired, did so at 100 yds on an 8pt WT broadside. Also, will expand and dump deer DRT at 300 yds, (for me) and likely a good deal further. Again, so many good 'hunting' bullets to use......

DF, I had some custom 260s that loved the 123s, used Scenars and Nosler. That said, I'd practice with those, confirm POA/POI with 120 BTs and roll with them if I wanted a mild recoiling flat shooting load.

FWIW, I would use 120-130s as a mainstay in the Grendel, 47 Lapua, Creed, 260, and Swede - based on how I hunt in my area.

Good hunting folks.

Hornady 129gr Interlock out of a 6.5x55 @ 2850fps. Distance was maybe a whole 70 yards. Typical Hornady performance, it worked.

I've shot nothing but 143 ELDX through all of my CM's, including my current CTR. 14 whitetails can attest that they work!

I just recently bought a Kimber Hunter in 6.5, and it really likes the 120 NBT. So, now I'm on the hunt for a couple of boxes of bullets to reload. Good to read that the 120 does the job well!

longshot3,
How has the bloodshot meat damage been with the ELD-X? I shot an antelope and another deer with the 145 out of my 270 this past fall. While I like the range and steel performance, they damage a lot of meat. I really liked the 143 out of my Creedmoor, but never used it on deer and am now out of the Creedmoor game.

I butcher all my own critters and that is one of things I do not like. One of the reasons I really like mono metals or harder C&C like the Interlock for hunting purposes.

As to the OP, I think 120-130gr is perfect for normal whitetail hunting, while the super slippery, heavier bullets are better suited for LR hunting and shooting applications.

120 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip has worked fine for me with 39.5 gr of Varget for 2900+ fps. One shot kills on three white tails in the last two years. Range from 50 to 120 yds.

These three have been killed with the 6.5 Creedmoor using a 120 NBT, a 140 NBT, and a 120 grain Sierra SP. Ranges from 125 to 215. All one shot kills.

This one fell to a 140 Accubonds traveling at 2640 fps. (was from a 260 Rem) Distance was 75 yards. Was glad for the tough bullet, last day of season, quartered away very hard. Slipped it just in front of the hindquarters, traveled through the chest cavity exiting close to the shoulder. Only made it 20 yards.