I am thinking about picking up one of those Ruger Americans in 6.5 Creedmoor for a grandkid to use if they go hunting with me and gramma this fall. Caribou, moose and maybe a black or grizzly could be on the menu. What factory loaded ammo has the best bullet for hunting Alaska's big critters? I know Hornady makes some and I know the 140 grain Partition hand load my Dad used in his old .264 Winny worked well for him.

The grandkids will be by my side during the hunts and shots will not be taken past 200 yards on the moose and caribou and 100 yards on the bears.

6.5 Creedmoor factory ammo tends to lean towards high BC bullets intended for target shooting or cup and core hunting bullets. Many are fine hunting with those and in fact there are plenty who have demonstrated they work quite well. However, if you want something more robust for hunting I did just see Federal started offering a load with the 140 Accubond

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/4...moor-140-grain-nosler-accubond-box-of-20

Barnes also has the 127 LTX offering.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/6...mer-tipped-boat-tail-lead-free-box-of-20


My guess is either would work great. There are also a handful of 120gn GMX, e-tip or Trophy Copper options.

The Barnes VOR-TX load with the 127 LRX shoots into .6 at 100 yards in my 6.5 Creedmoor.

What kind of velocity is the factory stuff delivering? That’s one of the bullets I’ll try in mine with RL16. Edit: and do you know the OAL?

I load the 120 Barnes, they work well for me.

prm,

As I recall, about 2750 from my rifle's 22" barrel. Listed is 2825 in a 24" barrel.

The 127 grain Barnes looks good to me if I can just find some in Alaska. Getting stuff shipped here can be a big pain and often won't come by air. I will check Cabela's and Sportsmen's.

While I’ve never had issues with any cup and core 6.5 mm bullets exiting, I also only hunt Whitetail so I have no experience with larger game. I did use the 120 TTSX handloads last year, and was very impressed with their performance. And their accuracy was unbelievable to boot.

I’ve seen the Federal Fusion 140gr do very nice work on several Roosevelt’s elk.
I think very highly of the load......

I own a 6.5 creed, I’m thinking about using it for elk this year in areas that will be short range.
I keep telling myself, you have been spending to much time reading forums, DON’T do it. But I know it can work and Damn, it’s light weight!
But in Big bear country, really??
Very cool they are out there injoying hunting with you!

My dear Father slayed many a moose and caribou with his pre-64 Mod. 70 in .264 Winny. Surplus H4831 and 140 grain Partitions was his load and he took moose past 400 yards. Many moose and caribou are shot with a .243 Win. every year, so the 6.5 Creed should do well with lung shots to 200 yards.

Finding the 127 grain LRX is the tough part.

PM sent

I really like 140 Fusions out of my 270. They do really well on our deer. I've put one length ways through a buck after busting a shoulder, and have the bullet mushroom perfectly and retain most of it's weight.

My kids and I have shot several Whitetails with 140 grain Accubonds.
I found there’s far too much meat damage with them. There’s a halo effect of bloodshot meet all the way around the circumference of the animal like I’ve never seen before.
We’ve shot several other Whitetails with 120 grain GMX bullets and have had outstanding results with them.

I’m going to try and get some 140 grain Partitions loaded up for my son to use on Kodiak for Sitka Blacktails this fall

Interesting on the 140 ABs, I blew a 130 AB via a 260 about 2850 mv thru both shoulders of a mature buck about 100 yds, no excess meat damage.

Cannot speak on the newer 140s......perhaps....just maybe they are intended for longer shots and have a thinner jacket, I cannot say.

Your post reminds me one of Don Zutz who wrote in the Handloading for Hunters book he penned, that a 6.5x55 using 129s did more damage than a 270/130 combo, hypothesizing that the fast twist 7.5" on the Swede was causing more bullet upset, etc. I'd say it's more an individual bullet issue, and what that bullet hit, along with the terminal speed. Perhaps JB or others have insight.

I have used 140 Partitions in my 264 Win mags. They thump deer and pigs.