Real World Ammo Results

[adamR]

I'm trying to determine which ammunition I will be shooting out of my new 6.5 creedmoor and am looking for some real world results on game. I understand that a great deal of it will come down to what my rifle likes best but once that's done, I'm curious about actual results as well. FWIW, I'll be shooting a 6.5 Creedmoor Tikka T3X Lite, 1/8" twist, and a Nightforce NX8 4-32 x50.

I've narrowed it down to what's most readily available and has decent reviews. For now, I'm strictly looking at factory options. So far, I'm looking for results with Hornady Precision Hunter 143gr ELDX, Nosler Trophy Grade 142gr ABLR, Federal Premium 130gr terminal ascent, and Barnes Long Range LRX 127 grain. My thoughts for this rifle were an all around truck gun. I intend to hunt coyote (Don't care about the hide) to elk with it. For deer, I want to be able to shoot 500 - 600 yards and elk out to 300; but, I also want to be able to shoot a jumped buck at 50 yards.

So, If you have experiences with any of those or similar hunting rounds in the following situations, I would appreciate hearing your results. Did the animal die? Was there a blood trail? Was there an exit wound? Did you hit bone or soft tissue? Did you recover the bullet?

1. 100 yards or less on deer and/or elk
2. 500 yards or more on deer
3. 300 yards or more on elk

[johnbmyersii]

4 deer and 1 bear with the hornady 6.5 ELDX from 80 yards out to 450. No blood trails at all, they died in their tracks or within 20 yards. Would have no hesitations shooting farther, every animal the bullet went thru and thru, even at 450 hitting both front shoulders. Same rifle too. Uncle recovered one of those bullets from a whitetail a few years back in the hide at the exit wound and it looked exactly like the picture on the back of the box.

[mburrows]

Big fan of nosler trophy grades. Have killed 11 deer and 1 elk out to 500 yards with them. All of the bullets performed as expected and zero wound loss.

[fowl smacker]

Out of my Tikka T3X CTR the 143gr eldx has put down 6 bucks in 6 shots.   Kids shot the first 4 with ranges from 65 yards to 185 yards.  One walked 10 yards, the rest DOA.  My last two Idaho bucks were killed at 570 and 574 yards, both dropped in their tracks.  I haven't shot the other ammo out of it because it liked these off the bat, but they may work well also.

[Rob]

Only one for me.  I would imagine success is more about shot placement than bullet performance though.

3x4 Mule Deer at 325 yards.  First shot hit heart and it walked about 10 yards and fell over.  Bullet exited with a modest exit wound.  Second shot was a clean miss (was an insurance shot as I was not positive of a good hit so I took a second shot and in the rush forgot to put in the holdover!  Even after all these years Buck fever is still a real thing...)

[Weatherby92]

Only one for me.  I would imagine success is more about shot placement than bullet performance though.

3x4 Mule Deer at 325 yards.  First shot hit heart and it walked about 10 yards and fell over.  Bullet exited with a modest exit wound.  Second shot was a clean miss (was an insurance shot as I was not positive of a good hit so I took a second shot and in the rush forgot to put in the holdover!  Even after all these years Buck fever is still a real thing...)

Was this the ELDX? I also agree, nothing trumps shot placement.

[Rob]

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1018874583?pid=492959

This is what I worked a load up for.

Cheap Rugar American Predator rifle with a low cost scope and it shoots sub-MOA with the following load:
Hornady ELD-X
37.0 Grains of H4350
2.161 OAL as measured to the ojive.

The OP indicated factory loads, so I would keep an eye out for this: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/101693199?pid=259413

[Rob]

Only one for me.  I would imagine success is more about shot placement than bullet performance though.

3x4 Mule Deer at 325 yards.  First shot hit heart and it walked about 10 yards and fell over.  Bullet exited with a modest exit wound.  Second shot was a clean miss (was an insurance shot as I was not positive of a good hit so I took a second shot and in the rush forgot to put in the holdover!  Even after all these years Buck fever is still a real thing...)

Was this the ELDX? I also agree, nothing trumps shot placement.

I guess I left out the most important part of the question!  which bullet! 

[Fidelk]

The first factory load that I tried in a new Rem 700 L.R. (.300 WM) was a 180 gr. Barnes VOR-TX......it seems to be the load that the rifle likes the most and has been the most accurate. Around that time midwayusa had a sale and Barnes had a rebate offer, so I loaded up. Then I bought individual boxes of other premium ammo......Precision Hunter, Nosler, a few others marked Long Range, including the Barnes VOR-TX LR.......none of which would group as well as the plain old Barnes VOR-TX. I just went with the most accurate. You could always settle on an accurate round and then shoot some gelatin or other target at your preferred range to determine performance.

[KNOPHISH]

Well you have lots of choices for 6.5 creedmore. Was browsing the ammo at Cabelas and they had a whole aisle of it that I was wondering if I need a new gun and are they even producing any other calibers.

[Karl Blanchard]

147 eldm Hornady match ammo (white box).

[Mtnwalker]

 

[fishngamereaper]

Barnes LRX fragged at 150. To light of a round. Hit one rib.
Eldx fragged at 350. Hit shoulder.
Eldm is where the money is at.
Both my 6.5s (Creed/ PRC ) spit them well and they hold together extremely well.

[h2ofowlr]

Running a Tikka T3 lite running 143gr ELDX.  4 deer and 1 big horn 115 yards to 300 yards.  All one shot, one kill and pretty much dropped where they were hit.

[Taco280AI]

LRX, easily. Seven deer with it, all one shots, most didn't go anywhere, the farthest one ran was 30-40 yards. One elk, hit it twice since it was trying to get up. Haven't recovered any bullets from 25-510 yards and happy with performance and accuracy.

[adamR]

It kind of sounds likes anyone of them or the ELDM would be a good option, whichever shoots best. So, new question:

With your ammo choice, would you change your shot based on game, deer or elk, or distance? For example a deer at 150 compared to a deer at 600? An elk at 50 compared to 300? A deer at 300 compared to an elk at 300? Do you normally aim for vitals but at a distance, you change to high shoulder?

[jrebel]

I have handloaded for a very long time so I can't speak to factory ammo with the exception of one....Nosler trophy grade 140 accubond (not the 142 ABLR).  Shot great and to be expected the accubond is an amazing bullet.

I load 140 accubonds for two 6.5 creeds and they shoot very well and again are devastating on game.  Never had an accubond disappoint in any caliber.

ELD-X real life experience...not in a 6.5 though...I wouldn't use the ELD-X for anything more than target shooting or varmint hunting.  I have killed two moose and a couple bears.  They grenade on big bone, once never making through the shoulder of a bear.  The moose we have killed with them have died, but took multiple shots and some dynamited while others penciled through with what appeared to be no expansion.  Not a fan....I have a lot sitting on the shelf and they are being loaded for target only....they do shoot well. 

If you get to handloading....we shoot a lot of 124 gain hammer hunters out of our 6.5 creeds and they are amazing.  I would have no problem shooting deer or bear to 500 yards.  We have killed bear and deer with excellent terminal performance. 

[adamR]

Yeah, ELDX really make me nervous. I know someone that killed a bull elk with a 143 gr 6.5 Creedmoor ELDX. Yes, it died, took two shots, no blood, no sign of a hit, bull started to walk off and the just fell over. The bullets were found on the far side and they literally did not expand; they looked like bullets ready to be loaded. Thank God it was right in the heart because it would not have killed that bull otherwise, in my opinion.

[Sneaky]

I shot ELD-X 143gr, Terminal Ascent 130gr, and Barnes LRX 127gr for groups out of my 6.5CM. The barnes were best for accuracy and the ELD-X were the least accurate out of my rifle. That being said all three groups were sub 1" and the federal/barnes were closer to .5". All are great choices for hunting anything that you should hunt with a 6.5CM.

I went with the terminal ascent and shot a whitetail at about 120yds. The bullet passed through and deer dropped in its tracks. happy with the results and hoping the terminal ascent factory ammunition will be as accurate out of my .300WM