I did some serious hunting with the 6.5 this week and I'm starting to get a little nervous. I shot 3 whitetail today all under 75 yards with Winchester deer season, the first ones heart exploded and the blood trail was 3 feet wide for about 80 yards and it was an easy find. The second one was double lunged but the blood trail was a very light mist for about 80 yards, if there wasn't snow it would have been pretty hard to find. The 3rd one was at 60 yards broadside and double lunged, I seen the red mist through the scope after the shot. By the time I got things together and out of the stand it was dark. I thought it was going to be an easy recovery but even with snow I wasn't able to find blood, hopefully tomorrow will be a successful recovery. Has anyone else had problems with their 6.5 and good blood trails or am I just having a bad day?
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6.5 creedmoor blood trail
- Thread starter Blacklab1
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hesse
Well-Known Member
I have seen that with different cartridges. If it is a higher level hit the cavity has to fill with blood. I like a faster opening bullet (Hornady sst). That is why I switched the kids from the 243it was even worse
Not the cartridge.
Jon Bischof
Well-Known Member
Although you probably will find your deer hopefully, there are better performing bullets loaded in 6.5 CM for deer than Winchester Deer Season. Norma Whitetail and many others.
JimIsland
Member
The Buck in my pic was shot with a 6.5 CR 143 ELD-X. My son shot a medium size doe with a .300 win mag and it ran probably 60-70 yards. I know you've heard it thousand times but......shot placement! I hunt in some very thick bottoms and don't like them to run. High shoulder usually plants em DRT
waspocrew
Well-Known Member
Try a different round next time - it isn't just due to it being a 6.5 CM.
Idaho Lefty
Well-Known Member
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- Jan 29, 2018
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THIS,.. ^^^ 143 grain, ELD-X's,.. in Hornady, Precision Hunter Ammo ! Sierra's TGK's are probably very FINE, also !
I Reload the 143 gr. ELD-X's for my 6.5 Creed, for Hunting Big Game as, it's a THICKER Jacketed Bullet than, the ELD-M's,.. .037 Thick vs .023 thick.
My grand son uses them, in His 6.5 PRC @ 3,100 FPS and only, One Deer at, 495 Yards,.. bullet didn't, "Pass Thru" ( Just under, the Hide ).
All 3 Deer, no more than, a couple of Jumps ( DRT ! ) Great, but SHORT, Blood trails, on the Sub, 300 Yard Deer !
I Reload the 143 gr. ELD-X's for my 6.5 Creed, for Hunting Big Game as, it's a THICKER Jacketed Bullet than, the ELD-M's,.. .037 Thick vs .023 thick.
My grand son uses them, in His 6.5 PRC @ 3,100 FPS and only, One Deer at, 495 Yards,.. bullet didn't, "Pass Thru" ( Just under, the Hide ).
All 3 Deer, no more than, a couple of Jumps ( DRT ! ) Great, but SHORT, Blood trails, on the Sub, 300 Yard Deer !
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Yep it's the bullet not the cartridge. Sounds like you are shooting factory and your shots are in t woods probably not past 200 yards? Noslers ammo with Accubonds or Partitions, Barnes Vortex ammo or any of Federals Bonded or mono offerings will give you the red spray you desire.
liber
Well-Known Member
If you like seeing 'em drop quick, go for higher spine shots or the head if you're a risk taker...as most deer do a pretty good hop when they get hit, otherwise.
Had a similar issue with my 6.5 CM this season. Hornady Precision Hunter (143ELDX) left no exit wound or blood trail, but tore up the vitals. 143ELDX handloads left a good exit wound. I switched to Nosler Ballistic Tip factory ammo and do get an exit wound.
I used a 99 grain Hammer from a 6.5 Creed and a 155 Lapua Mega from a 260 on a couple of my deer this year and got great exits and very similar wound channels from both. Neither went far enough to really leave much of a trail.
Critter Picker
Well-Known Member
I'm Abigail fan of two holes to let blood out and cold air in.
Nice buck,I'd be happy with him.
Nice buck,I'd be happy with him.
Question about the Winchester deer season ammo, I'm assuming that they are NOT the power points?
I've shot numerous deer with the 100 grain power points from a 243 and they worked well. This was quite a few years ago.
I've shot numerous deer with the 100 grain power points from a 243 and they worked well. This was quite a few years ago.
