156 EOL/6.5 CM For Elk

JTB

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Jul 27, 2016
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370
Location
AZ
I have been working up CM loads for the 156gr Berger and am finding this to be a great combination with both accuracy and energy potential (MV 2660 with energy at 500 yards or 1558). This is a small 8lb setup with scope and the accuracy from the 156 Berger as good as I have seen. We had our first experience using the 156 in this CM yesterday when my grandson dropped a nice buck at 440 yards with a great pass through shot on the shoulder; it dropped like a rock. These young kids we are raising don't know it is suppose to be difficult to make longer shots. He just ranged it and figure about 15 mph of wind (Up 4 on the elevation turret over 3 on the reticle from the trusted shooter app). We have been taking Bull elk with 6.5-06 and 6.5 PRC using 140 class for the past few years with great results and the boys want to use the Creedmoor for elk.
I recently heard of a group of fellow hunters suggesting if a 6.5 caliber was being considered a 6.5-06 AI or larger would be required for elk in order to deliver the needed energy (1500 lbs in their book) but wouldn't trust the creedmoor at any distance. Why are some trying to discredit the Creedmoor? It has the same velocity and 1500 ft lbs of energy at 500 yards as the AI does at 700 and many say they seldom take over a 500 yard shot. The success of the smaller caliber, high SD/BC hunting pills has been as reliable on elk as anything we have used at distances out to about 800 yards (we would limit the kids to 500 yards or less for elk). The negative rhetoric toward the Creedmoor is swaying hunters and has essentially become an affront to their manhood in some circles. They won't even pull the trigger on one. Really? Seems those offended by Hornady's marketing and a man bun are effectively swaying the masses. Just wondering if anyone has taken an elk within 500 yards with an 156 EOL from a Creedmoor and be comfortable enough talking about it. Man bun is okay.
 
Congrats to ur grandson
Is it an 1:8twist cm you're using the 156 in?
Btw I use a creedmoor. Very effective little cartridge
 
Me & mine have taken numerous elk over the years with a 6.5x308 wild cat, 260 Rem, 6.5x55 , 6.5x06 & 264 mag. No problem with one shot complete pass thru shots. Only difference with you is that we have been using the Barnes mono's.
 
If you keep the distance reasonable, it should be fine. I'm not a fan of greater than 300 yards with lighter cartridges for elk.
Strange things happen we get close to the velocity min or max for a bullet.
Do love Berger bullets. A Barnes or hammer bullet might be a better option in this case.
 
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I am a creedmoore fan. A shot threw the motor room is a done deal at reasonable ranges ,I feel 500 yards is max on Elk threw the vitals imo. When choosing a caliber or considering taking a shot, don't make your decision on a best case , you should plan on the worst case and decide if your plan is good enough .
 
All this bs is because people refuse to understand terminal ballistics. It's a combination of bullet design, FPS, sectional density, and BC. It's not hard to understand but it appears to be excessively hard for people to grasp the concept. My neighbor has killed 9 elk with a creedmoor using the 143 ELD x. From 150-500 yards. Some very large bulls and a pile of cows. It works fine with good shot placement and reasonable distances. I have no issue with 500 on elk with a creed.
 
Any more load details? Group size and brass/primer? Going to be tough to move away from factory match...shoots in the .1's and .2's. For a guy who has hand loaded nearly everything for the past 20 years, buying factory ammo for a precision LR rig is a strange concept.
 
I loaded up the 156's for a buddy's creed and he killed and antelope with it, and I have either harvested myself or been there for 11 antelope, 3 deer, and 2 elk with the 156's. While the elk were not taken with a creed at under 500, they were taken with a .260 AI at over 800. 840 and 865 in fact. There was another taken at 910 from the same group with the 170 EOL out of a .270 Sherman, but that is for a different thread. One was a high shoulder hit, and bang flop, destroyed lungs. The other was a heart shot and it went about 8 yards from where it was standing and piled up, destroyed lungs and heart. Muzzle velocity of 2940, energy at impact was in the 1450 ft-lb range. This is what we saw inside the large cows. Video link so you can see what was left of the lungs. Make your own conclusions....

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