6.5 creedmoor blood trail

[FEENIX]

Per the OP, I am sticking to my personal and real-world experience with the ammo under scrutiny.

 

[Rick Richard]

I've taken a pile of animals throughout my life time and some have run off after the shot and some have not….with a centerfire rifle. However, ALL have dropped when using a big ole projectile of 250 grains or more traveling near or around that 2000 fps range. That has been with slugs and MZ. Can't explain it other than that "bulldozer" effect. Just saying.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

Everyone's experience will be different, even with the same bullet/ammo. You can be guided by your experience, which is 3 deer getting 80+ yards after the shot. Unlike many of the previous posts, I'm not too big on shoulder shots, especially if you want to eat shoulder meat. Shoulder shots work but they make a nasty mess out of a deer's shoulder.

I think you should try using ammo with a Berger bullet. Bergers & whitetails result in very short runs or DRT in my experience. Blood trails aren't usually necessary when a deer drops quickly. I think a Hornady 147 ELD-M would work just about as good and save you a few bucks.

BTW - nice buck you got there - Congratulations.

 

[FEENIX]

Nor the cartridge. After reading these guys it's actually the bullet placement. 2 shoulders hit they just don't go far if at all. It's all in the placement.

Shot placement and the NUT behind the trigger remain the most significant factors.

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

Everyone's experience will be different, even with the same bullet/ammo. You can be guided by your experience, which is 3 deer getting 80+ yards after the shot. Unlike many of the previous posts, I'm not too big on shoulder shots, especially if you want to eat shoulder meat. Shoulder shots work but they make a nasty mess out of a deer's shoulder.

I think you should try using ammo with a Berger bullet. Bergers & whitetails result in very short runs or DRT in my experience. Blood trails aren't usually necessary when a deer drops quickly. I think a Hornady 147 ELD-M would work just about as good and save you a few bucks.

BTW - nice buck you got there - Congratulations.

I also try to avoid shoulder shots. They make a mess and I hate throwing away meat. Bone and bullet fragments get everywhere.

A 140eld-m in the crease and they won't go out of sight.

 

[WV338]

As others have said it's not the cartridge it's the bullet. If you like shooting double lung shots then go to a bullet that will expand rapidly so you vaporize their lungs. I once shot a deer with the wrong bullet for a double lung shot and it made two pencil holes through him. Luckily he didn't move off to far and I was able to get a second shot into him to put him down. My first shot was a miss because I was aiming at the shoulder but my shot was 350 yards away.

 

[FEENIX]

Everyone's experience will be different, even with the same bullet/ammo. You can be guided by your experience, which is 3 deer getting 80+ yards after the shot. Unlike many of the previous posts, I'm not too big on shoulder shots, especially if you want to eat shoulder meat. Shoulder shots work but they make a nasty mess out of a deer's shoulder.

I think you should try using ammo with a Berger bullet. Bergers & whitetails result in very short runs or DRT in my experience. Blood trails aren't usually necessary when a deer drops quickly. I think a Hornady 147 ELD-M would work just about as good and save you a few bucks.

BTW - nice buck you got there - Congratulations.

Most know that Berger is my go-to bullet. But the OP was asking if anyone else was having the issue. So, out of the 6 I harvested, it was not the cartridge or the bullet. I, too, am not a big fan of shoulder shots; only 1 out of the 6 was a shoulder shot.

 

[2Rope]

It couldn't be the CM, they will DRT an elk at a mile!

At the distance you are shooting, behind the ear will anchor them and not ruin meat. Think about your 100 yard groups and be confident in your ability and equipment.

 

[wrightjr]

It's the projectile. I know that most guys use ballistic tipped projectiles nowadays, but I have never had consistent success/ results with their performance on game under 100 yards. I have seen that same ammo do the same thing in my uncle's creedmoor. At further distance (200-400) I've seen more consistent results on game. I have several buddies who have been plagued with this issue because they were hell bent on using a certain projectile. In my experience, grandpa's boring cup and core style projectiles still produce better results at shorter distances (100 ish yards ) on deer sized game.

 

[Marky_mark]

All of those shots were pretty close range. That being said they are going near muzzle velocity, expanding like crazy and potentially seperating. If you like two holes for easier tracking, Id shoot something that expands and stays together better at higher velocity. A partition, or bonded bullet will do that. Youll get mixed results if your shooting a thinner jacketed cup and core bullet. Which is the results that your seeing already.

 

[Flatbow]

Tagging in to come back later.
Got to hit the gym.

 

[AussieWriter]

If I had a 6.5 for deer, I'd load a Hornady or Speer soft point.

 

[Marky_mark]

Some animals also have a strong will to live and do strange things

 

[FEENIX]

I remember a thread a few years ago in which a guy swears he shot a big buck, but the Berger bullet failed. A lot of people joined in bashing Berger. He was so sure of himself about it. A few days later, he ran into that same buck, which was alive and well. IIRC, he also has a trail that validated the missed shot. L L!