6.5 Shooters Favorite Reload Bullet For Hunting Deer and Elk?

[Deputy819]

I tried a plain old 'vanilla' Sierra 140gr Game King this year in my Creedmoor. Knocked off a nice, older doe at 200 yards with it. Complete pass through with a muzzle velocity of @ 2810 fps according to Magnetospeed. I was happy with the performance...she didn't go 10 yards.
Entrance and internal entrance
Exit Exit (internal)

Shattered top-half of her heart

 

[LISBON]

I'm shooting the 124g Hammer Hunter in my Creedmoor and my 6.5X284 with great success.
I'm currently playing with the 123g Absolute Hunter bullet but no results yet.

Thanks for sharing, when you get your results.
6.5cm with 123ah

 

[byrddog]

Been shooting 140 Berger hvld for several years out of a 6.5x284. Killed 8-10 cow elk, furthest range was 560 yards. All but 1 was a 1 shot kill. Past 450-500 behind shoulder shots have passed through. Most don't go more than 20 yards. Couple under 200, through a shoulder....drt. Have shot several barbary sheep with them, same result. Probably my favorite hunting bullet.

 

[Red Brandy]

160 Woodleigh never fails.

 

[wv270wsm]

130 gr accubonds . Shooting those from a 260 rem and the 6.5 creedmoor. Absolutely devastating on whitetail.

 

[Stammster]

I tried a plain old 'vanilla' Sierra 140gr Game King this year in my Creedmoor. Knocked off a nice, older doe at 200 yards with it. Complete pass through with a muzzle velocity of @ 2810 fps according to Magnetospeed. I was happy with the performance...she didn't go 10 yards.
View attachment 234610View attachment 234611Entrance and internal entrance View attachment 234612
View attachment 234613Exit View attachment 234614Exit (internal)

View attachment 234615Shattered top-half of her heart

What powder?

 

[BrentM]

Using 135a tip currently. Hammered a couple deer and multiple yote and couple wolves. Devastating!

I've used hornady for a while, 147 eld, 143 eldx.

it seems like everything works if the animal is hit right.

 

[smithj99]

100 grain Partitions before they were too light.
125 grain Partitions before they were too old.
130 HPBT Gamekings before they were too blunt
130 grain Accubonds, Tipped Gamekings, and Bergers VLD before THEY were too light
140 grain Accubond and Partiton both too old and low BC.
These have all been stellar performers on game in the .260, 264 WIN MAG, 6.5-06, 6.5x284N, 6.5Creed, 6.5 Swede, and 6.5PRC. I could not pick a favorite.

Do you have any preferred loads in 6.5 Swedish?

 

[Deputy819]

What powder?

Good ole' H4350.

 

[BEEMAN]

I can't help you with elk. But I do use two 6.5x47's for deer. 130 hvld has worked very well at 2950 FPS. 130 Accubond also did very well at 2900 FPS. Currently using the 124HH the last two season with great success. I run these at 2938 FPS. I don't have a bad thing to say about these bullets. For elk I'd pick the 124 HH. I shot my buck almost facing me this year. Shot entered base of neck/shoulder junction and exited opposite side last rib. That was 30" of penetration.

 

[twister]

140 bergers and 124 hammers both work great.

 

[Jerry D]

Hey, great post. I am just looking into this for my 6.5cm that is being built.

I am interested in cup and core bullets to keep the cost down for hunting. It seems the Berger bullets are roughly the same costs, regardless of whether they are hunting or target specified. I am looking at their 135 classic for the hybrid design which is more forgiving.

Sierra tipped game kings are very low cost... mixed feelings on them. Regular game kings are priced well.

Nosler 120 and 140gr ballistic tips as well, but not much info on them but no doubt will work on deer.

Good things about the 130 accubond but cost is way up there as a do it all bullet along with the Barnes lrx. which also are highly rated and the swift s2 for aerodynamic bullets that hold together.

 

[Quintus]

Do you have any preferred loads in 6.5 Swedish?

I really like RL19 Pushing 130 Grain Sierra HPBT Gamekings.

 

[Bwana Barry]

CZ 550 Swede:
1. Federal Fusion 140gr - shot 1 fallow deer, 2 warthog and five kudu's incl a 55" E Cape bull. Flawless performance with 95 % bullet retention. (On kudu, I shot double lung and/or neck)

2. Scenar 139gr - amazing accuracy - only on paper so far, but would consider them for springbok and Fallow.

3. Hornady 140gr Interlock - would be my go-to if Fusion not available - shot about 20 fallow deer with these before I became aware of Fed Fusions.

Nosler Partition 140gr, Barnes Ttsx 130gr, Accubond 140gr, Norma 156gr Oryx and Hornady 140gr Eldx would be other good choices - depending on the application.