Big deer hunt - help me pick the cartridge

[nocannons]

I would have to agree with Manitou1 About deer size and score. The biggest deer I have ever taken was over 200 by just a few pounds and scored 117and change. Maybe the sizes run a bit higher in farther north part of the state. it does seem like here in central Missouri the deer quality has improved as far as antlers go but monster body size is very rare. I know I will probably catch it for saying this but my brother and have shot 243 for over 15 yrs. and in that time never lost a deer and only a few went out of sight before expiring. 87 gr. hunting vld berger bullets only thing used. Not many exits but looked like a bomb went off in chest cavity.

 

[Tidus56]

6.5 creed is plenty of gun. We kill lots of deer and bear both with the 6.5. Take whichever your the most confident in and have fun!

There is no way in you know where that a 6.5 creed would ever kill a a 250 pound animal. It just isn't possible, the Creed is so weak that only a man bun, skinny jean hipster could use it. Oh and 2700 FPS is top speed for a 140 grain bullet, no way it could go faster. A man bun does add 50 FPS to your speed.
To the OP, I would take the Creed and use a Hammer bullet or the ELD of your choice. Make a good shot and it will all go well. Good luck.

 

[DRock]

This is the exit hole on a large bodied bull elk shot at 300 yards with a 6.5CM and a 142gr ELDX. As stated above by many, you are not under powered in the least to hunt large bodied deer with this round. Good luck and happy hunting!

 

[Stevenstl86]

I would have to agree with Manitou1 About deer size and score. The biggest deer I have ever taken was over 200 by just a few pounds and scored 117and change. Maybe the sizes run a bit higher in farther north part of the state. it does seem like here in central Missouri the deer quality has improved as far as antlers go but monster body size is very rare. I know I will probably catch it for saying this but my brother and have shot 243 for over 15 yrs. and in that time never lost a deer and only a few went out of sight before expiring. 87 gr. hunting vld berger bullets only thing used. Not many exits but looked like a bomb went off in chest cavity.

hunted a lot in Ralls, Clark, Knox. I've only seen a few deer close to 200lbs. Most of them grossed in the 160's. Still waiting for something bigger.
The 243 does great on deer. Hydrostatic shock is still controversial but the wound cavity is impressive for a small bullet.

 

[CVCOBRA1]

Much to my dismay there are people that shoot deer all the time with 22 center fires. Is it the correct choice, hardly. But still, many do it. It does prove that you don't need a magnum for deer.

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

There is no way in you know where that a 6.5 creed would ever kill a a 250 pound animal. It just isn't possible, the Creed is so weak that only a man bun, skinny jean hipster could use it. Oh and 2700 FPS is top speed for a 140 grain bullet, no way it could go faster. A man bun does add 50 FPS to your speed.
To the OP, I would take the Creed and use a Hammer bullet or the ELD of your choice. Make a good shot and it will all go well. Good luck.

Dont forget the flat brim hat adds a good 75 fps and will increase the supersonic range out to 2,000 yards!

 

[Tidus56]

Dont forget the flat brim hat adds a good 75 fps and will increase the supersonic range out to 2,000 yards!

My bad man...my bad.

 

[375 JDJ]

Going to Missouri in Nov for for my second annual deer hunt. I hear the white tail there are really big with bucks over 250-300 lbs. Im told that most shots would be within 10-150 yds on the property we are hunting with nothing more than 200 yds. Last year I shot my first deer with my 6.5 Creedmoor and a Hornady ELDX 143 gn projectile. Im contemplating whether I should shoot the Creedmoor with that round or a Barnes 127 gn projectile to ensure an exit hole.
The other option would be a 300 win mag with a 180 gn Barnes or 165 gn Ballistic tip but my friends tell me that those are overkill for a soft animal like a white tail. Im also working on a load for a 215 gn Berger Hybrid target but that seems like a lot more than the energy required. Looking for some experienced input in making the decision. Thank you in advance.

300 win mag would work fine for your hunt i never had any one tell me that you killed the game to dead Dead is dead no matter how you do it I would use the 300 win mag on the hunt

 

[RAGGED EDGE]

There is no way in you know where that a 6.5 creed would ever kill a a 250 pound animal. It just isn't possible, the Creed is so weak that only a man bun, skinny jean hipster could use it. Oh and 2700 FPS is top speed for a 140 grain bullet, no way it could go faster. A man bun does add 50 FPS to your speed.
To the OP, I would take the Creed and use a Hammer bullet or the ELD of your choice. Make a good shot and it will all go well. Good luck.

OR, as stated earlier here, a 125-grain partition. I do not think there is a better deer bullet on the planet for the 6.5, except maybe for the 100-grain TTSX.

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

My 140 eld-m load would beg to differ!

 

[Tidus56]

Bullet choice is up to each person, I have seen lousy results with certain bullets while others claim they are the best ever. So I guess that's for each person to suss out for themselves. I prefer Berger and Hornady for leads, for coppers I would use a Hammer. That's from my personal experience, but to each their own.

 

[DWier]

I hunt whitetails with a 6.5 creedmoor and 143gr eldx and also a 300 win mag with 200gr eldx ammo. No doubt the Creedmoor works fine but there is no denying the 300 puts them down faster in most cases. Put it though their shoulders with a 300 win mag and the majority of the time there is no tracking involved. Mature bucks in my area weigh up to 200 lbs but not usually over.

Neck shot and it doesn't matter which one you use. DRT!

 

[skipglo]

Going to Missouri in Nov for for my second annual deer hunt. I hear the white tail there are really big with bucks over 250-300 lbs. Im told that most shots would be within 10-150 yds on the property we are hunting with nothing more than 200 yds. Last year I shot my first deer with my 6.5 Creedmoor and a Hornady ELDX 143 gn projectile. Im contemplating whether I should shoot the Creedmoor with that round or a Barnes 127 gn projectile to ensure an exit hole.
The other option would be a 300 win mag with a 180 gn Barnes or 165 gn Ballistic tip but my friends tell me that those are overkill for a soft animal like a white tail. Im also working on a load for a 215 gn Berger Hybrid target but that seems like a lot more than the energy required. Looking for some experienced input in making the decision. Thank you in advance.

Any caliber at those ranges that you have shot before and like.if it's 10 yards...just jump out the tree stand and use a knife!

 

[NeedForSpeed]

I would shoot whatever it shoots more accurately. Both bullets will kill a deer if you do your part.

They are both sub moa in my rifle