Here's this years take on hunting with 6.5 ELD M's
I had the chance to take a mule deer buck @ 550 yards w/6.5 creedmoor 140 ELD M @ 2725 FPS. first shot he was hard quarter away, I ran one in from behind last rib, bullet did not make it to the vitals! Deer laid down immediately, I then stalked in to 250 yards where I shot a 2nd time, trying to sneak one in behind the shoulder, instead I hit square in the humorous (big part of upper leg) bullet exploded on impact and never penetrated through the chest cavity. From there he looked down, when I got to him he tried to get up and I had to finish him point blank. I was surprised to see the 1st shot didn't devastate his lungs, nonetheless I was disappointed with the performance on this big buck, last year we had good luck with this 140 ELD M on deer.
Second instance was little sister shooting 147 ELD match @ 2800 FPS out of her husbands creedmoor. Spike bull elk. 250yards, same thing, she was shaky (first elk) hit square in the humorous, again, this 147 did not penetrate to the vitals, all of the lead and jacket rested on the rib cage. this bull had to be put down point blank as well.
Third instance was father in law was able to harvest a nice rag horn bull elk with my creedmoor (same 140 ELD match) this shot was at 100 yards, steep down hill shot, he shot him square in the neck, bullet traveled through the neck and came to rest in the backstrap, beautiful mushroom that weighed just over 90 grains.
I have had extensive testing on game between myself and family - the verdict : don't expect these to penetrate like a conventional hunting bullet, they do not have a thick enough construction to really penetrate, I have found the 140 ELD match to be inconsistent with penetration, avoid shoulder shots is my opinion.
If you have the ability to make perfect shots then yes they work wonderfully, however, as most know/have experienced hunting isn't always perfect, I am on the fence as to whether or not to keep using these, they are just so darn accurate I don't know if I want to work a new load.