6.5 CM as a hunting cartridge... why?

[Justabirdwatcher]

Ah yes, as one does with the Creed. I experimented with StaBall 6.5 but quickly came back to the Gospel.

StaBall has yet to really impress me in anything. 7mm-08, 6.5 CM and now .300 WSM, it seems to always produce unexplained fliers for me. Those disappear when I go back to H4350 or IMR 4166 or even CFE 223.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

Figured I better put this one out there…it was mentioned earlier.
55gr Hornady Spire point @3800.
He never took a step.View attachment 356691

Nice buck in some really nice country. You are a blessed man, but I don't know how you ever did it without Kuiu, First Lite, Swaros and a 5 lb. rifle.

 

[dan.kirkpatrick]

i got my arizona spike bull this year 2024 late hunt} with my 6.5 cm,,dropped in its track,,didnt even take 1 step.143 eld x precision hunter did well for me.

 

[Redmt]

StaBall has yet to really impress me in anything. 7mm-08, 6.5 CM and now .300 WSM, it seems to always produce unexplained fliers for me. Those disappear when I go back to H4350 or IMR 4166 or even CFE 223.

Did you see fliers with every caliber? I saw the same thing and thought it was me.

 

[Brick300wm]

I’ve been told they work pretty well…
View attachment 356364

Hell of a deer Sir!

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

Did you see fliers with every caliber? I saw the same thing and thought it was me.

I have. I've shot it in 7mm-08, 6.5 CM and now my .300 WSM. Did the best in the WSM, but still not nearly as good as the H4350. I got so frustrated with it (even though I have 8 lbs) that I just quit using it in my 7mm-08 and would only use it for one bullet in the CM. I know some guys have great luck with it, but it doesn't give me confidence.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

i got my arizona spike bull this year 2024 late hunt} with my 6.5 cm,,dropped in its track,,didnt even take 1 step.143 eld x precision hunter did well for me.

That 143 ELD-X is a killer for sure. Sounds like the perfect bullet for the CM. I have a pile of them but could never get them to group well. I probably just suck at reloading.

 

[Redmt]

I also got an 8#. I couldn't get any satisfactory groups and the occasional "where the hell did that go?"

 

[dan.kirkpatrick]

i can shoot quarter sized groups at 200 yrds with the eld x 143,,my savage 116 really likes them.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

I also got an 8#. I couldn't get any satisfactory groups and the occasional "where the hell did that go?"

For a while there, it was all that was available. Now I know why. LOL

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

i can shoot quarter sized groups at 200 yrds with the eld x 143,,my savage 116 really likes them.

That's awesome. I owned three 6.5 CM's and never had that kind of luck with the 143's but I know a lot of folks do. Seemed all mine liked the 120 class bullets a lot.

 

[Brad]

I think this thread should be moved to 24hourcampfire.

Mods?

 

[Bowmannate2000]

Figured I better put this one out there…it was mentioned earlier.
55gr Hornady Spire point @3800.
He never took a step.View attachment 356691

@psinclair, do you recommend any bullet/powder combos for a 1/14 twist .22-250 for deer hunting? I have 63 grain Sierra's I have been wanting to try.

 

[psinclair]

@psinclair, do you recommend any bullet/powder combos for a 1/14 twist .22-250 for deer hunting? I have 63 grain Sierra's I have been wanting to try.

If you come across any R26, try that.
In my 22/250’s I’ve had really good luck with H414, and 55’s of all flavors.
If you ever re-barrel, try a 1-9. You’ll be able to use light bullets, and up to 75gr as well.

 

[Bowmannate2000]

If you come across any R26, try that.
In my 22/250’s I’ve had really good luck with H414, and 55’s of all flavors.
If you ever re-barrel, try a 1-9. You’ll be able to use light bullets, and up to 75gr as well.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[BAKPAKR]

If you come across any R26, try that.
In my 22/250’s I’ve had really good luck with H414, and 55’s of all flavors.
If you ever re-barrel, try a 1-9. You’ll be able to use light bullets, and up to 75gr as well.

RL26 is pretty amazing stuff. I am using it to get 2787 fps with 139 gr Scenars in my 6.5 CM. I also get good velocities with it behind 160 gr Accubonds in a 280 AI and 230 gr Bergers in a 30 Nosler.

 

[kodiakisland]

My dad and plenty of others were shooting elk and deer with a 220 Swift in the 1960s. There is nothing new, it just comes back around like bell bottom jeans.

Started hunting whitetails on a friend's farm in Arkansas about 17 years ago. First time out he showed me his pre 64 M70 in .270 he bought new for hunting deer in TX, Since moving to AR the shots were closer, so he pulled out his newer (still 40yo) rifle in 22 hornet that he'd killed 2-3 deer with every year. Said the .270 was just too much gun for those AR deer. I guess he just doesn't know any better.

 

[psinclair]

RL26 is pretty amazing stuff. I am using it to get 2787 fps with 139 gr Scenars in my 6.5 CM. I also get good velocities with it behind 160 gr Accubonds in a 280 AI and 230 gr Bergers in a 30 Nosler.

Agree. The magic pixie dust..
I’m using it in my 22CM’s, and both my 6.5 SAUM’s and both 6.5 PRC’s.
I use 139’s also, getting 3060fps with my lightweight PRC that has a 20” barrel(suppressed).
I’m glad I squirreled a bunch of it away before it became almost impossible to find.

 

[Redmt]

If you come across any R26, try that.
In my 22/250’s I’ve had really good luck with H414, and 55’s of all flavors.
If you ever re-barrel, try a 1-9. You’ll be able to use light bullets, and up to 75gr as well.

Well crap! Another hunt is on.

 

[CowboyLeroy]

Yeah, cant complain about threads that bring out PSinclair pics detailing big dead animals shot with interesting rifles while donning the latest in mountain athlete technical apparel.

This thread went from crashing and burning to soaring like an eagle