Thread: 6.5CM bullet performance

I have a Sauer 100 which is I love and shoots tight groups with the right projectiles bit it seems to be quite fussy. I love the performance of the 129gn Hornady SST projectiles and use them in my 6.5CM Tikka, they shoot well in this rifle but the Sauer does not seem to like them. I bought some 130 Sierra TGK to try and the Sauer does like these. 43gn of 2209 give me 2780fps and sub MOA 3 shot groups.
BUT the info I have read about the performance of these bullets says that they have a relatively thick jacket and a hard core, consequently they tend to be a tough bullet by say comparison to the SST. A lot of what I hunt are Fallow deer so I am not sure how such a tough projectile will work in this case.
The SST seemed to offer the best of both worlds, a fast opening tip section with a base section which tended to hold together and penetrate.
Also to clarify my choices. I am not a big fan of the 143 ELDX which might seem the obvious choice, I feel that the 130gn or thereabouts weight gives better overall performance out to practical hunting ranges (for me that's about 500m max)
So after going for a hunt last week on the fallow and shooting 6 animals with the 130gn Sierra's they seemed to work Ok, I even recovered a projectile from an offside shoulder. Image attached.
I am curious as to what other people have found using the 130gn TGK. I am also mindful of the fact that bullet choice can often be a case of whats available vs what you actually want so another option would be good (something in that 130gn range)

So can I ask why are you not a fan of the ELDX I use them in my 19" Creedmoor and load them in a few .260 as well never had an issue up close our out to the farthest I've shot just over 600.

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projectile placement is just as important.....way back in 1900 and nuts n bolts using fmj in 303 was still quite common..hit big billy goat or even small nanny through both shoulders was much more effective than slipped in through ribs.
if your worried your projectile may be a little too hard..give it something to work on..smash some bone.
workmate uses the whitetail in same and has large run of single round kills..granted all are under 200 yards...but he sure doesnt overthink it..just point ,shoot,then drive truck over and pick up (he shot red hind with me the other week and moaned it was too far away as we had to drag it 200 yards to truck lol) Im sure you will do fine with what you have got,we all seem to overthink this way too much these days.

Originally Posted by 25/08 IMP

So can I ask why are you not a fan of the ELDX I use them in my 19" Creedmoor and load them in a few .260 as well never had an issue up close our out to the farthest I've shot just over 600.

Same here, ive lost count of how many deer i have shot with the 143 ELDX, its a great killer up close and out far. Found them really easy to get them to shoot in all the rifles i have used them in too.

Originally Posted by 6.5 CRD

Same here, ive lost count of how many deer i have shot with the 143 ELDX, its a great killer up close and out far. Found them really easy to get them to shoot in all the rifles i have used them in too.

Probably no real issue with the terminal performance of the 143ELDX but I see no advantage either.
143gn ELDX. 41gn 2209 2575fps. 200m zero is 64mm high at 100m. 300m 26.6cm low. 2157 energy. 500m 151cm low. 1894 energy.
130gn SGK 43gn 2209 2780fps. 200 zero is 54mm high at 100. 300m 23.7cm low. 2228 energy. 500m 138.7cm low 1898 energy.

That 41gns of 2209 behind the 143ELDX did not produce a very flash group in the Sauer but to be fair that was only 1 x 3 shot group. It seemed to group ok with 40gns of 2209 but I was not really happy with the low velocity, 2540fps from memory. I have been playing around with Superformance and managed 2714fps with 45gns in my Bergara HMR 6.5CM so maybe I will try that load in the Sauer.

Im funning the factory Hornady 143eldx in my and they are falling out of the barrel 2530fps but dam they hit like a brick

400y is 8.2moa 100y zero

Try some Berger’s 👌 or the 147 eld-m

Originally Posted by zeropak

Probably no real issue with the terminal performance of the 143ELDX but I see no advantage either.
143gn ELDX. 41gn 2209 2575fps. 200m zero is 64mm high at 100m. 300m 26.6cm low. 2157 energy. 500m 151cm low. 1894 energy.
130gn SGK 43gn 2209 2780fps. 200 zero is 54mm high at 100. 300m 23.7cm low. 2228 energy. 500m 138.7cm low 1898 energy.

That 41gns of 2209 behind the 143ELDX did not produce a very flash group in the Sauer but to be fair that was only 1 x 3 shot group. It seemed to group ok with 40gns of 2209 but I was not really happy with the low velocity, 2540fps from memory. I have been playing around with Superformance and managed 2714fps with 45gns in my Bergara HMR 6.5CM so maybe I will try that load in the Sauer.

Give Hodgdon superprofrmance a good good you should be able to load around 46-47 grn behind the 143 ELDX

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In the age of the internet, most seem to overthink things these days.
The deer are no more difficult to put down

A cheap as chips 129g Hornady interlock, trickling along at 2630fps muzzle velocity out of a Kimber 260 20" barrel.
Close range bush hunting.

Entry wound on Jap Hind


Exit wound

Originally Posted by 25/08 IMP

Give Hodgdon superprofrmance a good good you should be able to load around 46-47 grn behind the 143 ELDX

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I ran a ladder on the 143ELDX with superformance in My Bergara 6.5CM HMR. Starline brass and federal 210 small rifle primers. I went from 44gn to 47gn. 45 seemed to be the sweetspot after that I was getting significant primer cratering and the groups started to open up. But to be fair this was in the Bregara and not the Sauer, however the Sauer seems to have quite tight chamber and a shorter throat so I doubt I could comfortably push them harder than I already have.

Running pretty much the exact same load with the 130gr game changers in my 22inch Bergara b14 2780fps.Had great results with the this projectile. Works on Tahr, Reds, Chamois and fallow to be fair it made a big mess of the fallow at 200yards.

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I ran the 129 interlock was bloody good I use the Sierra in .308 and so far it’s being flawless I love it

Originally Posted by Bergara_bangstick

Running pretty much the exact same load with the 130gr game changers in my 22inch Bergara b14 2780fps.Had great results with the this projectile. Works on Tahr, Reds, Chamois and fallow to be fair it made a big mess of the fallow at 200yards.

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Thanks for that. I don't think the Sierra Gamechangers are the hard bullet that some writeups (and Sierra) say they are.

Interesting read here fellas. @zeropak the 130 TGK were my original choice, and then I was distracted by another projectile, so it’s good to hear your feedback on the bullet.
I got distracted by the Berger 135gr classic hunters and have just finished up a load for them with Staball 6.5 at 2780fps.
I’ll keep you posted with pics in a couple of weeks.

Originally Posted by JohnQT

Interesting read here fellas. @zeropak the 130 TGK were my original choice, and then I was distracted by another projectile, so it’s good to hear your feedback on the bullet.
I got distracted by the Berger 135gr classic hunters and have just finished up a load for them with Staball 6.5 at 2780fps.
I’ll keep you posted with pics in a couple of weeks.

Ok never tried the Bergers so I will be interested in how they go, What your load with the Staball? Berger says they are quite a frangible bullet which will penetrate 2 to 3" and then give massive expansion. Based on the performance I got from my last outing with the Sierra TGK I will stick with it for a couple of trips and see how it goes. I also worked up a load of 47gns of superformance in my Tikka 6.5CM which is shooting good groups and doing 2755fps out of a 20" barrel with no pressure signs. The Tikka just seems to be slower than my Sauer and Bergara maybe its the long throat in the Tikka. With the Sierra TGK 74.2mm OALL is on the lands, I load to 72.4 OALL.