re: $1000 to Spend on a New Rifle - Update

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spend 4 minutes looking on rokslide and now I have homework to research bonded vs. non and other things. Any suggestions for sites with a good breakdown of bullet types for different applications?

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Rokslide has a ton of good info but as DSF said it’s a lot of western guys. Tbere idea of good performances is going to be different than eastern hunters. When a western guy makes a shot at 400yd and the animal runs 100yd and falls over with out a drop of blood he’s happy and the bullet did its job. When that same shot repeats in a pine thicket the hunter is cussing the gun/bullet and cursing mr creedmore for being born.
Go check out Ron spomer out doors watch some of his YouTubes he has a ton of good info.

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Based on experience with both hitting a deer? I'm open to advice, will look at both. I figure something with a tip designed to fail on impact is going to lead to expansion, and the 143 grain was the heaviest I could find as well.

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Yes. I've killed deer with both the ELD-X and TSX. I've killed two with the ELD-X. One dropped but no pass through, the other ran about 30 yards on a double lung shot but there was no blood. I watched her fall though.

I've killed 3 with TSX. None have gone further than 10 yards, but they were all pass throughs with massive blood loss. One went through some palmettos and the palmetto blades looked like they'd been spray painted red.

Shot placement is key, obviously, but based on what I've learned, most of peoples' supposed issues with the 6.5 creedmoor can be traced to bad projectile selection. Mine is a Bergara Premier Highlander. I'm not a big rifle hunter but I love the gun. I have a suppressor for it and I love that I can effectively shoot it without ear pro all day because there is hardly any recoil. It's the most accurate rifle I own by far.

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Every ammo I've ever looked at has some bad reviews. That said, I spend 4 minutes looking on rokslide and now I have homework to research bonded vs. non and other things. Any suggestions for sites with a good breakdown of bullet types for different applications?

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All you really need to understand is there are roughly four classes of bullets for practical hunting applications, from highest weight retention to lowest;

Monolithics (copper), Barnes TSX and imitators - extremely high penetration leading to exit and bleeding, less energy imparted as “knockdown power”, bullet can “zip” through. Some states mandate cause of lead free.

Bonded, Nosler Accubond, Swift Scirocco, and imitators - Thick jacket that is chemically bonded to a lead core, less retention than copper but still very likely to exit while also dumping energy. Expensive but very good hunting option for medium to big game and all but the shortest ranges.

Pointed soft points, Nosler partition, Rem corelokt, Sierra game king, and most any other “hunting” bullet with a deer on the box and lead tip. The baseline for hunting, front half of the bullet will expand while the base tends to stay intact and penetrate, about a coin flip to exit depending on how much bone you hit. Very dependable option especially for medium game like deer.

Ballistic Tip/Varmit/Long Range, Hornady ELD-X, Nosler accubond LR (troll by nosler to call it that), Nosler ballistic tip, anything marketed as target or varmit - immediate expansion at close range and reliable expansion at long range (low velocities). As said, the reason people dog the creedmoor. Will dump all the energy into the entry wound, very little chance of an exit, very little blood. Some will be marketed as hunting bullets because it lets the ammo maker put stupid high BCs on the box and while selling rebranded target bullets at a premium. That said, excellent “knockdown” and you’ll hear people swear by one or the other cause they get bang flops or are hunting where they can watch the animal run before going down.

oh that 6.5 rabbit hole! Being old and old school ..the 6.5 is a true riflemans
round..shot placement . the old 06 with 180 g corlock at 100yd doe was money!
JUST HIT IT . But same round on a 200plus
pound rutting buck needs a good shot to anchor. 6.5 will often have sparse blood
trails.thats part of deer hunting.i shoot
120g gmx i want a pass throu.but i want a broadside shoulder for instant off

that is all

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TheDrunkenTigah

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this is a great cheat sheet that will save a few hours comparing info on different websites.

Always had great results with accubonds out of my 6.5 Swede, 30 Nos, and 257 Wby. Killed many deer with various chest or neck shots, 200 yds or less. All exited, not a lot of meat loss, massive trauma, all DRT. Using partitions in my 243 and 30-06, maybe they run 20-30 yards, but fall over dead.

also have used ballistic tips and bergers in the past in similar conditions with reliable results. But the entry-side shoulder was mostly lost. If using BTs, Bergers, or Sierra TGKs inside 100 yds, try to get quartering shots behind or in front of the shoulder - they will explode on that shoulder joint.

despite all the marketing BS, if you want one bullet to cover most hunting conditions, use partitions and don't be afraid to go heavy-for-caliber when you need it.

ETA: Ron Spomer youtube is good info. Randy Selby youtube is the real deal - I put him on at work and just listen.

Downshift, as you well know, taking a .223 elk hunting is dumbass.

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I've killed 3 with TSX. None have gone further than 10 yards, but they were all pass throughs with massive blood loss. One went through some palmettos and the palmetto blades looked like they'd been spray painted red.

Shot placement is key,

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I used the 130 gr TSX at 3200 fps and lost 3 deer. Complete pass through but penciled through with no blood trail. Deer were found the next day by buzzards. Switched to a lighter 110gr TTSX at 3500fps and it was like lightning struck those deer. Blood everywhere if they even took a step.

Shot placement is key but I've had almost a complete pass through by shooting a deer in the chest. Bullet was in the skin of the arse. Barnes, Nosler partition, and core looks, have to some of the best bullets ever for hunting.

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77 gr sierra TMK

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Currently building a new coyote gun and am really hoping it likes grouping that round. Every has high praises for it

Their reasons for liking it are solid. Why shoot a 3,000+ fpe rifle with a tough overbuilt bullet and put 3/4 of that energy into the landscape on purpose?

Shoot something with near zero recoil so you can spot your own hits, you can practice A LOT, the bullet performance is great.

The "rokslide special" is a tikka T3 .223, barrel cut to 17" with supressor, a fixed 6x SWFA scope, and a mag full of 77gr TMK.

Dudes over there are mashing shite with that combo. To get back on topic, that bullet would PROBABLY be pretty good medicine for the Creedmoor if exits aren't your main priority.

Colorado-

To legally hunt elk with a rifle in Colorado, you must use a rifle that fires expanding bullets with a minimum caliber of .24 cal. or 6mm, a minimum weight of 85 grains that delivers at least 1,000 ft. lbs. of energy at 100 yards.