Sierra GameChanger 140 Grain 6.5 No Blood Trail

[brentru]

I think the Gamechanger is a very stout bullet vs the ELD-M and ELD-X. I am going to try the ELD-M next go around and see if I get a bigger entrance wound to make sure there is some blood.

I think you meant bigger exit wound.

 

[Roughrice]

Heavy 6.5 bullets, 135 and up, like 270, 140 and up, have high sectional densities. The lighter bullets moving faster carry more energy and make bigger exit wounds.

I am shooting the 145gr eldx in my 270. Earlier this year I shot a doe with one and lost her with no blood trail. We found her three days later 300 yards from where I shot her. Shot was about 60 yards and the bullet went through both lungs. The exit wound was not much bigger than the entrance wound. The bullet passed through her and struck another doe standing hidden about twenty yards behind her. That deer looked like a murder scene. The bullet entered behind the shoulder and exited in front of the hip leaving an enormous exit wound but it had to travel through two deer to do so. The second deer fell were she was shot, recovered.

Fast forward to 6:30 this morning and I shot a second doe at 199 yards, which we verified with a range finder, through the heart. Bang flop!!! The bullet eviscerated the heart but failed even at that range to expand much. Exit wound was not much bigger than a nickel. The 145 eldx is just to much bullet for a 100-150lbs whitetail. The sectional density is to great for shots inside 200 yards. They are great bullets for elk but to much for small to midsize deer. Bullet selection is critical.

While it may seem counter intuitive to do so, because in America "more is moe better" and "most is most better", lighter bullets traveling at higher velocities make better since and generate more energy inside 300 yards. If you don't anticipate having to shoot beyond 400 I would lighten up on the bullet, not just change it for something else of equal weight. In 6.5 I would drop down to a 130 or less. I am going to load some 130 Bergers this evening and will most likely hunt the rest of the year with them. I can't speak for the Seirras but the eldx is a great bullet for long range or elk or larger game but the heavy 145s are just to much for a whitetail.

I agree with above.
I have been around many who have made the same claims about 140+ grains of Eld-X and Berger (forgot which) bullets out of a 6.5 Creedmoor for hunting. Way too many deer to run off and never found or tracked for long distances.

My opinion is... perhaps some drank too much Creedmoor Kool-Aid !
I hear hunters claim they bought a new rifle in the "bad-*** super fast" 6.5 Creedmoor. Then they shoot a deer right thru with no blood and lose it or track long distances while claiming that it must have been too fast and blew right through!

My thought and solution is...This is NOT the PRC, 6.5/284, SAUM or Rem Mag so tougher bullets out of Creedmoor will not act as they do with these faster calibers. If someone wants to hunt with the 6.5 Creed, softer and possibly lighter bullets will give preferred results with the speed that it runs.

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

I agree with above.
I have been around many who have made the same claims about 140+ grains of Eld-X and Berger (forgot which) bullets out of a 6.5 Creedmoor for hunting. Way too many deer to run off and never found or tracked for long distances.

My opinion is... perhaps some drank too much Creedmoor Kool-Aid !
I hear hunters claim they bought a new rifle in the "bad-*** super fast" 6.5 Creedmoor. Then they shoot a deer right thru with no blood and lose it or track long distances while claiming that it must have been too fast and blew right through!

My thought and solution is...This is NOT the PRC, 6.5/284, SAUM or Rem Mag so tougher bullets out of Creedmoor will not act as they do with these faster calibers. If someone wants to hunt with the 6.5 Creed, softer and possibly lighter bullets will give preferred results with the speed that it runs.

My wife's deer at 308 yards with a 140eld-m out of the 6.5 creed. 20 yards and done. Can also atest to way more than this one too. We've shot many deer and bear with it. Mostly all 140 class projectiles.

 

[Roughrice]

My wife's deer at 308 yards with a 140eld-m out of the 6.5 creed. 20 yards and done. Can also atest to way more than this one too. We've shot many deer and bear with it. Mostly all 140 class projectiles.View attachment 318393

Not saying the Creedmoor is bad! Bullet selection is key relative to its velocity!
Good choice on using ELD-M! They do well at Creedmoor velo.
Old fashion SP cup and core work great at that speed and will bring a smile as well.
Congrats to your wife!

 

[JMW67]

I agree with above.
I have been around many who have made the same claims about 140+ grains of Eld-X and Berger (forgot which) bullets out of a 6.5 Creedmoor for hunting. Way too many deer to run off and never found or tracked for long distances.

My opinion is... perhaps some drank too much Creedmoor Kool-Aid !
I hear hunters claim they bought a new rifle in the "bad-*** super fast" 6.5 Creedmoor. Then they shoot a deer right thru with no blood and lose it or track long distances while claiming that it must have been too fast and blew right through!

My thought and solution is...This is NOT the PRC, 6.5/284, SAUM or Rem Mag so tougher bullets out of Creedmoor will not act as they do with these faster calibers. If someone wants to hunt with the 6.5 Creed, softer and possibly lighter bullets will give preferred results with the speed that it runs.

BINGO

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

Is the Sierra Tipped Game King the same as the Sierra Gamechanger? are they two different bullets"?

 

[xsn10s]

Is the Sierra Tipped Game King the same as the Sierra Gamechanger? are they two different bullets"?

That's the same question I had early on. I was just on their website and it looks to be the same bullet.

 

[xsn10s]

I'm not a big CM fan because of some of the marketing claims. I am a fan of the 260 Rem and 6.5x55. Ballistically they are all so close one could say they are identical. The 6.5x55 been successfully killing big game for what a century? Like the OP said sounds like he could just use a lighter constructed bullet for his deer.

 

[xsn10s]

I have to say I'm pretty surprised with the OP's results. I would consider the GC slightly heavier constructed than a ELDM, but not by that much. Good information for future reference.

 

[Roughrice]

My son has had lots of success with 260 and 140 Rem CoreLokt for years. Deer never went far if not DRT.
I've loaded some Speer 140's for my buddy's son to shoot in his 6.5 Creedmoor after having mixed results using 143 Eld-X. He frowned at the lack of coolness without the pretty plastic tip but got over it after he had better knock down results since then and asks me to refill his hunting ammo box every year. LOL
At 2700-2800 MV... the soft points work beautiful.

 

[Idaho Lefty]

I have to say I'm pretty surprised with the OP's results. I would consider the GC slightly heavier constructed than a ELDM, but not by that much. Good information for future reference.

The Jackets on, the 130, 140 and 147 grain, ELD-M's are, only,.. .023 Thick
They have been working, "Perfectly", at Creedmoor, Velocities,.. on,.. Deer / Antelope.
They compare favorably, to the Nosler Ballistic Tips and Hornady SST's ( fairly "Soft", expanding, Bullet's ).
My 21 year old grandson shot, 2 Blacktails and one Muley with, the 143 gr. ELD-X Bullet out of, his FASTER, 6.5 PRC, all did, one or two, "Hops" and,.. DRT !
The ELD-X is, a "tougher" Bullet and has, a .037 thick Jacket at, the Base ( Tapering nicely to, the nose / point ).
The Bullets were found just under the Hide on, the Far side after, breaking thru, the off side, shoulder Blades,.. "Edge" !
I'll be testing, the 147 gr. M's for, my 6.5 Creed, at around, 2,650 to 2,730 FPS.

 

[Roughrice]

Is the Sierra Tipped Game King the same as the Sierra Gamechanger? are they two different bullets"?

GAMECHANGER HUNTING BULLETS

By Sierra Tech Team

---

The 2019 hunting seasons are in full swing, making them the first full seasons for the latest additions to the Sierra Bullets hunting lineup. In the fall of 2018, we introduced our new GameChanger bullets. These are also seen mentioned as Tipped GameKing (TGK), but are not just a re-do of the GameKing bullets that we have used very successfully for many years.

The GameChanger bullets are actually a new design that incorporates features from other types that Sierra make, resulting in a unique and enhanced bullet style. They do feature a synthetic tip, which serves to maximize the ballistic coefficient (high BC), allowing for greater downrange trajectory and energy performance. The tip also allows us to achieve a very positive expansion over a wide range of velocities and types of game animals. The increase in jacket wall thickness ensures very deep penetration with each shot. This special bullet style gives us a true all-purpose bullet design.


Found this on the Sierra website since we were curious.

 

[Roughrice]

The Jackets on, the 130, 140 and 147 grain, ELD-M's are, only,.. .023 Thick
They have been working, "Perfectly", at Creedmoor, Velocities,.. on,.. Deer / Antelope.
They compare favorably, to the Nosler Ballistic Tips and Hornady SST's ( fairly "Soft", expanding, Bullet's ).
My 21 year old grandson shot, 2 Blacktails and one Muley with, the 143 gr. ELD-X Bullet out of, his FASTER, 6.5 PRC, all did, one or two, "Hops" and,.. DRT !
The ELD-X is, a "tougher" Bullet and has, a .037 thick Jacket at, the Base ( Tapering nicely to, the nose / point ).
The Bullets were found just under the Hide on, the Far side after, breaking thru, the off side, shoulder Blades,.. "Edge" !
I'll be testing, the 147 gr. M's for, my 6.5 Creed, at around, 2,650 to 2,730 FPS.

I'm a big fan of Nosler BT, Hornady SST and ELD-M's @ 2900 FPS and below as well.

 

[General RE LEE]

I might try some Speer Gold Dots.

The Nosler Partitions look crazy expensive on Midway. $68 for a box of 50?