Which bullet for Utah deer hunt/143 ELDX or 135 Berger Classic Hunter?

[Shumba1]

Drew a buck tag in Utah this fall (Cache unit up north). Planning to take my Sako A7 in 6.5 Creedmoor. The rifle shoots most bullets amazingly well (under .5 MOA) and I have the following loads that all shoot great:

143 grain ELD-X @ 2,710 fps

135 Berger Classic Hunter @ 2,770 fps

125 grain Hammer Tipped Hunter bullet @ 2,920 fps

I know all of them are capable of doing the job, but curious what the group thinks, especially those who have shot deer with the 6.5 Creedmoor.

Previously, I always used a 30 cal rifle on deer (308 Win, 30-06, 300 WM) and have never taken game yet with the 6.5 CM. Also, the 6.5CM is topped with a Nightforce NX8 4-32x F2 scope, so very capable of handling the long range shots.

Would love to hear your thoughts on this!

 

[Browninglover1]

In my 6.5 Creed I've killed with the 130 and 140 Berger and they were both great; I'd expect the 135 to be similar.

The 143 ELDZ seems to do fine but I run the 147 ELDM in mine instead and I have lots of friends that have killed with the ELDM with great success.

Deer numbers have been down due to hard winters but this spring I'm seeing deer like crazy so your hunt should be fun!

 

[FEENIX]

Drew a buck tag in Utah this fall (Cache unit up north). Planning to take my Sako A7 in 6.5 Creedmoor. The rifle shoots most bullets amazingly well (under .5 MOA) and I have the following loads that all shoot great:

143 grain ELD-X @ 2,710 fps

135 Berger Classic Hunter @ 2,770 fps

125 grain Hammer Tipped Hunter bullet @ 2,920 fps

I know all of them are capable of doing the job, but curious what the group thinks, especially those who have shot deer with the 6.5 Creedmoor.

Previously, I always used a 30 cal rifle on deer (308 Win, 30-06, 300 WM) and have never taken game yet with the 6.5 CM. Also, the 6.5CM is topped with a Nightforce NX8 4-32x F2 scope, so very capable of handling the long range shots.

Would love to hear your thoughts on this!

135 Berger Classic Hunter @ 2,770 fps.

 

[southpa]

Not sure there's gonna be much noticeable difference if you can hit your mark. I like bergers myself! Good luck in cache we've found some good bucks in that unit!

 

[jsmitt6]

What a fun tag to draw — I live in Cache.

There are some good bucks up here, and all would fall to any of those bullets. I've had good success with a creed and the 140 class bullets.

Let me know if you need any help!

 

[Hoss50]

Drew a buck tag in Utah this fall (Cache unit up north). Planning to take my Sako A7 in 6.5 Creedmoor. The rifle shoots most bullets amazingly well (under .5 MOA) and I have the following loads that all shoot great:

143 grain ELD-X @ 2,710 fps

135 Berger Classic Hunter @ 2,770 fps

125 grain Hammer Tipped Hunter bullet @ 2,920 fps

I know all of them are capable of doing the job, but curious what the group thinks, especially those who have shot deer with the 6.5 Creedmoor.

Previously, I always used a 30 cal rifle on deer (308 Win, 30-06, 300 WM) and have never taken game yet with the 6.5 CM. Also, the 6.5CM is topped with a Nightforce NX8 4-32x F2 scope, so very capable of handling the long range shots.

Would love to hear your thoughts on this!

All of them will work fine. I would lean towards the 135gr Berger. I have been involved with 3 cow elk and 2 mule deer hunts where they performed well from 6.5x55 probably pushing about 2600fps.

Nothing made it farther than about 80yrds post shot. That one was a large cow elk.

 

[Deputy819]

135 Berger Classic Hunter @ 2,770 fps.

^^^THIS^^^
It was my GO TO bullet when I had a 6.5 Creedmoor (Savage/Shilen combo). If "I" was going on a hunt like that I'd have complete confidence in that bullet and it's performance.

 

[VTbluegrass]

Wife has only used the 130 and 135 since she going it in 2018. It's been a perfect performer so far. Been a series of bang-flops with one exception and he only carried about 30 yards.
Been using the Berger loaded ammo, it's kinda stupid pricey but it shoots as good as anything I can put together and it saves time.

 

[Allen Lone wolf]

Hunting with my 6.5 Creedmoor I've only used 129gr sites and 143gr. Eldx on whitetail. With the 129gr deer usually make it 20yds no blood trail and with the 143gr eldx all have DRT and same results with the PRC and 143gr ELD-X. DRT. Best of luck on your hunt.

 

[stx]

I have four 6.5 CMs and have had great success with Hammers, Bergers, and ELDMs in them. I've also seen several failures due to jacket separation from my hunters using the ELDXs! My personal favorite is the Hammer Hunter 124 gr with which I've killed numerous whitetail and hogs…..with the Bergers and ELDMs both being a close second!

 

[PApa Black]

Hunting with my 6.5 Creedmoor I've only used 129gr sites and 143gr. Eldx on whitetail. With the 129gr deer usually make it 20yds no blood trail and with the 143gr eldx all have DRT and same results with the PRC and 143gr ELD-X. DRT. Best of luck on your hunt.

Wha is "DRT"

 

[Bang4theBuck]

Drew a buck tag in Utah this fall (Cache unit up north). Planning to take my Sako A7 in 6.5 Creedmoor. The rifle shoots most bullets amazingly well (under .5 MOA) and I have the following loads that all shoot great:

143 grain ELD-X @ 2,710 fps

135 Berger Classic Hunter @ 2,770 fps

125 grain Hammer Tipped Hunter bullet @ 2,920 fps

I know all of them are capable of doing the job, but curious what the group thinks, especially those who have shot deer with the 6.5 Creedmoor.

Previously, I always used a 30 cal rifle on deer (308 Win, 30-06, 300 WM) and have never taken game yet with the 6.5 CM. Also, the 6.5CM is topped with a Nightforce NX8 4-32x F2 scope, so very capable of handling the long range shots.

Would love to hear your thoughts on this!

I would go for the Hammers for hunting hands down. I don't have experience with the 125, but have very efficiently dispatched 175lb whitetail with the 118 HHT in a 6.5 CM. I'm sure the 125 would be the same. However, if you haven't bought them yet, I would get 118 HHT.

 

[IDbound]

Dead Right There

 

[CCAguns]

What a fun tag to draw — I live in Cache.

There are some good bucks up here, and all would fall to any of those bullets. I've had good success with a creed and the 140 class bullets.

Let me know if you need any help!

Any word on Chalk Creek?