Which 6.5 Creed load for sable sized PG

[C.W. Richter]

Is the AH server powered by defunded Somalis these days??? It's just been so slow and painful...I've flipped over to see what's going on on other pages during the delays! It was slower prior, but now painfully slow....'haven't read a thing about it. L E A V E T H E N E E D M O R E H O M E! LOL

 

[dogcat1]

I would not use the 6.5 Creed there. Too many better options - .300 WM, 7mm Rem Mag, .30-06. The lightest - .270 Win
Sable is large, elk sized and not easy to kill. Same for kudu, zebra, wildebeest, hartebeest, eland. Why limit yourself by shooting an underpowered caliber?

 

[Kevin375]

I have never shot a sable with my 6.5 Creedmoor, but I killed a good number of waterbucks with this controversial caliber.

A big waterbuck bull is a tough animal and a premium bullet is definitely more suitable than a classic cup and core bullet.
Last year, I shot a big bull in South Africa with an ELD-X 143 gr. He was full broadside and I hit him in the shoulder.
Thanks to the slope, the animal ran 200 meters, jumped above a cattle fence and died in a thicket. With such a perfect shot, the animal was able to cover a good distance but I'm not really surprised because even with bigger calibers, like the .338 Lapua magnum and the .458 Lott, I saw how they can soak up these big bullets before going down.
When we carved it, I noticed the bullet didn't even reached the opposite shoulder and blew up in the vitals.
This ELD-X works well on kudus and nyalas, as well as smaller games, but it is too soft for being reliable on heavier games.
I had the oppotunity to shoot another big bull during this trip and this time, I switched the ELD-X against a TTSX 120 gr. It did a good job and went trough. The animal didn't go far and stopped quickly. I finished it off with another bullet just behind the ear.

In the past, I had a good success on waterbucks with Swift Scirocco 130 gr, Barnes TTSX 120 gr and also the good old Hornady Interlock 160 gr.
The last bullet is not a bonded core, but it keeps a good weight retention and it provides a deeper penetration than the ELD-X. For sure, it's quite weird to see it loaded on a 6.5 Creedmoor case, but at 2500 f/s, it remains a good option for shots at short and medium ranges.

 

[Matt Corbell]

I would not use the 6.5 Creed there. Too many better options - .300 WM, 7mm Rem Mag, .30-06. The lightest - .270 Win
Sable is large, elk sized and not easy to kill. Same for kudu, zebra, wildebeest, hartebeest, eland. Why limit yourself by shooting an underpowered caliber?

The limit is what cartridge my 10 year old can shoot well. I will have my 375.

 

[JonathanG]

My daughter used a 6.5 CM with a 140 gr. Swift A Frame and had one shot kills on 6 animals including Zebra, Wildebeest and Kudu.

 

[Matt Corbell]

My daughter used a 6.5 CM with a 140 gr. Swift A Frame and had one shot kills on 6 animals including Zebra, Wildebeest and Kudu.

Did you have the ammo custom loaded or are there factory options?

 

[JonathanG]

Did you have the ammo custom loaded or are there factory options?

I bought factory Swift ammo.

 

[Trophyhunter01]

My last trip over in 2023 I used the PH’s gun in 6.5 Creed. 143 grain ELDX, not sure on the powder but he did say 2900 to 3000 FPS is ideal as it hits a little harder not so blister fast. I took roan and zebra both one shot kills with short track jobs. When PH told me what I would be using I thought he was joking around. Not a big fan of 6.5 but it worked just fine if you have good placement.

 

[Spearhead]

The limit is what cartridge my 10 year old can shoot well. I will have my 375.

Hi Matt,
Of the choices listed, the CX or the Swift.
Notice how I simply answered your question and didn’t say you should shoot this or that blah blah blah…..?
Don’t be discouraged with all the negative posts about your choice of firearm for your kids.
If they practice they will be fine. Post pics of those happy faces when y’all get back please.

 

[Matt Corbell]

My daughter used a 6.5 CM with a 140 gr. Swift A Frame and had one shot kills on 6 animals including Zebra, Wildebeest and Kudu.

Did you have the ammo custom loaded or are there factory options

Hi Matt,
Of the choices listed, the CX or the Swift.
Notice how I simply answered your question and didn’t say you should shoot this or that blah blah blah…..?
Don’t be discouraged with all the negative posts about your choice of firearm for your kids.
If they practice they will be fine. Post pics of those happy faces when y’all get back please.

hey I appreciate it! I will post some pics for sure thank you!

 

[dchum]

I would not use the 6.5 Creed there. Too many better options - .300 WM, 7mm Rem Mag, .30-06. The lightest - .270 Win
Sable is large, elk sized and not easy to kill. Same for kudu, zebra, wildebeest, hartebeest, eland. Why limit yourself by shooting an underpowered caliber?

You suggest a 300 win mag for young children?

Also, I see you suggest a .270. How is that any different than 6.5 creed??

Let’s see they both are
.277 - .264. (Truly Minuscule diameter difference) both offer 130-150 gr. projectiles Going 2700-2900fps

I promise you the animal won’t know the difference…
I don’t own a 6.5, probs never will, have never even hunted with one. But suggesting a 270 while saying the 6.5 creed won’t be good is just silly.

Cheers

 

[ActionBob]

Do you try .243 win? I mostly used 243 in Europe. (95gr SST for roe deer,muflon,goats,dama dama,fox,wolf,jackal and Eld-x 90gr,AccuBond 90 and Norma Oryx 100gr for hogs). Only red stags i dont shoot wit him. I'm interested in how it would working on larger antelopes and if it would lag behind the 6.5?
Thanks

A Manbunn, aka 6.5 Creedmoor is considerably more capable than a 243 Win. On paper it carries about double the energy at long range of a 243. In practice with good bonded bullets it hits hard for its diameter and recoil. It seems to have that perfectly configured balance that makes it punch above its wieght class. As I think the 6.5 Swede does.

I hunted in Africa with it over 10 years ago with a much smaller variety of factory loads available. I used 129 grain Hornady Interbond Supeformance ammo with great penetration and very nice controlled expansion. I am not a Hornady fan but they got a lot right developing this cartridge. If you can get a Federal Premium load with a good bonded or TSX bullet. Or Barnes ammo. I think it will perform well.

My first PH loved it. I was mostly hunting with a 375 but he'd often ask me to bring the Creedmoor. On one walk around a mountain he told me to grab the Creedmoor and I asked "what if we see a good kudu?" He shrugged and said "then we'll shoot it with yhe Creedmoor."

 

[sgt_zim]

160 gr Woodleigh PPSN or Norma Oryx 156 gr, either at 2500 fps is more than plenty.

I don't know of anyone who'd opt for a 350 gr bullet (even if such were made in bonded premium) at 2600 fps out of a 458 Lott for cape buffalo.

You aren't taking a 400 yard shot on a sable bull anyway, probably more like 75 - 150.

 

[Cowboy777]

The 143 eldx is a fine bullet. I have dropped many game in its tracks at 200 yards: impala, lechwe, bushbuck, baboon, warthog. Shot a blessbuck @ 330 yards, ran maybe 30 yards and dropped. Shot a golden wildebeest at 416 yards, ran a circle of 100 yards and dropped.

 

[C.W. Richter]

LOL the needmore is the modern-day 30-30 variant. African game is NOT a deer in NA. They are built to withstand predator attacks and not all shot opps are ideal...What I used to do w/ my kids is hand My rifle over to them, not outfit them with some puny rig not ideal for the job. Also less travel issues. NONE of these exhibit extreme recoil at all.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

6.5 Creedmoor falls in the same category as a 243.

No it doesn’t!

 

[C.W. Richter]

sry left a popular one out (that most PHs possess) Very pleasant to shoot!

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

I believe a Roan is slightly bigger than a Sable. Use a Barnes TTSX in what ever weight your 6.5 shoots most accurately. A well placed heart, heart lung, double lung shoot will take care of it …

Here is a Roan I took with my .243 using 80 grain Barnes TTSX.

Here is the report if you want details:

Thread 'SOUTH AFRICA: Waterberg SA Safari - Progress'

Aug 29, 2024

I’ll try to make this more up to date than previous posts. This being my 5th or 6th safari to hunt with Boseveld Jacobs Safari and my old friend Riaan Jocobs I’ve lost count. Several animals on the list: to include, Hippo, Roan, small cats, Lechwe, remaining Tiny Ten, any interesting warthogs, and whatever else presents in the way of old mature animals that I’ve not hunted. The goal is to hunt a Hippo on land and maybe another buffalo, depending on the circumstance. I think I’m in country for 14 days… Nice thing about Riaan is if he hears about something special or interesting, we’ll pack...

• NIGHTHAWK
• Replies: 65
• Forum: Hunting reports Africa

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[Mtn_Infantry]

I will be taking my kids to SA for PG in 2027. The largest animal hunted will be Sable & Waterbuck. They have taken several Whitetail in TX with the 143 ELDX out of the 6.5 CM. I’m wanting a tougher bullet for the safari. I’m thinking the 120 CX, 130 Sirocco II, or the 140 Nosler Partition. Anyone have experience with any of these bullets out of the 6.5 Creed? Or something different that worked well?

Since you’re shooting on the shoulder vs behind it like you would on deer, I think you’re on the right track with a tougher bullet than the ELDX.

My first choice would be the Federal Terminal Ascent (you didn’t list it), followed by the Sirocco and TTSX. Unless you’re hunting in the EC or Free State where long shots are the norm the LRX isn’t needed. You might also do well with the original TSX for a little more expansion.

 

[dchum]

LOL the needmore is the modern-day 30-30 variant. African game is NOT a deer in NA. They are built to withstand predator attacks and not all shot opps are ideal...What I used to do w/ my kids is hand My rifle over to them, not outfit them with some puny rig not ideal for the job. Also less travel issues. NONE of these exhibit extreme recoil at all. View attachment 739188

Energy and velocity don’t kill game. Tissue damage does.
That chart means nothing to game animals.