Berger 6.5 / 156 gr Terminal Performance Thread
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Broz
LRO Owner~Editor~Long Range Hunting Specilist
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They have stoned several big mule deer for us this fall. I will be sticking with the 156 for a while
OSOK - Crash
Well-known member
Are these offered in factory ammo? I'm currently shooting the 143 ELD-X (6.5 Creedmoor) and having good luck with the two deer I shot this year. But wouldn't mind trying a new bullet.
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Lethal Chica
Member
I took a mature whitetail doe on the eastern shore of Maryland with my 6.5 SAUM and the Berger 156 EOL. Pushing 3030 fps; using RL 26 and CCI 250. She was at 200 yards and quartered to me slightly. The damage to her lungs was massive. Pic below. She dropped where she stood.
Ladd
LRO Field Editor/Precision Hand loading Specialist
The answer to this is it’s not really offered in factory ammo yet. I’m guessing Berger will in 2021 but that’s a hunch. You can get it hand loaded by several companies. Copper Creek Cartridge Co., Unknown Munitions, Choice Ammunition, Hendershot’s, and probably a few others. The other issue is they’re out of stock so it will be difficult to find unless you can build them yourself. I just made some for testing in a new rifle.
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OSOK - Crash
Well-known member
Thanks. I will look into these. I looked into one of these you referenced awhile back and they were out of stock.
I really wish I was set up for reloading. Ammo crisis is stupid right now.
I went on GunBroker out of desperation, and honestly, I am not that desperate yet. Because the prices ammo is going for right now is crazy. And I thought going with 6.5 Creed was a good choice for ammo. Guess nothing is safe during these times.
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Ladd
LRO Field Editor/Precision Hand loading Specialist
My bad. For some reason I had 6.5 PRC in my head. Berger will have this in their ammo for the 6.5 Creedmoor if all goes well for 2021.
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XTREMHTR16
Well-known member
Berger already has it in their factory ammo line. Pretty much out of stock everywhere though. I got mine from target sports.
www.targetsportsusa.com
Berger Match Grade 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo 156 Gr EOL Elite Hunter - Ammo Deals
Berger Match Grade 6.5 Creedmoor Ammo 156 Grain EOL Elite Hunter at Target Sports USA. Enjoy free shipping on bulk 260 Remington ammo for sale onli
www.targetsportsusa.com
Desert Dan
Well-known member
One more for the Berger 156, and my first coues buck. Honestly this one wasn't even a contest. This gun and scope are good to go to at least 600 yards on these little deer (my personal limit) but he got caught sneaking along some thick cover at barely 100 yards and I got him quartering away. He started to turn his body away from me the instant I shot so it went in behind his right shoulder and put a big hole out through his throat. Dead on the spot but screwed up the cape. Quick kill and no meat lost so thumbs up from me.
Ladd
LRO Field Editor/Precision Hand loading Specialist
You did it. All the load development, shooting with the 6.5 PRC, working through the carbon ring issue and your coues deer hunt is in the books. Congrats.
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DEW
Well-known member
Congrats Dan.
OSOK - Crash
Well-known member
Nice work Dan!
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Desert Dan
Well-known member
Thanks guys. Total confidence in the PRC with that 156 now. I’d love to use one on a nice muley.
CaliforniaMuley209
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Was able to take two deer with the 156 Berger out of new PRC this year. Both worked great. Shot a Montana mule deer at about 400. Deer was slightly quarter are entered with a small hole, complete pass through with a 1 inch exit. Lungs were jello. Deer took about 4 steps and fell over.
Then shot a South Dakota white tail at close range. Rattled Him in to about 100 and shot him. Same result. Small entrance with about 3/4 inch exit and his insides were mush. Ran about 10 yards and died.Very happy with how to performed in real hunting situations.
Muzzle velocity - 2850
6.5 PRC
Hornady brass
Then shot a South Dakota white tail at close range. Rattled Him in to about 100 and shot him. Same result. Small entrance with about 3/4 inch exit and his insides were mush. Ran about 10 yards and died.Very happy with how to performed in real hunting situations.
Muzzle velocity - 2850
6.5 PRC
Hornady brass
OSOK - Crash
Well-known member
XTREMHTR16
Well-known member
Congrats!!
Nice work everyone! Love hearing the results and congrats on all your successful hunts. I just switched this year to the 156 berger in my custom 6.5-284 and only got to harvest one mule deer doe with them (I was doing testing with the 210 berger out of my christensen 300 win mag so the 6.5 got put on the back burner for the most of the season). Anyway, the doe was 358 yards walking right to left. She was walking through some small pines and trying to get over the ridge. I whistled when she hit an opening where all I could see were vitals. I shot and watched the bullet hit her right behind the shoulder a little higher than I wanted. Her hide rippled and she "death dropped" and starting plowing nose down the very steep mountain. Blood was pouring out of her and the only reason she made it the 70 yards she did was because of how steep the hill was. Bullet performance was great. Bullet size in half dollar exit. I am hoping to draw some antelope tags this fall here in Montana to try to do some more testing. Muzzle velocity is 2840 FPS. I am going to try some retumbo and see if I can get the muzzle velocity up a little higher. I ran the 147 eld-m at 2950 out of my 26" tube with retumbo. My friend loaded these for me as I had a kid and didn't have time to work a load for the 156 berger. Shoot .300 groups. H4831 was the powder used in these loads.
J2shooter
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Shot a large doe On my way to the tree stand, shot was approximately 40 yards. Muzzle velocity 2940 out of my 6.5 SAUM, shot was broadside.
When the deer was hit, it lunged up and then collapsed and died.
Both shoulders were shattered, the top of the heart was blown apart/off and was basically disconnected from the arteries and rolling around in the chest cavity.
Picture of the gut pile shows the heart in the top left it's pretty hard to make out what it is but that is basically where the top of the heart was.
Again both shoulders were broken, with the offside shoulder being shattered the worst. Most likely the majority of the meat on the front shoulders is gone/ruined. I kind of chose this shot a little further to the front as I didn't want to bust the spleen and have that mess to deal with.
I'll try to get a picture of the inner chest cavity before I drop it off in the processor and I'll upload that here shortly.
The 156 did well for such a close shot. Brutal and tough.
Edit: didn't get the inner chest cavity photo.
When the deer was hit, it lunged up and then collapsed and died.
Both shoulders were shattered, the top of the heart was blown apart/off and was basically disconnected from the arteries and rolling around in the chest cavity.
Picture of the gut pile shows the heart in the top left it's pretty hard to make out what it is but that is basically where the top of the heart was.
Again both shoulders were broken, with the offside shoulder being shattered the worst. Most likely the majority of the meat on the front shoulders is gone/ruined. I kind of chose this shot a little further to the front as I didn't want to bust the spleen and have that mess to deal with.
I'll try to get a picture of the inner chest cavity before I drop it off in the processor and I'll upload that here shortly.
The 156 did well for such a close shot. Brutal and tough.
Edit: didn't get the inner chest cavity photo.
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Gord0
Well-known member
I always shoot for the crease, or sometimes a little farther forward just out of habit. That's where lots of leaks make for humane kills. I've never taken a neck shot, but that's almost worth it at that range.
J2shooter
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I do take neck shots at this range from time to time, but this situation was off hand after I'd been trying to remain motionless for about 10 minutes while they settled down. On my way in, I lightly busted several deer up the hill in the direction I was heading, they were up there trying to figure out what I was and where I was. While I'm waiting for one to move Into a window three ease out directly 9 o'clock about 40 yards trying to figure out what the deer up the hill were keyed up about. Had to stand there for a while with my pack on trying to get a chance to square up with them. She finally put her head down and behind a tree and I was able to square off for an off hand shot. Thought about the neck shot too but was a little shaky and just figured punch the shoulders to be safe.
Hopefully I'll get to go back for one more hunt before the season is up to get some more terminal performance data a little further out. I feel fine about any close up shot with these on deer size game though. Very hard hitting. I know they'll be great way out there too.
codyadams
Active member
Figured I would add mine in. Not gonna do all the pictures though, too much to upload ha ha.
We have taken over 30 pronghorn, mule deer and elk with the 156 in either my 29" 260ai @ 2930, or my dad's 26" .264 win mag @ a mild 3080, at ranges from 250ish yards out to 910 on an elk. They fragment a little more than the 140 vld from my experience, however they kill exquisitely. You don't always get exits on bigger quartering animals, but I have always got exits on pronghorn. They have accounted for 2 elk, 890 yards and 910 yards, one was a center shoulder hit, dropped in tracks, the other was a heart shot, trotted 10 paces and went down. Several mule deer from 500-880, and a LOT of pronghorn. None of the 30+ animals have gone out of sight after being hit, even if the hit wasn't optimal, and the majority have dropped in their tracks. For smaller to medium sized game, I give them a thumbs up.
While I have used them on a couple elk, at extended ranges no less, with good results, for long range stuff I still prefer a minimum of 7mm on elk, with a preference of 30 cal and above. They will work well in a pinch with proper shot placement, as many other smaller chamberings and bullet choices will, but in my opinion (for what it's worth) they (and a 6.5 in general) aren't optimal for elk. They put a smack down on pronghorn and mule deer sized game though
We have taken over 30 pronghorn, mule deer and elk with the 156 in either my 29" 260ai @ 2930, or my dad's 26" .264 win mag @ a mild 3080, at ranges from 250ish yards out to 910 on an elk. They fragment a little more than the 140 vld from my experience, however they kill exquisitely. You don't always get exits on bigger quartering animals, but I have always got exits on pronghorn. They have accounted for 2 elk, 890 yards and 910 yards, one was a center shoulder hit, dropped in tracks, the other was a heart shot, trotted 10 paces and went down. Several mule deer from 500-880, and a LOT of pronghorn. None of the 30+ animals have gone out of sight after being hit, even if the hit wasn't optimal, and the majority have dropped in their tracks. For smaller to medium sized game, I give them a thumbs up.
While I have used them on a couple elk, at extended ranges no less, with good results, for long range stuff I still prefer a minimum of 7mm on elk, with a preference of 30 cal and above. They will work well in a pinch with proper shot placement, as many other smaller chamberings and bullet choices will, but in my opinion (for what it's worth) they (and a 6.5 in general) aren't optimal for elk. They put a smack down on pronghorn and mule deer sized game though