Big holes come from speed or a large diameter projectile. 6.5 has neither going for it. Just saying.

🤣🤣, because you think that’s true.

I’ve killed 4 deer with mine this year, and I got good performance every time. 129 grain Hornady American Whitetail. I wouldn’t give you a penny for that round in .308 but it performs far better in the 6.5 CM.

The reason so many ppl have terrible performance from the 6.5 is because most folks aren’t using the right projectile. Too many ppl are using bullets designed for long range performance at short ranges in AL.

Good blood trails come from trauma.

I use mono’s (hornady CX) because I don’t want much meat waste. If you want a heavier blood trail, use a bullet that rapidly expands and transfers that energy to the deer, which causes more trauma.

Sometimes they just won’t bleed regardless if you poke it with a 5.56 or a 50 cal, but the softer the bullet, the more energy You’ll transfer for a greater blood trail.

😂😂 because you think it’s not.

It’s not, but good luck with thinking that. 🤦‍♂️

I will chime in a say I have killed two bucks with my Needmore. Both with 143 grain hornady ELDX. One was a pickens county whitetail 185 lbs 9 point. He ran 20 yards. He was 20 yards from me when I shot him behind the shoulder. I killed a 250ish lb "4 pt" mule deer in Montana this past November at 275 yards. Shot him at the base of the neck, dropped him. For me, no matter what I am shooting it always comes down to bullet placement.

Hornady bullets suck arse stop shooting them and stop thinking you are some kind of sniper you will have much better luck....

This..

Yea, I think that’s very spot on.

ive had great luck with the interlock

I think Matt is onto something.

I’ve not shot many with it, but I can say that one of the most damaged deer I’ve seen was shot with the reduced recoil load 140 grain Sierra tip loaded by HSM.

I’m shooting a 130gr. Sierra TGK out of a Model Seven at 2800fps with a 20” barrel. Shot this doe last year at about 100 yards. She ran about 70 yards and it looked like you were pouring blood out of a bucket from the shot sight to her. She was quartered when I shot her. This is the exit. The other deer I’ve shot with it were broadside all DRT with quarter sized exit holes.

I’ve also got 140 grain Sierra TGKs that shoot phenomenally well. Haven’t shot deer yet.

When it was called a .260 Remington long before it was standardized in the late 90's we use to shoot this cartridge a lot. This was before magic bullets came upon the market. Shot Sierra Game Kings.

Look at the picture above.

Questions?

If you don't want to worry about performance don't worry about it. Just shoot old school stuff and dismiss all the gimmicks. What worked form the late 1800's until the internet came around still works today. Most of this stuff is marketing and trying to sell somebody something they don't need coupled with a lack of understanding of ballistics. What worked in 1965 works today and apparently much better.

I will end with this.... if you don't think there is more killing power in the .35 Whelen than in a 6.5 Needmoor you are an idot. You may not need it to kill your 125lb spike... but C'Mon Man! Really?

Always shot 140gr Sierra GKs out of my son’s .260 and it was a hammer on deer. I’m shooting them out of my 7-08 also.

A 7-08 slinging a 140 Sierra GK is probably THE BEST combination for Alabama Whitetail EVER. A solid performer.

Has been so far. Done good on a mule deer buck in Wyoming the season before last.

Unfortunately I dont have much input on blood trails with the 6.5 and am a little apprehensive of them myself. What i do know is I have shot 3 mature bucks over 400 yards with the 130gr federal accent and maybe it was 3 times of luck....but i didnt check for any blood since they were all dead in sight.