Should you change your ammo for hunting?

This video provides a scientific ballistic gel test of the 6.5 Creedmoor caliber, evaluating the performance of three different hunting rounds: Hornady American Whitetail 129gr Interlock, Barnes Vortex 120gr TTSX, and Hornady V-Max 95gr. The presenter, using a Bergara Nightstalker rifle equipped with a thermal scope, demonstrates bullet expansion, penetration depth, and wound cavity creation. An additional test involving coconuts assesses the caliber's ability to penetrate bone-like material before entering ballistic gel, highlighting the effectiveness and versatility of the 6.5 Creedmoor for various hunting applications.

This video demonstrates a ballistic gel test designed to evaluate the effectiveness of different rifle cartridges and bullet types in hunting scenarios. By simulating obstructions like 'punch' and 'bone' and measuring penetration and wound channel characteristics, the experiment aims to prove that cartridge choice significantly impacts terminal ballistics, contradicting the notion that 'caliber doesn't matter'. The findings highlight differences in performance between calibers like the .243 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, .270 Winchester, 7 PRC, and .300 Win Mag.

This video from Ballistics Lab compares the terminal performance of Hornady's 147-grain ELD-M (Match) and ELD-X (Hunting) bullets in 6.5 Creedmoor fired through ballistic gel after impacting wood. The ELD-M showed rapid expansion and significant tissue damage, while the ELD-X created a larger wound channel but deviated from its path. The presenter suggests both can be effective for deer hunting if the hunter understands their specific performance characteristics.

This video provides an expert-level ranking of precise hunting calibers for 2026, drawing on data from match shooters and long-range hunters. It details the performance characteristics, historical context, and practical applications of calibers like the 6.5 Creedmoor, 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, .308 Winchester, .280 Ackley Improved, 7mm Remington Magnum, and .243 Winchester. The analysis emphasizes factors contributing to accuracy, such as bullet design, case efficiency, and ballistic coefficients, offering valuable insights for hunters and precision shooters seeking optimal performance.

This video debunks the myth that solid copper bullets require extremely high velocities for effective hunting performance. Through ballistics gel testing and analysis of 7 PRC loads using Barnes TTSX and LRX bullets, Gavin Gear demonstrates excellent expansion and weight retention across a wide velocity range, including lower velocities equivalent to longer ranges. The testing highlights the versatility and effectiveness of modern monolithic copper projectiles for various hunting scenarios and legal requirements.

This video provides an expert field test of Black Hills Ammunition's 130gr Dual Performance 6.5 Creedmoor rounds, featuring a Lehigh Defense monolithic copper bullet. Kevin Jarnagin of Gun Talk Media demonstrates its effectiveness on deer at both 100 and 300 yards, highlighting its dual performance characteristics: petal separation for wide wound channels and a deep-penetrating shank. The analysis includes ballistic gel testing and real-world hunting results, concluding it's a reliable hunting round.

This video features an expert firearms instructor demonstrating trigger pull weights on two distinct rifles. He assesses a two-stage trigger on a precision rifle at approximately 3.5 lbs and contrasts it with an extremely light 1 oz trigger on an F-Class rifle, highlighting significant differences in trigger feel and weight.

This guide compares the CMMG Resolute 200 series rifles in 5.56 NATO and 6.5 Grendel, drawing on expert insights from Precision Rifle Network. It details their respective optimal ranges, zeroing methods, and ballistic performance, highlighting the 6.5 Grendel's superiority for medium-to-long-range precision applications and the 5.56's effectiveness for closer engagements. The instruction emphasizes practical ballistics calculations for extended range shooting.

This guide details the process of testing various factory 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition loads through a Bergara B14-HMR rifle. It covers setting up chronographs, live fire procedures, and analyzing data for velocity, extreme spread, and group sizes. The testing protocol, as demonstrated by the technical and objective speaker, aims to provide comprehensive performance insights for different ammunition types.

This guide details a long-range shooting technique for the SKS rifle using open sights, as demonstrated by a highly authoritative instructor. It covers zeroing at 100 yards, making precise sight adjustments, and extending accuracy to 600 yards by accounting for ballistics and subsonic effects. The instructor emphasizes practical application and data-driven adjustments for success.