Ballistic Gel 6.5 Creedmoor Test Nosler 129g ABLR vs Hammer Hunter Copper 124g |

At New Hampshire Rifleman we tested both 6.5 Creedmoor bullets from Nosler and Hammer in 10% FBI formulated ballistic gel. Tests were conducted at point blank range. Lets look at the ballistic gel blocks visually to see what happened.

For the test to be valid, e. g., apples to apples, I needed a constant comparable speed for this test, thus both clock 2900 fps give or take so the wound channels would be comparable.

Below is the wound channel of the Hammer Hunter 124 grain at 2900 fps entering at left.

The dark color you see above is where the bullet burned the gel as it passed. No simulated bone was or skin was placed on entry, just the gel. The bullet opened up at around 3.5 inches and fragments of petals can be seen flying after 8 to 10 inches of penetration and exited the16 inch gel block. And the main bullet stopped at around 27 inches with more fragments in that second 16 inch block.

If moose size game is hit with this 124 grain bullet, the great tissue damage along the 11 inch core damage track will bring him down as will the bullet at 27 inches. Note the bullet travel is in a straight line.

Overall, the bullet lost 55 grains of copper in its travel but much of it would have exited a whitetail if hit broadside at that speed.

At a slower speed, perhaps the fragments would spin off sooner aka in the middle of the deer adding to the possible DRT (drop right there)

Below is the wound channel from the 129 grain Nosler ABLR entering on the right and peaking energy we can see at 4 to 5 inches inside. Where it can do the most damage as penetration progresses. I would opt for a much heavier bullet for moose.

The Nosler wound channel above appears more explosive but shorter in length. The bullet opens after 1/1/4 inches and does massive damage at five inches. Pieces of the Nosler bullet are seen in that explosive center. It lost around 58 grains of copper and lead in the first 6 inches of penetration but the core stayed together and entered the second block by 6 more inches.

Both bullets lost nearly the same weight. The Hammer bullet was able to turn those copper petals into more tissue damage.

Both bullets were recovered below.

Oct 14 target after ballistic test. Both bullets near 1/2 inch of each other at 100 yards. Nice!

Conclusion:

Both will kill deer humanely at that speed, and due to the major damage of the bullet travel cavities, the deer will likely drop right there. Expected terminal velocities on deer at 100 yards to be in the 2600 fps range.

I like the fact that the Nosler opened up faster and delivered more energy to the ballistic gel. But both are great bullets, I would prefer heavier bullets for larger game. Of course the hammer hunter has no lead at all but finding those petals in the HH shot meat may bother me as I love my venison.

More tests coming later for different bullet weights.

Good Hunting!