Greetings AR folks.
I have been very happy with Speer hot-cor and Rem. Core-lokt 120gr bullets for 6.5x55mm velocities on deer. I am going to be switching to a 6.5-.284 Norma which I would be shooting 120 gr bullets from 3000-3150 fps. I am suspicious that the aforementioned bullets may not hold up at these velocities.
What bullets would you all recommend for these velocities on large bodied Missouri deer? Also, what are your favorite whitetail bullets for 6.5x55 velocities?

Thanks,
Wes

WESR

I have used Remington 140gn Corelokts on some medium sized Red Deer here with very good results. Good expansion and weight retention and even if they exit they have still expanded and done their job.

These were factory loads at about 2600fps. The smaller reds would be around the same body mass as Whitetails I would guess.

I have also used 150gn Corelokts in my 308 and last year using 150gn factory Corelokts I got a beautiful double 6 Red Deer Stag. (7mm Rem Mag). In all cases these projectiles have been great.

I would also consider the Hornady 129/140gn interlocks - I have also had goods results with those in the past.

But maybe for the 6.5x284 you should consider something like a Hornady interbond or similar.

Plain Jane 129 gr. Hornadys...work just fine...
Tom

I used to have a 1961MCA, Mannlicher-Schoenauer carbine in 6.5x55 (not a typo) and it shot tiny groups with the late '60s Norma 139 gr. bullets which worked superbly on big-bodied Mule Deer; like the young idiot I was, I sold it..........

Now, I have a P-64 Westerner in .264 Win. in a Micky G&H stock, I shoot 140 NPs in it at 3250 with better accuracy than I can hold for, nowadays. I would not heitate to shoot an elk or Moose with this combo and it is about perfect for any Deer, as well. I am not a long range shooter, but, this is what I would use, if I were.

I've been using the Hornady 129 SST but in my quest for passthrus I'm switching to the old reliable 140 interlock for both my 6.5 X 55 and .260 Remington.

140 gr SST in my 6.5-284. Good all around. The 129 gr tend to come apart when a shot under 100 yards comes up. Least that was my experience.

If you can find them 120gr Nosler Solid Base, I shoot these in my 6.5-284 good flat shooting load and will it kill deer. So look for the old Solid Bases in 120's

130 grain Barnes Triple Shock or 140 grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claw. I shoot both in my 264, the 130 TSX at 3350 and the 140 TBBC at 3275. Neither will fail to perform. The TSX is the most accurate bullet I have found, even when compared to SMK's.

MHO

I worked up a load with reloader 15 and 140 grain Hornady a-max loads for ground hogs over the summer. Used the same load on a whitetail buck on a crop damage hunt in west virginia in early fall. Good shot and long for me. Complete penetration on a lung shot with a very large exit. Still had a piece of corn husk in his mouth when I dressed him.

Hornady 140gr interlock...... I don't achieve those velocities, but at 2650 or so, it does a remarkable job.

I too had problems with 120gr bullets over 3000fps. My swede does just fine at slower velocities. I was using nosler bt and sierra. I found hornady sst, sierra GK spitzer boattail, 140 gr worked very well at higher speeds. I have yet to try my box of nosler partitions.

Correct question should be, has any known a bad 6.5 mm bullet? I never have, regardless of what major manufacturer makes it. I have not used the super spendy trendy ones, ( North Forks, Swifts etc), or some odd ball foreign made in Korea thing.

That is why the 6.5 bore is my favorite.

Cheers
seafire

Not a 120 grainer, but in Scandinavia, the 156grs Norma Oryx bullet in the 6.5x55 is a very, very popular load for Moose.

www.norma.cc lists 50.5 grs of MRP-2 as max in the 6.5x55, with a velocity of 2605fps.

Thanks for all of the input. I would like to continue to use 120gr bullets but will move up to 140's if need be. Specifically, are there any 120 gr bullets that would exit a deer with a single shoulder shot at velocities ~3000fps?

Beefeater, I too am a big fan of the 156 gr Norma Oryx. I have often wondered if this bullet could be used to take game as large as brown bear out of a .264 Win. Mag or 6.5-.284, or if brownies would simply be out of the question for any 6.5mm.

I just love 129 gr Hornady

WESR, you can have your cake and eat it too.
If you like the 120, try the 120 grain Barnes X.
You can get the 3100 fps you're after but it won't blow up. EVER! One I recovered had 95+% retained weight ....after passing the length of a deer.

I quite agree with bisonland on this one. I prefer the Hornady 129gr Spire point. The 129gr. SST may be even better. I don't really know, haven't tried it on deer. I like the 140gr. bullets, but my rifle has a 1 in 9" twist and just doesn't handle them well. It doesn't matter since the Hornady 129gr bullet performs so well. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

I would imagine the 125 Nosler Partition, should be given some cosideration, it should hold together better at closer ranges than the Hornady 129, and give quite similar performance at longer ranges.

I agree with Southpaw, ( eh?).

The 125 partition or the 129 Hornady do just fine.
Speers 120, or Sierra's 120 have also done a fine job.

For straight out penetration, if you are into high velocity believe it or not( it sure surprised the heck out of me!) is the 100 grain Nosler partition and especially, my favorite is the 100 grain Hornady SP. I don't know what they did with that bullet, but it is more accurate than a Ballistic Tip and penetrates a lot farther than even a partition, and still holds together.

I recently had several shot at a target at 3000 fps, penetrate thru 10 inches of wood as a back stop and then went and tore up a tree 50 ft behind the first one!

I took a deer this season with one in a 6.5 x 55 at 3100 fps, but did not consider the performance. It was a neck shot and the deer went down instantly. Any bullet would have dropped the deer in that shot, even a varmint bullet in a 223.

But the lack of recoil, I watched the deer drop in a 4 power scope at 100 yds, instantly. I have done the same thing with a Nosler Ballistic Tip and a Partition in 100 grains also.

so my vote for my favorite at this moment is the 100 grain hornady SP.

Cheers
and good shooting
seafire

They work real good, shot many deer in kansas and else were with mine using those exact bullets no problem,they will do you a good job. vangunsmith

120 GR BARNES X BULLETS, NO COATING PLEASE, 48 GRS RL-19, 6,5 SWEDE. WORKS FOR ME. NEXT FAVORITE 129 GR HORNADY. DEER AND ANTELOPE DON'T LIKE IT THOUGH.