He's no giant, but I took this 8-point buck this morning from app. 220 yards in Lavaca County using a Contender with a 26" Match Grade Machine barrel in 6.5 BB Imp (aka 6.5x30-30 AI). The spread was nice for the area, but he had little tine length and needed to be taken from the herd. I had been hoping to take him for a while, but this was the first time I saw him since before the season began. There is a much nicer buck in the area, but I elected to do some herd management (in this county, we are allowed 2 bucks, and one must be a spike or have at least one unbranched antler). So I'll be meat hunting the remainder of the season.

The bullet: a 125 grain Partition at 2703 fps at the muzzle. The bullet took out both lungs, the major plumbing near the heart and put the buck down on the spot.

I am already awaiting the morning when those backstraps will be cooking...

Bobby, you're gonna have to save something for seed! Looks like you're having yourself a great year! Congrats on another nice buck!

X

Thanks. I've been blessed with one of my best seasons ever, and my Contender in 6.5 BB has been a big part of it. With it, I am confident of any reasonable shot presentation inside of 300 yards, for I know the wonderful 6.5 bullets will do the job upon impact.

If I am not toting the 26" 6.5 BB Imp, then I either have along a 20" 7mm Bullberry or a 14" 6.5 JDJ. My bolt guns are probably feeling neglected right about now...

Congrats on yet another fine deer Tommy....at the rate you're going you're going to need a bigger freezer pretty soon.

Ike

Ike wrote:

quote:

at the rate you're going you're going to need a bigger freezer pretty soon.

Not at the rate our boys eat! The 15 year-old raids the fridge right after a meal, and the 4 year-old twins seem to eat all day long. What I might need is more ammo to keep these boys full...

Fine buck Bobby....being a big fan of Contender carbines myself I know how my bolt guns must feel as well.
What is the difference between a 7mm BB and a 7-30 Waters ?

The 7mm Bullberry is the 7mm International Rimmed with the unnecessarily long neck trimmed back to give an overall case length of 1.75". It's basically a somewhat more efficient version of the 7-30 Waters.

The case has minimum body taper and requires trimming only on rare occasions -- perhaps every 7th firing or so. I have some cases that have been fired more than 2 dozen times with full-power loads, and they are still going strong with tight primer pockets and excellent neck tension.

7mm Bullberry on the left. Hornady factory 30-30 round on the right.

WTG Bobby.

Guys, if someone doesn't take that 6.5 Bullberry away from Bobby there is not going to be any game left in Texas.

Congrats Bobby, looks like a dandy buck.

Larry

Doubtful he will part with it anytime soon. But it would fill that huge gap I have between my 6mm 30-30AI and my 7-30 Waters.

Larry-

I'm doing my best to keep those game populations in check...

It's a dirty job, but I will have to do more of the same very soon. Yesterday, less than a half-mile from the house, a hog ran into the side of my wife's car and dented in the door. Guess I will have to put that 6.5 BB back to use pretty quickly or else be on her you-know-what list...

I was laughing when she drove up as there was mud and hog hair all over the door frame. Fortunately, the dents are not too severe and something I can probably remedy at home with a plunger.

skb2706-

You NEED a 6.5 in your battery. Life just doesn't go on without at least ONE of those!

Since getting this 6.5 BB Imp barrel from MGM, I've neglected my pistols, bolt rifles and pretty much everything else save for the 7mm Bullberry. And the only action the 7mm BB has seen lately was when I took a buck on a public land hunt in San Angelo, TX in early December. I had started hunting with the 6.5mm, but the conditions dictated I switch as the 7mm, which has a 20" barrel, handles so well in close-quarters -- and i knew the shot, if there was going to be one, would be a quick affair and at relatively close range.

Turns out, it was a 95 yard shot as the deer moved through cover, stopping just long enough for me to put a 140 grain Nosler Solid Base spitzer into his chest.

Ouch, I think I'd be looking for a little revenge also.

Larry

Bobby, agreed, having sold let go of all my 6.5's in past, getting re-aquainted recently....260 Sako and Swede in K1A Ruger single Shot.....

NICE deer and Congrats! That BB is proving to be a lucky gun for you! As in shot opportunities, mind if I tag along and borrow it?

I am glad you are getting back into the 6.5s - but then again, I knew you would. Heck, if you didn't, you'd have to change your handle on here...

That 6.5 BB Imp has indeed been lucky for me. I haven't mentioned them (didn't even take any photos) but I have taken a number of smaller meat hogs and a couple sows in the past month or so. I had alternated between the 125 grain Partition and the 140 grain Sierra GameKing; both work extremely well, and there have been no bullets to recover.

I even took one that weighed maybe 115-120 pounds with the 140 grain A-Max in a 6.5x55. The range was app. 155 yards, and the MV of that load was right at 2600 fps.

The bullet took the hog tight behind the shoulder, liquified most of the vitals and left a 2-inch wide exit behind the opposite-side shoulder. The amount of bloodshot meat was much higher than those taken with the Partition and Sierra, but the end-results have all been the same. Nonetheless, I feel the A-Max is best left for thin-skinned deer and not hogs -- not even at the moderate speeds I am shooting them at. After all, some of those porkers can get large and tenacious. (This one was on the small side.)

While I have no doubt a 140 grain A-Max through the lungs would take out the largest old boar, I still prefer a bullet to exit in the event a blood trail is needed for tracking.

Of course, with those wonderful medium-velocity 6.5s, tracking is rarely needed...

quote:

am glad you are getting back into the 6.5s - but then again, I knew you would. Heck, if you didn't, you'd have to change your handle on here...

You are right on that! Ha.....so I must live up to my name eh?

I have owned many 6-7mm's, and was/am contemplating a 6.5x47 but brass is now around $ 1 a piece, whereas the 260 is maybe 35-40 cents, not sure where Hornady Creedmore will come in....

Always thought of the 6.5BR then the Grendel hit, but it is not quite the round, shy a little fps for what I want, loved my 7BR and 6BR's so maybe it is time I give it a go....but the 47 sure is tempting.....imagine 100-200 cases would put alot of rounds through a tube.

May do both before it's over with....will keep you posted you can be sure. Think I will love my 260 and 6.5x55 but the smaller rounds should allow me to spot my hits through scope which I loved with the BR's.