Well the time has arrived! I will be placing an order for a 22" 6.5JDJ soon (I finally saved enough money). I wanted to ask you guys what are some of your favorite loads? Also, any other helpful advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Chuckwalla, I know I can't be the only 6.5 JDJ shooter here, but guess I'll get it going. All loads from a 14" barrel. My favorite 6.5 JDJ loads are as follows:

85 gr Sierra HP
powder grains primer OAL velocity fps
RL 15 38.0 WLR 2.650" 2750
H322 34.6 CCI 200 same 2680

100 gr NBT
RL 15 36.5 Rem 9 1/2 2.80 2575

120 gr NBT
RL 15 35.0 CCI 200 2.970 2410

120 gr Speer Spitzer
RL 15 35.5 CCI 200 2.885 2400
H4895 33.5 Fed 210 same 2315
H4895 34.0 same same 2444***

120 gr Sierra Spitzer
IMR 4320 34.5 Rem 9 1/2 2.895" 2300

***This load may be a little "warm" in my gun; still in "developmental"
stages.

When I do my part, all the above loads will print less than, or equal to, 1" groups at 100 yds.

I couldn't reach 2400 fps w/ 120 gr bullets in my barrel w/ the powders JD recommended at the time ('92). These powders included: IMR 4320, AA2520,
H414, and IMR 4350. Also couldn't get desired velocity w/ AA2495 BR, AA2700, and RL 19. H335 and H322 burning rates were too fast w/ the heavier bullets, but ok w/ lighter bullets. AA2015 BR looked, and behaved, very much like
H322. JD rec'd only using Australian made H322, so that's what I used. Since my initial developmental work, I've also tried Varget, VV 140, and VV 130, but again the velocity was subpar (w/ 120 gr bullets). 748 may have some
promise, if I ever get a chance to play w/ it some more. W/ 120 gr bullets, my barrel gets best velocity w/ RL 15 and H4895.

I killed 3 or 4 small South Tx whitetail doe w/ the 100 gr NBT. I lost
confidence in this bullet and quit using it after a bad case of core/jacket
separation combined w/ poor penetration. The small doe was only 125 yds
away. The bullet should have performed better. I've shared this experience elsewhere and have been told by others at the forum that Nosler has
"toughened" up the bullet some since then. That could be since this happened to me probably 5-6 years ago. Nevertheless, I'll only use the 100 gr NBT's I have as a last resort. The 120 gr NBT's and Sierra spitzer work very well.
The 120 gr Speer spitzer is reputed to work just as well, but I've yet to kill anything w/ it. At last count, I've killed about 20 wt deer, 2 mule
deer, 2 antelope, and one turkey w/ my 6.5. My brief work w/ 129 gr Hornady and 140 gr bullets was disappointing as I couldn't get acceptable velocity. I think you'd be hard pressed to improve on the 120 gr NBT/Speer spit/Sierra
spit bullets. Personally, I wouldn't put to much faith in the 100 gr NBT w/ larger deer until I had some favorable experience w/ it on smaller deer.

By the way, for some really fun loads, try the following reduced/squib loads:

Powder grains OAL Velocity fps
IMR 700X 8.0 2.700" 1200
Red Dot 8.0 same 1150
Red Dot 9.0 same 1230
W/W 231 9.0 same 1270

I use a small tuft of dacron filler w/ above reduced loads. I sight my 6.5 1" high at 100 yds w/ 120 bullets. Using same scope settings, w/ the scope at 4X, I use the juncture of the thick to thin vertical, bottom cross hair
as my aiming point; this puts the point of impact 1/2" high at 25 yards. Makes a great squirrel hunting load (if legal in your area). I use Rem 120gr PSP-CoreLoct bullets since they're pretty inexpensive. Prints one ragged hole at 25 yds.

Hope I haven't bored you w/ the info. You'll have a lot of fun w/ your 6.5. You've got a very versatile hunting barrel. Gary T

[ 07-25-2002, 07:50: Message edited by: Gary T ]

Thanks Gary for the "Ken Waters" type treatise on your 6.5

Very informative and quality info.

Regards

Gary,

Thanks for the info!!! Good to know that one person is willing to help. It looks like you know what you're doing. I'll try your Speer load first. I've always had good luck with Speer bullets.

Thanks again!

john

Headstamp, Thanks for the kind words. Through the years, I've read a lot of Ken Waters' work and have always found it informative. Nevertheless, I make NO claim of being in his league. I'm reminded of the '88 presidential campaign when Republican VP candidate Quayle alluded to Pres Kennedy; as you remember, Democratic VP candidate Bentson jumped in w/ his famous comment: "Sir, I knew John Kennedy, and you are NOT John Kennedy." (Or something pretty much like that....)

Chuckwalla, You'll find the 6.5 JDJ to be a wonderful hunting round. Using the various 120 gr bullets available for it, it's really hard to find a "bad" load. Don't know where the other 6.5 guys are.... I'm sure they'll jump in soon. Nevertheless, you'll do well w/ the gun. Gary T.

My favorite load for the 6.5JDJ(14"barrel)is,

33.5gr. AA2520
120gr. Nosler BT
Rem.LR Primer
Avg.Vel. 2350 f/s

So far all I've shot with it is paper and steel, its very accurate, and it puts the 200 meter Rams down with ease.......hope to try it on some woodchucks soon.
Mark

Question for Gary T.

What velocities did you get with the 140 grain bullets? I have been working with the Hornady 140 grain A-Max and the Sierra 140 grain HPBTMK in my 6.5JDJ and I don't have a chronograph (yet).
Our silhouette range will have a 500 Meter range next year and i figured the 140's will work. At 2000 FPS they still have 600+ ft/lbs of energy at 500M.

HHI6818, I didn't work very extensively w/ either the 129 gr Hornady or the 140 Hornady as I was disappointed in the velocity I was getting for a hunting round. The max vel I got w/ the 140 gr Horndady SP was w/ 39.0 gr of RL 19 @ 2146 fps. This was probably about 8 years ago. Latest Hornady Data Manual shows highest velocity w/ same bullet is also w/ RL 19, 38.7 gr or 35.9 gr VV N-160, both @ 2200 fps. I worked even briefer w/ the 129 gr bullet, doing good to get 2250 fps. Same Hornady Manual show max vel of 2350 fps w/ 38.0 gr VV N-160. If you'd like to play w/ some Hornady 140 gr SP's, let me know as I have a partial box I'll sell you. Gary T.

[ 08-01-2002, 21:28: Message edited by: Gary T ]