I shoot a 6.5mm wildcat and need some help with bullet selection. I have achieved 3250 fps with an 85 grain bullet and 2850 with a 130 Accubond, My preferences are for 120 to 130 grain bullets and I am leaning toward the 125 Nosler Partition or 130 Accubond. I an hunting deer in the south so a 200 lb animal is on the large size. Range out to 250 yds is expected but 50 to 100 is the usual. Does anyone have experience with the 130 Accubond? Is the small partition adequate? I have never used either.

at those velocities you might consider the Hornady 143 ELD-X should expand great at those velocities

The 130 AB is my favorite in 264. 125 Partition used to be my favorite and still works good.

Shoot whichever one your rifle likes best. My 6.5-06AI really likes 120 grain Ballistic Tips, and has accounted for one buck that field dressed at 245# from 250 yards and a 200# doe (yes, that is not unusual in Kansas) at 200 yards.

The 264WM likes 125 Partitions and 129 Hornady Interlocks. It shoots them both to the same point of aim. My best with it was a buck at 245 yards. All one shot.

So far, I have not been able to get the Accubonds to group very well, but I am trying the 129 grain Accubond Long Range. I need to do a lot more experimenting before I will say they aren't as good, just not so far.

I shoot 120 Barns TTSX in my 264 Win Mag. 1/2 groups!!!

The advice given by larrys is on the money!

I would note, however, that 200 lb deer can be reliably taken be any of the lead free 6.5 caliber bullets and with classic hunting bullets weighing 100 gr and more (ref: http://shootersnotes.com/calcu...sted-bullet-weight/).

The velocities you are seeing, however, suggest one should work the wth lead free or go with bullets weighing 130 grains and more. The Accubond and partitions will likely work ok at 3250 fps but classic bullets will seriously come apart at that velocity.

Edited 7-3-17 to clarify. Classic bullets will work at 2850 but start failing at higher velocities

My 264 loves 125 partitions at 3300. Couldn't ask for better performance. But at 2850, I bet a 129 Hornady would work just as well and cost less.

quote:

Originally posted by olarmy:
My 264 loves 125 partitions at 3300. Couldn't ask for better performance. But at 2850, I bet a 129 Hornady would work just as well and cost less.

Yup, there's a fair bit of experimental evidence to support the 2850 fps in the SP, SST, and other more or less classic cup and core designs.

i use the nosler 120g ballistic tip in my 6.5 wsm. 3 michigan whietails taken with it. all went strait down, didnt even take one step.

Over the last 18 years I have tried several different bullets in my 260.I always end up back with either the 120gr nosler bt or sierra pro hunter 120.Both shoot half inch groups with the same powder charge.I have taken WT deer mule and bear with these bullets.At 3000 fps they are super.

The 130 grain Sierra Gameking is excellent at those velocities. The pro-hunter, B-Tip, and 125 and 100 grain Partitions are also fantastic.

My 6.5x57 likes the 120gn TTSX at 2950 and while I havent taken larger animals with it I have no doubt that it will do the job admirably.

Edit to add that is is nice to see a couple of names I recognise from other forums visiting here on AR.

I'm a fan of the 125 Partition and 140 Accubond for the 6.5...

Easy....load the 127gr Barnes LRX. This is simply the best 6.5 hunting bullet I have ever tried. I have killed many deer, pigs, coyote, and pronghorn with this bullet.

It opens a little easier than the TTSX, has great ballistics, and stays together.

Here is a boar I shot this last weekend with the 127gr LRX out of a 6.5 Creedmoor at a MV of 2835.


The boar was shot at over 200 yards quartering away and running away from me at full speed. The bullet entered its side, destroyed a lung, traveled through about 3" of spine, and stopped in the spine at the base of the skull. The pig did a front flip and landed on his back dead. The weight of the recovered bullet was 126.7gr (99.7% weight retention), with perfect mushrooming.

My 6.5x284 shot the 120 gr. Nosler B.T. like it was designed for it. Once my 6.5-06 is finished I will be trying that and the 120 gr. Accubonds. I shot Whitetail from 85 to 172 lbs., never lost one. I shoot through the lungs, never more than 100 yards to the dead deer.
Doug