6.5mm 155gr bullet

13 November 2006, 22:38

Jagter

6.5mm 155gr bullet

What would cause a 6.5mm 155gr bullet to bend on impact or shortly thereafter?

Any ideas or experience of this?

13 November 2006, 22:52

mete

Bullets bend ! Usually if it hits bone not square on as I understand. There have been postings here ,one recent , that show various bullets recovered that were bent .

14 November 2006, 09:29

SpringTrap

If it doesn't hit bone and the bullet still bends, what caused it?

Have seen that happened on a few occasions.

14 November 2006, 20:30

mete

I,ve seen gelatin tests where a 223 military bullet broke in two at the cannular [designed that way ?] The forces are very high on a bullet and it it tumbles it could bend.

15 November 2006, 00:35

Bohica

If you`re referring to some of the old Norma R/N bullets I have seen a few[3-5] bend pretty bad on heavy boned stuff like Eland. Once on an elk. I switched to the H-Mantle for better results.
Aloha, Mark

15 November 2006, 02:12

cewe

IÂ´ve had Lapua Megas in 156 gr bend and theyÂ´ve also exploded on impact. After loading them down a bit performance became more consistent and reliable.

15 November 2006, 05:00

f224

quote:
Posted 15 November 2006 02:12 Hide Post
IÂ´ve had Lapua Megas in 156 gr bend and theyÂ´ve also exploded on impact. After loading them down a bit performance

What speed are you running them at?

15 November 2006, 12:22

cewe

This was a load I "developed" before I had a chrono but the load was a little above max using the Vihtavuori manual. At that time I was using a M96 that took the loads well, but that rifle was sold after I was given an M98 in the same caliber. My "new" (probably modified from a Mexican M98) rifle froze up solid when I tried shooting the M96 loads in it.

The load IÂ´m now using is 2.8 grams of VV 165 in Lapua brass with a Federal magnum primer and it chronos at 760 ms -abd the bullets perform nicely.

I can check the "overloads" if you like and if you feel lucky...my gunsmith told me to start thinking about my health when I reload after he sorted out the M98

15 November 2006, 19:56

333_OKH

quote:
Originally posted by cewe:
This was a load I "developed" before I had a chrono but the load was a little above max using the Vihtavuori manual. At that time I was using a M96 that took the loads well, but that rifle was sold after I was given an M98 in the same caliber. My "new" (probably modified from a Mexican M98) rifle froze up solid when I tried shooting the M96 loads in it.

The load IÂ´m now using is 2.8 grams of VV 165 in Lapua brass with a Federal magnum primer and it chronos at 760 ms -abd the bullets perform nicely.

I can check the "overloads" if you like and if you feel lucky...my gunsmith told me to start thinking about my health when I reload after he sorted out the M98

I do not have the factory numbers in front of me, but how close is your current load to the Lapua 155 Mega load? I have both factory loaded ammo and 200 bullets of the Lapua 155 Mega and want to develop it for hunting. I have no need for high velocity, but I do want velocities around the ones Lapua is pushing, or original development of the cartridge.

16 November 2006, 03:38

cewe

333_OKH: Do you mean how close the load is to the factory loading? If that is what you mean I donÂ´t really know as IÂ´ve always shot handloads. I remember my load being +3.0 grams on N165, I can get the exact numbers for you tomorrow. I do not recommend that load for any rifle as I seem to have been way off pressure wise.

16 November 2006, 10:14

boha

As I recall Cewes 6,5x55 has a VERY tight bore, for some obscure reason.

boha

16 November 2006, 13:05

cewe

Boha: The bore is tight and the "bullet space" is short so that adds pressure for sure as the bullet needs to be seated deaper. Then again less powder gives a higher pressure and one still gets more or less the same performance.