Will a 120 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip work or be over stabalized in a 6.5X284 with a 1:8 twist. I know the norm for the 1:8 twist is 140 gr. bullet. But I am curious if anyone has tried the 120 gr Ballistic Tip in this combination? What were your results?
Thanks, Lonnie

Lonnie,

I've shot 120 NBTs in my 1 in 8 twist 260 Rem at velocities of 2000-2800 fps. At 100 yards, the holes were always round, and surprisingly close to one another . Some find that even out to 1000 yards, the 123 gn Scenars work better than 139 Scenars in 1 in 8 twist barrels. Should work fine!

Regards, Bill

Try these!

http://www.groovebullets.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=906

As a lover of the 6.5 bore, I will not touch a rifle with a 1 in 9 twist in 6.5. One in 8 twist will stabilize any bullet I want to shoot in a 6.5, from the 85 grains to the 160 grains.

Only one I have never shot is the 6.5 mm, 155 grain Sierra Match King.

Unlike seafire, all of my 6.5s have 1:9 twists and they all shoot under 1/2" with everything up to 160 grainers. I don't know about the 160s because I never shoot them. I think either will work fine, especially for the 120 BT. It is all I shoot in my 6.5-06AI with great results both on game and paper.

I have a Winchester Model 70 in a .264 Win Mag Improved (6.5 Mach IV) with a 27" Hart 1 in 8 twist barrel. This rifle is a tack driver. It shoots all size bullets well. Only caution is shooting the lighter bullets, do not raise the velocity to the max end of the scale. With the 1in8 barrel you will see puff of grey down range and nothing will hit the target. I assume the bullet is spinning so fast that it self destructs.

My 6.5x55 is a Remington Classic with a 1 in 9" twist. It does not handle the Sierra 140 or 142gr. very well. I can get under 1." (5 at 100yds) but barely. It does shoot the Sierra 160RN very well, but I think that's because of the bullet shape. Lapua makes their Scenar bullets in 108, 123 and 139 in .264 diameter, and all three are excellent performers. I've heard that the twist factor is offset somewhat by the bullet's length. Most 6.5 bullets are quite long. We in North America need to know a lot more about these 6.5's. Many of us are still tyros in this respect. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal