I had a chance to try some new bullets in my 6.5 today. The results have me a little puzzled though, as the performance seems really erratic.

6.5 WSM
140 gr. Berger VLD
Fed 215 Primer
Reloder 25
OAL: 2.955 (Bullet seated right on the lands)

Charge Vel. 1 Vel 2 Vel. 3 Group Size
60 3058 3086 3065 1.07â€
61 3072 3108 3100 2.21â€
61.5 3115 3100 3100 .41â€
62 3137 3167 3182 2.14â€
62.5 3205 3197 3159 1.92â€
63 3220 3236 3220 .97

Anybody have any thoughts?

Pete

Taht 61.5 grain load looks like a keeper...

that is pretty impressive with a 140 grain Bullet....

I am gathering this is a target rifle...

I have really though seriously about a 6.5 WSSM, as opposed to the WSM case... would be strictly a target rifle...

Kinda sweet numbers and that accuracy with 61.5 grains ofd RL 25, what more could ya ask???

Cool! Have fun with it... anyone who shoots any kind of a 6.5 mm, has a leg up on the other guys in my book...

I love 6.5 and 6mm bores the best......


cheers
seafire

What twist bbl are you using? I tried them in my 260 1 in 9 twist and never could get them to group. The SMK was a better bullet in my 40xb.

I noticed that this is one of the bullets that Berger now lists as a big game bullet. If you can go kill something with it ok? I'm real curious how these do. I've read about them being compared to Ballistic Tips in performance.

The rifle has a light contour (I don't remember exactly which one) 25 inch Lilja barrel with a 1 in 8 twist.

I was thinking about using this bullet for coues deer and pronhorns, but I'm not sure if I will or not. Up until now I've used 130 gr TSX's over 64.5 gr of RL25 for a hair over 3400 fps. The accuracy seems to be about the same, and the extra 300 fps velocity gives the TSX the advantage in trajectory. At 63 gr. with the VLD, I didn't notice any pressure signs, so I may try going a grain higher and seeing if that makes any difference in accuracy.

Pete

Just something to try. Back off the lands just the smallest amount and try again.

quote:

Originally posted by muzzle:
Just something to try. Back off the lands just the smallest amount and try again.

I'm thinking along the same lines. It looks like your best harmonic node is right about 3100fps, but there must be some slight shift causeing the groups to open up. How close did you monitor the barrel temp? Was it the same or close between the best group and the next not so good with the same velocity?

Nate

P.S. I'd try 61.5 and up around the 63 again and play with seating depth.