I think I have worked up a pretty good load in my 6.5x55 (Ruger 77 MKII) for deer season. 140 grain Barnes XLC over 47 grains of IMR 4831. This combination is giving me about 2800 fps and half inch groups at 100 yards. I have never used Barnes bullets before in any caliber. My question is will the Barnes do sufficient damage (large wound channel) on heart/lung shots, or will I be tracking deer? All of my shots will be inside 300 yards (some at less than 50). I could always just do high shoulder shots, but I just wanted to know what results others have had using similar combinations.

Thanks for any responses

Matt V

Will do great! It will do a better job than a .30-06 with a 180 grs partition!

quote:

Originally posted by Bent Fossdal:
Will do great! It will do a better job than a .30-06 with a 180 grs partition!

If this is more than opinion, I for one would like to see what evidence you base this comment on.thanks roger

Roger,

From what I have seen of those Barnes Triple Shocks, I would have to agree with the gent from Norway...

I have only loaded up some of the Barnes for others... and have no personal hands on experiences with them... but have seen the results from ammo I have loaded...

I DO have personal experience with the 180 grain partition in an 06... and it is hard to beat....

I am not normally a Barnes fan either... but I have to give it to them.... for accuracy and lethality, the Triple shock is a real winner....

To beat a partition in a 06 is a pretty good feat, but I have to admit, I think Barnes did it here....

A 6.5 x 55, with a 140 grainer at 2800 fps is not a bad combo for lethality on its own...with any commerical 140 grain bullet... but I am preaching to the choir on that one.. because I know you personally know it...

ja sore - mine friend ole tells me the barns in sveeden are yust like da barns here. O chit this is getting to be a long day

Thanks for the responses. Monday is opening day and we can shoot up to five whitetails. Have dropped many deer in their tracks with fragmenting type bullets (NOS BT) in the 308 win. First time using a 6.5x55 or Barnes bullets, just don’t want to have to track any deer. I’ll try some heart/lung shots on the does, but will probably shoulder shoot the big buck I’ve been seeing. I’ll let you guys know how the bullets perform (autopsy photos perhaps).

Butchloc, never been to Sweden. I’m not sure how their barns compare to ours here ? But I can tell that when I first started shooting Barnes bullets (pre TSX & XLC) they would not hit the broad side of a barn (American or Swedish).

Over and Out…………..

Matt V.

have had terrific luck with the barnes on ferrel hogs... good expansion, devestating penetration. if they work on hogs everthing else is candy

quote:

140 grain Barnes XLC over 47 grains of IMR 4831

Where does Barnes list this in the Min/Max of the load for the 140 and IMR4831 ????

333_OKH,

I've Been away hunting. Don't have much time now or my Barnes manual with me. But if memory serves me correctly the max load was 49 grains of 4831 to yield around 2900 fps? The 6.5x55 has killed three deer since Monday! All with very good results. Will post more details later. Got to get back to the woods!

Matt V

Over and Out..........

What is your cartridge OAL when using the Barnes? My 6.5 has it´s quirks som OAL has to be quite short (77mm if I remember correctly).

quote:

Originally posted by trophyhunter5000:
333_OKH,

I've Been away hunting. Don't have much time now or my Barnes manual with me. But if memory serves me correctly the max load was 49 grains of 4831 to yield around 2900 fps? The 6.5x55 has killed three deer since Monday! All with very good results. Will post more details later. Got to get back to the woods!

Matt V

Over and Out..........

Thank for the help. If you can, let us know the Max load from barnes when you return and have time to look. Thank you!

I’m very impressed with the performance of the 6.5x55 and Barnes bullets! Three White Tail deer were dropped last week. I shot two does (both in the 150 pound range) one in the shoulder and the other through the lungs, at 100 and 150 yards respectively. The shoulder shot deer dropped in her tracks and the lung shot ran down hill about 50 yards before collapsing. The bullets completely penetrated both deer and left impressive exit wounds in the 1†to 1.5†range.

The third deer was shot by my 14 year old nephew using my rifle. The range was about 150 yards and he shot too far back on his first shot. After trying to sort out the problem himself with more copper, I grabbed the rifle and shot the deer through the shoulder. The deer went down in instantaneously.

Like I said above, I’m very impressed with the combination of the Barnes in the Swedish. Two years ago I used 140 grain Hornady SSTs in a 264 Winchester Magnum. At several hundred feet per second faster they dropped deer a little faster with lung shots (no exit wounds) but not as fast as the Barnes did this year on shoulder shots! I guess that two broken shoulders are better than one busted lung.

For those that asked above about load data and specifics here we go (using 140 grain Barnes XLC):

• The Barnes manual lists their starting load at 45 grains of IMR 4831 to yield 2690 fps.
• The Barnes Manual lists their max load at 49 grains of IMR 4831 to yield 2920 fps. I stopped at 47 grains because things were starting to get compressed and I was satisfied with the 2800 fps I was getting anyway.
• My COAL was 3.035†this was about .010†off of the lands. Barnes says to start .050†off and experiment with closer and father depths for accuracy. My Ruger has a long throat and shot better with the longer cartridge.
• I used Lapua brass and Federal GM 210M primers.

Well now it’s back to work (hunting trips are never long enough). I might get a chance to get out some next weekend. Thanks to all, this is a really great forum.

Matt V.

Over and Out……………

Great information. I am looking to try the 140 grain coated X-bullet and the 130 triple X bullet when my rifle comes back. I would love to be pumping out the 140 grain coated X at 2800 fps.