I am not new to world of rifle reloading but am new to the 6.5/.264 caliber. Any thoughts or experiences with 100-160 grain bullets on deer, black bear or hogs would be appreciated.

Just bought a 6.5 RM packaged in a nice 600 Carbine. Right now I'm looking at the 100 and 125 grain Nosler, 129 Hornady SP and SST and 160 Hornady RN. I'm leaning toward the 100 grain Nosler and the 129 SST.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Bob

I have not tried the SST, but here is what I use, only because they are the most accurate in the respective rifles:
120 Sierra BTSP - 6.5-284 Deer
120 BT - 6.5-06AI Deer only, not tough enough for bear
125 Partition or 129 Hornady - .264WM Works for anything up to Elk
100 Sierra HPBT - 6.5x55 Deer or coyotes

I have never found a need for the 140s although they shoot just fine, except for Elk and above. And you can tell, I love the 6.5 stuff.

I settled on the 125-grain Nosler Partition out of my .260 Rem at around 2700 fps. So far six whitetails have either dropped in their tracks or fallen within 20-30 yards after being hit with one of them.

RJM
I tallied 11 whitetails this year with the 140 SST. This bullet did a great job, everything was dead inside 25 yds with most dropping in their tracks. It can be a little tough to get to shoot accurately but if you can I think you'll like the results.
I shoot them out of a 6.5-284 with a 26" barrel and get a 2950 fps avg. with 49.0 grs of Re 22.

in my 6.5x55 I use the Hornady 140gr... I get about 2600fps, and 1.25" or sometimes a little better at 100 yds... kills deer dead, right now. I have never recovered a bullet... high sectional density at moderate velocities equals GREAT penetration... and a flat enough trajectory that it's not an issue out to probably 300yds...
...one nice whitetail buck, at about 165 yds dropped so quickly at the shot, I thought I had missed.... as far as I could tell, he never even kicked... just flipped over on his back and died....field dressed at about 140-50 lbs or so.... 11 points.....
... as much as I love guns, and experimenting, I honestly think I have found my "keeper" deer gun... I just can't imagine anything being any better... bigger, louder, yeah, .... better? nope....

The 6.5x55 has been my deer hunting round for the past 6 years. I have been lucky enough to take a 1/2 dozen or so nice size deer, by that I mean over 165 lbs which is getting large for my area. There have also been a few does and an occasional hog. I have used 4 different bullets in the Swede, all in 140 gr. because that weight shoots best in my gun. Nosler Partition, Sierra Gameking, Hornady Interlock and SST. All of these bullets performed very well at the Swedes velocity with only the SST being a little suspect to me but I've only shot a couple animals with it so I don't really have enough experience to rule it out just yet.

Because the Mod. 600 or 660 ( short barrels) are not seriously considered as long range rifles, the 160 gr. RN with powders in the 4895 to BL-C-2 burning rates should be a winning combination. The large sectional density at modestly high velocities should be a good marriage. The slower powders in that length barrel are going to give you a lot more boom but not much more velocity. That 160 will still produce a good trajectery.

I used a 6.5X.284 with that combo and didn't strike out.The cartridges are quite similar. roger

There is no real "bad" bullet for the 6.5 bore, unless one takes a light bullet with some fragility and push it at magnum velocities at short impact distances.

Though I don't recommend it for the average shooter, I have had to dispatch several deer that have been hit by cars and have staggered off into a field. To put them down humainely, instead of them suffering, all I had with me was a 260 loaded with 90 grain Speer TNT bullets. These deer were the size of antelope but the 90 grain TNT dropped them just fine with a lung shot. So even the varmint bullets work in a pinch in the 6.5 bore. I leave out the 264 Mag with that statement as I have no experience using that combo on anything. The 6.5 Rem Mag is basically a 6.5/06 in different clothes, so it should work fine. ( in a pinch)

6.5 bullets all work based on high sectional density and good aerodynamic design. Even the 100 grainers available have done a great job for me. I have taken 6 or so deer with 100 grain bullets from all manufacturers. The only negative one I have anything grumbles about was the Nosler Ballistic tip. Some guys would have loved that performance.

Even at 300 yds, it dropped the deer instantly. I watched it fall in the scope, not loosing site picture because lack of recoil. Upon field cleaning tho, I also saw that we lost the entire oft shoulder to being blood shot. There went 15 lbs of steaks/hamburger.

And all of my 6.5 bores shoot very accurately. Varmint grade accurate! Must be why they are so popular.

Cheers and good shooting
seafire

Have any of you guys tried the Norma Oryx bonded bullet? It's only available in 156 grains, but the bullet is very popular and cheap here in Sweden.

Maybe it doesn't even make it to the States, much like the NorthFork bullet I've been reading about but never seen in Sweden.

It don't require a serious premium bullet for whitetails and any 140 bullet will do fine.....as to that so will any 129/130 grain bullet however I prefer pass thrus and like the old Hornady Interlocks.

I have shot:-

100gr BTs at just below 3,000fps - great bullet on small and medium sized deer. I have shot a lot of fallow with this that would be average whitetail sized.

100gr Hornadies - As above but a little tougher. I have also pushed this bullet to 3,300fps at which point it is amazing!

120gr BTs at 2,800fps and 3,000fps. On the same sized deer I saw little difference in terminal performance but the reduced wind drift was welcome. I think I would have missed the chamois (250m shot) with a 100gr bullet.

125gr partition at 2,800fps. As at home on 40lb deer as 200lb ones. Very impressive.

140gr speer hot core - despite the heavy weight quite expansive.

My pick for allround use out of such a rifle would be the 125gr partition.

I'm about to try the 110 gr GS Custom in my 6.5 Grendel Should be interesting. I'll post after the first shoot.

I'm a fan of the 129 gr Spire Point Hornady for Deer adn the 140 gr Hornady or Nosler Partition for Black Bear.

In my Remington Mountain rifle in 260 I use Hornady 129 gr sp interlock bullets. It has accounted for three Sika, two stags and a hind.
All three were slam bang dead on the ground, they did not move an inch. The 260 Rem, and its older brother the 7mm-08, are two fine deer cartridges. However I prefer the 260 with it's softer recoil.

I've got some Lapua 156gr Mega bullets on order just to see what they will do out of my CZ550 FS. Does anyone use these bullets on deer/black bear? If so, what powder/charge wt. is being used. Could Hornady 160gr load data be used safely?

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
Because the Mod. 600 or 660 ( short barrels) are not seriously considered as long range rifles, the 160 gr. RN with powders in the 4895 to BL-C-2 burning rates should be a winning combination. The large sectional density at modestly high velocities should be a good marriage. The slower powders in that length barrel are going to give you a lot more boom but not much more velocity. That 160 will still produce a good trajectery.

I used a 6.5X.284 with that combo and didn't strike out.The cartridges are quite similar. roger

I really cannot see what difference a shorter barrel will make for longer range shooting! Yea you loose a couple 100 FPS maybe but if your gun is sighted in for longer ranges that couple hundred FPS should not make that much difference expecially with these bullets haveing such good penitration and BC. Remember guys shooting Prairie dogs with handguns like Encores, Contenders, ect make killing hits over 300 yards with them with 15 inch and shorter barrels. Jim

I use Hornady 129 gr interlock's in my CZ 550. Together with Lapuua brass, CCI primers and 45 grains of H4350 it knocks those Sika right over. Never had one run yet, just drop where they are. Have not chrony'd the load yet so I have no idea of their speed.

John

quote:

Originally posted by jh45gun:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by bartsche:

"I really cannot see what difference a shorter barrel will make for longer range shooting! Yea you loose a couple 100 FPS maybe but if your gun is sighted in for longer ranges that couple hundred FPS should not make that much difference expecially with these bullets haveing such good penitration and BC. Remember guys shooting Prairie dogs with handguns like Encores, Contenders, ect make killing hits over 300 yards with them with 15 inch and shorter barrels. Jim

"

I stand corrected ,I'm sure you are right and if we took a survey we indeed would find a whole bunch of people ""seriously"" using Remington Model 600 .350 magnums to shoot prariedogs at 300 yards plus. What ever was I thinking? roger

Thanks for all the great replies. I did pick up a box of the 129 gr. SST...it is a bit LONG. What a great bullet this would be from a long action rifle seated way out. In the stubby 6.5 the bullet is way down in the case.....but I am going to try these anyway.
Next is maybe the 120 Nosler Petition...

Bob

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:

quote:

Originally posted by jh45gun:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by bartsche:

"I really cannot see what difference a shorter barrel will make for longer range shooting! Yea you loose a couple 100 FPS maybe but if your gun is sighted in for longer ranges that couple hundred FPS should not make that much difference expecially with these bullets haveing such good penitration and BC. Remember guys shooting Prairie dogs with handguns like Encores, Contenders, ect make killing hits over 300 yards with them with 15 inch and shorter barrels. Jim

"

I stand corrected ,I'm sure you are right and if we took a survey we indeed would find a whole bunch of people ""seriously"" using Remington Model 600 .350 magnums to shoot prariedogs at 300 yards plus. What ever was I thinking? roger

Seems to me my discussion was on barrel length NOT the Caliber, since you brought up the subject of shorter barrels! But then maybe you are a expert on short barrels!

Worked up a load with reloader 15 and Hornady A-Max bullets. Groundhog load. Used it this past summer on deer in West Virginia. Worked great.

For deer I like the 120gr. Nosler Bal.Tip and the 129gr PSP from Hornady. For moose I use the 160gr. Sierra SPSP (round nose to me). The rifle is a Remington Classic in 6.5x55 and quite accurate. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

quote:

Originally posted by RJM:
Thanks for all the great replies. I did pick up a box of the 129 gr. SST...it is a bit LONG. What a great bullet this would be from a long action rifle seated way out. In the stubby 6.5 the bullet is way down in the case.....but I am going to try these anyway.
Next is maybe the 120 Nosler Petition...

Bob

Yes, the 125 Nosler PT is a good choice, but they are pricey. The 129 Hornady in both the SST and SP versions work quite well. I've also used the Remington 120s and 140s, both with excellent results. BTW, most of these were from a 6.5x55 and a 6.5x57.

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:

I stand corrected ,I'm sure you are right and if we took a survey we indeed would find a whole bunch of people ""seriously"" using Remington Model 600 .350 magnums to shoot prariedogs at 300 yards plus. What ever was I thinking? roger

Apparently not very much, because the dominant rifle in the Service Rifle category of NRA Highpower Rifle is the AR15 with a GI-length 20" barrel and slightly massaged M16A2 sights.

Mine is sub-MOA at 600 yards using 24.5 grains of Reloader 15, Lake City cases, Rem 7 1/2 primers and Hornady 75 AMAX bullets.

quote:

Originally posted by JAYB:
I use Hornady 129 gr interlock's in my CZ 550. Together with Lapuua brass, CCI primers and 45 grains of H4350 it knocks those Sika right over. Never had one run yet, just drop where they are. Have not chrony'd the load yet so I have no idea of their speed.

John

Niiiiiice. I'm working up a load for mine using the same components except Remington 9 1/2 primers. I'm seating the bullets .020" off the lands. Where are yours?

another vote for the hornady 129 grn sp. i use them in my cz 6.5x55 at 2800 fps and 5 deer so far have not had any complaints. 45.5 grns IMR 4350 and .020 off the lands. cheers...bud