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6.5mm long range hunting bullet?
- Thread starter Freyr_255
- Start date
All of these suggestions are fine, except the OP doesn't mention what he calls "long range."
IMHO, if he's planning on shooting beyond 300 yards, he shouldn't be using bullets lighter than 140 grains. One thing, he wouldn't have to worry about is bullet performance.
The further you reach out, the heavier the bullet you want to use.
Heavier bullets give you better trajectories after 250 yards and retain more energy for better expansion.
As far as his choice of bullets is concerned, that's a personal preference.
I've used the Hornady 140, SST, Interlocks on most medium and large game species in BC. No, not Grizzlies but I would if I got a draw.
They are accurate, carry well and buck the wind without much problem. They stay supersonic much further than I feel comfortable shooting.
The longest range I've used the bullets on a moose was just over 500 yards, by my Swarovski range finder. One bullet behind his fore leg, took out both lungs, after first going through a rib. It made a 1inch (2cm) exit wound. That means it didn't explode, as per popular belief and did everything it was designed to do.
I've used the same bullet on deer and bear as close as 25 yards, right out to 200+yards, with similar results. I will admit, at close range, the exit wound was close to 3 inches (6cm). I've never been able to recover one of the bullets fired into an animal.
I have recovered bullets fired into a 1 metre bundle of soaked, mixed paper though. It penetrated about 60cm and retained at least 60% of its weight. That's what it was designed to do. It's a race horse hunting bullet with great SD and BC as well as match lines.
Just for your information, I shoot a Tikka T3, chambered in 6.5x55 with a 1-8 twist rate.
For coyotes, I use the 95 grain Hornady Vmax over 47.0gr of W760 (H414SL10), over CCI 250 magnum primers. This chronies at 3000fps+-25fps
For the 140gr loads I use 46.0 grains of H4831 over CCI 250 magnum primers. This load runs around 55,000 psi and shouldn't even get close to the chamber of the old Swede Mausers and maybe be reduced for those that have converted 98 Mausers.
IMHO, if he's planning on shooting beyond 300 yards, he shouldn't be using bullets lighter than 140 grains. One thing, he wouldn't have to worry about is bullet performance.
The further you reach out, the heavier the bullet you want to use.
Heavier bullets give you better trajectories after 250 yards and retain more energy for better expansion.
As far as his choice of bullets is concerned, that's a personal preference.
I've used the Hornady 140, SST, Interlocks on most medium and large game species in BC. No, not Grizzlies but I would if I got a draw.
They are accurate, carry well and buck the wind without much problem. They stay supersonic much further than I feel comfortable shooting.
The longest range I've used the bullets on a moose was just over 500 yards, by my Swarovski range finder. One bullet behind his fore leg, took out both lungs, after first going through a rib. It made a 1inch (2cm) exit wound. That means it didn't explode, as per popular belief and did everything it was designed to do.
I've used the same bullet on deer and bear as close as 25 yards, right out to 200+yards, with similar results. I will admit, at close range, the exit wound was close to 3 inches (6cm). I've never been able to recover one of the bullets fired into an animal.
I have recovered bullets fired into a 1 metre bundle of soaked, mixed paper though. It penetrated about 60cm and retained at least 60% of its weight. That's what it was designed to do. It's a race horse hunting bullet with great SD and BC as well as match lines.
Just for your information, I shoot a Tikka T3, chambered in 6.5x55 with a 1-8 twist rate.
For coyotes, I use the 95 grain Hornady Vmax over 47.0gr of W760 (H414SL10), over CCI 250 magnum primers. This chronies at 3000fps+-25fps
For the 140gr loads I use 46.0 grains of H4831 over CCI 250 magnum primers. This load runs around 55,000 psi and shouldn't even get close to the chamber of the old Swede Mausers and maybe be reduced for those that have converted 98 Mausers.
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I was kind of wondering what sparked a PM I got on this today and it seems I have my answer. The intent of the rifle was essentially as a varminter with the capacity to take caribou as well since seasons overlap. So 'long range' is me being able to see the damned things. I wouldn't be shooting caribou at excessive distances but predators are a different story.
Anyway I've half settled on the 129gr SST due to availability and pricing. Load development for this has had a few issues with getting the rife to shoot properly, which as it turns out, needs some fore end pressure and lack of time/good weather over the winter months has slowed things down. I might try and get out this weekend and do some more development but I'm also hampared by lack of bullet/powder selection in town.
Anyway I've half settled on the 129gr SST due to availability and pricing. Load development for this has had a few issues with getting the rife to shoot properly, which as it turns out, needs some fore end pressure and lack of time/good weather over the winter months has slowed things down. I might try and get out this weekend and do some more development but I'm also hampared by lack of bullet/powder selection in town.
