bullet options

[CV32]

I'm wondering about bullets this hunting season. last 2 years did well with the 150gr Hornady SST at 2500fps in a 303 British but i did notice the bullets really came apart, holding less then half their original weight. so the SST may be the best option for a slower round but i do have a few options. this year I'm running a 6.5x53R, ballistically similar to a 6.5 Grendel but runs bigger bullets. 6.5x53r is 10 more gr case capacity but 10k lower pressure. the options are Hornady 129 gr SST at 2500 fps muzzle Sierra 140 gr STB GameKings at 2400 fps at the muzzle Hornady 160 gr interlock at 2200 fps muzzle i have limited time to shoot, only 100 of each bullet and would like a good bullet try and develop a load for in one range session. then be able to load 20 more for a big trip i have planned. i believe the rifling is 1:8" or 1:9". reading mixed results

It will be for goat, sheep and deer and I'll be well into grizzly country. So I'm thinking about the interlocks but I like the speed of the sst. The gameking may be the best middle ground. I've just never really looked into hunting bullets or paid much attention to them and just used factory ammo or reload with whatever soft points bullets I had on hand.

You are unlikely to go wrong with the GameKing.

 

[iron cat]

At one time I was loading for the 6.5x54MS in three different rifles, my own and two that friends owned.

We loaded everything from lighter 120 Barnes to the big 157 Normas and 160 grain Seirra SMP's but the majority were 156 and 160's.

Between the three rifles there were over 20 deer killed, all woth one shot from quartering to broadside and from 20 yards to 200+ yards.

Nothing went more than about 50 yards.

These guns were two Mannlichers and a Krag Jorgensen so I was not loading hot.

All the bullets worked well, and two moose were killed with the SMP's as well.

Put the danged bullet where it is supposed to ho and stuff dies.

All the rest is frivolous " what if" details.

Cat

 

[Ardent]

If you can, really worth going lead free, especially if you’re feeding the family with it. Will avoid reposting the game meat X-rays, but they’re easily found, lead really gets around. Lots of good 6.5 monos these days, I like GMXs and TTSXs. Treat them as stiff bullets, push them fast, and they do anything you need a hunting bullet to do.