**Huge CGN .264 Bullet Test Result** (lots of pics!)

[bcsteve]

There it is!!

The line up:

- The impact velocity was made to duplicate modern 6.5X55 loads at 100 yds.
- Expansion was measured at the widest part of the bullet. Take a look at the pictures when comparing the expansion of different bullets, sometime a sliver of lead or copper at an odd angle can give deceptive results.
- Test rifle: Winchester Model 70 Featherweight 6.5X55 Swed
- Test media: Wet newspaper....lots of wet newspaper!!
- Disclaimer: I know wet newspaper does not give identical result to flesh and bones, blah, blah, blah....

Sierra 85gr HP
Average Penetration (inches): 9.0
Average Weight Retained (grain): 13.6
Average Weight Retained (%): 16
Average Expansion (inches): 0.476

Speer 90gr TNT
Average Penetration (inches): 10.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 28.3
Average Weight Retained (%): 31
Average Expansion (inches): 0.549

Hornady 95gr V-MAX
Average Penetration (inches): 6.25
Average Weight Retained (grain): 34.1
Average Weight Retained (%): 36
Average Expansion (inches): 0.470

Barnes 100gr X
Average Penetration (inches): 16.67
Average Weight Retained (grain): 83
Average Weight Retained (%): 83
Average Expansion (inches): 0.423

Nosler 120gr Ballistic Tip
Average Penetration (inches): 10.30
Average Weight Retained (grain): 74.4
Average Weight Retained (%): 62
Average Expansion (inches): 0.643

Barnes 120gr X
Average Penetration (inches): 14.42
Average Weight Retained (grain): 114.5
Average Weight Retained (%): 95
Average Expansion (inches): 0.586

Barnes 120gr TSX
Average Penetration (inches): 13.67
Average Weight Retained (grain): 120.1
Average Weight Retained (%): 100
Average Expansion (inches): 0.592

Barnes 120gr TTSX
Average Penetration (inches): 17.2
Average Weight Retained (grain): 119.2
Average Weight Retained (%): 99.3
Average Expansion (inches): 0.547

Swift 120gr A-Frame
Average Penetration (inches): 15.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 114.53
Average Weight Retained (%): 95.4
Average Expansion (inches): 0.552

Alberta Wildcat 120gr HP
Average Penetration (inches): 11.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 49.2
Average Weight Retained (%): 41
Average Expansion (inches): 0.704

Alberta Wildcat 125gr SP
Average Penetration (inches): 10.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 73.3
Average Weight Retained (%): 59
Average Expansion (inches): 0.712

Nosler 125gr Partition
Average Penetration (inches): 15
Average Weight Retained (grain): 88.5
Average Weight Retained (%): 71
Average Expansion (inches): 0.614

Hornady 129gr SP IL
Average Penetration (inches): 13.08
Average Weight Retained (grain): 90.5
Average Weight Retained (%): 70
Average Expansion (inches): 0.626

Swift 130gr Scirocco II
Average Penetration (inches): 13.3
Average Weight Retained (grain): 124.7
Average Weight Retained (%): 98.2
Average Expansion (inches): 0.685

Barnes 130gr TSX
Average Penetration (inches): 18
Average Weight Retained (grain): 129.9
Average Weight Retained (%): 100
Average Expansion (inches): 0.552

Lapua 140gr Naturalist
Average Penetration (inches): 16.5
Average Weight Retained (grain): 136.6
Average Weight Retained (%): 98
Average Expansion (inches): 0.556

Sierra 140gr GameKing
Average Penetration (inches): 13
Average Weight Retained (grain): 64.3
Average Weight Retained (%): 46
Average Expansion (inches): 0.467

Speer 140gr HotCor
Average Penetration (inches): 13.8
Average Weight Retained (grain): 76.6
Average Weight Retained (%): 54.7
Average Expansion (inches): 0.513

Hornady 140gr SP IL
Average Penetration (inches): 13.75
Average Weight Retained (grain): 78.7
Average Weight Retained (%): 56
Average Expansion (inches): 0.524

Hornady 140gr SST
Average Penetration (inches): 13.25
Average Weight Retained (grain): 95.5
Average Weight Retained (%): 68
Average Expansion (inches): 0.695

Hornady 140gr A-MAX
Average Penetration (inches): 12.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 75.9
Average Weight Retained (%): 54
Average Expansion (inches): 0.597

Nosler 140gr Partition
Average Penetration (inches): 15.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 108.6
Average Weight Retained (%): 78
Average Expansion (inches): 0.629

Nosler 140gr Accubond
Average Penetration (inches): 14.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 89.9
Average Weight Retained (%): 64.2
Average Expansion (inches): 0.621

Berger 140gr VLD Hunting
Average Penetration (inches): 12.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 50.1
Average Weight Retained (%): 36.4
Average Expansion (inches): 0.576

Sierra 142gr Match King
Average Penetration (inches): 14.25
Average Weight Retained (grain): 40.7
Average Weight Retained (%): 29
Average Expansion (inches): 0.445
** First bullet disintegrated and not significant pieces were recovered.

Military 142gr FMJ
Average Penetration (inches): 14.3
Average Weight Retained (grain): 134.5
Average Weight Retained (%): 94.7
Average Expansion (inches): 0.338
* One veared off course and exited

Alberta Wildcat 142.5 VLD
Average Penetration (inches): 12.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 45.2
Average Weight Retained (%): 32
Average Expansion (inches): 0.598

Lapua 156gr Mega
Average Penetration (inches): 14.92
Average Weight Retained (grain): 120.9
Average Weight Retained (%): 78
Average Expansion (inches): 0.629

Norma 156gr RN
Average Penetration (inches): 14.67
Average Weight Retained (grain): 89.6
Average Weight Retained (%): 57
Average Expansion (inches): 0.592

Woodleigh 160gr Weldcore
Average Penetration (inches): 12.8
Average Weight Retained (grain): 148.9
Average Weight Retained (%): 93.1
Average Expansion (inches): 0.915

Hornady 160gr RN IL
Average Penetration (inches): 13.92
Average Weight Retained (grain): 117.6
Average Weight Retained (%): 74
Average Expansion (inches): 0.694

Sierra 160gr SMP
Average Penetration (inches): 13.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 76.4
Average Weight Retained (%): 48
Average Expansion (inches): 0.539

Alberta Wildcat 168gr VLD
Average Penetration (inches): 13.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 76.4
Average Weight Retained (%): 48
Average Expansion (inches): 0.539

Cast 174 gr (as dropped)
Average Penetration (inches): 24
Average Weight Retained (grain): 122.7
Average Weight Retained (%): 70.5
Average Expansion (inches): 0.360

Cast 174 gr (water quenched)
Average Penetration (inches): 24+
Average Weight Retained (grain): 128.8
Average Weight Retained (%): 74
Average Expansion (inches): 0.438
*Under estimated their penetration, only recovered one.

Approximate impact velocity:
90-100gr.............2850-2900fps
120gr..................2750-2800fps
125gr..................2600-2700fps
129-130gr............2550-2600fps
140gr-142.5gr.......2500-2550fps
156-160gr............2400-2500fps
168gr..................2300-2400fps

**A special thanks to all the members who contributed by providing bullets and brass. Thank you all for you patience.**

 

[Lazy Ike]

Well worth the wait Steve. Thanks for all the work, this is a real eye opener for me.

 

[bcsteve]

You're welcome. If anybody know how I can post a spreadsheet with all the results let me know. It's easier to compare the different bullets at a quick glance.

 

[p-17]

Fantastic results, Steve. Congratulations are truly in order. You've greatly advanced our learning.

I hope the mods post your results in a permanent reference space on CGN so that it is always accessible, long after this individual thread dies away.

And I was right -- the 140 AMAX would work on deer!

 

[604shooter]

Awesome work BCSteve!

 

[todbartell]

excellent, I sure love them TSX, and the Mega looks great too

thanks, it was worth the wait for sure

 

[rlg]

Very impressive, eye opener...

Very impressive work. The time and effort that you have put into this is nothing short of amazing.

A real eye opener.
Thanks
Robert

 

[glang1]

Wow! Excellent work Steve. The Barnes TSX bullets shot into newprint look impressive. I like the %100 weight retention. I can imagine the copper claws that open up would create a massive wound channel. I am going to load some up for my .270

Regards,

George

 

[catnthehatt]

excellent, I sure love them TSX, and the Mega looks great too

thanks, it was worth the wait for sure

The Lapua Naturalis looks great also, very impressive.

Cat

 

[Gibbs505]

Tremendiious work there! That was a big job to do!

 

[RobSmith]

Fascinating.

 

[NAA]

Great report.... lots of cool data for a 6.5x55mm reloader!

 

[todbartell]

and the 260, of course we already knew what each bullet would do

 

[HeadDamage]

Any chance you made observations on how fast the bullets opened vs depth of penetration?

 

[bcsteve]

Any chance you made observations on how fast the bullets opened vs depth of penetration?

Not really. Honestly, there wasn't much visible difference between the "wound cavity" of the different bullets in the wet newspaper. The one thing I notice that might be of interest for the predator/varmint hunter is the difference between the TNT and the V-MAX. The V-MAX opened up a lot sooner than the TNT. The V-MAX was making craters in the first couple inches while the TNT was still drilling caliber size holes.

 

[HeadDamage]

Based on your results I'm thinking of giving the TSX a try. I used to use Nosler solid base 120gr bullets but they don't make them any more and I hate the BT.

 

[Wild_Thing]

The 130 gr. TSX looks like a winner in the .264 class.

 

[7mmager]

Very, Very Good Work!

As a reloader and hunter that test was invaluable.

 

[BC Bigbore]

Very professional report. Excellent info and pic's Back in 1962 my BIL, together with his brother, bought a pair of M70 Westerners in the newly introduced (1958) .264 Winchester Magnum. For over forty years, those two gents have taken many moose, muledeer, whitetail, goat, blackbear, grizzly, wolf and coyotes with their .264's. Their go-to load was Winchester's 140gr SP factory ammo. I'm tending to believe that had the TSX been around in their day, it would have become their favorite.

 

[John Y Cannuck]

Excellent work.
A good referance for anyone looking at bullets.