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Old December 18, 2012, 02:12 PM   #1
davidaker
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Hunting bullet of choice for deer - 6.5 Swede

For those who have tried different bullets for the 6.5x55, what seems to work best in M96?
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Old December 18, 2012, 03:51 PM   #2
solocam72
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I'm speaking here without hands on experience with that particular cartridge but do have some experience with the 6.5-06, same bullet. I am a huge nosler fan and particularly the accubonds, they make a 130 grain bullet that perfomed flawlessly in the 2 rifles i worked with, they expand well and retain most of there weight. So far they have shot very well in every rifle I've tried them in.
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Old December 18, 2012, 03:52 PM   #3
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The B.C. is .488, which isn't bad for a 130 grain bullet
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Old December 18, 2012, 05:02 PM   #4
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Thanks, I'll try the Nosler, I guess I'm more interested in the expansion quality of the bullet. Most of my deer shots are 100 yards or less.
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Old December 18, 2012, 06:15 PM   #5
solocam72
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The accubonds expand really good and won't fragment apart, they are a premium bonded core bullet, they cost a little more than some bullets but are well worth it IMO
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Old December 18, 2012, 06:45 PM   #6
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The Accubond is a great bullet in any caliber. It combines the penetration of the Partition with the BC of the Ballistic Tip. But for deer at under 100 yards, almost anything is going to be more than adequate and a lot cheaper.

Another premium bullet that gets lots of good reviews is the Barnes TTSX. The secret to using them is to drop down in bullet weight and shoot them fast. You need at least 3000 fps at the muzzle and 2000- 2200 fps or so at impact. Slower than that and you don't get enough expansion and they behave like a FMJ. The lighter bullets retain almost 100% of their weight no matter how fast you shoot them and they penetrate much deeper than a conventional bullet of the same weight. I'm shooting 130 gr bullets in my 308 at 3050 fps., 150's out of my 30-06 at the same speed. They will penetrate and expand like a 180 out of a 300 magnum.

Accubonds and Barnes bullets in .30 caliber are around $30-$32 for 50 bullets. I can get Hornady interlock bullets $25-$26 for 100 bullets. I have no problems with using the standard cheaper bullets for whitetail here in GA, even at 300+ yards. I bought the Accubonds and Barnes to work up a load for an elk hunt where I might have to shoot at a much larger animal at longer ranges.
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Old December 18, 2012, 06:47 PM   #7
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Another worth consideration is the Hornady 129. Inexpensive and effective.
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Old December 18, 2012, 08:14 PM   #8
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I shoot the 260 Remington and have had great success with the Nosler 120 gr Ballistic Tip. Right now I'm using the 100 grain Ballistic Tip, but haven't used it much except for one large pig and one coyote (it was deadly on both). I hunted for one season with that 120 grainer and it was a very deadly bullet. The farthest I had to trail anything was about 20 yards. I'd have stayed with the 120 grainer but wanted more velocity.
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Old December 18, 2012, 08:40 PM   #9
Brian Pfleuger
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jmr40
You need at least 3000 fps at the muzzle and 2000- 2200 fps or so at impact.
I have to disagree a bit here.... a significant portion of data published by Barnes for their own bullets doesn't even approach 3,000fps. For the Swede in particular, only one load does and it's only 3,007.

Barnes will tell you that their (T)TSX lines are good from 1,800fps to virtually unlimited top speed. I asked them about 3,700fps one time and they told me that they test them "well beyond" that speed.

I do love the Barnes bullets and I agree with the notion of light and fast for them. I currently shoot their 80gr in 243 at a measured 3,600fps from my 243AI and I also use their 110gr 7mm bullets in my 7mm-08 handgun at 2,800fps.

I'd recommend trying them anyway. They really perform very well.
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Old December 18, 2012, 09:13 PM   #10
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Brian, I shoot the 80 grain barnes ttsx in my .257 weatherby, chronod at 3700 fps, i can't think of another bullet that would hold together at those velocities? My gun really likes em to!
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Old December 18, 2012, 10:12 PM   #11
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I use 140gr Nosler Partitions. I shot a deer @ 136 yds and the bullet had complete lengthwise penetration and dropped the deer on the spot. Having said that I don't think premium bullets are needed for whitetails, but I got the NP on a great deal.
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Old December 18, 2012, 10:33 PM   #12
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I've had excellent results with the Sierra GameKing 140gr SPBT. They shoot very well grouping right around an inch @ 100 yds and they drop deer like they were hit with a sledgehammer. This years 5 pointer flopped right over backwards in his tracks. I have never recovered a bullet from any of the deer that I've shot so I can't give specifics on expansion. My rifle wouldn't shoot the Nosler Partitions well.

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Old December 19, 2012, 10:05 AM   #13
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A lot of good recommendations here.

The issue you might run into could be like the one I got for my daughter. The lead was so long I can stand a 140gr A-Max on top of the case neck, chamber it, and still not touch the lands. This made most of the most recommended bullets shoot patterns and not groups.

I ended up using the AMax after some careful work ups and had it running 2450'ish fps from her rifle. Everyone said things to the effect that the bullet would not work out, it woulod blow up, and on and on and on. Well I tested it for a full year before she was allowed to hunt with it. I used it on feral hogs at ranges from a few feet to out past 400yds and in every case I got complete pass through with adequate expansion, but no blow ups.

Since then I have talked with [plenty of others who have also shot the AMax as well and all report similar experiences.

I'm not saying to use it, but it is a choice if things aren't working with the other bullets. Just don't try and hot rod them and you will be fine.
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Old December 19, 2012, 01:16 PM   #14
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I use a wildcat 6.5x57 with an 8"-twist barrel and like the cupandcores, so a Sierra 140spbt will work just fine, with acceptable accuracy. The Hornady 139sp is another bullet that's hard to beat.
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Old December 19, 2012, 07:51 PM   #15
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I use the 130 Berger VLD in the Sweede, 6.5 X 284, and the 264 Win mag on deer. Very accurate. Controlled expansion in the Sweede and a controlled explosion in the Win Mag, but devesdating on deer in all theree cartridges.
If you can get an A Max to shoot, its an awesome bullet. I have never had any success with them. There are a few people I know who swear by them, but I have never been able to get them to shoot in anything I own. My newest 1000 yd (6.5 X 284) rifle keyholes them and it is twisted slightly faster than the rate H recommends.
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