SIERRA HPBT

green_MTman · May 18, 2014, 11:46 AM

how is the sierra HPBT game king on penitration. in this case a 6.5 130gr.its advertised as tougher than the game king or pro hunter but who knows if thats true.i am working on a moose load and it could work if i keep it at minimum load, which should give 2500 fps with my 26" barrel

Jimro · May 18, 2014, 02:09 PM

Haven't used it myself, too new to have made it on to my reloading bench as of right now, but if deep penetration is your goal I'd recommend the 140gr Nosler Partition. You can shoot those fast, and they have a higher BC than the 130gr Sierra you are looking at.

Moose aren't particularly bulletproof, but the 6.5 Swede loads that have done well are 160gr at 2,400 fps or 140gr at 2,650 fps (plus or minus a bit depending on barrel lengths involved), so a 130gr at 2,500 fps seems a tad on the light side to me.

Jimro

SpringOWeiler · May 18, 2014, 02:34 PM

I see an excuse for a water jug test!

green_MTman · May 18, 2014, 03:21 PM

its custom and well but the gunsmith made the free bore to short maybe by accident.i am having pressure problems on my 140gr A frames,so i maybe stuck with using the A frame at minimum which about 2,400 at 34 grain of imr 4064 with a 26" barrel.

that has enough for moose inside 75 yards which is all i need where i hunt in Vermont.however if a long shot came my way the 130 at 2500 has more energy if it has the penitration.

i am going back to minimum on 140 grain A frame and i am backing off the rifling another .020" and see if i can get that to 38 or even 37 grain.

but if all else fails the min load on the 140 will be a close range moose gun,which is all i need.the last deer i took was 45 yards and my longest shot ever was just 125 yards

maybe this winter i can get the free bore lenthened to seat a bullet .010 with the 3.00 COL typical of the 6.5 swede,now my COL is 2.927 and thats only .010 of the grooves.

really need a longer free bore

Jimro · May 18, 2014, 06:25 PM

Why not switch to IMR4831 and stick with your 140gr pills?

It's a much slower powder than IMR4064, so you won't build pressure as quickly which could help you get the bullet further into the rifle before pressure spikes dealing with your short throat.

Reloader22, H4350, IMR4350, H1000, and IMR7828SSC are also good candidates for slow rifle powders that will give you good performance in the 6.5 Swede if you happen to have one of those on your bench.

Jimro

green_MTman · May 19, 2014, 03:29 AM

i dont have those but i can get those.i had been thinking about the imr 7828

May 18, 2014, 11:46 AM	#1
green_MTman Senior Member Join Date: March 27, 2014 Location: southeastern Vermont,USA Posts: 325	SIERRA HPBT how is the sierra HPBT game king on penitration. in this case a 6.5 130gr.its advertised as tougher than the game king or pro hunter but who knows if thats true.i am working on a moose load and it could work if i keep it at minimum load, which should give 2500 fps with my 26" barrel

May 18, 2014, 02:09 PM	#2
Jimro Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2006 Posts: 7,097	Haven't used it myself, too new to have made it on to my reloading bench as of right now, but if deep penetration is your goal I'd recommend the 140gr Nosler Partition. You can shoot those fast, and they have a higher BC than the 130gr Sierra you are looking at. Moose aren't particularly bulletproof, but the 6.5 Swede loads that have done well are 160gr at 2,400 fps or 140gr at 2,650 fps (plus or minus a bit depending on barrel lengths involved), so a 130gr at 2,500 fps seems a tad on the light side to me. Jimro __________________ Machine guns are awesome until you have to carry one.

May 18, 2014, 06:25 PM	#5
Jimro Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2006 Posts: 7,097	Why not switch to IMR4831 and stick with your 140gr pills? It's a much slower powder than IMR4064, so you won't build pressure as quickly which could help you get the bullet further into the rifle before pressure spikes dealing with your short throat. Reloader22, H4350, IMR4350, H1000, and IMR7828SSC are also good candidates for slow rifle powders that will give you good performance in the 6.5 Swede if you happen to have one of those on your bench. Jimro __________________ Machine guns are awesome until you have to carry one.

May 18, 2014, 02:34 PM	#3
SpringOWeiler Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2014 Location: Washington (Dry Side) Posts: 116	I see an excuse for a water jug test!

May 18, 2014, 03:21 PM	#4
green_MTman Senior Member Join Date: March 27, 2014 Location: southeastern Vermont,USA Posts: 325	its custom and well but the gunsmith made the free bore to short maybe by accident.i am having pressure problems on my 140gr A frames,so i maybe stuck with using the A frame at minimum which about 2,400 at 34 grain of imr 4064 with a 26" barrel. that has enough for moose inside 75 yards which is all i need where i hunt in Vermont.however if a long shot came my way the 130 at 2500 has more energy if it has the penitration. i am going back to minimum on 140 grain A frame and i am backing off the rifling another .020" and see if i can get that to 38 or even 37 grain. but if all else fails the min load on the 140 will be a close range moose gun,which is all i need.the last deer i took was 45 yards and my longest shot ever was just 125 yards maybe this winter i can get the free bore lenthened to seat a bullet .010 with the 3.00 COL typical of the 6.5 swede,now my COL is 2.927 and thats only .010 of the grooves. really need a longer free bore

May 19, 2014, 03:29 AM	#6
green_MTman Senior Member Join Date: March 27, 2014 Location: southeastern Vermont,USA Posts: 325	i dont have those but i can get those.i had been thinking about the imr 7828