6.5 varmit bullet choice

[michaelbz]

I tried posting this in the 6.5 forum with no luck, so I will try here.

I am looking to develop a (3100-3450fps) varmint load for an 8 twist 260. I want to avoid tipped projectiles.

It seems I am limited to a 85 and 100 gr sierra, and a 90gr speer.

Will these bullets come apart at this spin rate?

How are they ranked for accuracy?

How are they ranked for terminal effects?

Thanks

 

[Tommie]

Since the usual 6.5 chamberings have fast twist rifling anyway, I'd think the bullet manufacturers take this into account and design their 6.5mm varmint bullets accordingly. In other words: it would be unlikely that any of the bullets you list couldn't handle a 1-8" twist.

 

[mic2377]

Is there a reason you want to a avoid a tipped bullet? The reason I ask is that I have personally pushed light for caliber Vmax's hard in fast twist barrels with no issues. Had very good accuracy and no bullet blowups to speak off.

 

[MahtewsSB]

What varmints are you intending to shoot? Is pelt damage a concern? Why are you trying to avoid tipped bullets?

 

[1000yardstare]

Have a Savage 11 in .260 Rem. Great on coyotes!

Fav load is 95 VMax and 40 gr Varget. Chronos at 3030 fps. Will regularly group under an inch at 100 yards if I do my part.

The Savage has an 8 twist barrel and I have never seen any signs of bullet break-up in the air or on paper targets.

I would consider my Varget load one grain under max and have no desire to go any faster with this cartridge. Just opens up the groups and increases barrel wear.

To get more velocity, I have a 6.5x57 Ack Imp reamer for my F Class barrels. Use .257 Roberts brass to fireform. Took the .260 Savage plus reamer to my `smith for rechamber. Hope to pick it up next week.

Bill

 

[FryeGuy]

I have always had great luck with the Sierra 100hp. it's a varmint bullet, but I have used it on everything from turkeys, g-hogs, crows to deer with great success. everything from a .260 to a 264win mag. very good accuracy.

 

[michaelbz]

Thanks for your replies.

I wanted to avoid tipped projectile because I personally had 2 tips come off in the action of an AR. I don't want to disparage anybody's favorite bullet, or suggest it wasn't anything but a fluke, but it made me uncomfortable. The bullets I mentioned all seemed to be protected tip, I don't want an open lead tip either.

Right now my focus is developing a low cost load and shooting ukd 0-500 yds. I primarily use 140 gr 6.5 and want to try a flatter higher speed bullet. My question of terminal effects is a down the road what if. I hunted javelina, but would use an expanding bullet for it.

 

[hogpatrol]

110 grainers from Precision Ballistics. They'll make that AR a death ray. I use them in a 8.5 6.5x47 and a 8 6.5-284 without any issues.

 

[WyleWD]

110 grainers from Precision Ballistics.

Just based on the rest of their bullets, I'd bet those are good.

My personal favorite is the 95gr Vmax. LOTS of wow factor when they strike the target. Tipped they may be, but exceptional bullets in my experience. FWIW. WD

 

[michaelbz]

Fryeguy, how much turkey meat could you salvage after being hit by a 100 gr sierra?

Precision Ballistics is too expensive for me, plus my goal is to really crank the velocity, 100gr or less.

Lapua has a 100gr scenar, anyone shoot that, does it fragment?

 

[MahtewsSB]

Have shot a handful of coyotes with the 95 vmax out of my 6.5x47 Lapua and none have taken a step and it looks like they were hit by a cannonball. Holes the size of a volleyball...

 

[FryeGuy]

well, it depends which caliber and where you hit them. in the 264 wm, just stay out of the breast, so hit them back a little bit, or hit them right where the neck joins body, otherwise not much. If you hit them from the side in the breast, you'll still get one breast that's still good easy. It's not near as bad as a 22/6mm rem Ackley and a 60hp going 4200fps! the 100hp stays together better than you think. A lot of it depends how far away it is too.

 

[Cat MD]

For varmints in my part of world coyotes and hogs Berger 130 hunting VLD at 2800 is hard to beat!

 

[scope eye]

By far the best I have found are the Sierra 107gr HPBT Light fast and still have a great BC. 3300 fps easy.

Dean

 

[fredo]

By far the best I have found are the Sierra 107gr HPBT Light fast and still have a great BC. 3300 fps easy.

Dean

I know someone running 107s with H100v @ >3600fps out of a 6.5SAUM.
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