6.5 X 47L Favorite Bullet for Deer

[NCVarhtr]

Guys I'm building a new 6.5 X 47L for Deer. Nesika Model T Action, Bartlein 5R 8.5 Twist #3 at 22", McMillian Sporter Stock. Looking for a great bullet for Deer. I probably won't have any real long shot but would like to have the capability to go to 400 to 500 Yards. I normally like slightly lighter bullets.
I've been looking at the 120 Gr Nosler Bt., 130 Gr VLD etc. What are your thoughts, experience and recommendations? Thanks...

 

[Eric Leonard]

Daddy loads the 120 NBT for his Model 7 260 and it is a death ray on whitetails,,it is also the bullet I load for my 6.5x47L for deer when hunting out of a shooting house,,it is very accurate and kills the crap out of deer,,but the farthest I could shoot is around 450 while hunting,,if I was gonna hunt somewhere I might get a shot past 500 out to 600 which is as far as I feel good shooting at live game I would use the 142 LRAB for the extra energy,

 

[bobinpa]

+1 for the 120gr Nosler BT!

 

[hogpatrol]

I shot quite a few animals at longer ranges with the 130HVLDs in a 6.5x47 and a 6.5-284 and only recovered one bullet. They're like fragmentation grenades and most are DRTs but a whitetail at close range with them might be overkill.

 

[Beeman]

I have two 6.5x47’s. One shoots the 130 Berger at 3000 fps. Built by RBROS. Heavy at 14 lbs with a 8-32x56 NF. Second is lighter at 8 lbs even. Built locally and shoots the 130 accubond at 2900 fps. Myself and a friend used these in Texas this past January. Killed 10 whitetail from 80 to 300 yds. Unbelievable results with both bullets. Was surprised with how much damage the accubond did. Little less than the Berger but not much.

 

[JBT47]

I’ve had great results with Berger 130 Hunting VLD’s and the 130 Hybrid. I’ve also killed many deer with the 140 Hybrid.

 

[Hondo64d]

Guys I'm building a new 6.5 X 47L for Deer. Nesika Model T Action, Bartlein 5R 8.5 Twist #3 at 22", McMillian Sporter Stock. Looking for a great bullet for Deer. I probably won't have any real long shot but would like to have the capability to go to 400 to 500 Yards. I normally like slightly lighter bullets.
I've been looking at the 120 Gr Nosler Bt., 130 Gr VLD etc. What are your thoughts, experience and recommendations? Thanks...

I’ve had good results from both the 130gr HVLD and the 140gr Amax from 100 to 410 yards. The Amax seemed a little more destructive than the HVLD.

John

 

[JBT47]

I’ve had good results from both the 130gr HVLD and the 140gr Amax from 100 to 410 yards. The Amax seemed a little more destructive than the HVLD.

John

Amax’s work well on deer. They seem slightly softer than Bergers and therefore slightly more explosive. I’ve used Amax’s from 80gr in .22-250 to 208gr from .300 Win Mag and they work. However, finding Amax’s now is a little difficult since they are discontinued.

 

[Hondo64d]

Amax’s work well on deer. They seem slightly softer than Bergers and therefore slightly more explosive. I’ve used Amax’s from 80gr in .22-250 to 208gr from .300 Win Mag and they work. However, finding Amax’s now is a little difficult since they are discontinued.

Haven’t used them yet, but I would expect similar performance from the ELD-M. I have some 178gr ELD-Xs on the shelf to try in my .308 but haven’t gotten around to it yet.

John

 

[DLH_]

123gr SST gets my vote. With the limited case capacity of the 6.5x47, I feel that the 123gr is suited best to the cartridge. At around 3050fps, it hammers deer. Also, the 123gr SST has an exceptional BC for the weight.

 

[Sniper338]

130 berger vld

 

[MLC]

From the other camp, I really liked the 120 Barnes TSX in my 6.5 before I switched to my 223AI with Barnes for deer.
All my shots were inside 200 yards, part of the reason for the change.

 

[JBT47]

From the other camp, I really liked the 120 Barnes TSX in my 6.5 before I switched to my 223AI with Barnes for deer.
All my shots were inside 200 yards, part of the reason for the change.

Not to derail this thread but the Barnes TSX in a .223 is a game changer on whitetail. Awesome little bullet.

 

[captn t]

123gr SST gets my vote. With the limited case capacity of the 6.5x47, I feel that the 123gr is suited best to the cartridge. At around 3050fps, it hammers deer. Also, the 123gr SST has an exceptional BC for the weight.

x2
The 123gr SST not only shoot great, At speeds 3000 plus a deer is going to have a BAD DAY!!
Started using 2000 MR and got good vol. and very accurate.
Captn T

 

[stacy]

DON'T OVER LOOK THE SIERRA 130GR BTHP GAMEKING MY 6.5X47 DOES VERY WELL WITH THEM

 

[RonS]

At around 2850fps, the Nosler 125gr Partition in my 6.5x47L is my go to for deer...

 

[North Fork]

I like 140 gr Berger elite hunter

 

[nakneker]

130 and 140 Berger VLD hunters. I use to be old school, partitions and such, now I’m A Berger fan. I’ve just seen what they do.