How does one go about making a bullet choice??

[MarTay6]

I am new to the world of reloading, and studying my options prior to completion of my 6.5mm Creedmoor rifle, which will probably be 6 months before seeing the first trip to the range. One of the reasons for my choice of this caliber is the ready choice of quality factory (Hornady) ammo over the counter at cheaper prices than, say- some of the Lapua ammo that's available in other similar calibers. Hornady brass is also cheaper than Lapua.
Anyway.... I am analyzing each and every piece of equipment and component in the reloading process as I go. I've purchased and am reading both the excellent Richard Lee reloading book- as well as Walt Berger's book.
I like reading the history of Berger bullets, so let's look at what's available in just his 6.5mm Target bullets:

-120 gr Match BT Target
-130 gr Match VLD Target
-140 gr Match VLD Target
-140 gr Match Hybrid Target
-140 gr Match Long Range BT Target

This is my selection choice to choose from just with Berger brand bullets. My barrel choice (1-8 Brux) will handle any of these weights....
My useage will be strictly target shooting... Nothing formal planned at this time, as I don't know what kind of formal competition will be available- if anything- when I relocate next year to Maine. Right now, I am simply wanting to build an accurate target rifle. (Tuned/timed Savage Target action)
How does one go about making a decision as to where to start with bullet choice? SO many choices out there! I guess part of it depends on bullet availability- as well as powder availability, but with the sole interest in paper punching, penetration or energy or velocity really doesn't play as much a part as simple accuracy.
Any advice greatly appreciated!
Wes

 

[Keith Glasscock]

What range are you looking to shoot? Also, what is important to you, wind drift, flat trajectory, low recoil, etc.?

There are a thousand theories about which bullet to use. Here is my take:

If you are shooting ONLY known distance and longer ranges (500+), then choose the bullet with the highest BC.
If you are shooting ONLY short distances, shoot the best balance between velocity and BC (higher velocity is better, but not at the expense of shooting a bullet with the BC of a ping-pong ball).
If you are planning on shooting unknown distance, shoot the bullet that gives you the greatest hit window for range estimation error (flattest trajectory at the average range).

hope this helps,

 

[MarTay6]

Thanks for your comments, Busdriver... In a caliber like this, in a heavier rifle (1" barrel 28" long), I'm not too worried with recoil. I would say that shooting will be at known ranges, between 100-600 yards (IF I'm lucky!)... overall goal being accuracy. I know lighter powder charges will generally be more accurate, and since accuracy is my ultimate goal, that should also help keep recoil from being a factor.
Wes

 

[338 Mollett]

Not knowing what any barrel is going to like at any given time,I like to throat the chamber for the shortest bullet out of the group I'd like to shoot .That way if it's a flop I can lengthen the throat and go on to the next bullet.

 

[jsimonh]

The last two times I searched for a bullet I ended up at the same place. I started with Berger 180 Hybrids in my 284 and tried many different bullets only to go back to Berger. With my new 6.5x47, I really wanted a cheaper bullet to shoot because I planned on shooting a lot more. I tried 5 different bullets and nothing I used even came close to the first load I tried with a Berger. 130 VLD's jammed .010 is insanely accurate out of my rifle. For me I can push the 130 to equal the wind drift of a 140, but the 130's are a few moa flatter across the board.

 

[ireload2]

No matter how much you analyze the bullets you cannot think them into a group. You have to shoot them. Buy 2 or 3 that you like or even all 5. Load them all and go to the range and let the rifle tell you what it likes.

 

[Milo 2.0]

Don't overlook Hornady Amax's and Lapua scenars, 136's on sale right now at Midway.
Sounds by your wait time, you're having a custom gun built, it better shoot even the ping pong ball.

Just saying, don't get locked into Berger only thinking, some less expensive bullets shoot as well or better, especially Norma's. Any coin saved will bring-buy more range time!

 

[MarTay6]

Good advice, all- and thanks for the inputs. Hope to see more!
I'm not having a custom gun "built", exactly- having the action timed/trued/trigger upgrade provided by SSS, the Brux barrel also coming from SSS, then I'll put it together if I can figure out my stock!
I'm certainly not locked into Bergers, just trying to figure out where to start!!
With the wealth of knowledge/experience here, hoping to offset the total lack at this end! ;D
Wes

 

[Shynloco]

MarTay6,
First off, welcome to the fun and rewarding world of reloading. As you are quickly learning, this is NOT a "poor man's sport." Having said that, depending on the information and other shooters/reloaders you come in contact with, a combination of those resources become your best friend in terms of learning to test which bullets work the best IN YOUR PARTICULAR RIFLE at a particular distance and for a specific purpose. There are no magic formulas and if I may suggest, you must learn to disregard the cost factors when seeking ultimate accuracy. There's a reason why bullets and brass cost more and it is unrealistic to expect the best accuracy out of your rifle when using lesser quality components. Now I mean no offense when I say these things, but speaking from experience, cry once and buy the best (when possible) to get the most out of your equipment. And certainly listen to the information others have to offer, but remembers, just because it works in their rifles, doesn't mean it will work equally as well in your, even if it is the same make and model.

But good luck in your efforts and never get frustrated in your desire to get that Creedmoor shootin to the best she's capable of.

 

[thefitter]

I'm a simpleton...I choose the highest BC bullet in the caliber and chamber and barrel the rifle for it specifically. Then I find the load it likes. After that I might play around with other bullets.

 

[mgx1138]

These days you choose the bullets that you can find....

 

[spclark]

As you admit to being new to reloading, I suggest you start with whatever 6.5 bullet you can find right now either from those in that list of Bergers or some other brand. They'll all shoot well enough if you choose an appropriate powder and charge weight for safe ammunition to shoot.

Once you've gotten used to the ins and outs of loading ammunition that performs consistently you can explore your other bullet options to see what a change does to your scores down-range.

Having just started this past season to see what a rifle chambered in 6.5 WSSM would do at 600 and 1,000 yards (I'd bought it used two years back & it stayed in the safe until this past June) I faced the same quandary.

I'd gotten a substantial quantity of very old production Berger 140 VLD'S in the rifle package so started with those. Turns out even at speeds well below what the cartridge is capable of I lost a couple of bullets out of 80 rounds fired @ 600 yards so decided a fresh supply was in order.

Thanks to a couple forum members I managed to obtain some of the other two 140's you've listed, and a vendor had some fresh 140 VLD'S on hand so I tried all three late in the season @ 1,000 yards.

Surprisingly the best performer was the LR BT with the new Hybrid a close second, but not by more than a couple of points out of 400 over two days for each bullet.

I'd taken loads both at the high and low end of what I'd worked out with a friend using QuickLoad. Even with the different G7 BC'S for these three bullets, results on paper were more affected by my wind reading (or lack of same) than any differences in elevation between the two loads prepared with those three products.

 

[Dos XX]

I have a Savage LRP in 6.5 CM. So far it has shot Berger 140 Hybrids, Sierra 142 Match Kings, and Hornady 140 Amaxs well enough that I can't really say one is better than the other. The Amaxs are cheaper, though and they shoot really nicely in my rifle.

This is a pretty easy caliber to load for. You shouldn't have much trouble dialing it in with whichever bullet you choose or can get your hands on.

 

[MarTay6]

spclark- I'm puzzled by your comment "Turns out even at speeds well below what the cartridge is capable of I lost a couple of bullets out of 80 rounds fired @ 600 yards so decided a fresh supply was in order."... did they disintegrage? Just not sure what you meant.
Anyway- thanks to all the great and helpful advice here, and based on current availabilities, I ordered 3 different boxes (100) from Midway USA to try...
Lapua Scenar Bullets 139 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point Boat Tail (on sale)
Berger Target Bullets 120 Grain Hollow Point Boat Tail
Hornady Match Bullets 140 Grain Hollow Point Boat Tail
This should give me a starting place! May watch and pick out some more while waiting, especially if something in the 130 grain range pops up on sale.
Wes

 

[spclark]

spclark- I'm puzzled by your comment "Turns out even at speeds well below what the cartridge is capable of I lost a couple of bullets out of 80 rounds fired @ 600 yards so decided a fresh supply was in order."... did they disintegrate?

Yep, I lost two rounds fired in competition that never made it to the targets. The first (fired at 600 yards) reportedly hit the berm just short of the pits & my target puller later said it sounded funny. I'd been in the 10 & X-ring all along, even with my two sighters. This load was chrono'd at 2,700 fps the day before. Next weekend at another match, again at 600 yards I fired one round that hit between my target and the one to my immediate left despite my shot call being a 10 @ 9 o'clock. Once again I'd been in the 10 & X-ring since the two sighters. This load had been chrono'd at 2,800 fps the weekend before. Frustrating? Heck yes, but what can you do but carry on with the next shot!

Switching over to brand new recent-production bullets & bumping the velocity up a bit for 1,000 yards I've yet to have a round fail to reach the target after 120 rounds fired for score and a bunch of sighters shot with the three Berger 140's I managed to obtain very late last season. The new production I believe have heavier jackets than the suspect bullets made several years ago.

My comment about "well below" is because I'm aware of other shooters getting 3,000 fps from this cartridge with 140 grain bullets. I know this barrel has over 2,000 rounds down it so I'm unwilling to really press things to the max. Besides it's not the velocity that wins matches it's repeatable accuracy & THAT these loads in this barrel appear to be more than capable of if I'm paying attention....

 

[DHD]

My rifles typically like the most expensive bullets 8). I have a pair of Creedmoor's with the only real difference being, one has a Brux 1-8.5" twist 4 groove and the other has an Obermeyer 1-8.4" twist 5r (very different barrels). Both are Rem VS contour 26".

Anyway, both like 123 and 140 Amax, and the Brux loves Berger VLD's. The Obermeyer is new and I am still working on the Bergers in it. I suspect it will be in love with them too as soon as I get the velocity and seating depth fine tuned.

A big fat FWIW, the Berger 120 BT has shot better out of my Grendel than any other bullet. The 120 BT is very easy to make shoot well with the 120 SMK very close. They are always a good choice in my book, but you give up some of that magic BC. You can always ad a few clicks if your rifle likes them.

I believe I have tried every "good" 6.5 bullet from 107 to 140 grains available except for the 140 Hybrid. I have had some luck with all of them except form the 130 Norma Golden Target. Got about 400 or so of them left and just gave up on them. No need for me to keep wasting barrel life and powder. That does not mean that others don't like them, just that my rifles don't.

 

[artbosco]

How does one go about making a decision as to where to start with bullet choice? Any advice greatly appreciated!

EASY! Find out what the Top Shooters are using and mimic their choices. The science has already been worked out.

 

[Casey]

Asking is cool. Also, I affirm the above replies if it helps you any. A small tidbit that was not pointed up is this; study bullet designs, and particularly read Bryan Litz's material. Then you can select from an educated foundation and beat the game of re-inventing wheels. Personally, I'm tired and am satisfied more easily these days. VLD's don't charge me up like they used to. SMK's shoot waaaay well, but naturally in this game the application influences our choices.

For example, jamming is no go in shooting in which time might be called before your shot is fired. Extracting the un-fired round from the chamber can leave the bullet in the throat and an action fouled by propellant. Bad juju there. Therefore, I prefer smk's They bees easier to get and are less expensive. Benchrest? Jam, VLD, etc. to heart's contentment. So as you can see there are various applications with their attendant possibilities.

 

[MarTay6]

Thanks for the advice/reference to Brian, Casey- I appreciate it. I see he has 2 books out. The 2nd one is CERTAINLY over my head!
Wes

 

[madderg]

Don't overlook Sierra... all the 6.5's are winners. Good shooting, Gary.