Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters What's the difference 6.5mm .264 123 gr A-MAX and the 120?

I have obviously missed it somewhere or every where
but what's the difference, other than 3 grains of weight, between

6.5mm .264 123 gr A-MAX (Grendel/LBC/Lapua)
and the 6.5mm .264 120 gr A-MAX

I'm hunting with a 6.5X55 and am looking for a bullet a little tougher than the Nos BT.

Thanks
Jim

You mean other than the 3 grain difference in weight?

Jeff

You better keep searching as a Nosler BT is more stout than the A Max in every offering.

The shape.

The 123 is a higher-BC bullet.

Yes, Different than the weight. Probably should have asked if they are constructed differently. Any difference in wall thickness, alloys, or whatever.

Jim

[quote=7 STW]You better keep searching as a Nosler BT is more stout than the A Max in every offering. [/quote

That may be.
My experiences with the NBT have been with a .284 Win and the 120's at 3200 hang together quite well. The 6.5 120's have each separated leaving an empty partial core and no exit in whitetail. I am quite sure the 7mm would have punched on through.

I like the accuracy of the 6.5 120NBT but was wondering if the Hornady might be a bit tougher. If so, does one (120 or 123) hang together better than the other?

Jim

Go to a 130 accubond.

I have considered the 130NAB, 120TTSX, 125Nos Part. My gun likes the 120TTSX, 125Partition,and 120Ballistic Tip. 120BT the best and the others nearly as well. Have not shot the Accu.

I'd like to try a Hornady and am wondering about which would be better, 120 or 123. Does one hold together better then the other? What's your experience with them?

Thanks
Jim

Then there is the great 125gr Nos.Partition.

If through and through penetration is important to you and you want to use a Nosler plastic tipped bullet, the AB is surely the way to go. The biggest whitetail that I've ever shot was dead in his tracks via a 110 grain .257" AB fired from a 25 WSSM. The 130 grain .264" ABs have worked well in my 256 Newton, and various 260s and 6.5x55.

Jeff

My apology. I did type in "Nosler" I was thinking Hornady. I'll edit it.

Newton? Now that is a 6.5 rifle of interest.

The Grendel has a short throat so they asked Hornady to make them a longer ogived AMAX that would give em more powder space. Then they wanted something tougher so Hornady took the 123 AMAX, kept the straight walled jacket but gave it a cannelue and possibly new alloys and made the 123 SST. The 123 SST performs much like the 120 NBT. Both are on the soft side.

The 120NBT killed three deer from three shots for me this year without an exit. They ran only about 60yds. -about- For a lot of guys that would be good enough.

I'm looking for an exit. I know some that will usually give an exit but wanting to again try something different. I sure am wondering about the Hornady family. With the A-Max designed to fragment and the SST being much like the NBT (I have a box of 129's) the next step probably should be Interlock or Interbond.

Appreciate your input.

Thanks
Jim

Unless your'e shooting a Grendel think of the 123 SST and AMAX as long distance bullets like Gamekings. Cheap, accurate with good BCs. Just be picky with placement close in. If your not shooting over 300-400 yards you could go the other way with the 100 TTSX or Partition.

Have wished for years that the manufactures would make lighter for caliber, reasonably high BC bullets to rival the performance of the 257 Roberts. For instance take the 100 or 108 Scenar, copy the profile, bond it or give it a heavily tapered jacket and a long empty nose or long poly nose. Low recoil that my kids could shoot and still reach out.

The Grendel shooters would buy em up like crazy too.

My 6.5X55 is a modified Ruger #3 so I have the advantage of being able to shoot what I want, heavy or light. The 120s are just about right for what I want. Where I hunt I am not shooting over 100yds. However, one or two jumps and the deer are in thick cover which can serve to make them difficult to find. I want/need a good blood trail. Thus the inquiry about something a bit tougher then Nos BT which shoots really well in this gun.

Jim

I haven't used the Amax. For that matter, I haven't used anything on game other than a 139gr softpoint on a doe antelope. Dropped her deader'n a doornail. That was before I got my 6.5x55 rebarreled because it desperately needed it. Since I rebarreled last winter, I haven't hunted that rifle. But I did find that it really likes the 130 accubond.

Not really following the need for a light bullet at the distances you are hunting. You mentioned about 100 yards or less. Why not shoot one of the heavier bullets that the Swede is more than up to? You can get your exit without the extra velocity.

Even with the heaviest bullets the 6.5x55 is not known for heavy recoil.

Are you suggesting that I should be logical and practical? Come on!

You're right. The heaviers would probably do the trick. I'm just attempting to make 3000fps work the way I want it to. Quick kills and exit. There are premium bullets that probebly work but again I am attempting to get a cup and core to do my thing. The Nos BT is very close and I'm quite convinced that the Nos Partition will but as I said in another post I'm now looking at Hornadys that I can get up to 3grand. 120s will give me the velocity without too high pressures. What will mushroom and still hold together. For the most part I believe they will usually give an exit if they leave the barrel weighing 120g at 3000 fps and hold together. Just and asking here.

Thanks
Jim

So you want to shoot a 6.5x55...
With a bullet that reaches 3,000 fps...
That gives quick kills...
But still exits...
And is a typical cup & core, not a premium...
At ranges likely to not be over 100 yards...?

Not looking for anything particular are you?

I bet you might stop one out of twenty 120 NBTs in a whitetail... probably more like one out of every eight to ten 120/123 Amax.

If you wanna shoot lungs, not shoulders.... but want quick kills, I'd go 100NBT (or something of that ilk) as fast as I could run'em.