I have some of these coming and wondered if anyone had any loads that have worked well for them and also if they opened up reliably on deer sized game at those velocities. Thanks for any info!

I too am interested in this information, I too have some on the way and I am excited about working out a load for a 6.5x284 coming soon.

Looks good on paper.

Also going to try the Swift Scirocco II.

I would like to try the 130 Accubonds in my 6.5 X 55 but have not been able to find any in stock.

I'm now thinking about trying the 130 grain Swift Scirocco II after recently reading the specs on this hummer. The 6.5 130 grain Scirocco II is 1.350 long and has a ballistic Coef. of .571!! And they are available

I have had good luck running 140s out of my 270 wsm with H4831sc, might get that a try.

I run 57 grains of 7828 SSC out of my 6.5x284 with the 130 Swift for 3,000 fps.

Here's where I got mine.

http://www.shootersproshop.com/index.php?p=11&b=8&s=148&t=6.5mm

Win 284 brass sized to 6.5, 130 AB, 47.5 gr RL15, WLR 3000 fps.
mrk

I appreciate the info on the 6.5x284 loads. I have RL15 and 7828, but not the SSC variety. If the case will hold enough 7828, I might try sneaking up on that one. I'd start lower on any load as well.

Any experience nailing a critter with a 130 AB anyone?

RickyD, Out of a Ruger 77 MKII Swede I did just about half an inch at 100 with 46.0g of RL-19 seated .020 off the lans with Lapua brass. These are great accuracy bullets, but yet to kill anything.
I called Nosler in Bend and they suggested RL-19 for their best powder. Worked for me.
good luck! and happy Easter
Casey

I tried briefly last summer to get the 130 gr Accubonds to shoot in my 260 Remington. Didnt have much luck, with groups in the 1.5-2" range. I am determined to find the load this year...they look like a hell of a deer bullet.

Casey,
Thanks for that info. I've had great results with the Swede and RL19 with many bullets from 100 to 130 grains. Nice to hear you had the same with the AB and your 77. Also interesting to hear Nosler recommended it. When I first began loading for my T3 in 6.5x55 I posted a thread on here and was told by several that was Muledeers powder of choice for the Swede in that bullet range. I believe that will be my first choice of powder once the bullets get here, which should be tomorrow.

I don't have too many concerns about the bullet performing well on game but did read some negatives about it in heavier .338's and was interested in others experiences with the 6.5. Could be the jackets were a bit too heavy on the 338's or any number of things.

Happy Easter to you too sir!

Rick

Tod,
Does the 260 show any loads using RL19? Might be a good one to try if it does.

My .264WM killed four deer last season from 40 to 385yds. Each had identical entrance and exits holes. In like a pencil and out like a quarter to half dollar, one traveled through both shoulders. My MV averages were 3260fps.

I really like this bullet for deer, and I'm thinking seriously about running one in my 300WM for elk. Either a 180 or 200.

I tried 45.5 & 46.0 of RL19 under the 130 AB. Speed was there, 2850 fps, but accuracy wasnt, averaging 2" for 3 shots @ 100 I got a new stock on the rifle now, and will re-test and hope it does better.

Thanks for the load SU. I'd like to give it a try, having some 7828 and not much else to use it with. Is there room in the case for the standard 7828? I've heard some say that the short-cut versions burn a little different than the longer extrusions. Do you find that to be true?

I shot a couple of muley bucks last year with Accubonds (264 Win), about 250 & 300 yards, both folded up instantly. First went in just behind his ribcage on the right side and exited between his left shoulder and chest, taking out his heart on the way. The other was through the neck of a big buck in brush and facing me, I squeezed and he disappeared. Both had pencil size entrances and quarter size exits.

joe

Thanks Joe!
That's the kind of performance I am hoping for. Those entry and exits sounds like what I have seen from the TSX's. Of course your 264 is a fair bit faster than either my 6.5x55 or 6.5x284, but I would be surprised if they did not open up with the poly tip and jacket design.

Thats the kind of performances I have had on coues whitetail, coyotes, and mountaion lions from 25 FEET on the cat with a 270, to 531 yards with a 7 rum.

I could not get them to shoot in my Cooper 6.5 x .284, I really wanted them to....

That's not the kind of testimonial I was hoping for! Not much that does not shoot in a Cooper, at least my 223 shoots either good or great. I'll get both the 6.5x55 and 6.5x284 out this weekend, barring 24 hour rain, and see what RL 19 and H4831sc will do in them.

I know it seems many hunters wanted to upgrade to what should be added insurance of an accubond over ballistic tip, but RickyD, given the LONG track history/record of 129's and 120 ballistic tip, for hunting you could do much worse on deer. Also, the 120 has ALWAYS seemed very accurate in 6.5s, esp the 260s that not always want to show their best with 140's due to many having 9 twist unlike other 6.5's like the 55, that has an 8 or faster.

The AB is a long bullet, Nosler quotes 175 fps slower than 125 partition, said PT seal bore as it swells.....that is their factory 260 ammo.

Anyway, you might pick up some speed with 120bt or 129, as the hornady OFTEN shoots around 2850, very close to 120s, the 125 pt has a VERY SOLID reputation in the field from ALL reports and seems to give great field accuracy, likely more than we can use off the bags/bench.

SO, I DO believe the AB's are fine bullets, but whether they offer Tangible real benefits on deer? Not sure, as well as offering as consistent accuracy which I wonder if the ab's need/prefer an 8 twist as I p/u some at the '06 SHOT show, they are long....

All excellent points 65BR. I agree with them all.

Todate, I have worked up some dandy loads for the 6.5x55 (T3 8 twist) using 100 BT's, 120 TSX, 129 Hornadys and 140 Hornadys. I'm not as diverse with the 6.5x284 (Serengeti stocked MRC:twist unknown) yet with only 120 BT's and 130 TSX's that I would feel good enough about to hunt with.

I have seen your velocity estimate come across my chrono with the 129 Hornady, so you are spot on there. I think I had some room for more fps but my group said quit, so I did.

By this time next year I expect to have wrung out several more bullets with my 6.5's, including most you mention, and ready to do some serious shooting.

I'm new to the 6.5's, except for a couple military Swede's I've enjoyed, but always wanted a sporting rifle in a 6.5. Now I have two and I'm having a ball trying out new loads.

I fully understand and agree that "premium" bullets are a bit of a waste on a 6.5 and started with the Hornday 129 and 140, thinking those would always be good enough. Certainly they are more than good enough, but the 6.5 bug bit, and now I have a compulsion to make every 6.5 bullet on the shelf shoot at least dime size groups......well not fully true, but close.

Anyway, the Accubonds were relatively cheap and I like cheap bullets. I have 350 to play so I figure I better get started. With good success I'll be calling for 350 more.

Doubt in 24" or so bbl you could get more than another 50fps on the 129's and downrange the difference would be less, insignificant....IMHO.....go with the accuracy-agree there!

LOTS of game have fallen to traditional bullets, oddly enough, its rare I ever heard of a failure with most any bullet design/weight/brand on deer size game, they simply work. I would refrain from 2 bullets, the 85 HP and 90 TNT, other than those, anything 100-160 WILL and has killed deer fine, but a 120-140 cup/core might strike a 'right balance' for a deer load.

Love to hear YOUR chrono read on 130 AB vs 129. One gr difference in wt. but bearing surface I'd guess is greater-longer bullet on the AB hence speed may be down a certain measurable amount. Curious to hear your results. Good luck.


FWIW, heard wonderful things on accuracy with MANY 140's, but the 140 amax, the Sierra 140/142s, may surprise you in 8 twist guns. RL22 is a fav in 140/6.5x55..... maybe 47 gr IIRC, check book. Lapua hard to go wrong on brass....

Yep, I run RL22 with Hornady 140's in my 6.5x55 with less than .5" groups at 2700 fps. Nothing not to like there.

I'm really not sure which bullet would have the most bearing surface between the 129 Hornady and the 130 AB. Longer does not mean more bearing surface. It totally depends on the design of the bullet. The 129's shoot good in my gun too using RL19. Today the 130 AB gave me about 1/2". That should work. I was at a range where I can't chrono. Once it dries out I can go out to my cousins where I can set the CED up and shoot some long yardage too. Lots more fun to be had!

Looked at one in my desk drawer, not exact measurement but the AB has what looks like a 17-18mm bearing surface if that helps. I have shot long ago wonderful consistent accuracy w/129's in 96 mausers and 6.5/308 (heaviest the 308 version would shoot accurately that I tried in that 23" 9 twist rifle, but that may have changed with other bullet/slower powder combos), 129 did well with H414 and IMR 4350 in the 6/5-308.

RD, looks like the T3 is doing well! Sako bbl works! Good trigger/lock time doesn't hurt either!

65BR,
You can check out how the AB's shot out of my and Tikkanut's T3's here:
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...owflat/Number/2118020/page/1#Post2118020

I ran three groups with different powders that all came in under .6". That'll work for me. I'm not a picky reloader either. I do the basic operations and see what they do. So far, I've not been disappointed too many times. It's fun to shoot an accurate rifle!

NICE, yeah, think I seen that in the past, appreciate you sharing, boy that 5 shot group from Tikka nut was horrible! Must have flinched REALLY bad that day!

SS on lam looks real close to my Sako 75 Grey Wolf 260....well I challenged my son to hit a target the other day, and the 10 yr old won the challenge and rifle.....though I gave him 2 more chances after his first try - the original bet!

I'll still need to do more load work with "His rifle' ....LOL.