Here's a .264 bullet test I did on the Canadian Gun Nutz site with bullets supplied by the members. I was going to do a bullet test in wet newspaper with a few bullets I had but figured it be nice to have a broader selection. I asked the members to send me a few of their favorite .264 bullets or whatever they had on hand. I loaded them to duplicate impact velocity of modern 6.5X55 loads at 100yds. Test media was wet newspaper....lots of wet newspaper!!

See results two post below.

I'd LOVE to see results but you have to become a member to view...

Try copy and paste of the actual post on here....

Oops! I guest that didn't work. Here you go guys, I re-did the whole thing just for you .

There it is!!

The line up:



- The impact velocity was made to duplicate modern 6.5X55 loads at 100 yds.
- Expansion was measured at the widest part of the bullet. Take a look at the pictures when comparing the expansion of different bullets, sometime a sliver of lead or copper at an odd angle can give deceptive results.
- Test rifle: Winchester Model 70 Featherweight 6.5X55 Swed
- Test media: Wet newspaper....lots of wet newspaper!!
- Disclaimer: I know wet newspaper does not give identical result to flesh and bones, blah, blah, blah....

Speer 90gr TNT
Average Penetration (inches): 10.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 28.3
Average Weight Retained (%): 31
Average Expansion (inches): 0.549



Hornady 95gr V-MAX
Average Penetration (inches): 6.25
Average Weight Retained (grain): 34.1
Average Weight Retained (%): 36
Average Expansion (inches): 0.470



Barnes 100gr X
Average Penetration (inches): 16.67
Average Weight Retained (grain): 83
Average Weight Retained (%): 83
Average Expansion (inches): 0.423

[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p3cc4a5bfe410615c14b5980a76dbdda4/e91a24e8.jpg[/img]

Nosler 120gr Ballistic Tip
Average Penetration (inches): 10.30
Average Weight Retained (grain): 74.4
Average Weight Retained (%): 62
Average Expansion (inches): 0.643
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p79ee860549a2f5ce66e20c712542c676/e91a2390.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pa049a5abfc49b0dc7567484ae765a1df/e91a225e.jpg[/img]

Barnes 120gr X
Average Penetration (inches): 14.42
Average Weight Retained (grain): 114.5
Average Weight Retained (%): 95
Average Expansion (inches): 0.586
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pcee3fbbf29e54dea0b87529a00096a8f/e91a2159.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p6d9ef32cb3fa7dce08f263c324bd7b76/e91a2038.jpg[/img]

Barnes 120gr TSX
Average Penetration (inches): 13.67
Average Weight Retained (grain): 120.1
Average Weight Retained (%): 100
Average Expansion (inches): 0.592
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pee7003dd2fd702460a4070a20b88cfe8/e91a1f79.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pc37c5445dc1bb3e39cecb6fece93a855/e91a1e1a.jpg[/img]

Alberta Wildcat 120gr HP
Average Penetration (inches): 11.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 49.2
Average Weight Retained (%): 41
Average Expansion (inches): 0.704
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pec0111709980500fb5bdcddeb1696d5d/e91a1d32.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p67b23f262ba131943bf448397e4d8e27/e91a1c05.jpg[/img]

Alberta Wildcat 125gr SP
Average Penetration (inches): 10.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 73.3
Average Weight Retained (%): 59
Average Expansion (inches): 0.712
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p824f9f72792a1ddb535b1abd7a5362c9/e91a1920.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p4ea857e315ce024179da8f240ec46518/e91a17ae.jpg[/img]

Nosler 125gr Partition
Average Penetration (inches): 15
Average Weight Retained (grain): 88.5
Average Weight Retained (%): 71
Average Expansion (inches): 0.614
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pa256e28e2f54df2484b5fb82c98d2695/e91a16c1.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pf22a929cc6b2a7c2961816e3053161a8/e91a160f.jpg[/img]

Hornady 129gr SP IL
Average Penetration (inches): 13.08
Average Weight Retained (grain): 90.5
Average Weight Retained (%): 70
Average Expansion (inches): 0.626
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pf61d2686d2e4cdd2886fb76daccb7aa7/e91a155b.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pac8ba7c2e34e3a58577d52ce38f40237/e91a1508.jpg[/img]

Barnes 130gr TSX
Average Penetration (inches): 18
Average Weight Retained (grain): 129.9
Average Weight Retained (%): 100
Average Expansion (inches): 0.552
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p231383749c63147d4567c1ab48ac57ad/e91a143e.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pc44b4f670f17d97b5b746e8e8115e5a6/e91a136d.jpg[/img]

Lapua 140gr Naturalist
Average Penetration (inches): 16.5
Average Weight Retained (grain): 136.6
Average Weight Retained (%): 98
Average Expansion (inches): 0.556
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pd81a5788bfe8c6ccaafa4851eb53d93c/e91a1299.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p3051ec55622b14bfd23615319f4d924a/e91a11fa.jpg[/img]

Hornady 140gr SP IL
Average Penetration (inches): 13.75
Average Weight Retained (grain): 78.7
Average Weight Retained (%): 56
Average Expansion (inches): 0.524
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p0496f01beeff4c0d6cef99152b3b0295/e91a10b7.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p363d5a19a88ef2b2ed01b7ec7770a6a0/e91a0f9f.jpg[/img]

Hornady 140gr SST
Average Penetration (inches): 13.25
Average Weight Retained (grain): 95.5
Average Weight Retained (%): 68
Average Expansion (inches): 0.695
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pcce0f62772a7b1e349e843dd62adfa34/e91a0ee6.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p026aabde6a056a700883ad53ddc5ba43/e91a0e58.jpg[/img]

Hornady 140gr A-MAX
Average Penetration (inches): 12.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 75.9
Average Weight Retained (%): 54
Average Expansion (inches): 0.597
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p47817ac7fa3818dd7fce0a8f8fe4d70c/e91a0db3.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p89169bcf74ff9cfcb5e6a4391a4e91b1/e91a0c11.jpg[/img]

Nosler 140gr Partition
Average Penetration (inches): 15.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 108.6
Average Weight Retained (%): 78
Average Expansion (inches): 0.629
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p800a11845ff6308615bb406f547ec21c/e91a0b93.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p3a735a54b70efb94b6a76c7a23aa7584/e91a0a86.jpg[/img]

Sierra 142gr Match King
Average Penetration (inches): 14.25
Average Weight Retained (grain): 40.7
Average Weight Retained (%): 29
Average Expansion (inches): 0.445
** First bullet disintegrated and not significant pieces were recovered.
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pf1b30952591473d465466d2d0c3127bf/e919fe9e.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p59f253d318157c90a6b5303f7ce65168/e919fd68.jpg[/img]

Alberta Wildcat 142.5 VLD
Average Penetration (inches): 12.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 45.2
Average Weight Retained (%): 32
Average Expansion (inches): 0.598
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p97a007b28e1a14034975e089ccae5ccf/e919fbc8.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p9df16dad3d0313f9cf545082ff11531b/e919faff.jpg[/img]

Lapua 156gr Mega
Average Penetration (inches): 14.92
Average Weight Retained (grain): 120.9
Average Weight Retained (%): 78
Average Expansion (inches): 0.629
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p1d97d1710770019914c7f1562a3bffbf/e919fa44.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pe3c90d8d0380950b065aa9b4f98b3d32/e919f95b.jpg[/img]

Norma 156gr RN
Average Penetration (inches): 14.67
Average Weight Retained (grain): 89.6
Average Weight Retained (%): 57
Average Expansion (inches): 0.592
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p36c4ad2049066a253b7f92d3a04a796b/e919f812.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pbf2123771b95243a3b4ef498c3a58af0/e919f786.jpg[/img]

Hornady 160gr RN IL
Average Penetration (inches): 13.92
Average Weight Retained (grain): 117.6
Average Weight Retained (%): 74
Average Expansion (inches): 0.694
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pcacaefeb2043d93f55388fc26b23f34a/e919f67f.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pe45b4ee08078d1d8ad2eb3160ce6a49e/e919f4cc.jpg[/img]

Sierra 160gr SMP
Average Penetration (inches): 13.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 76.4
Average Weight Retained (%): 48
Average Expansion (inches): 0.539
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pe50cbb0d19b5572a0916443c8bb1c155/e919f413.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pb0a183542ac2721036128248e06e40d1/e919f1ad.jpg[/img]

Alberta Wildcat 168gr VLD
Average Penetration (inches): 13.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 76.4
Average Weight Retained (%): 48
Average Expansion (inches): 0.539
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pe00e4fbe342e4678bb08b4958734108c/e919f07d.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pfb9eef702933c0ec2449ff8308b7be26/e919efe2.jpg[/img]

Approximate impact velocity:
90-100gr.............2850-2900fps
120gr..................2750-2800fps
125gr..................2600-2700fps
129-130gr............2550-2600fps
140gr-142.5gr.......2500-2550fps
156-160gr............2400-2500fps
168gr..................2300-2400fps

Steve,

Really appreciate all the hard work. Thanks a bunch for a good post.

Great Test,Looks like I'm good with the 100 grn X's in my 260,& 130 tsx's in my 264.

BGRS

Great job and excellent info.............

Boy, that 140gr Amax produced pretty well and surprised me. I also found it odd that the 100gr X out penetrated many of the heavier specimens, even those with like construction. Very well done and thanks for sharing.

must be the most efficient combination or blend of velocity and weight for the 100 tsx compared to the others.

or that they lost their petals and have less surface and resistance to penetration

Let me know when you are doing similar test on 284 and 308 diameters. I will donate some bullets.

CK

BCSteve, thank you very much for the great work you did and sharing the results with us. I am very impressed especially with the penetration of the lighter bullets like the 125 grs. Nosler Partition and 129 grs. Hornady Interlock. Fantastic! Other winners seem to be the 140 grs. Lapua Naturalis in the segment of monometallic bullets (and of course the 130 grs. TSX!) and the 156 grs. Lapua Mega and the 150 grs. Hornady RN in the field of common cup and core bullets... the rate of penetration and bullet weight retention makes them really interesting for hunting bigger than whitetail game....... once again, thanks a lot for sharing that excellent information!

cheers,
Gerry

p.s.: do you know by heart the average velocity of the bullets you tested? Could be another great information......

Them TSX boolits look just like they oughta, classic.

I'm getting ready to put together a 264 winnie and had been wanting to go with a 125 Partition or that 120 TSX for a deer killer, don't think I'd go wrong with either.

Thanks for the "work" you put into this!!

Thanks for the report!

Sure glad I just picked up some 125 Partitions for the .260 as those 125 NP's look fabulous!

I had all the loads used and approximate velocity for all of them but I can't find that stupid piece of paper. I can't remember the numbers but they were loaded to duplicate impact velocity of modern loads at 100yds for the 6.5x55 and .260Rem and about 200yds with the .264 Win Mag and 6.5-284. Take a look at the max velocity for the bullet weight that you're intested in and take off about 100-150fps, that should be the impact velocity of my test.

**Found the velocities. Added to the bottom of the original post**

People wonder why I canceled the paper in the morning.
Awesome job Steve.Thanks for taking the time to post your results.

It pains me to say it being a province away but those wildcat bullets sure suck from looking at the pictures.

thank's a lot Steve, very well done!

Thanks for posting that. Very interesting.

Steve,

Thanks for a great post!

That 140Gr Lapua Naturalist looks like it would put the hurting on some game.

Another thank you for sharing and all the hard work you put in. Always nice to see actual confirmation of beliefs held about my .260!!!

Great ... now I have confirmation that consistent .5 to .8 groups with the 130 TSX @ 2925 is all I am ever going to need out of my Swede Featherweight.

Thanks ALOT for interrupting my load development!

LOL

OK ... so I'm still working on seeing if the 129 SP will shoot to same POI for cheaper practice ...

GE

Gav,

Try the HP's by Sierra for extremely accurate, cheap target practice... Even cheaper than the Hornady..but if you're looking for same POI then I doubt these will work...

Steve,

Thanks for one of the most substantive posts of the year. I'm sure that was a lot of work, and I know I speak for a lot of others when I say "Thank You!" for sharing this with the rest of us here around this campfire.

I love those TSX's myself!

Wow!! what a pile of work you put into this. 15"s deep for 125 gr Nozler PT's and 18"s deep outta 130 gr TSX's is impressive at 22" barrled hunting rifle and not a ??" pressure barrel Swede speeds. I'll be happy to donate some boolitz if you ever take the time to do an update. Hope somebody knows how to keep this placed in an archive for future reference.
Ron

Very well done- if you want to test some more 6.5s, I'm sure we can come up with some accubonds, scirocco IIs, TTBC et al.

Great job with the Photos too!

Dennis

Unless a guy wants a coyote bullet that follows the same trajectory as his big game loads. Most of these are his target bullets, J-4 jackets IIRC. Richard told me a while back that he will be bonding some of these on request. Apparently these rebated boattail lackets are difficult to bond but it can be done with some special dies that he can get. The finer points of bullet making are really over my head but I like to keep an eye on his offerings. I hear that he's having some bullet tips made for him so he'll be able to up his BC's even more.

His current thicker jacketed hunting bullets like the listed 125 FBSP are already bonded, they can't match the range of these long rebated bullets though.

BCSteve, Fantastic work. TYVM.

He's bonded some 6.5 125's for me and they work just fine as a big game bullet.

Here's the spreadsheet that goes with it. It's easier to compare.

Steve, fantastic post!

Steve that is great. Doesn't surprise me, but it was great. Only thing that I might have done differently was fire up the chrony too...

Thanks for all your hard work.

I've been putting off working up loads and playing with my 260. Looks like the NP or the TSX is going to be the winner. Probably go with the NP as they're a little less expensive and appear to work just as well.

Greg,

Thanks for the advice on cheap boolits. .264 Boolit supply is not a problem around here. I've "inherited" beaucoup 264 boolits from a deceased hunting partner of my dads and bought a bulk of others before even owning my 6.5x55 (which is how I justified the purchase of the rifle).

Been working up approximate POI loads for most of my premium bullets so I'm not spending four bits plus each time I touch off a TSX for practice. Want to know where the rifle shoots at various ranges without needing to uber kill the paper or whatever is the intended victim.

Very informative and eye opening. Thank you for your contribution. Looks like there ain't a heckuva lot a fella couldn't do with a 125gr Partition or 130gr TSX. Heck it looks like the 129gr Hornady SP would cover a good deal of ground to. Thanks again.

WOW! I appreciate it when folks truly show me the numbers. Thanks, 1Minute

You've got enough numbers to keep you busy for a while!

Thank you for such an incredible post! It was very useful info for my 260 Remington.

It looks like the Hornady 129 would be a great deer bullet, the 125 Partition as a great all-around bullet, and the 130 TSX to shoot through elk or moose.

Nice, Steve.

Jaywalker

Great work and I know how much work that is. I have a bunch of test results from many of the same bullet makers, but at slightly higher velocities shot out of a 6.5-06. The Hornay 140 grain AMAX's, flat bases and Vmax's look exactly like your's, but the ones I recovered where from animals (deer and antelope). Same goes with the Barnes bullets and Sierra Pro Hunters and Matchkings. They all look identical to the bullets I recovered from animals. I think it would be pretty safe to say that in 6.5 caliber, the newspaper test is pretty darn close to real animal tissue. Pretty amazing similarities. Flinch

Thanks Steve,Looking at the tests,my choice of 140SST looks ok for the a 264WM on deer. There was a fellow at Barnet that asked for all the recovered bullets he could get to compare them to the wet newspaper test.Those that saw the results felt it was a valid test.

I know how much work a couple of bullet tests took,so thanks again.

Great post..lots of info...let your eyes decide...would love to see a 284 caliber post

Looks like in the 6.5x55 you could make a real case for a two bullet combo of the 100 grain X for deer and such, and the 130 grain TSX for anything bigger you want to shoot with a 6.5. Sounds like a great reason to get a 6.5x55 or .260.

Expat

Steve,

You made a real and significant contribution to our body of knowledge concerning the terminal performance of 6.5 bullets. Many thanks.

If you want to continue your experiments, I can contribute some 130 grain Accubonds and SiroccoII bullets. Just let me know, and they will be on the way.

Another Steve

Thank you.

BMT

Steve:

Fabulous!! Thank you!

One request, please, if it isn't too much: could you do one more test with a 30-06, shooting factory Remington 180 grain Core-lokt bullets?

This would provide a standard against which your 6.5mm bullet results could be measured. I think a lot of people would be surprised how well the 6.5X55 performs compared to a well-known standard load.

Thanks Again,
Czech1022

What a great post...Lotsa work!...

Good to see Lapua Naturalis in there as folks seem to think Barnes is the only company that makes all copper bullets...and that's not true...They also make a Naturalis LR which is a spitzer design... There is another copper game in town!...

I bet with the much larger hollowpoint cavity that they are more reliable than Barnes TSX... I see lots of posts online where TSX's fail and it sometimes looks like the hollowpoint clogs or is flattened shut by an obstruction...

Less likely I would think with a bigger hole... Look at the MRX and Noslers E-Tip... They also have bigger holes IIRC... Great Data...Thanks

I support all the kudos that the others above have given you for your fine work...

To the others, although the generic 140 grain Corelokt wasnt' tested I'd rate it as high, if not higher than the performance of some of the trendy spendy bullets..

however, this testing shows that the Barnes are well worth the money as well as the Noslers for terminal performance!

I have done volumes of testing for Blue Dot loads in all sorts of various calibers... and know the work that goes into this Steve.... those of us that have done this sort of work can really appreciate the hours you spent , gathering this info to share with your fellow forum members...

A big hat's off to you!

cheers
seafire

Just like my .35 cal bullet test, I lost the links for the pictures for this test. I reloaded all the pictures to Photobucket and re-posted them. Pictures are always great and I put too much work in this test to let them go away. So here they are again.


The line up:



- The impact velocity was made to duplicate modern 6.5X55 loads at 100 yds.
- Expansion was measured at the widest part of the bullet. Take a look at the pictures when comparing the expansion of different bullets, sometime a sliver of lead or copper at an odd angle can give deceptive results.
- Test rifle: Winchester Model 70 Featherweight 6.5X55 Swed
- Test media: Wet newspaper....lots of wet newspaper!!
- Disclaimer: I know wet newspaper does not give identical result to flesh and bones, blah, blah, blah....

Speer 90gr TNT
Average Penetration (inches): 10.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 28.3
Average Weight Retained (%): 31
Average Expansion (inches): 0.549



Hornady 95gr V-MAX
Average Penetration (inches): 6.25
Average Weight Retained (grain): 34.1
Average Weight Retained (%): 36
Average Expansion (inches): 0.470



Barnes 100gr X
Average Penetration (inches): 16.67
Average Weight Retained (grain): 83
Average Weight Retained (%): 83
Average Expansion (inches): 0.423

[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...4%20cal%20bullet%20test/Barnes100grX.jpg[/img]

Nosler 120gr Ballistic Tip
Average Penetration (inches): 10.30
Average Weight Retained (grain): 74.4
Average Weight Retained (%): 62
Average Expansion (inches): 0.643
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...0cal%20bullet%20test/120grNoslerBTip.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/.../264%20cal%20bullet%20test/120grBtip.jpg[/img]

Barnes 120gr X
Average Penetration (inches): 14.42
Average Weight Retained (grain): 114.5
Average Weight Retained (%): 95
Average Expansion (inches): 0.586
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...4%20cal%20bullet%20test/Barnes120grX.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...est/264%20cal%20bullet%20test/120grX.jpg[/img]

Barnes 120gr TSX
Average Penetration (inches): 13.67
Average Weight Retained (grain): 120.1
Average Weight Retained (%): 100
Average Expansion (inches): 0.592
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...20cal%20bullet%20test/Barnes120grTSX.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...t/264%20cal%20bullet%20test/120grTSX.jpg[/img]

Alberta Wildcat 120gr HP
Average Penetration (inches): 11.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 49.2
Average Weight Retained (%): 41
Average Expansion (inches): 0.704
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...264%20cal%20bullet%20test/AWC120grHP.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...t/264%20cal%20bullet%20test/AWC120gr.jpg[/img]

Alberta Wildcat 125gr SP
Average Penetration (inches): 10.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 73.3
Average Weight Retained (%): 59
Average Expansion (inches): 0.712
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...264%20cal%20bullet%20test/AWC125grSP.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...t/264%20cal%20bullet%20test/AWC125gr.jpg[/img]

Nosler 125gr Partition
Average Penetration (inches): 15
Average Weight Retained (grain): 88.5
Average Weight Retained (%): 71
Average Expansion (inches): 0.614
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...%20cal%20bullet%20test/Nosler125grPT.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...64%20cal%20bullet%20test/Nolser125PT.jpg[/img]

Hornady 129gr SP IL
Average Penetration (inches): 13.08
Average Weight Retained (grain): 90.5
Average Weight Retained (%): 70
Average Expansion (inches): 0.626
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...%20cal%20bullet%20test/Honady129grSP.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...4%20cal%20bullet%20test/Hornady129gr.jpg[/img]

Barnes 130gr TSX
Average Penetration (inches): 18
Average Weight Retained (grain): 129.9
Average Weight Retained (%): 100
Average Expansion (inches): 0.552
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...20cal%20bullet%20test/Barnes130grTSX.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...t/264%20cal%20bullet%20test/130grTSX.jpg[/img]

Lapua 140gr Naturalist
Average Penetration (inches): 16.5
Average Weight Retained (grain): 136.6
Average Weight Retained (%): 98
Average Expansion (inches): 0.556
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...20bullet%20test/Lapua140grNaturalist.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...cal%20bullet%20test/Lapua140grNaturo.jpg[/img]

Hornady 140gr SP IL
Average Penetration (inches): 13.75
Average Weight Retained (grain): 78.7
Average Weight Retained (%): 56
Average Expansion (inches): 0.524
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...20cal%20bullet%20test/Hornady140grSP.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...4%20cal%20bullet%20test/Hornady140SP.jpg[/img]

Hornady 140gr SST
Average Penetration (inches): 13.25
Average Weight Retained (grain): 95.5
Average Weight Retained (%): 68
Average Expansion (inches): 0.695
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...0cal%20bullet%20test/Hornady140grTSS.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...%20cal%20bullet%20test/Hornady140TSS.jpg[/img]

Hornady 140gr A-MAX
Average Penetration (inches): 12.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 75.9
Average Weight Retained (%): 54
Average Expansion (inches): 0.597
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...al%20bullet%20test/Hornady140grA-Max.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...0cal%20bullet%20test/Hornady140A-Max.jpg[/img]

Nosler 140gr Partition
Average Penetration (inches): 15.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 108.6
Average Weight Retained (%): 78
Average Expansion (inches): 0.629
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...%20cal%20bullet%20test/Nosler140grPT.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...64%20cal%20bullet%20test/Nosler140PT.jpg[/img]

Sierra 142gr Match King
Average Penetration (inches): 14.25
Average Weight Retained (grain): 40.7
Average Weight Retained (%): 29
Average Expansion (inches): 0.445
** First bullet disintegrated and not significant pieces were recovered.
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...%20cal%20bullet%20test/Sierra142grMK.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...64%20cal%20bullet%20test/Sierra142MK.jpg[/img]

Alberta Wildcat 142.5 VLD
Average Penetration (inches): 12.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 45.2
Average Weight Retained (%): 32
Average Expansion (inches): 0.598
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...4%20cal%20bullet%20test/AWC1425grVLD.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...264%20cal%20bullet%20test/AWC1425VLD.jpg[/img]

Lapua 156gr Mega
Average Penetration (inches): 14.92
Average Weight Retained (grain): 120.9
Average Weight Retained (%): 78
Average Expansion (inches): 0.629
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...20cal%20bullet%20test/Lapua156grMega.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...264%20cal%20bullet%20test/Norma156RN.jpg[/img]

Norma 156gr RN
Average Penetration (inches): 14.67
Average Weight Retained (grain): 89.6
Average Weight Retained (%): 57
Average Expansion (inches): 0.592
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...4%20cal%20bullet%20test/Norma156grRN.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...4%20cal%20bullet%20test/Norma156RN-1.jpg[/img]

Hornady 160gr RN IL
Average Penetration (inches): 13.92
Average Weight Retained (grain): 117.6
Average Weight Retained (%): 74
Average Expansion (inches): 0.694
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...cal%20bullet%20test/Hornady160grRNSP.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...20cal%20bullet%20test/Hornady160RNSP.jpg[/img]

Sierra 160gr SMP
Average Penetration (inches): 13.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 76.4
Average Weight Retained (%): 48
Average Expansion (inches): 0.539
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...20cal%20bullet%20test/Sierra160grSMP.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...4%20cal%20bullet%20test/Sierra160SMP.jpg[/img]

Alberta Wildcat 168gr VLD
Average Penetration (inches): 13.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 76.4
Average Weight Retained (%): 48
Average Expansion (inches): 0.539
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/...64%20cal%20bullet%20test/AWC168grVLD.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/.../264%20cal%20bullet%20test/AWC168VLD.jpg[/img]

Approximate impact velocity:
90-100gr.............2850-2900fps
120gr..................2750-2800fps
125gr..................2600-2700fps
129-130gr............2550-2600fps
140gr-142.5gr.......2500-2550fps
156-160gr............2400-2500fps
168gr..................2300-2400fps

Wow! Great stuff Steve. Thanks for takin' the time to post the pics again. I somehow missed them the first time around.

A few months back I picked up 250 of the 6.5 125 grain Partitions and even though I've shot lots of Partitions, I've never used the 125's in 6.5 and they look great from your results.

Thanks again.

Very informative! Many thanks for sharing it!

Thanks a ton for bringing this back up. I recently puchased a 264 so this is a great beginer for me.

Wow, Very imformative.

I need to test my 140 gr. Sierra Gamekings to compare. Though I shoot a 6.5-284. so it wouldn't be a fair comparison. Its sure has me considering the 130 TSX's though.

Many thanks for the in depth test!

I may have to hunt with a 6.5 x 55 Swedish this year instead of my .375 Ouch & Ouch because of a slowly-healing rotator cuff injury.

I will save your test to help pick the best bullet, in case I have to drop down a few steps in recoil!

John

Thanks guys for the kind words. The sad news is that I sold my 6.5X55 since the test. The good news is that I built a .260 Rem so the data still applies .

After doing a lot of testing and documenting it to share with my follow forum members, I can attest to how time consuming that can be...

a very sincere thank you, not only for the time and energy to accomplish this testing... but the time it took to put it all together to share with your fellow forum members...

best regards, eh?
seafire..

Wish we had the 130g NAB and Scirocco II, would love to see the 160g Woodleigh PP.

Thanks for the in depth test.

BCSteve,
I've been a believer in the .264 bullet at moderate velocities for the killing of game from bull elk and bears down to deer for years.
Your efforts and documentation are excellent..ought to be a sticky..:)

I always used wet phone books, covers on, after soaking in a clay surry for a week for my tests back when.

I also shot at 50, 100, 200 and 300 yards.

That told me something about the bullets and loads I tested which were for big gasme in the lower 48...at my own hunting distances...which were always closer than 300 yards..

Worked the chrono also and only loads and bullets that would shoot MOA from a rest from my rifles were bothered with.

Hard to beat the 139-140 grain bullets in the .264 running at 2500-2600 fps MV for penetration, accuracy and killing efficacy on game bigger than a shepherd dog..:)

The Swede 6,5x55 is my only experience with the .264 bullets on killing..
Because that worked..I never 'fixed' anything..:)
Best regards, Jim

Perhaps in a future test with your .260 Rem: 120gr Speer Hot-Cor and 120gr Remington Core-Lokt.

A Rem factory load possibility: 140gr Core-Lokt Ultra since that's offered for the .260

Great post! Liked it both times I've read it!

Love to see these kind of tests. Thank you for going through the effort. The 2 bullets I wanted to see were the 130 gr Scirrocco and Accubond.

Great post Steve, lots of good info.
Only bullet I have tested in my 264 Win mag was factory Winchester 140 grain power points(silver box)Never found the bullet, but it passed with flying colors on last weeks buck!

Thanks for the work on this project. You may have changed my mind on some things. I've been a .264 Mag guy for about 25 22 years now, but my experience with partitions before picking up the .264 were not good. From the pictures you have posted I can see the long shank of the 125 and 140 grain partitions leaves a lot of room to create a mushroom. On the the 150 grain 30 caliber partitions I had used in the past my results looked nothing like your pictures, but rather, that small base of the bullet was pretty much all that was left. I am also very impressed by the uniformity of the the TSX bullets. Every one of them looks almost exactly the same. Thanks again for the work on this project; I think I'll try some partitions of some TSX now!

You're welcome. I've actually just started to collect more newspapers for a "Part II" to test the bullets that got missed on the firt test (Accubond, Sciroco, Speers, A-Frame, TBBC. etc... and if it comes out soon enough in Canada, the new TTSX).

I need a mailing address for you. I've got a ton of 139 gr soft points, and I'll be happy to send you some to test. PM me an address and let me know how many you need for the test.

Would love to see part 2. I'm currently sitting on a bunch of TBBC's for my 264, probably get some shot around the first of the year, kinda hoping they'll be my go to for it.

The buck in that picture looks like he is really pizzed off for having to pose like that - I guess he was getting aggravated with the rifle in his rack!

I have some 160g Woodleigh WeldCore bullets that I could send you to shoot, would love that comparison as well.

Great stuff Steve!--very interesting.


Casey

Hi Guys,

I just read this thread again, it really was an excellent test. A bit like those articles you keep going back to because they peak your curiosity.

One thing I was wondering, did Part II ever happen?

Thanks

LowBC

BCSteve, very, very informative and educational. I have a Swede that I am hopefully picking up this weekend.

I too would love to see the results from part deux.

Nice work.

Guys I'm getting the dreaded red x's how can i get around that? I would like to see the pics

The pics on the second page should be good. Hosting site crashed and I lost the first pics. With no editing option, I had to repost everything on the second page.

am i the only one who doesnt get the pictures on their computer?

Even on the second page?

sorry bud, i never got to look. hang on...

ok, i got them. they were like on the 5th page.

great work man, great work.

Thanks, I should have looked farther into this. If you fellas have not seen it Steve done a test on .358 bullets that was very informative.

Red X's on page 1, look 1/3 of the way down on page 2, should find the pics there.

The 129 and 140 grain Hornady flat base bullets have always worked fabulous on all sizes of critters. The 140 grain Amax's suck on game, but are tough to beat on long range rock chucks. I have taken a couple of antelope with them. I found the bullet jackets inside the antelope. They were flat and the size of a penny (no lead on them). I don't know where the lead went, but there wasn't much trauma to the antelope and they didn't go right down either, but just stood there, then tipped over and died, but after two that were identical, I went to the Hornadys and never looked back. These were 420 yards shots at a muzzle velocity of 3,000 fps.

Fabulous data!!! Thanks!!! Flinch

Looks like for penetration and uniform expansion, the 130gr. TSX comes out on top! Thanks so much for sharing.

I have looked at this over and over again. It sure reinforced my low opinion regards folks that shoot 22 caliber sierra match kings at WT deer, it reinforced my belief in the Nosler partition bullets, and the TSX bullets simply make a lot of sense to me now, this year I am using 100 grain TSX bullets spun up to about 3000 fps. Thanks once again for sharing your study with us.

Thanks guys, glad you liked it.

This topic lived for quite a while and now I thought it might be a place to note that Hornady is going to discontinue the 160 gr. .264" round nose 2640 bullet. Maybe you like it and maybe you don't, but if you do, you might want to get some while you can find it.

Good idea Hobie.

BC Steve: Any similar test comparing that data above, to say a 30-06 w/a few loads in same media?

I recall Finn Aaggard years back did articles on 6.5x55 as well as 338/06, and IIRC, he did penetration test, etc. and compared them to say an '06 w/a few common bullets like 180 CL, PT, and 200 PT.

It sure would be nice if all mfg. of bullets/ammo elected to do standardized test in a bullet medium to show various data on terminal performance, but many I am sure would 'opt out' for fear of showing 'bullet failure.'

Thanks.

still on their online catalog :

http://www.hornady.com/store/6.5mm-.264-160-gr-RN/

130gr TSX is the champ! should provide the perfect blend of penetration and expansion(should waaay overpenetrate, something i like) in all .264" cartridges. I have shot one doe whitetail with it in a 6.5X55 so surely aint no test but did exactly what i expected......

I'd have to agree and very accurate in my 264..so far killed two deer with it this year.There's been alot of discussion here lately about X bullets,how they penetrate at close and long range.The 5x4 I killed at almost 200yds showed exactly the same damage as the doe I shot at 55yds. My load was 73grs/H570 130 TSX at a clocked vel of 3210...I think anyone shootin a 6.5 bore of any kind should try em...they work SUPER IMO !!!

I would like to see the same test ran at 264 Win Mag velocities!!!
I would also like to see the strait line performance? (how far off the bullet veered?)

The TSX is a total BC dog and would hinder any flat long range enthusiast.

Using a TSX in a 6.5 is like throwing water on a fire.

Gotta love that one!!!If you're talkin competition boolit probably so but other than that I couldn't disagree more.. Wow if that's the case must be alot of misinformed dudes hangin round these parts BC is NOT the holy grail of a hunting bullet..this is one of the most misconceived notions I know of , if so a 45/70 wouldn't kill squat!!

Ok woody, look at this way.

I can take a 260 Rem shooting a 130 Swift S2 .571 BC at 2,900 mv.

Burning 45 grains of powder in the 260, at 400 yards, I will be equal to a 264 Win Mag shooting a 130 TSX .365 BC at 3,300 mv
burning 70 grains of powder.

(with your load at 3,210, the 260 will be equal
to your 264 at 300 yards, at 350 it starts to pass it)

At 450 yards the 260 Rem shooting the higher BC Swift bullet overtakes the 264 Win Mag shooting the low BC 130 TSX.

260 Rem 450 yard velocity is 2,217
264 Win Mag 450 yard velocity is 2,186

The 264 win mag starts out 400 fps faster with far more recoil than the 260 Rem yet at 450 yards has less speed or IMPACT velocity.
On that note,
For proven fact, the X bullet needs impact velocity to work correctly on big game otherwise your results could be erratic.


I qualified my statement with this,


Now maybe you're not a flat long range enthusiast.

If not and you like Barns bullets, you might as well shoot a 45-70.

The 6.5 IS a long range caliber and to shoot a low BC bullet in it is to defeat it's purpose.

(Although with heavy long 155's and 160's it can double as a great elk bullet in the thick.)

+1....I tested that 130gr SSII in my light .260 and found that the .571 G1 BC was a tad low....that bullet "thumps" at long range and also shoots sub moa all the way out to 800.

Yes, scenarshooter, my findings as well. That S2 turns the 260 into an beast.

Good thing woody is shooting a 264 win mag, he needs it to keep up with your 260 Rem.




Only the Barnyheads Woody, only the Barneyheads.

Damn I was really hoping part 2 was out.

Good info guys but at average HONEST killing ranges and field testing on actual game they still kill stuff quite dead.I think you already know lots of Barnesheads here on the Fire will back me up from ACTUAL hunting experiences.

Many will also say that X boolits aren't necessary which is a very true statement IMO.So gents I don't dispute your data only the assumption they stink !!

And a honest cup and core bullet will do the same thing as a Barnes will.

So what is a DISHONEST killing range?

Wow! The 100 and 130 Barnes products look like the way to go!

Expat

And another Kool-Aid drinker.

What barrel length and powder are you guys using to get 2900?

22" and H4350

I bloodied my CZ 550 FS on a nice 8 point this year. Used the 155 Mega at about 2500 FPS. Deer was 150 yards away quartering to me. Blew a nice size entry and bullet penetrated all the way to the rear ham. Ruined one of my backstraps. The deer ran about 20 yards before expiring. The lungs were pulp and the ribs exploded causing a lot of internal shrapnel. Never recovered the bullet, it was late and didn't want to dig around in the dark trying to find it.

24" Rock barrel 1-9"....getting 2925fps,without any problems. Might be able get it to 3000, but I like they way it works as is.

He just fired the first batch of bullets today in PART 2 ..
-----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=162814&page=4

12-30-2010, 03:03 PM #180
bcsteve
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: BC
Posts: 1,532
Went shooting today. I just need to find time to clean, measure, weigh, photograph, upload, etc... Stay tuned!
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperCub
If it was all about saving money, we'd all be shooting Stevens 200s in 30/06.

Hey flyboyflem,

Here's an actual hunting experience and HONEST killing range.
550 yards, 260 shooting Swift S2's.

Thank goodness I wasn't using your 264 load using a Barnes.
My 260 load shoots flatter. HA!

This years buck? Nice one.

Nice Deer and good shot...glad that wasn't a paper deer

SU35..Still doesn't change my mind on the the X bullets..don't mind this spicy conversation either I have a pretty thick skin

Would like to know how your son's doing however..is he back or still in Camel land??

I hope it's not too spicy, all in good fun!

Thank you for asking about my son, he is home and boy am I glad!
He brought home some interesting video. Glad he didn't tell us what was going on.


Again, thank you for asking.

Glad to hear and thank him for his service!!! As far as our conversation no harm no foul..I do appreciate your info and I've thought about building a 260AI or Creedmore.Would love a 6.5 on a lighter platform that 264 is gettin heavier every year TTYL Woody

You're a good guy Woody!

Thanks..and BTW I love Kool Aid

Be talkin at ya!!!

FYI, 260 guys, hearing Lapua may announce at SHOT mfg. Brass in 2011.

Good info above. SU, at what ranges WOULD you use the 130 TSX, assuming your rifle did not like the SSII?

Btw, there is:
NEW .264" 120 gr Tipped TSX BT .246 .443 26430

Do you like that better than:
264" 130 gr. TSX FB .266 .365 26442

Assume 2850/2950.

65BR, to be candid, I can find no reason to use the TSX for anything.

Waiting anxiously to see round two. Curious how the Scirocco does. I've found them to be very tough in the .338 210gn version, but they do seem to open pretty wide which certainly doesn't help penetration. Could be a good tradeoff against things like whitetails though.

I can't get 2900 with my 22" barrel but haven't tried the S2s yet. Maybe they are more slipperier?? I am pegged at about 2840 with most 130s.

I know this is an old topic but anyway thanks for a nice test Steve
The Norma 156gr RN will that be Norma Alaska?
Have you ever done the test with Normas Oryx?

Thanks for the kind words. To be honest, I don't know. They were sent to me as 156gr Norma. Sorry, no, haven't tested the Oryx.

Their will be more tests coming in the futur. I've been playing with the Bullet Test Tube.

Great testing, BC Steve.

I appreciate all the hard work that went into this!

Great post Steve. I was contemplating which bullet to shoot in my 6.5 Rogue (6.5x55AI w/30deg shoulder). Thanks for sharing.

There's also a part two to this test with a bunch more bullets.

BC-Steve that wet newsprint is one of the best tests for a hunting bullet! Everything is fairly equal and tuff on bullets.
I shoot a 6.5/06 and have always loved those Nosler Partitions bullets. I have never had any luck with Barnes bullets shooting good groups in my rifles. Some of those other bullets I know nothing about but your test shows them to be very adequate to use on big game. Thanks for your efforts I appreciate all your work.

Can someone please direct me to Part II of the test, please?
Thanks

Part II.

Thanks, Azar.

Can anybody help with the pictures of Part I.

BBerg

They were reposted a page or two later.

The pictures were reposted starting on page two.

Good, thank you!

Very nice, I am pleased to see how the 129gn Hornady did as I have pretty much settled on it for my 6.5. Thank you for the work.

The 129 did about as well as the 125 Partition, it's a great standard and baseline for all 6.5s IMHO.

Every season this gets posted again...

a big thank you still to BC Steve for all of his work and a wonderful report....

I certainly know how time consuming this type of stuff can be, and Steve goes way more into detail than I do....

I believe there was a .264 Bullet Test 2 that I cannot find since the search function on the site only allow to go one year back and it is probably older than that...
Can someone please post a link to it?
Thank you!
BBerg

Here you go:


https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...s/4783400/Huge_264_bullet_test_Part_Deux

Incredible tests and a stellar effort thank you!

That's an interesting test. I was surprised at the Scirrocco.

I was surprised at the 160 Woodleigh penetration. Looks like it expanded so much that it really didn't penetrate as far as I thought it would. Still anxious to try one.

You're welcome! I actually love doing these kind of tests, I just wish I had more time. Hopefully in a couple years when the kids are in school I'll have a little more time.

Steve,

Any chance you might be testing the 127 LRX? I'll even provide the necessary samples?

Alan

Oh man.. that I would likie too...

Supposed to open easier than the current Tipped TSX???

And down to 1600 fps too.

Funny you should mention that. I want to test the LRX vs the TTSX as well. But this time probably with my .300 WSM as I'm shooting the 175gr LRX in this one. I'm also curious about Barnes claim that it was designed as a long range bullet that should open at lower velocity. I'll post those result when the test happens. I'll test the 175 LRX vs the 180gr TTSX (or maybe the 168gr TTSX).

Same thoughts here. I know the 125gr Nosler Partition is old school, but still my favorite bullet. I bought some 130gr Barnes TSX to load last year. After seeing the test, I can't wait to see if it shoots more accurately than my Nosler 125gr Partition Load.
My Rem. 700 will put 5 shots into 3/4" @ 100 yards. Looks like the 130gr TSX might out perform the Partition by just a tad. Thanks for the data & great photos !!!

awesome

I think the issue with 6.5 is mostly overpenetration - unless you are using the 264 wm at very fast velocity. I used a 140 accubond out of my 260 going 2850fps to take a small mule deer at 200 yds last season and whith a perfect behind the shoulder broadside shot the deer ran 30 yds - which is not bad. The bullet was a full pass with fairly small exit and no blood trail at all. I used this bullet as was also looking for elk. Yes it was a humane kill ( and 50 yds from the truck), but I would have liked to see more energy dumped inside the animal instead of wasted in the ground.
I used a 129 grn sst the year before at 45 yds front chest shot and was drt - did not even move - just dropped with all four feet in place. Prob took out the cns on that one.
Point is with high sectional density of the 6.5, penetration is not even a issue to look at regards too little. Good energy dump is vital - unles you like to take out shoulder bones. In my mind a round that dumps 50 percent fast but still retains base to get exit wound is way to go - partition or 120 and up nosler bt for all around and 140 amax if you think you are going to take 200-500 yd shots.
This is what is soooooooo great about the 6.5 - can really have a lot of flexibility in bullet choice/weight and easy on shoulder and great bc/sectional density of bullets. You can tailor your shot placement to the bullet type - I should have shot the shoulder bone at 200 yds with that 140 accubond as it was too sturdy for a lung shot/drt. The same shot (lung)with the amax or nosler bt or part or berger vld would have drt results. Fun stuff lads!

Oh and I have two savage 260 rems - both 1-8" twist. One a 24" criterion barrel and the other 26" shillen. I have yet to load a bullet in either that will not shoot small groups at 150-200fps faster than max book loads. With a good barrel, you have to try to not have outstanding hunting accuracy. So, the issue once again goes back to bullet construction for the range and velocity and shot placement you like - this makes the work this op did extremely valuable to us all.

Thanks for this. Very interesting.

We have taken 3 deer whitetail bucks with a rem 700 in 264wm using the 120gr ttsx. First was a 3 yr old shot in its bed at 175 yards quartering towards me. The shot entered just in front of the shoulder broke three ribs and came to rest in the off ham. Bullet had lost all petals and retained 80 grains of copper. The other two were shots under 50 yards and complete pass through. We did experience more bloodshot and meat damaged using ttsx versus tsx in my opinion

Steve,

Did you ever test either the TTSX or the LRX?

Alan

The 120gr TTSX was tested in Part Deux. I never tested the LRX in wet newspaper but I did shoot a big cow moose with a 175gr LRX from my .300 WSM. Dropped her on he spot and turned the lungs into jello.

Another year... Sure appreciate the info BCSteve.
Part 2.
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...s/4783400/Huge_264_bullet_test_Part_Deux

Thanks for the bump. I also did one with .375 bullets that I posted here as well.

Steve,

Have you tested the 127 gr 6.5mm LRX?

Thanks for doing all of this testing for us!

Alan

I shoot the 120 Barnes in my Creedmoor.

TAG

I have experienced the same results with the 129 Interlock, that were indicated in this test. I have killed several deer out to 430 yards and the performance has been great at all distances, loaded to a muzzle velocity of 3010 fps, from my .260.

This has been a great thread to read.

Tag

Tag

Thanks. You did a lot of work, spent a lot of time

Please do this again, I will send 140gr Elite Hunters from Berger

I can appreciate Steves attempt at bullet testing but until he shoots bullets into 'dry' print these test are pretty much worthless and really only make pretty bullets.

Disagree. Having done both, I’ve found the bullets from damp media (and an inch or two of particle board to start) to look just like bullets recovered from game. Dry media is much harder on bullets, too hard in my opinion.

Seems appropriate to bump this up for folks asking about bullet choices in the Creemoor and other 6.5s.

For part 2...

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...ge-264-bullet-test-part-deux#Post4783400

Gotta bump this - still applies today and it’s been a few years.

The hell it does...as if one can choose from amongst a plethora of 6.5mm bullet choices.

What can I say, I've been shooting 6.5 before 6.5 was cool!

you have done some serious hard work and posted some great numbers on these bullets ,thank you. i have one suggestion if you have a chance to do any more testing : please test some Berger bullets ? i did shoot 3 deer with Berger bullets last fall 2020 , 2 bucks with Berger bullets in 25 caliber and 1 doe with a 6.5 bullet all 3 bullets went completely thru these animals. these deer were all shot near the Canadian border in Minnesota so the bucks were big deer. thank you again,Pete53

I did. I wasn’t too impressed.

thank you i kinda wondered about the Berger bullets both of the buck`s exit holes were around 4 inches out of my 257 Weatherby mag. with the 115 gr. Berger bullets the 170 lb. buck shot at 150 yards went 12 ft. and the 205 lb. went around 40-50 yards and run into a tree also shot with 115 gr. Berger. those weights were dressed buck weights. the big buck had a heck of a blood trail and heart on this buck was in many small pieces too, so i really wondered if that bullet did blow up , now with your great picture i see what really happened . i just might go back to using either Nosler partitions or Swift A-Frames for deer hunting for bucks again. Thank You ,Pete53

I’ve seen WT’s shot with 140 gr. VLDH’s out of a 6.5-284 at around 3K fps have several exit wounds. Bullet fragments I would assume. But mostly DRT with meat in the freezer. Deer generally don’t go far, chest shot.

Scenars have similar thin jackets, but don’t seem to frag as bad. I would guess harder lead alloy. They generally exit in one piece. Or at least thru one hole instead of several.

DF

Thanks, Steve, for all the hard work. I added this work to my reloading and ballistics files, credited to you, for future reference.

This will come in handy for my 260 Remington work.

I thought the 140 and 160 gr bullets would penetrate deeper than the lighter bullets, as the 160 RN's are reported as having elk-slaying penetration in Scandinavia using the 6.5 Swede.

No matter. This works fine.

First time I've seen this. Thanks BC Steve for
doing all the work and posting it.

Bumped - hoping that you re-upload the images of your tests on a new (https://postimages.org/)? site.




GR

Got a way to contact Alberta Wildcats??