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:
[Linked Image]


- 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
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

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

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