Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Sierra 6.5mm 130 gr HPBT

Have a very nice load with this bullet from my 260 Rem using enough IMR 4451 to get 2900 fps. I'm looking for real world results on game with this bullet, not the bullet bashing that goes on here from time to time from those who have never even used them.

I have a antlerless mule deer tag this year and want to try the Sierra on one hopefully. I also have a chance at both whitetail and mule deer bucks too on this hunt.

Thanks.

Gameking or tipped Matchking.

130gr GK will kill a doe just fine.

Forgot about the TMK, the 130 gr HPBT Gameking is the one I have.

I've never had a Gameking explode (though I've never smacked a big bone with one either). But I have had several which slipped the core and jecket as they exited, or when I was washing them after recovery. In every case, they've provide enough to very excellent penetration, and killed the moose (and bear) just fine. And the SPT Pro-Hunters I've used on dozens of caribou in my 6mm were no slouch either.

I've had Sierra Gameking HPBT bullet failures in the 85 grain .243" and 90 grain .257", so I no longer shoot Sierra bullets at game animals, just varmints and paper.

If you choose to shoot Sierra bullets at game, I hope that you have better success with them than I have had.

At what speed?

Under 3K my experiences mirror Klik's.

Over 3K I agree with you.

I think the OP will be ok at 2900

BTW I've never shot the exact bullet the OP is asking about. Just Sierras in general.

What powder charge are you using? I was getting close to what I thought was max and only had 2800. I could not find any data to go by, though, for the 130-grain bullets. Mine was super-accurate, with the 129 Interlock.

I just got back from the hunt and saw this now. I used Hodgdon's data for the 125 gr Partition with both the 129 gr Spire Point and 130 gr HPBT. For some strange reason the Hornady bullet shoots average at best for this gun but the Sierra does well.

I will drop the charge for the 130 gr Sierra by 1/2 a grain to 42.5 gr as it may be a touch warm. Looking again at Hodgdon's data they actually topped out at 42.5 gr with the 125 gr Nosler instead of 43 like I thought.

The hunt I mentioned at the beginning of the thread went well and I took a nice mulie doe with the 130 gr Sierra HPBT at just over 200 yards. The sample of one makes me want to try it again. It was a broadside shot just at the top of the heart though both lungs, the bullet left a 1 1/2" exit wound and a blood trail a blind man could follow 40 yards or a bit less to where she fell.

I have been blessed to take lots of different animals over the years but oddly enough this is my first ever mule deer, so much bigger than the blacktails I'm used to. Seeing her up close made me appreciate how beautiful they are. She's going to taste great too

used the el cheapo Hornady 140 interlocks in my 6.5x55 this year for 2 doe shots, killed at 200 and 160 yards. group inside a 25 cent piece at the range with 48 gr of reloder 22