Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 6.5x55 Bullet Suggestion

I recently purchased a T3 superlite in 6.5x55 and installed a set of DNZ mounts on it. I will be buying a leupold VX-2 4-12x40 with CDS. I have not shot the rifle yet but I loaded up some 140 grain ballistic tips over RL-22 in norma brass. I was doing a little more research on bullets over the weekend and am now considering ordering some 140 grain Hornady interlocks to load as my do all bullet. The 140 gr. interlocks seem to get extremely favorable reviews. The gun will mainly be used to hunt whitetails here in PA and possibly some 4-500 yard plinking. I have loaded ballistic tips in a few other guns and while they have worked fine, I am not in love with them. I have had great results using a standard cup and core bullet in many other rifles and at 6.5x55 speeds they should work well for me. I also have a partial box of 129 grain interlocks at home now that I could use. I was leaning towards loading this rifle with 140s and getting a custom turret for the CDS to dial when I need it once I settle on a do all load. Any opinions on these bullets would be appreciated.

Got the same rig and bought some of Fiocchi 140 SST factory ammo and was getting way below MOA groups with it.

I'd use the 140 Ballistic Tips from the Swede on anything I'd use the 140 Hornady. I've used them a bit in my Swede and 264 Win and they are pretty tough bullets. Can't go wrong with either one.

My Swede likes 120 grain Ballistic Tips and 140 grain Gamekings. It's favorite bullet is the 120 grain Sierra Pro Hunter. Clearly the most accurate bullet for that rifle so far.

Your Swede? Excuse me - I'm pretty sure that belongs to your son doesn't it? Get your own toys sir and quit wearing out juniors before he has a chance to enjoy them!

Haven't had a chance to kill anything with them but my M77 in 6.5x55 likes the Berger 140 Hunting VLD's and IMR 4831.

I think that it is hard to argue with the 130 grain AB for shooting medium game from just about any 6.5mm bore cartridge.

129 grain Hornady SSTs shoot to approximately the same POA as the 130 grain ABs in the 260s and 6.5x55s that I've shot them in. SSTs are a bit less expensive than the ABs for shooting paper or metal.

I'M running 130gr AB from mine and please with accuracy and on game performance

Great looking rifle. Very nice stock.

I've got a similar rig, a T3 stainless with a Leupold VX-3i 4.5-14 on it. This is one of my most accurate big game rifles, and will pretty consistently group close to ½" 5 shot groups. Some a bit bigger, some a bit smaller, but all hovering in that ballpark. It's liked the BT's just fine, but the 140 Accubond has kind of stole the show. Consistently accurate with great on game performance. Love the 6.5x55!

NICE.

Great wood, especially for a black pad.

I see you're using offset rings. My biggest beef with the #1, bases are too far forward. They should have had the quarter rib extending over the action, the front base set back a bit.

DF

When I started working up loads for my Forbs rifle I got credit card happy and ordered a smorgasbord of bullets. One of everything on sale plus more.

What happened is I started and stopped load work with the 129 gr. Hornaday and R26. My load practically duplicates a .270 but I have no idea where I am at pressure wise. I want to see how many loads I get before I will quote the charge weight. But so far so good with three re-loads with neck sizing only.

I will probably bump the shoulder back on the fourth re-loading but the Lapua brass doesn't appear to need it yet.

Hard to go wrong with any of the 6.5 bullets from 120 to 140 grains.

A clue to pressure may be speed. Are you clocking those loads?

I'm interested in your RL-26 data. I've used MRP to good effect, have a can of 26 and an assortment of bullets.

DF

My daughter's favorite bullet as well. Her .260 loves the Sierra 120gr PH and it's also very accurate in her rifle. It's performance on deer has been excellent for her and it has proven to be pure deer poison around here.

Laffin...Damn, I'm caught. The Swede belongs to my boy, but I sure like to shoot it! Won't hunt with it though. He gets to do that. Load development has been a blast!

Shweeeet!

The old 140 interlock was one of my favorites in the Swede. Also had great luck with the 130 AB too.

I've only loaded the 120 NBT for my sweed. Accuracy was so spectacular I stopped there. I do have a box of 140 Bergers and 130 Barns that one day I'll get around to.

I would say there are a lot of bullets out there I would try and they would all probably work just fine, but brass for me was a bigger issue. I had issues reload Prvi and Winchester brass from factory loads. I've switched to and I still have some virgin Norma brass I haven't loaded yet.

Primers: CCI LR
Podwer: Varget

In my 6.5x55 I have taken game with the 120gn Sierra, 123gn SST and 127gn RWS Cone Point. I have a wide variety of bullets but when I'm through playing around I'll settle on the 129gn Interlock judging by past performance with that bullet in other calibres.

The only .264 bullet my rifle didn't like was the 140gn Speers, though the 120gn Speers shoot the same as the 120gn Sierras. Every other .264 bullet I've tried has shot under an inch which says something about the cartridge and rifle.

120gr Sierra prohunters will do well at under 300m but the 6.5 shines with 140's so I would use them (pick any) for longer than 300m.