Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 6.5 bullet test

Not sure if it’s much interest to you guys but the other day I was bored so did a little testing with my 6.5-06 at close range. I had a couple elk femurs in the freezer that I was saving for the dogs so I pulled them out to do a little bullet testing of 140 grain bergers started at 3100fps and 142 grain lrab started at 2950fps. I wrapped the femur in 3 layers of cardboard and then taped it to a 3 gallon water jug. Then I stacked three jugs together and stepped back to 40 yards

heres the entrance of the 140 grain berger


exit on the femur of the 140 grain berger


completely destroyed first jug and pieces of bullet made it into the second jug


not much of an entrance and exit picture of the joint as the 142 lrab destroyed it


142 lrab didn't do near the damage to the 1st jug as the berger
the 142 lrab went through first jug, dumped shrapnel in second jug, and made it into the third jug with enough energy to put a hole on the far side of the jug but not enough to get all the way through it which was about 3' of water jugs.


slug weighed 63.2 grains

Hope you find my crude test interesting. Id have no problem running either one into an elk

That LRAB looks great-just like you would expect from an AB. I have never been a Berger fan, but it did its job. Interesting results for a close-in test.

Nice test. I used the 142 ABLR on my last elk. Bullet I found after going through the hip and off-side shoulder looked much like the one you're showing in the last pic.

Impressive.

What round was the 142 fired from and what distance?

Very interesting! Thanks for posting.

I'd love to have seen the 143 Eldx in the same test.

I’ll see if I can find enough jugs

That LRAB held up better than I thought it would. Thanks for the info.

Now, if my "begging can be choosing".......any chance of the 129 LRAB going through the same test? If I had some, I'd send 'em to you.
Thanks.

If someone wants to send some I’ll test them. Got a couple more femurs and a couple shoulders blades

This is useful. My 6.5 Creedmoor puts the 142 ABLR into tiny, itty-bitty little groups, and I love the BC on those bullets.

My only worry about taking them on my next elk hunt was how they’d perform at extreme close range. Since my 6.5 CM cannot run nearly as fast as your 6.5-‘06, your test lets me know that they are good to go.

Laker - I was using my 264 WM. Range was only 137 yards. Through the pelvis, insides and through the shoulder blade on the off-side. Found in the meat. Was the second shot on him. First one was nearly perfectly broadside through both shoulders. I think mine weighed around 59-60 grains and looked just like yours. MV verified by Magnetospeed at 2000 ft elevation was 3225.

For whatever reason I had not thought about trying the LRAB. May have to add that to my list. I’d say try 139 Scenar, but enough of those have been shown to work well.

If I get off work at a decent time tomorrow ill try a 143 eld x

Nice test, mimmicks my results shooting deer with both of those bullets and the 129gr ABLR.
I’m in Australia, happy to send some 129gr ABLR bullets for you to test.
I use those in 6.5x47, 260AI and 264WM. Results don’t change much even with the velocity differences.
I have had more 6.5 cals than any other over the years, 6.5x55, 6.5-284 Norma and the above.
PM if you would like to test some 129gr pills.

Cheers.

416 would you like to share your load with the 129 in the 260AI please, I am thinking of giving it a run in mine.

Laker, If you have any 147 Hornady's that would be great to see. Sort of the holy grail for BC, identified as a target bullet, but anecdotal reports of good results on game.

Sorry I don’t have any of them

Laker, What barrel length and powder are you using for 3100 fps for the 6.5-06? That is excellent velocity.

25” barrel 58 grains of RL26. Was actually 3093 average

The nosler looked great as expected. As for the berger, not impressed as usual.