Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Which 6.5CM Bullet Do You Trust....

for close shots, say you get a chance to smack a big buck around 100 yds, between these two ONLY please?

129 LRAB 2780fps @ muzzle
130 Scenar 2750 fps @muzzle

I would go with the accubond. wouldnt be my first choice but out of the two its what I would take. i trust 140 ABLR and would trust the 129 as well

I've only used Scenars in 139gr and 136gr weights, but from my use I'd have no reservations about putting one through the shoulders of a deer at that distance.

One of the virtues of the 6.5 CM (and similar 6.5 rounds like the 6.5x55, .260, etc.) is that bullets from around 130 grains up in weight start out at velocities where most cup-and-cores tend to work fine.

The animal I killed with a 6.5 CM was a New Mexico mule deer buck that yielded exactly 100 pounds of meat, which is a pretty big deer. Put a 143 ELD-X through both shoulders and the bottom of the spine at 101 yards (laser-ranged after the shot) and the buck went straight down and never moved. The bullet ended up under the hide on the far side, retaining 60% of its weight.

Back when I was shooting the 6.5x55 , I called Pat,Scenarshooter on here,to ask him about the 120 grain Scenar. He had experience with the 120 and 140 grain Scenars on a bunch of deer,antelope,and elk and ranges from far to near.

He is the guy who makes the Montana Rifle Sling,I ordered two of them and they are the best all purpose leather hunting slings that I have used.

Call Pat,order a couple of slings and ask him about 6.5 Scenars. You will be glad you did.

139 Scenar
I've killed 3 northern whitetail bucks and a doe with them under 100 yards. The only one I caught was a north/south shot in the chest.

139 Scenar
I've killed 3 northern whitetail bucks and a doe with them under 100 yards. The only one I caught was a north/south shot in the chest.

I shoot them in the neck at that distance, either bullet will work.

I have killed 2 elk with the 139gr Scenar out of my 260, it's the only bullet I load for that rifle. I would not hesitate to take deer at any range with the Scenar.

120 Barnes flattens pigs, seems perfect for the Creedmoor

Why do you post random stuff with no relation to the topic?

JG, slam dunk Scenar....

I’m shooting the 136L Scenar in my Creed, the 139 in my Swede. Creed loves the 123 Scenar, just thought I’d use a slightly heavier bullet. Hard to go wrong with a Scenar. Easy load work up.

DF

I have used the 130g Nosler Accubonds with great success in a 6.5X57. Now have a "Creedmoor" will have to see what works well. Have not used the Scenars yet.

I’m assuming you’re referring to the 139gr Scenar? Haven’t seen that they make a 130.

After seeing all Pat’s success with them when he could be shooting many other offerings with a higher BC, I queried him about them. The gist of it was that they are so easy to get to shoot and perform so well on game that they are worth the slight reduction in BC. He described them as “Deadliest hunting bullet I've ever used. And most accurate.”

I’m looking for a single bullet for both my match rifle and hunting rig and based on Pat’s experience, fully intend on giving them a try.

John

Thanks guys. I went back and re-read Pat's thread and that will be the one. I appreciate everyone's responses.

John, yes I meant 139 Scenar for my 6.5CM. Thanks.

Don't forget the 136L. It's pretty sleek, my current Creed bullet..

My Shilen barreled Creed shot this group with the 123 gr. Scenar. Posted this before. The 136L is almost as accurate and I chose it because it's slightly heavier.

Someone posted that Scenar makes load development sooooo easy. I agree.

They hold together, IME, better than VLD's. They have thin jackets like VLD's; I'm guessing the lead alloy may be harder as they don't seem to frag as bad. They kill quickly with lots of internal damage and I do see exits with chest shot WT's.

You do need to watch velocity. I chest shot a WT doe with a 90 gr. Scenar out of my .240 at mega speed. Chest soup, nasty clean up at the skinning shed. I shoot 100 gr. NPT's in that gun these days, tougher bullet and not quite as fast.

For very accurate loads and for chest shooting WT's, the Scenar is hard to beat. Scenarshooter uses them on lot bigger stuff than WT's and has an impressive portfolio of dead critters.

We like to chest shoot our deer to preserve meat. We're fortunate to have such a wide variety of fine bullets (and powders) to chose from, way better than we had back when I started reloading in the late '60's. A reloader should be able to craft the perfect load for what he's hunting, which gives the Loony something to think about, dream about...

DF

oops, my bad, disregard and my apologies

Allow me OT then. LOL.

I have not had time to do any load work. I'll be back a week after deer is open at home. Carolyn is forced to take the 257 wtby out for the first week alone.

Her Creedmoor has a shilen tube.

I was given a box of target Berger 140s. I loaded 5 but never got a chance to shoot the gun.

Anyone have any input on a load thats proven with Berger 140s and how do they work on deer, if the hunting bergers are good the target ones should be just a bit less destructive generally.

Probably going to look at barnes bullets when I have time but just curious any 140 Berger folks out there so far?

I desire caliber in, and dime or nickel max exits, obviously staying off bone with bergers if we can avoid it.

I was told by a Berger tech to use their 140 target bullet in my 26 Nosler, as the 140 Hunting's top velocity in their data was 3,200 fps. I told him I could push that bullet a LOT faster than that. That's when I learned about the 3,200 fps cap with the Hunting VLD. Instead of using the Target VLD as he suggested, I went with 120 E-Tips and 120 TTSX in that gun at 3,450 fps. Those bullets at that speed are very destructive, about the same as 140 NAB's at 3,250 fps, which my hunting bud prefers.

DF

The 129 LRAB is working great in my 6.5x55 at around 2,950 fps. No bullets recovered from the five deer so far. Longest run was about 40 yards shortest 0 yds. I am liking these a lot so far. I answered my own question on will they come apart at close range. They haven't so far but I have not put one through anything more than a couple of ribs. A hard shoulder shot I think would be messy but would put one down quick even if it didn't exit. If anything these should work even better at Creedmoor velocities.

The Scenars I haven't tried yet.