Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Anyone Using 6.5 120's or 130's on Deer?

Thanks for clarifying. I have some to try on deer, they make small groups.

I'm going to throw the 129 grain interbond into the ring.

Not a Swede but my daughter uses the same bullets from her 260 rem with excellent results on deer.

For as long as I can remember the Sierra 120 gr has put down mature muley bucks with ease. Also bullets like the Barnes 100gr TTSX, Nosler 100gr partition will also take the largest muley buck with no sweat. Nothing magical about it. Properly placed, works every time..I have observed hunters using large magnum cartridges hitting deer improperly , then have to hunt up the wounded game. Proper placement always a winner.

I'm a fan of Hornady bullets but for some reason when I want a bonded plastic tip bullet I always go with the Accubond or Scirocco.

120 gr BT's and TTSX's are big medicine on eastern whitetails in both of my .260's. I haven't seen a need to go to a heavier bullet.

Hornady 129 gr SST, not hot-rodded from a Tikka Swede. Excellent accuracy and terminal performance, 2 WT does at 150 yds.

I use the 120 Barnes in Creeds and 6.5-06’s. I like them, DRT kills

I like the factory loaded 127gr Barnes LRX. Shows well and kills deer amd pigs dead.

I shoot 120gr Sierra so in my 6.5 grendel and 125 no in my 260. Both work great for deer.

I have shot at least 40 deer (lost count) with Hornady 129 Interlocks. It is my go-to bullet for my .260s. I have killed deer and antelope out to 430 yards. It shoots as good as most target bullets in my rifles and hammers critters. In the .260, I load it to 2950. I had it faster, but my second rifle did not like the load in the summer, so I backed it down a bit. For factory, I think the American Whitetail is as good as it gets. I have seen that ammo shot in several rifles here on my range, and they all shot it well.

I shoot heavier bullets in my Creeds, because I can! I really like the 147 and also the 140 God Dot. Both do well on deer. My rifles do well with the 129, however, and I have killed a handful of deer with them at around 2800 fps. Inexpensive, accurate and effective.

I think I'll pick up some 130AB on Tuesday or Thursday when I swing back around by the gun shop.

I used the Nosler 120 BT and 125PT in a 6.5/284 for antelope in Utah and exotics in Texas, wicked. In fact, I play with bullet weights from light to heavy, just for the love of it, and for deer/antelope, I really like the flat shooting lighter weights. But I'm not a LRH, I can see where 140 and heavier work way out there. I used to zero +3100, but for the really flat shooters, I dropped back to +1-2", wherever it settles down. I'm also not a turret turner. I used the 85gr xbt in a little 6mmx47 ( 222 mag necked up) going 2900 on exotics, it was just as wicked, ha!

120 gr. Ballistic Tip or the 129 gr. Interlock SP. I’ve used both with good results.

Don't forget the 123 Scenar at 6.5 CM, .260, Swede speeds.

Very accurate. A good application, IMO, is chest shooting WT's.

Agree with aalf on the 130 VLD. Seems to me the Scenar may stay together a bit better than the VLD. I think they both have a velocity ceiling for optimal terminal performance. For higher velocity, I'll go with a tougher bullet.

DF

120 BT's rock outta the 260....... I'm loading up another 150 of 'em tonight.

Great buck huntsman.....love that pic.

That’s a nice one Huntsman, spread, mass everything 😊

well since I started shooting 6.5's(mostly 6.5 x 55) I have had such good experiences with 120 grain nbt and sierra 120's that I've never loaded or shot any heavier bullets, may be missing the boat but i've had more drt than any other caliber.

Indeed nice buck H22

TZone - as I said the 130 AB has been my go to...you will not regret it....I have shot 1/2 MOA and it's deadly - 100 yds will bust both shoulders and exit, flattened another at 275.....

As we see above, SO many 6.5 options that do VERY when placed in vitals. I'd venture to say there are more good bullets that work very well on deer than not....even though some are made for paper, though I would avoid shoulders and raking shots, if anything to avoid meat loss.