Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Specific 6.5 bullet toughness questions

Can’t find the massive 6.5 bullet test threads but don’t know if these were in it or not.
Comparing the 120 Nosler BT and the 129 Hornady SST, which one of these is tougher?
Please note I’m not asking BT vs SST in general, as I know both of these types of bullets have undergone changes over the years, but specifically looking for comparisons between the current 6.5 120 and 129.

For background, I don’t handload. I’ve been shooting BTs in my 260 but see that Hornady loads the 129 SST. I don’t know why they won’t load an IB or GMX for the 260 but oh well. If the 129 SST are tougher than, or at least about the same as, the BTs I may give them a try.

Also, the 7mm 120 NBT gets great reviews around here due to its thicker jacket. Out of curiosity, how does the 6.5 120 NBT compare to it?
Has anyone ever sectioned the two for a side by side comparison?

Thanks in advance

They're both probably so old and pics absent that they're not as relevant as they were then, but here you go.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...4/huge-264-bullet-test-with-lots-of-pics
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...s/4783400/huge-264-bullet-test-part-deux

Seems like thirteen years ago the Nosler 120 was fairly soft compared to the other bullets. That surprises me.

120gr Btip


140gr SST (sorry, I didn’t do the 129gr)

Bump

What speeds approximately did they touch down at? Both look pretty danged good..

beretzs, not BCSteve, but I'm guessing these are from his 6.5 Test a few years back. He loaded to mild 6.5x55 velocities.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/11184704/1

Steve is the Campfire's "Bullet Tester" extraordinaire!

Thanks Brad.

Thanks for the links and pics.
I’m about to change scopes and clean anyway so I think I’ll go ahead and switch to a Partition or TTSX.

Don't forget Scenars, 123 and 139. They're tough, accurate and deadly. Do a search for Scenarshooter and check out his portfolio of dead critters.

My Swede prefers the 139 over MRP to about any combo.

My Creed does great with 123's over Varget.

DF

Not much difference between the SST and BT now. I prefer the 129 inter lock for general use.

129g Interlock does not let you down, if your rifle likes them!

When shooting SST's, I would go heavy for caliber

6.5-140g
7mm-154

7mm 154g sst is a super bullet on white tails, we use the 154g Interloc on hogs. 7 mags will shoot a hole through both shoulders on a large hog with the 154g IL, it was our elk bullet also out to 550 yds with R#25 win WLRM primers.

Two friends went to Africa with Weatherby 7 STW's with the 162g sst loaded and took the 6 major plains game each, all one shot, MV of 3150, lot tougher bullet than the 154g sst.

This is exactly what I have experienced as well.

Are you guys sure about the Scenars as I thought they were marketed as a target bullet?

What they are marketed as is irrelevant. Do you believe marketing? Do hot chicks surround you when you drink a particular brand of beer?

That said, yes, Scenars are marketed for paper punching."Target" bullets have been found by many of us to perform exceptionally well on actual animals in actual hunting scenarios to our complete satisfaction. I use "target" bullets to kill animals as least as often as I use "hunting" bullets. I've not used Scenars, but it is obvious that they work at least as well as Hornady BTHP and ELDM, or Berger. Some say they work better. I have found ideal bullet performance from the cheaper Hornady versions, and this year, I'll try some Nosler RDS and Barnes Match Burners.

Like Brad said, I loaded them up for approximative 100 yards impact speed from a 6.5x55 or .260 Rem (and I guess 6.5.Creed now )

Here’s the Hornady 129gr IL for comparaison.

I used the 129 grain Hornady spire point in my 264 win mag for mule deer.

Do a Fire search for Scenarshooter and check out Pat's extensive portfolio of dead critters via Scenars.

AND, don't tell him Scenars are only for targets...

DF

thank you for posting the picture, I keep coming back to 129g IL for Swedes, generally very accurate & easy to load.

Of course either 123g or 139g Scenars are too...

125 partitions would be great. I use 120 TTSX in Creeds, 140 Ballistic tips in 264’s and 26 Nosler rifles.