Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Anyone running 130 Accubonds out of a 6.5x55 or 6.5x284?

I know it seems many hunters wanted to upgrade to what should be added insurance of an accubond over ballistic tip, but RickyD, given the LONG track history/record of 129's and 120 ballistic tip, for hunting you could do much worse on deer. Also, the 120 has ALWAYS seemed very accurate in 6.5s, esp the 260s that not always want to show their best with 140's due to many having 9 twist unlike other 6.5's like the 55, that has an 8 or faster.

The AB is a long bullet, Nosler quotes 175 fps slower than 125 partition, said PT seal bore as it swells.....that is their factory 260 ammo.

Anyway, you might pick up some speed with 120bt or 129, as the hornady OFTEN shoots around 2850, very close to 120s, the 125 pt has a VERY SOLID reputation in the field from ALL reports and seems to give great field accuracy, likely more than we can use off the bags/bench.

SO, I DO believe the AB's are fine bullets, but whether they offer Tangible real benefits on deer? Not sure, as well as offering as consistent accuracy which I wonder if the ab's need/prefer an 8 twist as I p/u some at the '06 SHOT show, they are long....

All excellent points 65BR. I agree with them all.

Todate, I have worked up some dandy loads for the 6.5x55 (T3 8 twist) using 100 BT's, 120 TSX, 129 Hornadys and 140 Hornadys. I'm not as diverse with the 6.5x284 (Serengeti stocked MRC:twist unknown) yet with only 120 BT's and 130 TSX's that I would feel good enough about to hunt with.

I have seen your velocity estimate come across my chrono with the 129 Hornady, so you are spot on there. I think I had some room for more fps but my group said quit, so I did.

By this time next year I expect to have wrung out several more bullets with my 6.5's, including most you mention, and ready to do some serious shooting.

I'm new to the 6.5's, except for a couple military Swede's I've enjoyed, but always wanted a sporting rifle in a 6.5. Now I have two and I'm having a ball trying out new loads.

I fully understand and agree that "premium" bullets are a bit of a waste on a 6.5 and started with the Hornday 129 and 140, thinking those would always be good enough. Certainly they are more than good enough, but the 6.5 bug bit, and now I have a compulsion to make every 6.5 bullet on the shelf shoot at least dime size groups......well not fully true, but close.

Anyway, the Accubonds were relatively cheap and I like cheap bullets. I have 350 to play so I figure I better get started. With good success I'll be calling for 350 more.

Doubt in 24" or so bbl you could get more than another 50fps on the 129's and downrange the difference would be less, insignificant....IMHO.....go with the accuracy-agree there!

LOTS of game have fallen to traditional bullets, oddly enough, its rare I ever heard of a failure with most any bullet design/weight/brand on deer size game, they simply work. I would refrain from 2 bullets, the 85 HP and 90 TNT, other than those, anything 100-160 WILL and has killed deer fine, but a 120-140 cup/core might strike a 'right balance' for a deer load.

Love to hear YOUR chrono read on 130 AB vs 129. One gr difference in wt. but bearing surface I'd guess is greater-longer bullet on the AB hence speed may be down a certain measurable amount. Curious to hear your results. Good luck.


FWIW, heard wonderful things on accuracy with MANY 140's, but the 140 amax, the Sierra 140/142s, may surprise you in 8 twist guns. RL22 is a fav in 140/6.5x55..... maybe 47 gr IIRC, check book. Lapua hard to go wrong on brass....

Yep, I run RL22 with Hornady 140's in my 6.5x55 with less than .5" groups at 2700 fps. Nothing not to like there.

I'm really not sure which bullet would have the most bearing surface between the 129 Hornady and the 130 AB. Longer does not mean more bearing surface. It totally depends on the design of the bullet. The 129's shoot good in my gun too using RL19. Today the 130 AB gave me about 1/2". That should work. I was at a range where I can't chrono. Once it dries out I can go out to my cousins where I can set the CED up and shoot some long yardage too. Lots more fun to be had!

Looked at one in my desk drawer, not exact measurement but the AB has what looks like a 17-18mm bearing surface if that helps. I have shot long ago wonderful consistent accuracy w/129's in 96 mausers and 6.5/308 (heaviest the 308 version would shoot accurately that I tried in that 23" 9 twist rifle, but that may have changed with other bullet/slower powder combos), 129 did well with H414 and IMR 4350 in the 6/5-308.

RD, looks like the T3 is doing well! Sako bbl works! Good trigger/lock time doesn't hurt either!

65BR,
You can check out how the AB's shot out of my and Tikkanut's T3's here:
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...owflat/Number/2118020/page/1#Post2118020

I ran three groups with different powders that all came in under .6". That'll work for me. I'm not a picky reloader either. I do the basic operations and see what they do. So far, I've not been disappointed too many times. It's fun to shoot an accurate rifle!

NICE, yeah, think I seen that in the past, appreciate you sharing, boy that 5 shot group from Tikka nut was horrible! Must have flinched REALLY bad that day!

SS on lam looks real close to my Sako 75 Grey Wolf 260....well I challenged my son to hit a target the other day, and the 10 yr old won the challenge and rifle.....though I gave him 2 more chances after his first try - the original bet!

I'll still need to do more load work with "His rifle' ....LOL.