For ships and giggles I got some Prvi Partizan 6.5mm bullets.
From left - 120 gr, 139 gr, 156 gr. Prvis - Hornady 140 gr. SP, 140 gr SST.
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After I had a look at them, I started collecting information for the load work ups. I won't bore you with what I do. I'll just mention the highlights.
Prvi
Bullet length and particulars
B-485 - 120 gr. HP - 1.175" (BC - .425) no cannelure. Target bullet. BT is approx. 0.175 inches long
B-084 - 139 gr. SPBT - 1.201" (BC - .604) - Hunting Bullet. Cannelure approx. 0.400" from the base. BT is approx. 0.158 inches long
B-118 - 156 gr. RNSP - 1.255" - (BC - .524) - Hunting Bullet. Cannelure approx. 0.365" from the base. FB. (Flat Base)
BCs from PP literature.
Hornady
Bullet Length and particulars
140 gr SP - 1.255" (BC - .465) - Hunting Bullet. Cannelure approx. 0.480 inches from the base. FB
140 gr. SST - 1.395" (BC - .520) - Hunting Bullet. Cannelure approx. 0.600" from the base. BT is approx. 0.123 inches long
I will try the same powders as I did with the SSTs and see which bullet the rifle prefers. The 2x5 shot average for the SSTs was 0.895 inches with Re 22.
BCs from Hornady manual
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By North American standards, the 139 and 156 gr. Prvis appear to be old timey bullets. That is, they have exposed lead tips. They are hunting bullets however. The 139 gr SPBT is a SOFT POINT BT, not a spire point (pointed) bullet. To me, they look like semi pointed bullets.
Despite the switch to polymer tips by many bullet companies, I believe that most 6.5mm bullet users, regardless of cartridge, shoot game at 300 yd or less. As a result, the tip won't make much of a difference WRT accuracy. The tips could get banged up if handled roughly, but again, I don't believe it will make much of a difference in accuracy or trajectory for the majority.
The 120 gr. target bullet has a .264 inch diameter. The 139 and 156 gr hunting bullets have a .263 inch diameter. Because they are cup and core, that 0.001 inch won't be noticed. The bullets will obturate and seal the bore. My belief is based on shooting thousands of home made 303 and 7.62x54R bullets of varying diameters.
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I will ignore the cannelures.
I haven't determined the cartridge OAL length yet. I'll do that through the week when my grandkids aren't around.
I'll load up 10 rds. of each bullet with three different powders and kill some paper.
From left - 120 gr, 139 gr, 156 gr. Prvis - Hornady 140 gr. SP, 140 gr SST.
---
After I had a look at them, I started collecting information for the load work ups. I won't bore you with what I do. I'll just mention the highlights.
Prvi
Bullet length and particulars
B-485 - 120 gr. HP - 1.175" (BC - .425) no cannelure. Target bullet. BT is approx. 0.175 inches long
B-084 - 139 gr. SPBT - 1.201" (BC - .604) - Hunting Bullet. Cannelure approx. 0.400" from the base. BT is approx. 0.158 inches long
B-118 - 156 gr. RNSP - 1.255" - (BC - .524) - Hunting Bullet. Cannelure approx. 0.365" from the base. FB. (Flat Base)
BCs from PP literature.
Hornady
Bullet Length and particulars
140 gr SP - 1.255" (BC - .465) - Hunting Bullet. Cannelure approx. 0.480 inches from the base. FB
140 gr. SST - 1.395" (BC - .520) - Hunting Bullet. Cannelure approx. 0.600" from the base. BT is approx. 0.123 inches long
I will try the same powders as I did with the SSTs and see which bullet the rifle prefers. The 2x5 shot average for the SSTs was 0.895 inches with Re 22.
BCs from Hornady manual
---
By North American standards, the 139 and 156 gr. Prvis appear to be old timey bullets. That is, they have exposed lead tips. They are hunting bullets however. The 139 gr SPBT is a SOFT POINT BT, not a spire point (pointed) bullet. To me, they look like semi pointed bullets.
Despite the switch to polymer tips by many bullet companies, I believe that most 6.5mm bullet users, regardless of cartridge, shoot game at 300 yd or less. As a result, the tip won't make much of a difference WRT accuracy. The tips could get banged up if handled roughly, but again, I don't believe it will make much of a difference in accuracy or trajectory for the majority.
The 120 gr. target bullet has a .264 inch diameter. The 139 and 156 gr hunting bullets have a .263 inch diameter. Because they are cup and core, that 0.001 inch won't be noticed. The bullets will obturate and seal the bore. My belief is based on shooting thousands of home made 303 and 7.62x54R bullets of varying diameters.
---
I will ignore the cannelures.
I haven't determined the cartridge OAL length yet. I'll do that through the week when my grandkids aren't around.
I'll load up 10 rds. of each bullet with three different powders and kill some paper.