Lets talk 6.5 bullets

[Freezer]

I have been using SGKs exclusively in my 30 cals and 7mms for years, they were cheap, accurate and performed well on deer. I want to reload for 6.5-06 and 6.5 Ceedmoor, both rifles have a 1:8 twist rate. The only Sierra bullets I can find are the polymer tipped 140 gr, I would like to use129 gr. In addition, I will be taking a long range shooting class this fall and need to work up at least 100 rounds for that and would like them to be my hunting bullets. The range master says he will help you reach your potential out to 1000 yards, I doubt I'll ever get there, but it will be fun trying.

Your experience and wisdom will be appreciated.

[Varmintmist]

I have been stocking 140 and 142gr match bullets. Nos CC and SMK. I am 3 months plus out from the rifle but those are going to run at 1K.

Heres the deal about shooting distance...

Elevation is easy. Plug the numbers into a online calculator and you will be on paper for elevation. Wind fore or aft will affect elevation some and can f up your score if you arnt paying attention, but it isnt likely to knock you off the paper high or low.

Windage is the witchcraft. If the range master is a wind reader and he calls the wind for you you will make hits and that is great fun.

Once you try it, there is a range not that far from you that shoots mid range (600yds) to long range. I havent shot long range yet, but the mid range matches are very fun and really laid back.

I did a 6.5 140gr at 2700 fps .529BC. and a 5mph full value (90 deg) wind.

Range Velocity Energy Trajectory Come Up (MOA) Come Up (MILS) Wind Drift Wind Drift (MOA) Wind Drift (MILS)
0 2700 2266.0 -1.5 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 100 2532 1993.0 2.0 -1.9 -0.5 0 0 0
200 2370 1746.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1 1 0
300 2214 1524.0 -8.2 2.6 0.8 3 1 0
400 2064 1324.0 -23.4 5.6 1.6 6 1 0
500 1920 1146.0 -46.9 8.9 2.6 9 2 0
600 1783 988.0 -79.8 12.7 3.7 14 2 1
700 1653 849.0 -123.6 16.9 4.9 19 3 1
800 1531 729.0 -180.3 21.5 6.3 26 3 1
900 1418 625.0 -251.7 26.7 7.8 34 4 1
1000 1316 538.0 -340.5 32.5 9.5 44 4 1

So if you can read it, your come up for 1K with a 200 yard zero is 32.5 MOA. a 5mph full value wind will move the impact 44 inches

There is a mid range 2 July, the mid range championship (same thing, costs more, get a t shirt) 2 Sept, and the last one of the year on 21 Oct that I will be at with the service rifle or (fingers crossed) my 6.5. All at Reade in Fallentimber PA. Under 2 hours for you.

[Varmintmist]

Oh BTW, if you start shooting competition, you will find that this board of enablers are amateurs.

[Wambli Ska]

Hopefully Zee will be along shortly and talk about his experience with Hornady bullets (AMAX?). Don’t want to speak for him but from what he’s said they seem like a great dual purpose target/hunting bullet.

[CPJ 2.0]

Hopefully Zee will be along shortly and talk about his experience with Hornady bullets (AMAX?). Don’t want to speak for him but from what he’s said they seem like a great dual purpose target/hunting bullet.

They quit making them in anything except 168 .30




Which sucks, because I liked the 105 .243.


But they do have a replacement for them.

[Wambli Ska]

Oh yeah, I recall Zee not being happy about that….

[Varmintmist]

Amax's were coming apart pretty regularly in 224 in service rifle comp. They probably stopped making them because they couldnt get them to hold together in smaller offerings.

[CPJ 2.0]

Amax's were coming apart pretty regularly in 224 in service rifle comp. They probably stopped making them because they couldnt get them to hold together in smaller offerings.

They stopped making them because the replacement cost$ more. They improved them.
I’m still bitter.

[Zee]

In my .260 Rem and 6.5-06 A-Square, I use 140gr A-Max and love them (have a BUNCH) but they stopped making them. Also used 130gr ELD-Match in the .260 Rem but don’t like them for hunting. Too soft.
In the Creedmoor, I’ve used 130gr ELD-Match (same, don’t like them for hunting) 130gr ELD-X (accurate and like them for hunting), 140gr ELD-Match, and 143gr ELD-X. Both of those last two are good for accuracy and hunting.

[Varmintmist]

Amax's were coming apart pretty regularly in 224 in service rifle comp. They probably stopped making them because they couldnt get them to hold together in smaller offerings.

They stopped making them because the replacement cost$ more. They improved them.
I’m still bitter.

If they improved them so they dont turn to smoke halfway to the target, then the price per usable bullet went down.

[CPJ 2.0]

Amax's were coming apart pretty regularly in 224 in service rifle comp. They probably stopped making them because they couldnt get them to hold together in smaller offerings.

They stopped making them because the replacement cost$ more. They improved them.
I’m still bitter.

If they improved them so they dont turn to smoke halfway to the target, then the price per usable bullet went down.

Granted I’m not playing in the circles you’re playing in, but I’ve never heard of them getting splody in mid flight. Also I never used the .224 amax, save for a handful I tested once. Too long for my AR if I recall.

[mitdr774]

I like the 129gr InterLock for hunting. I have played with a few 129gr and 142gr ABLR but have yet to find a load im really happy with. I used to load 129gr SST in my 6.5x55, but after having one come apart and have less than ideal performance at slow speeds for a 6.5 I gave up on them. My dad has also had a lot of poor experiences with 129 and 140 gr SST bullets in several 6.5 rifles. His experience with SST on game includes other calibers and a common issue of fragmentation and wound channels that result in animals running a good bit before expiring. A lot of damage very shallow and a small exit wound without a lot of damage in between, but lots of small pieces of jacket scattered around. The 129gr SST does perform really well on paper in my 6.5 Grendel though. Its one of my preferred bullets for paper punching with it.

[CPJ 2.0]

I’ve use SSTs for years.
Killed a lot of deer.
And I won’t use them again.

Way too splody. It took hitting a deer at 250 yards to get a 139 grain 7mm to NOT grenade. All others turn to fragments. It’s not horrible, with proper shot placement. But that doesn’t give you every possible shot option. My daughter shot one in the shoulder as it was facing us, and we lost it. Never got to the tootsie roll center of the tootsie pop.

I want something tough enough to fully penetrate. Switched to SGK last year, and was happy with the results.

[bullsi1911]

I’ll have to dig out my recipe (since I can’t look up the old thread on the old board- thanksG&A!) to see what bullets I use in my 6.5CM.

[Wambli Ska]

I’ve use SSTs for years.
Killed a lot of deer.
And I won’t use them again.

Way too splody. It took hitting a deer at 250 yards to get a 139 grain 7mm to NOT grenade. All others turn to fragments. It’s not horrible, with proper shot placement. But that doesn’t give you every possible shot option. My daughter shot one in the shoulder as it was facing us, and we lost it. Never got to the tootsie roll center of the tootsie pop.

I want something tough enough to fully penetrate. Switched to SGK last year, and was happy with the results.

SGKs have been doing the job for decades. Not sexy or expensive. Not match accurate. But they kill well from up close to out there within reason. Never had a deer walk away.