Three bullet selection

[Alan Griffith]

Have finished testing three 6.5mm bullets and accuracy is all the same, .5 to .75 moa.

130 Accubond / .488 bc
127 Barnes LRX / .468 bc
130 VLD / .552 bc

Assuming identical hunting conditions of 7,000' elev, 30 deg F, 30% humidity for Western Montana for 1st week of elk/deer season. All 200 yd zeros. The following is presented at 670 yds, the range at which the lesser effective bullets will pass 2000 fps for dependable expansion. The 1800 fps range is shown for those who push the manufactures reliable expansion speed to the limit.

Bullet........1800 fps.........2000 fps.........600 yd 10 mph fulll value wind......

130 AB .....870 yds..........670 yds..........18.04"

127 LRX....850 yds...........670 yds........19.34"

130 VLD.....1130 yds.......910 yds.........14.4"

These are not apples to apples starting velocities. They are the real thing from my rifle. I am confident and proficient with all three. Just asking for your opinion on which bullet you would use, or not, on a mature Montana elk, whitetail or mulie and what you might expect for terminal effects. I didn't give drops since drop is too easy to adjust for it quickly in the field. All three stay within .35 to .67 moa for vertical.

 

[barnesuser28]

The 127 grain Barnes LRX is actually rated down to 1600 fps for expansion so you could say 1800 would be a safe bet. I would go with the barnes as it will definatly penetrate more than the berger on an elk in case you have to take a quartering away shot, but it is rated for lower expnsion velocity than the accubond there for increasing range.

 

[J E Custom]

Have finished testing three 6.5mm bullets and accuracy is all the same, .5 to .75 moa.

130 Accubond / .488 bc
127 Barnes LRX / .468 bc
130 VLD / .552 bc

Assuming identical hunting conditions of 7,000' elev, 30 deg F, 30% humidity for Western Montana for 1st week of elk/deer season. All 200 yd zeros. The following is presented at 670 yds, the range at which the lesser effective bullets will pass 2000 fps for dependable expansion. The 1800 fps range is shown for those who push the manufactures reliable expansion speed to the limit.

Bullet........1800 fps.........2000 fps.........600 yd 10 mph fulll value wind......

130 AB .....870 yds..........670 yds..........18.04"

127 LRX....850 yds...........670 yds........19.34"

130 VLD.....1130 yds.......910 yds.........14.4"

These are not apples to apples starting velocities. They are the real thing from my rifle. I am confident and proficient with all three. Just asking for your opinion on which bullet you would use, or not, on a mature Montana elk, whitetail or mulie and what you might expect for terminal effects. I didn't give drops since drop is too easy to adjust for it quickly in the field. All three stay within .35 to .67 moa for vertical.

I would pick the most accurate bullet and limit it to the 1800 to 2000 ft/sec distance for traditional
shot placement.(Behind the shoulder).

If a shot presents it's self beyond the 1800 ft/sec distance then in order to get proper expansion
you should change the point of impact to hit some bone or the spine. (This is the reason for the
best accuracy) Hitting a smaller spot.

Shot placement is probably the most important factor to consider based on the game hunted and/
or encountered.

J E CUSTOM

 

[Broz]

I think your testing answers the question for you. I will always go with more expansion and les wind drift for a long range bullet. Bullet placement is king (as JE said) and less drift makes this easier.

Good job with your testing. You did it for a reason, I would go with it.

Jeff

 

[D.ID]

I think your testing answers the question for you. I will always go with more expansion and les wind drift for a long range bullet. Bullet placement is king (as JE said) and less drift makes this easier.

Good job with your testing. You did it for a reason, I would go with it.

Jeff

+1............................

 

[beretzs]

Very nice! Seems like all three are winners really. That Berger is pretty slippery, but for me, I would want the AB or Barnes, just for the times when an elk pops up closer than longer ranges. That is just me though, if you are primarily hunting where long shots rule all the time, the Berger looks like a winner, but my elk hunting is a little more of a mix of timber and moderately long shots.. So I go with the tougher bullet. Seems like some great testing!

 

[Alan Griffith]

Heading out this am to test each one @ 700 yds. I've got a spot up the canyon behind my house where I can get 950; maybe 980, but I moved the steel 1/2 silhouette in to a bit over 700. I want to see how each one matches up with my Leica 1600-B LRF. Will report back with results and choice.

Alan

 

[coyotezapper]

On bullet performance only I would go with the LRX for this bullet weight and game size.

 

[Alan Griffith]

Here are the results from my testing at 717 yds. Conditions were pretty decent. Nothing to light wind, coming right up the canyon in my face but mostly angling from 11pm. It's a down angle but only 2 deg. Target is a 15" wide x 27" tall LV steel 1/2 silhouette. With my MSA Sordin electronic ear muffs, I can hear the clang of steel well out beyond 1000 yds. I used this instead of a paper target so I could get immediate feedback so I can go ahead and shoot a group. You may note the two holes, about the belly button, I put through the steel with 180 TSX @ 100 yds some years back. My bad!

127 LRX, 5-shots.

I had tested the 130 AB two evenings ago; .010", .030" and .050" off the lands. One of them, I think, the .010" off the lands was a keeper @ .4 MOA. But I confused my notes and wasn't sure which was which. So I decided the test the three of them today. You'll notice their is one impact mark that keeps appearing near the center of the steel. I kept it their to use as an aimpoint. With my NF 5.5-22x50 I can easily see it. Oh, and I smartened up and placed a large cardboard backer behind the steel to catch any strays.

.050" off the lands. You'll notice I got two on and three off the steel, on the cardboard.

.030" off the lands

.010" off the lands. Three together and one low.

130 VLD; Four together and one high.

 

[Skimbleshanks]

LRX if it was me. just never can tell when those close ones jump out at you and I find it is easier to close the distance and get a shot than it is to extend it.

 

[Alan Griffith]

I've settled on the 127 LRX. Saturday, I put it through it's last acid test. Went up the canyon behind my house to 7,200' elev. Prone, used Snipepod bipod, down 10 deg angle, 818 yds, wind = 3mph from 10pm. 8" steel plate. Two hits and I was done.

Oh, and for dope. I only used my new Leica 1600-B LRF. 73 clicks or 18.25 moa. I later confirmed it with my Shooter ballistic program; 18.3 moa.

Alan

 

[beretzs]

Nice! Great shooting..