6.5 varmint bullet

[huntinggamo]

looking for a good bullet for prairie dogs and coyotes for my .260, seen there is a 95gr v-max but dont think it will fly with my 1-8 twist...lol. i was told that the a-max will explode on impact and make a mess of a prairie dog, any experience with this? anybody getting the 95gr to fly in a fast twist? any suggestions.

PS was already told a-max by local shooter, mainly just looking for some field experiences and second opinions....

 

[nhassey48]

Re: 6.5 varmint bullet

Nosler makes a 100g and a 120g Ballistic tip that i'm pretty sure you could get going pretty fast.

 

[huntinggamo]

Re: 6.5 varmint bullet

is that a varmint bt or a thin skinned big game bt?

 

[bohem]

Re: 6.5 varmint bullet

I think the NBT's are a hunting bullet. From a 260 with the 120 NBT you should expect in the 2900-3000fps mark (barrel dependent amongst other things) because that NBT has a pretty long bearing surface.

The 95 Amax's have shown a propensity to come apart around 3400-3500fps from my 8.5tw 260 but that's a very hot load to get them there from the 260. They will turn a P-dog inside out, I know they do for the g'hogs that I've whacked with it.

I have no experience with the 100 NBT's or any of the lighter Sierra's. I do particularly like the 123 Amax for the 260 as I can safely shoot it to 2950 fps from my 24" gas gun and at those speeds it is much like shooting a 190 SMK out of a 300 WM (drop/drift comparison).

The 123 will whack a coyote big time but it isn't going mach 3.2 like the Vmax is and has a better penetration tendency... seeing the hanging mist from a particularly hot hit from those 95's is kidna addicting though

 

[huntinggamo]

Re: 6.5 varmint bullet

so you are launching 95gr v-max from a 1-8.5? and if i understand just keeping the velocity low enough that they dont frag coming out the barrel? what kind of groups are you getting with these compared to your match bullets?

 

[bohem]

Re: 6.5 varmint bullet

Exactly. The groups from the 95's were right on par with the 123 and 140's inside of 300yd. The wind really picks on those stubby little bullets after that.

 

[gabriellapua]

Re: 6.5 varmint bullet

For popping prarie dogs in a fast twist 100 and 120 grain bt's from nosler will work great. if you want to save the hide on coyotes use a barnes 110 solid. i use them in my .260 and they zip right through dogs and have hit them as far as 847 yards. but that one got away "made a bad hit". if you use the barnes to save pelts you have to hit them in the vitals or they wont go down. the bullet i think is amazing at just "needling" its way through withought doing much damage at all. so vital hits are crucial.

 

[huntinggamo]

Re: 6.5 varmint bullet

on the 95gr v-max's what seating depth did you use?