Hunting Bullet for 18" 6.5CM Tikka

[LongRangeJunky]

I usually tell people around 16-1700 unless you hit heavy bone, then closer to 1200.
It takes a pretty long shot on an animal to get down that slow with the speed and BC combo that these provide.

I killed my Bull Elk and some deer with 178 grain ELDXs this year out of my 300 wsm. It was devastating on everything. Kinda warmed me up to using 30 cals over my favorite 6.5's. A 122 grain 6.5mm just feels like it would be SO small on a big old bull elk. Guess I'll just have to try em and see for myself, though I'll probably start on deer first.

 

[bohem]

I killed my Bull Elk and some deer with 178 grain ELDXs this year out of my 300 wsm. It was devastating on everything. Kinda warmed me up to using 30 cals over my favorite 6.5's. A 122 grain 6.5mm just feels like it would be SO small on a big old bull elk. Guess I'll just have to try em and see for myself, though I'll probably start on deer first.

I understand the sentiment, however these are similar length to the 140 class bullets and they're typically 300fps faster MV, similarly faster downrange, and they don't break apart like a lead core bullet does so you get a retained piece of copper going faster, weighing more, and penetrating further.

Several bull elk were taken this year with it. The only one that was shot more than one time was gut shot first, the high shoulder shot anchored him DRT. Doesn't really matter what bullet you gut shoot an animal with, the wound is not instantaneously mortal nor does it break any major skeletal structure that stops the wounded animal from running away. The high shoulder shot dropped the 7x7 instantly with the 122gr bullet.

 

[LongRangeJunky]

I understand the sentiment, however these are similar length to the 140 class bullets and they're typically 300fps faster MV, similarly faster downrange, and they don't break apart like a lead core bullet does so you get a retained piece of copper going faster, weighing more, and penetrating further.

Several bull elk were taken this year with it. The only one that was shot more than one time was gut shot first, the high shoulder shot anchored him DRT. Doesn't really matter what bullet you gut shoot an animal with, the wound is not instantaneously mortal nor does it break any major skeletal structure that stops the wounded animal from running away. The high shoulder shot dropped the 7x7 instantly with the 122gr bullet.

Gotcha. That's something I will order and play with. Why was 122 grain selected for these? Is anything heavier in 6.5mm made?

 

[Simonsza1]

I use the Barnes 127lrx bullet. Solid copper and hammers game. I did have a large bull elk fall over dead on a 300yd shot with bullet right in the ten ring.

 

[bohem]

Gotcha. That's something I will order and play with. Why was 122 grain selected for these? Is anything heavier in 6.5mm made?

Stability in an 8 twist with hunting conditions. Cold, low altitude, extremely low DA makes for thick air and affects stability

122 is where the design worked out to be appropriately stable with a 8 twist

I made a 144 grain to test in 7 twists

Copper solids don't have the ability to just shove more lead in a jacket, weight is heavily influenced by the barrel twist rate.