Lightweight bullets in a 6.5

[regnar375]

I've thought about this for a while. after listening to the everyday sniper about this,I have renewed intrests. Here are my thoughts.

If a 6mm is shooting a 105 or 115 at 3000 fps or so, what advantage does it have over a 6.5 shooting a 120 at the same speed?

My question is will barrel life with a 120gr in a 6.5 be as short as it is in a 6mmm

 

[supratt96]

I just tried out some 100gr Hornady ELDMs in my TRG (260 Rem). I have been shooting mostly at 100 yards, so figured why not try a lighter bullet. Long story short, they did quite well. Getting about 3100 fps with 43.5gr vvn150 and a 26" barrel. Accuracy was well under 1/2 moa. Recoil with a muzzle brake was virtually zero.

This bullet has a very short bearing surface, so I think it would be easier on the barrel than heavy bullets with long bearing surfaces. At short to intermediate range, I doubt I'm giving much if anything up to a 140gr bullet going 300 fps slower.

 

[regnar375]

Thanks, I more wanting to know about performance at ranges past 600 but that's good to know about the bearing surface. do you think that the barrel life would be leased or stay the same?

 

[supratt96]

Thanks, I more wanting to know about performance at ranges past 600 but that's good to know about the bearing surface. do you think that the barrel life would be leased or stay the same?

Hard to say. The higher velocity might negate the benefit of a shorter bearing survace.

 

[regnar375]

Hard to say. The higher velocity might negate the benefit of a shorter bearing survace.

That would be ok!!

 

[deanq]

Light bullets going really fast shorten barrel life faster than slower bullets. A lot faster bullet....a lot faster wear!!!!!!

 

[Huskydriver]

Thanks, I more wanting to know about performance at ranges past 600 but that's good to know about the bearing surface. do you think that the barrel life would be leased or stay the same?

One thing to remember is the lighter you go, the bc goes down usually so you have to make up for this with speed. While speed helps the poorer bc sub 800 ish yards, it will have worse long range performance depending on how far your shooting.

 

[regnar375]

Light bullets going really fast shorten barrel life faster than slower bullets. A lot faster bullet....a lot faster wear!!!!!!

Serious question,why does a 6br family get good barrel life?

 

[regnar375]

One thing to remember is the lighter you go, the bc goes down usually so you have to make up for this with speed. While speed helps the poorer bc sub 800 ish yards, it will have worse long range performance depending on how far your shooting.

I understand all that but that's not really what I'm asking.

If I can shoot my 6br at 2900 fps with a 108bt and get 3000k rounds in an fclass rifle or a 6bra qith 115's that are at 3000 fps and expect 2500 plus rounds, what would I be looking at with 120 class heads between 2900 and 3000 fps? I know one of the everyday sniper podcasts talked about this but I have not heard the results of Frank's test yet.

I currently run 130 vlds, jammed .012 at 2887 with varget and fed ar match primers in a 6.5x47L. it is still a hammer at 2050 or so rounds. I can shoot a 200 with 12-15 x's at 600 with it off a bipod and heavy rear bag on a good day. So why do I want to change? If I can get a lighter bullet that is good to 1100 yards plus and it produces less recoil making it easier to stay on target with similar barrel life why would I not want to do it?

 

[Huskydriver]

So why do I want to change? If I can get a lighter bullet that is good to 1100 yards plus and it produces less recoil making it easier to stay on target with similar barrel life why would I not want to do it?

You probably wouldn't want to change for your application especially if your shooting static targets from a fully prone supported position like F open. I think barrel life is a complicated thing to measure. All else being equal, I think your 6.5 will have slightly better barrel life shooting a similar load as a 6mm simply because you have a larger bore but probably not by much. Do it and let us know how quickly the throat errods .

If you were shooting to the upper end range capabilities of your 6.5 it would make a difference to shoot heavier bullets was my point earlier not that you should switch.

 

[regnar375]

O shoot f class with it for something to do but it is a precesion rifle.

I'm seriously not trying ro be difficult, just trying to find someone who can definitively answer one way or the other.

If guys shooting the 6mm's in prs are being successful at longer ranges, why wont a 6.5 with slightly heavier bullets?

If 6br family's get great barrel life shooting 110 -115 gr heads at 3k fps why wont a 6.5 with slightly heavier bullets have at least the same barrel life, have better performance than the 6mm because of the heavier bullet? the 6mm that have short barrel seem to be all running right around the allowable 3200 max.