Range Report 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

[soldierofchrist029]

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Hey guys I am new to this forum and just wanted to see if anybody running these calibers preferred to use the 120, 130, or 140 grain bullets. While running ballistics on software it looks as though the 130 grain Bergers will shoot flatter and with less windage then at least the the 140 Amax and SMK out to a thousand yards.</span>

 

[hognuts]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

I run the 140 AMAX and a couple of my shooting partners run the 139 grain Scenars, I have not tried the Bergers for the 6.5, although I am sure they would shoot well also. I run them in my 30/06 for hunting, they make some great projectiles.

 

[Trevor300wsm]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

Where are you getting this info?
It's 4:16am and I'm half asleep, but just a quick fumbling thru Shooter tells me that you'd have to run a 130 VLD at 2950fps to match the ballistics of a 140 Amax running 2850fps. The drop for both is right around 8.0 Mils and the wind is roughly 2.5 Mils with a generic 10mph crosswind.

I run the 130 Bergers in 3 of my rifles. However, I will be trying some of the 123 Amax's in a rifle I'm having built right now.

 

[Nate O.]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

Pretty tough to beat the 140 berger vlds @ 2850 in the .260

 

[soldierofchrist029]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: trevor300wsm</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Where are you getting this info?
It's 4:16am and I'm half asleep, but just a quick fumbling thru Shooter tells me that you'd have to run a 130 VLD at 2950fps to match the ballistics of a 140 Amax running 2850fps. The drop for both is right around 8.0 Mils and the wind is roughly 2.5 Mils with a generic 10mph crosswind.

I run the 130 Bergers in 3 of my rifles. However, I will be trying some of the 123 Amax's in a rifle I'm having built right now. </div></div> I was using JBM Ballistics calculator, although I was using a bit more conservative numbers as I am using a 24" barrel and trying to be easy on the brass, lol. I am showing that with a 140 grain Amax going 2725 fps with a 200 yard zero I will have 316" of drop or 8.67 mils at 1000 yards with 77.8" or 2.13 mils of wind drift with a 10 mph cross wind. With the 130 grain VLD I would have 284.7" or 7.8 mils of drop running the bullet at 2900 fps showing 76.5" or 2.1 mils of drift in the same crosswind. The 140 grain VLD has slightly less wind drift and has a drop of 307" or 8.44 mils.

 

[SVG308]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

I like the 140 amax for price/performance. I bought 6 boxes of 140 amax for under $25/box with a discount at Midway last month.

 

[jrob300]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nate O</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Pretty tough to beat the 140 berger vlds @ 2850 in the .260 </div></div>

I have been using the Berger's exclusively with excellent accuracy, until just recently when things opened up a bit (from under .3 moa @ 500 yds. to about 1 moa). I measured my throat and found that it had moved about .010" and that was enough for accuracy to fall off. I ran a test and found that from .005"-.020" off the lands they shot almost identically, but open up to .025" off and accuracy dropped off very fast. If you don't mind chasing the lands, they are a great bullet.

At the recommendation of Ray Sanchez and William Roscoe, I have switched over to 139 Scenars. Both of them have raved about the accuracy of this bullet while being mag tolerant and very forgiving to load for. I've started them at .005" off the lands and they shoot identically to the Bergers with regard to group size, but being a tangent ogive, won't open up like the VLD's as the throat wears. This is a big benefit for a rifle being used for high round count tactical-style matches.

John

 

[Jedi]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

Luv berger but only if i cant get AMAX to shoot

scenar good bullet but AMAX is cheaper and has better BC per litz

AMAX really are very good n work equally as well on game

 

[shootist2004]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

I use 123 AMAX @2880 with a 20inch barrel.

 

[Nate O.]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jrob300</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nate O</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Pretty tough to beat the 140 berger vlds @ 2850 in the .260 </div></div>

I have been using the Berger's exclusively with excellent accuracy, until just recently when things opened up a bit (from under .3 moa @ 500 yds. to about 1 moa). I measured my throat and found that it had moved about .010" and that was enough for accuracy to fall off. I ran a test and found that from .005"-.020" off the lands they shot almost identically, but open up to .025" off and accuracy dropped off very fast. If you don't mind chasing the lands, they are a great bullet.

At the recommendation of Ray Sanchez and William Roscoe, I have switched over to 139 Scenars. Both of them have raved about the accuracy of this bullet while being mag tolerant and very forgiving to load for. I've started them at .005" off the lands and they shoot identically to the Bergers with regard to group size, but being a tangent ogive, won't open up like the VLD's as the throat wears. This is a big benefit for a rifle being used for high round count tactical-style matches.

John </div></div>

You're absolutely correct about having to chase the lands. At least it's an easy fix, though.

A little off topic, but here I go anyway. I've used the scenar before but never on game, anyone have any input on them? The bergers work fantastic.

 

[BoilerUP]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

My 26" 8 twist Criterion in .260 Rem sends the Berger 130gr VLD @ 3000fps with 43.5gr RL-17, which is 1 grain below max charge.

The same charge with a Norma 130gr Golden Target (0.575 Litz G1) provides the same speeds as the Bergers.

Both 130gr bullets top out about 2950fps with H4350 before getting pressure in Lapua brass.

With the 140 A-Max H4350 is only good for about 2820fps before pressure, and RL17 is in the 2900fps range but accuracy isn't quite as good.

 

[Rthur]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

260, 130vld @3000fps with once shot brass on latest chrono run. Check the ballistic calcs on that one.

 

[dieselgeek]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

I like 140amax in 6.5 CM.

It runs great out of my rifle, and this is all the load development you need

 

[5RWill]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

If i had to pick i'd be the berger 140gr vld hunting. Use it as a multi-purpose round.

 

[soldierofchrist029]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dieselgeek</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I like 140amax in 6.5 CM.

It runs great out of my rifle, and this is all the load development you need

</div></div> Wish i could afford to get it like that in that amount, lol

 

[crumpmd]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

139gr Lapua scenar. Good for punching paper and hog killing

 

[wnroscoe]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

With all this 6.5 bullet talk you guys are gonna talk me into a 260 or 6.5CM before it's over with.

 

[match308]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

+1<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: crumpmd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">139gr Lapua scenar. Good for punching paper and hog killing </div></div>

 

[2Shots]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

I've been shooting the 260 for over a year now. I have over 3000 rounds on the rifle. I have been running either 140 amaxes or 142 match kings exclusively. I run them between 2700 to 2750 fps. The barrel still shoots 1/2 moa if I can. These bullets are usually easy to get, you can pretty well swap them ballistically. I can shoot to a grand in under 9 mil. I trust my reloads over anybodys factory loads so I don't care about factory load availability. I don't think you can go wrong with either 6.5.

 

[psinclair]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rthur</div><div class="ubbcode-body">260, 130vld @3000fps with once shot brass on latest chrono run. Check the ballistic calcs on that one. </div></div>

That's what I'm running in my lightweight .260. That load and velocity hands a 139 scenar at 2850 it's ass on a platter. I run the same range card for that load as I do in my 6XC 115gr VLD at 3000fps.

George Gardner was out here hunting with me a few weeks back and we were using the same dope in my .260 and his .243 comp. rifle shooting 115gr DTAC's at 3000fps. The run-ups were the same and the wind calls were identical out to 1000 meters.

 

[KevinU]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: soldierofchrist029</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Hey guys I am new to this forum and just wanted to see if anybody running these calibers preferred to use the 120, 130, or 140 grain bullets. While running ballistics on software it looks as though the 130 grain Bergers will shoot flatter and with less windage then at least the the 140 Amax and SMK out to a thousand yards.</span> </div></div>

Welcome to the forum!

There's lots of good 6.5 bullets choices. Buy a few boxes of various bullets and see what shoots best in your rifle. I chased my tail trying to get the 139/140's to shoot in my CM, tried the 130 VLD's, that was the bullet for my rifle.

It's certainly good idea to take a look at how flat a bullet will shoot over another on a ballistics program, but a flatter trajectory doesn't necessarily guarantee a better group at 1000yds.

 

[4Rail_Gunner]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

I run the 142 SMK and have great luck with them.

 

[GardDog]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wnroscoe</div><div class="ubbcode-body">With all this 6.5 bullet talk you guys are gonna talk me into a 260 or 6.5CM before it's over with. </div></div>

Feel free to test-drive that box of parts I shipped you, once it gets put together.

The McKinney Madman and his crew talked up the 140 Amax for the .260, so I have a couple boxes standing by for testing once the rifle gets finished.

 

[jrob300]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wnroscoe</div><div class="ubbcode-body">With all this 6.5 bullet talk you guys are gonna talk me into a 260 or 6.5CM before it's over with. </div></div>

John

 

[5RWill]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: PGS</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rthur</div><div class="ubbcode-body">260, 130vld @3000fps with once shot brass on latest chrono run. Check the ballistic calcs on that one. </div></div>

That's what I'm running in my lightweight .260. That load and velocity hands a 139 scenar at 2850 it's ass on a platter. I run the same range card for that load as I do in my 6XC 115gr VLD at 3000fps.

George Gardner was out here hunting with me a few weeks back and we were using the same dope in my .260 and his .243 comp. rifle shooting 115gr DTAC's at 3000fps. The run-ups were the same and the wind calls were identical out to 1000 meters.</div></div>

That speed on a regular .260 is awesome PGS.

 

[Jaxdialation]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

Same here. They shoot like laser beams in my GAP.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 4Rail_Gunner</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I run the 142 SMK and have great luck with them. </div></div>

 

[jbailey]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

I like the 130grain class. Berger, Norma and JLK all offer bullets in that class and the best of them are just a tad behind the 140gr class in BC and given the 100-150fps faster MVs, the 130s outperform out to ~1k. The 130s offer considerable BC step-up from the 123s, and aren't much slower either.

 

[VKC]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

I run the 140gr AMAXs because of Hornandy's loaded ammo and printed recipe. The 140gr bergers and scenars work well too.

 

[Garvey]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

I've already got the bug to rebarrel my .308 to a .243 or .260 and ya'll are making me lean toward .260 more than I already was. My match rifle is my deer, and hog rifle. I was thinking I'd like a little bigger hole punched in animals than the .243 Can any of you speak on bullet performance for medium sized game with the .260?

Thanks for all the good information here!

 

[ddavis]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

I shot a doe with a 123 A-max at 2700 fps (6.5x55 Sweede Tikka T3) at 393 yards in November. I can attest that it will in fact kill a deer if hit in the spine. I am confident that if hit properly in the vitals it would have dropped her promptly. I let my cousin shoot a doe last year with the same rifle but shooting 140 Gamekings at 2800 fps. The bullet zipped right through the chest and the doe ran 100 yards. I don't believe it expanded properly. I trust the A-max's more for our small Texas deer.
-Dan

 

[5RWill]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Garvey</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've already got the bug to rebarrel my .308 to a .243 or .260 and ya'll are making me lean toward .260 more than I already was. My match rifle is my deer, and hog rifle. I was thinking I'd like a little bigger hole punched in animals than the .243 Can any of you speak on bullet performance for medium sized game with the .260?

Thanks for all the good information here!</div></div>

Here's PGS's thread showing all the game he's taken with his .260 i'll let the pics do the talking hehe.

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...330#Post2920330

 

[Hondo64d]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Garvey</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've already got the bug to rebarrel my .308 to a .243 or .260 and ya'll are making me lean toward .260 more than I already was. My match rifle is my deer, and hog rifle. I was thinking I'd like a little bigger hole punched in animals than the .243 Can any of you speak on bullet performance for medium sized game with the .260?

Thanks for all the good information here! </div></div>

I have nothing but good experience with the Berger Hunting VLDs on game. I have found them to work exactly as advertised, penetrating a couple of inches, then grenading. I've shot pigs, a Bobcat and a whitetail with 155gr VLDs out of a .308, pigs with the 115gr VLD from a .257 Wby, and a decent Whitetail buck, a Bobcat and a Coyote with 130gr VLDs from my .260. Have also had great results with the 130gr Accubond from one of my .260s on both pigs and whitetails. The more I kill stuff with my .260, the more I like it.

John

 

[jbailey]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

I have seen mixed reports from the JLK VLDs 130's on game. Two buddies of mine took two elks at 600+yds and the bullet performed poorly - no expansion and not much of a tumble. The 130's were launched at 3000 and 2900 fps respectively and that is at the extended range of this bullet's effective limit.

 

[Garvey]

Re: 6.5 mm bullet choice in 260 Remington or 6.5 CM

Thanks fellas!