Which bullet in a 260/6.5 for UKD shooting?

[XTR]

I'm kicking around the idea of getting a 6.5 barrel for one of my 308s to maybe do some UKD type match shooting and have started to wonder about how to spec the throat on the reamer?

In the long range KD game BC is king to control windage since your elevation is pretty much a given, but I can see where that is probably not the case in UKD shooting where distance errors might be more easily handled with a flatter bullet..

In the 6.5 class bullets in a 6.5x47 or a 260 which bullet seems to be the "better" choice, 140s or something in the 120-130 class that shoots flatter out to middle distances?

 

[Danco411]

For true long range the 140's rule. Either Amax, Berger or SMK (142's). I was shooting the 140 Amax out to 1K in .260 Remington which was excellent. I had them moving 2690 in a 20" barrel. I have moved on to 6.5-06 with a 26" tube and now have them moving 2950 which is flat out amazing. 27 MOA at 1000 with sub MOA accuracy. Love it!

 

[thespecialist]

My opinion, the 123's and 130's give up nothing to the 140's until they get way out there. I'm sticking with 139 VLD's until I burn out this barrel or I can no longer reach the lands.

I had mine cut with the 260 Rem Match (not tactical match) reamer and can run the VLD's at 2.875" to be .020" off the lands.

 

[lash]

So far, my experience has been that the 123s start to lose consistency around 1200 yds., specifically with their wind resistance. In other words, I started to get more spread from them. Inside of that, they are flatter than the heavies and perform very well for me.

However, I still use the 136 Ls out to 1200 with great results.

 

[Sixfivesavage]

If I remember correctly, for me in my 30 inch 6.5x47 the 130s don't give anything up to the 140s till about 1400 or so. I would think that can only be even more so from a shorter tube from velocity loss. I think the Lapua is perfectly matched with the 130 class more so than the 140s.

 

[jbailey]

You didn't say how long the UKD stuff is... at 1200+yds, a slow 140gr with a big BC will be a lot flatter than a 123gr that is riping it at the muzzle.

If this is for 1000yds and in UKD, I think the 130grs are the ticket. Launch them from a 26" tube in the mid 2900's and they perform great. Nearly the same wind drift as the 140grs. Lots of splash to see and correct. There are 5 bulletsmiths making 130grs, but 3 of them are custom shops (JLK, Precision Ballistics, Cauterico); and the Norma 130gr bullets are very difficult to find... leaving you with only Berger as commonly available. Unforunately, I think the 4 other bullets all outshoot the Bergers, i.e. they would be the last bullets I selected from the 5.

In the 123gr class, the Lapua Scenars are readily available and are great choice. I perhaps would choose them before I bought the 130gr Bergers... Launch those in the high 2900's.

 

[LRJammer]

I did some testing with 130s and what little gain that was available in short to medium trajectory was more than lost to the wind. Living in Western Oklahoma, long ranges and high winds are the everyday norm. I wont even bother with the lighter bullets, even for coyote hunting.