Experience with light 6.5mm bullet for coyotes?

Greyhunter

Greyhunter

New member
My partners and I built some 12" barreled 6.5 Grendels for our SBRs and I'm looking for good bullets to use. I bought a box of Federal AE 90gr that shot pretty well and measured 2660 fps on my chrono (factory .223 Vmax was 2620 out of my 11.5"). I also reloaded some 95 gr vmax at 2530 and some 85 gr Sierras at 2750. Ballistically the 90 and 95's look to have much better performance after 150 yards or so, the BC is pretty low on the 85's. I see Nosler also makes a 90gr Varmageddon.

Basically we are hoping to gain a bit of oomph with the Grendels while maintaing the nice short SBR profile (things get long with suppressors). We killed coyotes fine out to 200 yards with the 11.5" 223s but I feel like they are really on the low end power wise. Realistic shots will be in the 150-300 yard range. I'm hoping that with the slower SBR velocities these will not be too hard on furs while still getting the job done out to 300.
Any experience with these bullets on coyotes at these speeds?
 
I have loaded and shot the 85 gr. Sierras. They shoot very good. I can't say about dropping coyotes with them. I like the 123 gr bullet better. You have more thump and they shoot great too.. The 85's are very accurate out of both of my rifles. They are 20" barrels so as far as helping you with a 12" barrel I can't say except as to their accuracy.
 
I'm shooting a 16" bbl on my Grendel. I'm having good results with the Speer 90 gr TNT. It's not fur friendly, so if that's a concern, it may not be right for you. I just wanted a bullet to kill coyotes. I'm shooting a Pulsar thermal, and it's really accurate in my gun. I've also tried the 100 gr Nosler, with good results, but the TNT's are much cheaper.
The 95 gr Vmax wasn't very accurate in my gun, nor a 123 gr.
 
Originally Posted By: nr123I'm shooting a 16" bbl on my Grendel. I'm having good results with the Speer 90 gr TNT. It's not fur friendly, so if that's a concern, it may not be right for you. I just wanted a bullet to kill coyotes. I'm shooting a Pulsar thermal, and it's really accurate in my gun. I've also tried the 100 gr Nosler, with good results, but the TNT's are much cheaper.
The 95 gr Vmax wasn't very accurate in my gun, nor a 123 gr.

Did you happen to chrono the Speer 90's, and at what range are your normal shots? 6.5G doesn't lose a ton of velocity with shorter barrels, which is why we chose it for an SBR, but I'm sure velocity will still matter. We do want to save fur once it gets prime.
So far the 95gr Vmax has been the most accurate, closely followed by the Federal 90gr TNT loads, and then the 85's. We are also shooting thermals and aren't looking for 1/4" groups neccesarily, 1 MOA has always worked for me.
I suppose if we are tearing up fur we can always back off the velocity a bit on the handloads but I was hoping the AE 90's would be ok at lower SBR velocities. Might just have to wait and see what the early season dogs think about it.
 
Originally Posted By: yotekiller47I have loaded and shot the 85 gr. Sierras. They shoot very good. I can't say about dropping coyotes with them. I like the 123 gr bullet better. You have more thump and they shoot great too.. The 85's are very accurate out of both of my rifles. They are 20" barrels so as far as helping you with a 12" barrel I can't say except as to their accuracy.

I only shot 5 but my barrel didn't like the 123gr SST factory load. The 85's weren't great either and I suspect they would be pretty tough on fur on a closer shot? I think Sierra makes a 100gr version of the 85's, which might be a good middle ground.
 
I loaded the 90 gr TNT with 8208 and Benchmark, and settled on a near max load of Benchmark. Avg speed was 2713 fps. I've killed coyotes out past 200 yds, most between 100-200. Most exit holes with the TNT are 2-4". I tried the factory 123 SST with my Leupold scope before I installed my Pulsar. I wasn't happy with the results. As I mentioned earlier, the 95 Vmax wasn't very impressive either. I have a box of Sierra 85's, but haven't tried them. I'm sold on the TNT's.
I'm shooting a Alexander Arms upper, and it's very accurate and reliable.
 
I am surprised that more people are not having dedicated coyote rifles built to shoot the 95g V max in with much shorter freebore.
 
Originally Posted By: ackleyman....(custom chambered) ...rifles built to shoot the 95g V max, with much shorter freebore.
My standard chamber 6.5cm SAV 10 likes the 95 vmax over 8208, as is,, fwiw...
 
Originally Posted By: nr123I loaded the 90 gr TNT with 8208 and Benchmark, and settled on a near max load of Benchmark. Avg speed was 2713 fps. I've killed coyotes out past 200 yds, most between 100-200. Most exit holes with the TNT are 2-4".
Ouch! 4" holes are not what I was hoping for with fur prices being decent right now but our bullets will be slower and we could always back them down a bit. 75% of our shots are in the 125-200 yard range with just enough 250+ happening to make me want more horsepower. I have at least 10lbs of Benchmark on hand. Was it faster or more accurate than 8208? And do you mind sharing that load?
Also, were the 95gr Vmax less accurate or worse on fur?
 
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Originally Posted By: ackleymanI am surprised that more people are not having dedicated coyote rifles built to shoot the 95g V max in with much shorter freebore.
Hate to admit it but you are talking over my head here, do you mean spec'ing a 6.5G barrel just to shoot the shorter 95gr bullet for better accuracy? Have you had good results with that bullet?
I'm a fan of Hornady Vmax bullets and their calculator says that bullet would have similar trajectory to my 16" .224 60gr vmax loads with a lot more energy, even with the 12" barrel. I'll be very happy if it works on coyotes about the same with that load.
 
I was referring to all 6.5 cases in general.

When you buy a barrel, the gunsmith puts a certain amount of freebore in the chamber. These dimensions are controlled by the reamer maker when it is ordered.

The amount of freebore in most 6.5's is very long.
 
For what it is worth, every TNT bullet I have ever shot in any caliber, shot very tiny groups with tuning loads.

I would bank on a build with reamer geometry around a TNT bullet, V max, not so much.

A 6.5x47 Lapua with short leade would be World Class for a bolt gun and a 6.5 Grendel with a short leade for the 90g TNT would be a classic. Barrel life with these bullets and small cases should be awesome.
 
That's good to know, they are also pretty affordable. The factory load shot pretty well in my rifle. My local supplier has them for under $15 per box so I'll grab some to play with. It doesn't sound like they are anything close to fur friendly but I'll let the early season coyotes decide that.
 
My 6.5 is a 6.5 Remington Magnum. I have two rifles so chambered; a 24" 700 and a 20" 660, both Remingtons of course. All I can contribute here is that although both these rifles are impressively accurate for off-the-shelf (not to mention "old") rifles, the 95 grain V-Max is THE most accurate bullet I have shot in either one. The longer barreled 700 especially likes them, and will put 5 of them sub-MOA, sometimes when I'm on VERY sub-MOA. I have not gotten to shoot a coyote with them yet, but hope to do so this year. I would estimate my loads with these (H-4350, the only powder I shoot in these rifles) are running 3200 fps easily, maybe more. Haven't chronographed them yet.
 
I have always had good luck with Vmax bullets, both accuracy and terminal effects, so I have high hopes the 95 will work out for us. I believe they are rated for expansion down to 1600 fps which should put us out to 400+ yards with our lower velocity and that is likely farther than we will ever shoot at night.
So far none of the lighter bullets are sounding fur friendly but it will be interesting to see how our lower muzzle velocities will effect things.
 
Totally un related to your question sorry.
I find in my 6mm rem it is very hard to find a light bullet that if fur friendly.
I use a Nosler ballistic tip at 4200 fps for varmints crazy accurate, but anything but fur friendly on coyotes.
I do find how ever My larger deer load is MUCH more fur friendly. Still makes an exit hole but a lot smaller and normally easy to stich up when I get home. I use a Barnes TTS 80 gr at 3600 fps for deer and elk and now ,when I'm not using the 22/250, for coyotes.
 
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