Smallest 6.5 bullet

I can't comprehend the faster velocity. The 6.5's for the most part aren't very fast. Their beauty is their bc. They don't drop like other bullets they are stupid flat, slow and driftless. If you take their length away they loose their advantage.I feel like you are getting caught up in the numbers. A 6.5 creedmoor is slow compared to a 308. using the same weight bullet but it will out perform a 300 win. mag. in sustained velocity with a 140 vs. 180. John Holliger (White Oak Precision) says their are 2 things a high power shooter shouldn't own. A chronograph and a borescope. I think this applies to all of us. Accuracy kills, speed is cool. In the end it is just a number.
 
Originally Posted By: Dan WanfaltI can't comprehend the faster velocity. The 6.5's for the most part aren't very fast. Their beauty is their bc. They don't drop like other bullets they are stupid flat, slow and driftless. If you take their length away they loose their advantage.I feel like you are getting caught up in the numbers. A 6.5 creedmoor is slow compared to a 308. using the same weight bullet but it will out perform a 300 win. mag. in sustained velocity with a 140 vs. 180. John Holliger (White Oak Precision) says their are 2 things a high power shooter shouldn't own. A chronograph and a borescope. I think this applies to all of us. Accuracy kills, speed is cool. In the end it is just a number.

Very well put together assessment. I fail to see the advantage of more speed when the bullet is shaped like a ping pong ball. I thought that was long ago discovered and corrected by a guy named Minié...?
 
Originally Posted By: CZ527Originally Posted By: BoomstickJust sold a box of 6.5mm 85gr. Bergers. Don't really understand why someone would want a pill smaller than that

Where'd you find those?

Someone on another forum was selling a group of 6.5s, and there was a unopened box of 'em. Had 'em sold in about 35 minutes to another member.
 
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So you guys are saying all us 6mm guys shouldn't shoot the 55 and 58gr offerings and shoot the 95 plus? Or the guys shooting high powered .224 shouldn't shoot the the 45-60 gr stuff and only shoot the high BC pills?
 
I dont care what anyone shoots....and as far as "should" or "shouldn't," thats for you to decide.

As for your examples, yes, for the most part, light and short for caliber bullets are a waste of potential and ability.

105-107 makes a 243 sing, and 70+ make a .224 of any kind an all around better gun. Even better in both is when when you can shove those heavy bullets fast....
 
Originally Posted By: pahntr760Originally Posted By: Dan WanfaltI can't comprehend the faster velocity. The 6.5's for the most part aren't very fast. Their beauty is their bc. They don't drop like other bullets they are stupid flat, slow and driftless. If you take their length away they loose their advantage.I feel like you are getting caught up in the numbers. A 6.5 creedmoor is slow compared to a 308. using the same weight bullet but it will out perform a 300 win. mag. in sustained velocity with a 140 vs. 180. John Holliger (White Oak Precision) says their are 2 things a high power shooter shouldn't own. A chronograph and a borescope. I think this applies to all of us. Accuracy kills, speed is cool. In the end it is just a number.

Very well put together assessment. I fail to see the advantage of more speed when the bullet is shaped like a ping pong ball. I thought that was long ago discovered and corrected by a guy named Minié...?

I often think about this reading threads not just on here but other forums as well. I shot the group below with factory 6.5 CM 140gr BTHP ammo. Curious how many "wouldn't" shoot it as it was only running right at 2500 FPS. Granted it was due to my short barrel, but I am certain this will do everything I need it to.

 
I'm all for experimentation, however I fail to enjoy reinventing the wheel....It hasn't been many years ago that I fell in love with the .204 cartridge with it's flat trajectory and terminal effects on Varmints...

Shortly afterwards I had a custom AR upper built in .223 with a slow twist rifling (1/14) to allow me to push the 40 gr V-Max at near .204 velocities and thought, conversely, that if I could achieve good results with that combination, moving down the a 35gr V-Max should be even better...In the end, the lighter weight had even more draw backs than the 40gr in the .223....It had the same flat trajectory, but as the distance increased past 300 yards, the stability of the bullet diminished, especially of any breeze (not wind) happened to show itself...

My 6.5 CM, using Hornaty factory 120 gr V-Max bullets produces velocities of 2930 fps as claimed by the manufacturer and at 100 yards produces excellent accuracy..From reports I have read in the past...going to the 123 and 142gr bullet, with the right powder charge, should be excellent long distance performers due to the much higher Ballistic Coefficient factor that is achieved due to the longer bearing surface...

I'm afraid that by shifting to a shorter/lighter bullet (below what's available), you will be sorely disappointed in your anticipated results...as well as negating the potential terminal effects when used against any kind of game...
 
Originally Posted By: Smokin Barrel Curious how many "wouldn't" shoot it as it was only running right at 2500 FPS.

I wouldn't.

To each his own though. If it makes you happy, it doesn't matter what I think.

But, no, I wouldn't want to use that for coyote hunting. With a 300 yard zero it's like 5" high at 100 and 6" high at 200. With a 200 yard zero it's 9" low at 300.

No thanks. I can dang near throw a rock flatter than that.

That is a nice group though. But not any nicer than can be had from something that shoots a whole heckuva lot flatter. And kicks a lot less. And still puts coyote down cleanly.

- DAA
 
Originally Posted By: Dan Wanfalt Accuracy kills, speed is cool. In the end it is just a number.

With all due respect, I think that's completely backwards. MOA is plenty for hunting.
Speed kills, accuracy gives us another reason to build custom rifles.
 
Originally Posted By: DAAOriginally Posted By: Smokin Barrel Curious how many "wouldn't" shoot it as it was only running right at 2500 FPS.

I wouldn't.

To each his own though. If it makes you happy, it doesn't matter what I think.

But, no, I wouldn't want to use that for coyote hunting. With a 300 yard zero it's like 5" high at 100 and 6" high at 200. With a 200 yard zero it's 9" low at 300.

No thanks. I can dang near throw a rock flatter than that.

That is a nice group though. But not any nicer than can be had from something that shoots a whole heckuva lot flatter. And kicks a lot less. And still puts coyote down cleanly.

- DAA


Amen. I have some accurate 6.5's to shoot the heavier bullets, I know what that's all about and they do great at distance. But for calling give me flat to 300 yards any day over something I got to range and dope at 250 yds.
 
But appologies to the op. He didn't ask for advice but that is all anyone has for him. We kind of took this thread over.
 
I would love to find a lighter 6.5 bullet too. I have been shooting 120 Noslers out of my Grendel I have been trying to find a lighter bullet. So far the 100 noslers (1/2" groups) seem to be the best for my gun. The BC of the 100 gr noslers makes it better @ distance than the 85 gr. I tried 95 v-max but cant get good groups. Might be a 6x6.8 in my future.

Good luck
 
Yes, it's easy to say shoot the heaviest best BC bullet you can get. But, there are times when it pays to match the bullet to the use. I live in a rural area where I hunt groundhogs on the local farms. Around here 300 yards is a long shot. For my shooting I need a bullet that will disintegrate when it hits. I can't afford a ricochet on some of the farms I hunt.
 


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