? Your favorite up close 6.5mm deer bullet ?

[twofifty]

Just bought a .260Rem with an 8" twist and will be reloading for it.

What non-bonded bullet works well on big deer, and is still effective on quartering shots? Something that would do the job from up close out to 125 yards...

Would a 130ish grains be fine?

[25-284]

in my 260 rem i have been very impressed with the 130 accubond with R19.

[twofifty]

Moosehead7 asked why not bonded bullets...
Because of cost and that we are talking deer rather than bigger game.

Truth is that I don't have enough hunting experience to know if the cup/core bullets will penetrate enough for a reasonable kill on a quartering shot, out to 125 yards.

Moosehead, whatever advice you have is welcome here.

[moosehead7]

Originally Posted by twofifty

Moosehead7 asked why not bonded bullets...
Because of cost and that we are talking deer rather than bigger game.

Truth is that I don't have enough hunting experience to know if the cup/core bullets will penetrate enough for a reasonable kill on a quartering shot, out to 125 yards.

Moosehead, whatever advice you have is welcome here.

Ok my brother shot a whitetail buck awhile ago with a 300wsm firing a winchester powerpoint 180gr, the box says its for heavy game like elk. He shot it at aprox 25 yards. Hit the shoulder and went through to the other shoulder and stopped at the skin. Personally I like penetration and massive internal damage. I shot a whitetail buck last year from 30 yards with a 300wsm 180 tsx, not big holes on either side, but the lungs looked like they were put in a blender. Some on here will say cup/core bullets work fine for what you want and that is true, but i like my bullet to stay together and keep going. Winchester Powermax are a bonded bullet and are cheap. I have a box but have not put them to the wet newspaper test yet.

[swift1]

I've seen a 127gr Barnes LRX bullet that recently came out. Looks like it might be a good fit for your 260 and for deer size critters. Just a thought...check it out. Good BC for longer range shooting too out to 300yds +. It's all about putting it in the boiler room.

[catnthehat]

I've shot 140's and 160's for years in various 6.5. Sized Cartridges and never saw any difference Ina 20 yard kill or a 700 yard kill if the placement was correct.

Cat

[25-284]

i missread that sorry,for cup and core i am looking for some 130 gr gamekings to try.cant seem to find any.seen a lot of game fall to the old hdy 129gr.

[Lefty-Canuck]

I haven't shot any game with them but I am going to try the 129 gr SST on game next year.....they shoot really accurate from my rifle.

LC

[TUFFBUFF]

I'd try the factory 140gr cor-locs from Remington from what you describe but your reloading so anything goes.
I really like the 120gr fusions in both my 260's, or should I say my rifles like 'em

[Ivo]

140gr Sierra Gamekings or Nosler Partitions

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

I've shot 140's and 160's for years in various 6.5. Sized Cartridges and never saw any difference Ina 20 yard kill or a 700 yard kill if the placement was correct.

Cat

Will fill the freezer every time.

[bulletman]

My late great shooting buddy really liked the 129 grain Hornady Interlock!

[Pioneer2]

Hornady has messed with the jacket on their Inter-locks over the past 10 years or so as bullet blow ups are common on a once reliable bullet.I called them and of course got denial.This was the first they'de heard of it but others I know with the same experiances called the same week.Several buddies and myself have had bullets shed cores/fail to penetrate etc.I had a 286gr from a 93x62 explode like an SX on a moose shoulder blade at 180 yards.Deer and black bear same thing with a .270 Win.Just load Partitions for everything and never look back.The cheapest part of the hunt is the bullet put out the extra money.My son put a 140gr Parttion from a 6.5x55 through both shoulder blades of a 700 lb cow moose at 75 yards.Bang flop.Hole like a golf ball in and out................Harold

[1100winger]

140 gr Hornady Interlocks with Varget, accurate, penetrate well and have not yet blown up on impact. Regardless of bullet though - it's all about putting the first shot in the right place.

[purgatory.sv]

Originally Posted by Pioneer2

Hornady has messed with the jacket on their Inter-locks over the past 10 years or so as bullet blow ups are common on a once reliable bullet.I called them and of course got denial.This was the first they'de heard of it but others I know with the same experiances called the same week.Several buddies and myself have had bullets shed cores/fail to penetrate etc.I had a 286gr from a 93x62 explode like an SX on a moose shoulder blade at 180 yards.Deer and black bear same thing with a .270 Win.Just load Partitions for everything and never look back.The cheapest part of the hunt is the bullet put out the extra money.My son put a 140gr Parttion from a 6.5x55 through both shoulder blades of a 700 lb cow moose at 75 yards.Bang flop.Hole like a golf ball in and out................Harold

Do you think the jacket is possible thinner or might it be a fault in the bonding of the core to the jacket?
Only speculation I have no proof, and when I called hornady nothing had changed.

My belief is they possible have slid on control due to the many products and partnerships they have entered, thus some issues might not be as controlled as in the past?

[Deer Hunter]

120 gr sierra prohunters kill deer real well, you can't go wrong with these

[Cappy]

Of the standard cup and cores I've had luck with the 129gr Hornady SST's and Interlocks as well as the 140gr versions. The 120gr Speer has worked excellent as well.

[Leeper]

My favorite close range 6.5 bullet is the Sierra 160 which is, unfortunately, no longer being produced. The Hornady 160 isn't bad and works better in the 260's relatively short throat. Leeper

[Double_D]

140 grn Nosler Partitions

[twofifty]

Thank you all for your suggestions and stories.