100 grain 6.5X55

[Paul 600]

Hi,
any body out there had any success with Nosler ballistic tips in 100 grain. I am thinking of giving them a go, they are half the price of my Barnes TSX and I could get at least 200 fps faster although 20 grains lighter. I am using Vit N160.

I have not used the Ballistic tips for a few years as they used to blow up very badly, I have been told this problem has been solved now?

 

[scotspine]

I tried a box and got good clean kills with all but one animal.That was a big Red stag and he needed a second round to drop him.He had actually ran down the hill toward me and I reckon was about to keel ,but I fired the second shot to get the job done quickly. On inspection both rounds had hit highish above the heart but not high enogh to hit the shoulder and drop him on the spot.
Recoil minimal,v accurate and 3000fps possible even in a shortened barrel.They do expand quickly but the main disadvantage is price and availabillity so I use hornady and sierra instead.
My mate has used them for a couple of years now on red,sika and roe...no problems.

 

[Paul 600]

I can get just over 3000 fps with the 120 grain TSX, 3200 with the Nosler sounds achievable but at those velocities would it expand too fast?

 

[DL]

On their website,it says minimum 1600fps Max 3100fps.

 

[Paul 600]

On their website,it says minimum 1600fps Max 3100fps.

I am going to look at the data for a 25-06 for comparison, I know a few who use 100 grain Bt.

 

[Monkey Spanker]

Nostler 100 gr BT's are going out of my 25.06 at 3300 fps! 8)
I've shot both sexes of all six species in the UK with that very combination, including lowland Reds. Seems to work fine for me!

 

[Paul 600]

According to the manual 25-06 100 grain BT with N160 3343 fps. 54 grains of powder

6.5X55- 100 BT N160 3169 fps, 50.5 grains of powder.

I think I am going to experiment with this!

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

In my 260rem I can get 3150-3200FPS with a 100gr Hornady SP and a sub "book-max" load of Benchmark.

The 6.5x55 has a little more case capacity than the 260, so 3200FPS with a 100gr BT should be doable with judicious handloading. However, I doubt that you will find any book loads that will get you there, so you will have to experiment a little.....

 

[Paul 600]

In my 260rem I can get 3150-3200FPS with a 100gr Hornady SP and a sub "book-max" load of Benchmark.

The 6.5x55 has a little more case capacity than the 260, so 3200FPS with a 100gr BT should be doable with judicious handloading. However, I doubt that you will find any book loads that will get you there, so you will have to experiment a little.....

Thats what I was thinking!

 

[techman]

100 grain 6..5x55

Deer man, I think I posted this on another thread.
The first two deer shot with this round on roe bucks, were neck shots and showed no problems. Then, during the doe season I had a situation where two does were on the edge of a game patch about 120 yards out. The first dropped instantly, but the second humped it's back and went down after half a minute. I waited a couple of minutes before approaching and found her just in the last throes.
I thought initially that I had pulled the shot but on dressing her out found that the bullet had gone true but had exploded just under the skin on the entry side. On butchering I found massive bruising all along that flank, bullet fragments and meat damage to the shoulder rendering it virtually useless.
Just one experience, but I gave the remaining unopened boxes back to Norman Clark and bought more Sierra 120 grainers. The remainder went down range at Bisley, doing around 3100fps.

 

[Paul 600]

I had that happen to me when i was using 125 grain BT from my 30-06 on a Sika calf. I have been told Nosler have solved this problem now?

 

[Brithunter]

Hmmmm I have not used them for many years now but I did load up a batch for my 6.5x55 and after using them on on a Fox whilst stalking Muntjac. The the rest were used for range practice. At about 65 yards the bullet tore the fox to pieces. The belly looked like Freddy Cruger had been about as it was split into strips No exit wound on the side the bullet seemed to diverge from is flight path and turn sideways and down the Foxes body shredding everything. Very humane but I didn't want my Muntjac to get the same shredded treatment so I switched to the Speer 120 grain Hot Cor bullet.

As I said it was a long time ago now and the new Ballistic Tips seem much stronger.