Also, you will want to check the twist rate of your barrel to help decide where to start looking for your load. If you have an eight twist you can certainly work with the 140g class bullets, if you have a nine twist you may be able to stabilize the 140g. I have had some nine twist barrels that would stabilize them sufficiently and some that would not.
There are a lot of great bullets to utilize. I've had several 6.5/06 over the years, some eight twist and some nine twist, and have taken deer with everything from 120g Nosler BT to 140g Berger hybrids.
I usually start with H4831sc with 24" barrels and settle in about 2,930fps to 2,950 with 140 berger hybrids. With a 26" barrel I usually try a bit slower powder like Norma 217 and end up around 2,980 to 3,000. Either way deer don't notice the difference.
There are a lot of great bullets to utilize. I've had several 6.5/06 over the years, some eight twist and some nine twist, and have taken deer with everything from 120g Nosler BT to 140g Berger hybrids.
I usually start with H4831sc with 24" barrels and settle in about 2,930fps to 2,950 with 140 berger hybrids. With a 26" barrel I usually try a bit slower powder like Norma 217 and end up around 2,980 to 3,000. Either way deer don't notice the difference.
