I have taken over 50 game animals from 200-1200 yards with the 140 Berger HVLD's and 140/142 JLK VLD's. Exceptional terminal performance and very accurate in four of my 6.5x284's when loaded at 2950-3050 FPS.
Looking for a good bullet for 6.5x284
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Bang4theBuck
Well-Known Member
another vote for the berger 140 grain VLD (Hunting). I have had nothing but bang-flops and statue falls on the animals that I have shot with them. Total tracking distance under 10 feet for the last 3 whitetails, and a Black buck, combined. I don't have any experience with them on Elk. I push mine with RL26 to 3025.
C.O. Shooter
Well-Known Member
I'll soon be testing the 130 grain (MTH) Cutting Edge Bullets in my 6.5-284 very soon.
I have looked at the hammers a bit. I have read good things about them. I have yet to take the plunge into solids.
A part 2 question. I have seen RL-26 and H1K mentioned. I have had good results with my 300 WM and H1K are there any other powders I should also have on the short list like H4831SC ect.
Again thanks all. I like the Bergers I may play around with some others but will start some load development with the 140 HVLD's
Again thanks all. I like the Bergers I may play around with some others but will start some load development with the 140 HVLD's
I have had great luck with these also using retumbo powder.
Bang4theBuck
Well-Known Member
My 6.5x284 loves the H4831, but I doubt get nearly the velocity that I do with RL 26....almost 180 fps less
snox801
Well-Known Member
I can't believe more people wouldn't run hammer especially at that distance.
I understand the Berger's for long stuff because they really work. But we all know they have a failure rate that tend to drive people away. Now all Bullets can fail at some point but for that distance I ya e completely bailed on Berger and the eld. The way the hammers have performed has been very good for me. I was running the cutting edge before that as a transition from lead in my normal hunting ranges. But the hammer are a bit better.
Very easy to load and have been great on game so worth a look at that range for sure
I understand the Berger's for long stuff because they really work. But we all know they have a failure rate that tend to drive people away. Now all Bullets can fail at some point but for that distance I ya e completely bailed on Berger and the eld. The way the hammers have performed has been very good for me. I was running the cutting edge before that as a transition from lead in my normal hunting ranges. But the hammer are a bit better.
Very easy to load and have been great on game so worth a look at that range for sure
snox801
Well-Known Member
I did years back with Barnes and wasn't impressed so back to lead. Then I stumbled on the cutting edge raptors. Those have really been amazing. But after all the great praise for hammers I thought I'll try them. Didn't expect them to impress me more than the cutting edge. They really are great mono Bullets.
RH300UM
Well-Known Member
The 131 hammer hunter will stabilize in a 7.5 twist.
The 124 hammer hunters in a 8 twist
The 130 sledge Hammer in a 8.75 twist
My top three picks
The hammer line is really outstanding
The 124 hammer hunters in a 8 twist
The 130 sledge Hammer in a 8.75 twist
My top three picks
The hammer line is really outstanding
318lll9740
Well-Known Member
Good to hear about the hammers. Ive run barnes and experienced failure, and have interest in the hammers, but never heard anything from a reliable source. If yall are impressed I'll give them a go, as i value our members knowledge and opinion way more than a review from a distributor or mananfacturer.
Back to OP, I tried the speer gold dot yday and its got the accuracy, but no game experience yet. With 48 gr of h4831 I got a half inch group at 135 yards. Went to 51 grains where it shot a hair above 3/4". I calculated velocity at 51gr was around 2800 using thier bc of .571. This evening after church im gonna load 52-54 gr in half grain increments and find that high node. If this bullet perfroms well on game it may be worth taking a look at. Great price too!
engineer40
Well-Known Member
Are the Speer Gold Dot rifle bullets bonded like their gold dot pistol bullets? I'm a big fan of the Gold Dot hollow points in pistols but have never even looked into them for rifle hunting...
318lll9740
Well-Known Member
Yessir theyre of bonded construction. Hopefully in the next day or so I'll try to find a big east texas pig to try them out on. Im really interested to see how they hold up
snox801
Well-Known Member
The gold dot .223 work well on pigs. I was only about 10 yards out but it did the job. I don't have a large enough sample size to say they are the ticket but they worked the one time I tried them.
