Thread: 6.5 bullet test results.

I have shifted this 6.5 bullet test info over from, Canadian gun nuts,
more to follow, in next few days,
test medium wet newspaper.





**Huge CGN .264 Bullet Test Result** (lots of pics!)



There it is!!

The line up:


- The impact velocity was made to duplicate modern 6.5X55 loads at 100 yds.
- Expansion was measured at the widest part of the bullet. Take a look at the pictures when comparing the expansion of different bullets, sometime a sliver of lead or copper at an odd angle can give deceptive results.
- Test rifle: Winchester Model 70 Featherweight 6.5X55 Swed
- Test media: Wet newspaper....lots of wet newspaper!!
- Disclaimer: I know wet newspaper does not give identical result to flesh and bones, blah, blah, blah....

Speer 90gr TNT
Average Penetration (inches): 10.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 28.3
Average Weight Retained (%): 31
Average Expansion (inches): 0.549



Hornady 95gr V-MAX
Average Penetration (inches): 6.25
Average Weight Retained (grain): 34.1
Average Weight Retained (%): 36
Average Expansion (inches): 0.470



Barnes 100gr X
Average Penetration (inches): 16.67
Average Weight Retained (grain): 83
Average Weight Retained (%): 83
Average Expansion (inches): 0.423



Nosler 120gr Ballistic Tip
Average Penetration (inches): 10.30
Average Weight Retained (grain): 74.4
Average Weight Retained (%): 62
Average Expansion (inches): 0.643



Barnes 120gr X
Average Penetration (inches): 14.42
Average Weight Retained (grain): 114.5
Average Weight Retained (%): 95
Average Expansion (inches): 0.586



Barnes 120gr TSX
Average Penetration (inches): 13.67
Average Weight Retained (grain): 120.1
Average Weight Retained (%): 100
Average Expansion (inches): 0.592



Alberta Wildcat 120gr HP
Average Penetration (inches): 11.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 49.2
Average Weight Retained (%): 41
Average Expansion (inches): 0.704



Alberta Wildcat 125gr SP
Average Penetration (inches): 10.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 73.3
Average Weight Retained (%): 59
Average Expansion (inches): 0.712



Nosler 125gr Partition
Average Penetration (inches): 15
Average Weight Retained (grain): 88.5
Average Weight Retained (%): 71
Average Expansion (inches): 0.614



Hornady 129gr SP IL
Average Penetration (inches): 13.08
Average Weight Retained (grain): 90.5
Average Weight Retained (%): 70
Average Expansion (inches): 0.626



Barnes 130gr TSX
Average Penetration (inches): 18
Average Weight Retained (grain): 129.9
Average Weight Retained (%): 100
Average Expansion (inches): 0.552



Lapua 140gr Naturalist
Average Penetration (inches): 16.5
Average Weight Retained (grain): 136.6
Average Weight Retained (%): 98
Average Expansion (inches): 0.556



Hornady 140gr SP IL
Average Penetration (inches): 13.75
Average Weight Retained (grain): 78.7
Average Weight Retained (%): 56
Average Expansion (inches): 0.524



Hornady 140gr SST
Average Penetration (inches): 13.25
Average Weight Retained (grain): 95.5
Average Weight Retained (%): 68
Average Expansion (inches): 0.695



Hornady 140gr A-MAX
Average Penetration (inches): 12.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 75.9
Average Weight Retained (%): 54
Average Expansion (inches): 0.597



Nosler 140gr Partition
Average Penetration (inches): 15.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 108.6
Average Weight Retained (%): 78
Average Expansion (inches): 0.629



Sierra 142gr Match King
Average Penetration (inches): 14.25
Average Weight Retained (grain): 40.7
Average Weight Retained (%): 29
Average Expansion (inches): 0.445
** First bullet disintegrated and not significant pieces were recovered.



Alberta Wildcat 142.5 VLD
Average Penetration (inches): 12.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 45.2
Average Weight Retained (%): 32
Average Expansion (inches): 0.598



Lapua 156gr Mega
Average Penetration (inches): 14.92
Average Weight Retained (grain): 120.9
Average Weight Retained (%): 78
Average Expansion (inches): 0.629



Norma 156gr RN
Average Penetration (inches): 14.67
Average Weight Retained (grain): 89.6
Average Weight Retained (%): 57
Average Expansion (inches): 0.592



Hornady 160gr RN IL
Average Penetration (inches): 13.92
Average Weight Retained (grain): 117.6
Average Weight Retained (%): 74
Average Expansion (inches): 0.694



Sierra 160gr SMP
Average Penetration (inches): 13.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 76.4
Average Weight Retained (%): 48
Average Expansion (inches): 0.539



Alberta Wildcat 168gr VLD
Average Penetration (inches): 13.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 76.4
Average Weight Retained (%): 48
Average Expansion (inches): 0.539



Approximate impact velocity:
90-100gr.............2850-2900fps
120gr..................2750-2800fps
125gr..................2600-2700fps
129-130gr............2550-2600fps
140gr-142.5gr.......2500-2550fps
156-160gr............2400-2500fps
168gr..................2300-2400fps





**A special thanks to all the members who contributed by providing bullets and brass. Thank you all for you patience.**

Cheers for posting that, I knew I liked partitions

Barnes TSX appear to be backing up their claims of great weight retention. Will explain why I have never found a single piece of one in an animal.

Above bullet charts.

Originally Posted by quentin

Barnes TSX appear to be backing up their claims of great weight retention. Will explain why I have never found a single piece of one in an animal.

I found the blue tip once!.
Off the ttsx tho of course.

Those SST's stacked up well

Thanks for posting mate
that would have taken some time

I looked at this test a few years ago (on gun nuts I think) and I thought it was the best bullet test I've ever seen.

More 6.5 cal bullets, tested into wet newspaper,
info from Canada gun nuts forum.
I now present you with Part Deux

The test was perform exactly like the first one to make the results as comparable as possible. The only difference is I don't have my Winchester anymore so I used my Mauser M38.

I'll keep the latest results seperated for now so it's easier to see. After a couple weeks I'll insert the results in the older test so they are all in weight order. Enjoy!


Sierra 85gr HP
Average Penetration (inches): 9.0
Average Weight Retained (grain): 13.6
Average Weight Retained (%): 16
Average Expansion (inches): 0.476



Barnes 120gr TTSX
Average Penetration (inches): 17.2
Average Weight Retained (grain): 119.2
Average Weight Retained (%): 99.3
Average Expansion (inches): 0.547



Swift 120gr A-Frame
Average Penetration (inches): 15.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 114.53
Average Weight Retained (%): 95.4
Average Expansion (inches): 0.552



Swift 130gr Scirocco II
Average Penetration (inches): 13.3
Average Weight Retained (grain): 124.7
Average Weight Retained (%): 98.2
Average Expansion (inches): 0.685



Nosler 140gr Accubond
Average Penetration (inches): 14.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 89.9
Average Weight Retained (%): 64.2
Average Expansion (inches): 0.621



Sierra 140gr GameKing
Average Penetration (inches): 13
Average Weight Retained (grain): 64.3
Average Weight Retained (%): 46
Average Expansion (inches): 0.467



Speer 140gr HotCor
Average Penetration (inches): 13.8
Average Weight Retained (grain): 76.6
Average Weight Retained (%): 54.7
Average Expansion (inches): 0.513



Berger 140gr VLD Hunting
Average Penetration (inches): 12.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 50.1
Average Weight Retained (%): 36.4
Average Expansion (inches): 0.576



Military 142gr FMJ
Average Penetration (inches): 14.3
Average Weight Retained (grain): 134.5
Average Weight Retained (%): 94.7
Average Expansion (inches): 0.338
* One veared off course and exited


Woodleigh 160gr Weldcore
Average Penetration (inches): 12.8
Average Weight Retained (grain): 148.9
Average Weight Retained (%): 93.1
Average Expansion (inches): 0.915



Cast 174 gr (as dropped)
Average Penetration (inches): 24
Average Weight Retained (grain): 122.7
Average Weight Retained (%): 70.5
Average Expansion (inches): 0.360



Cast 174 gr (water quenched)
Average Penetration (inches): 24+
Average Weight Retained (grain): 128.8
Average Weight Retained (%): 74
Average Expansion (inches): 0.438
*Under estimated their penetration, only recovered one.






Last edited by bcsteve; 09-11-2011 at 06:03 AM.


Thanks to BC Steve for the Test results.

Above thread, dropped a set of photos, (130 swifts) so this update is correct for the 130 swift, 140 accubonds and 140 gameking.



Swift 130gr Scirocco II
Average Penetration (inches): 13.3
Average Weight Retained (grain): 124.7
Average Weight Retained (%): 98.2
Average Expansion (inches): 0.685





Nosler 140gr Accubond
Average Penetration (inches): 14.17
Average Weight Retained (grain): 89.9
Average Weight Retained (%): 64.2
Average Expansion (inches): 0.621




Sierra 140gr GameKing
Average Penetration (inches): 13
Average Weight Retained (grain): 64.3
Average Weight Retained (%): 46
Average Expansion (inches): 0.467

Those a frames look good

Scirocco's look pretty good too, nice expansion and good weight retention