6.5 x 120 BT ...

[Kodiak]

I have them on BO from Midway. Anyone have a favorite load they could share for the .264WM?

 

[gerry]

The lightest I ever went was the 129 gr Hornady so can't exactly help with the 120 gr Ballistic Tip. Retumbo worked the best for my gun but IMR 7828 SSC was good too, RL 25 and Magnum should work well.

Hodgdon shows 3299 fps with a 120 gr Speer and Retumbo which looks good.

 

[Divernhunter]

I have fired a few test loads. I have more loaded but have not fired them. All loads are max or near max.
The rifle is a Ruger M77 with a new 26 inch Douglas SS barrel.
Using the Nosler 120gr BT bullet, mag primers(Win), screens 20' from barrel. Oehler #33 Chrono and a sand bag front rest with the rifle buttstock in my shoulder. Leupold 3.5X10X40 duplex scope and McMillan stock. All are 5 shot groups.
Mag Pro 69grs Av 3305FPS SD 30- excellent group- one shot 55FPS lower than the others(my loading?)
Win 780 67grs Av 3378FPS SD 9- Excellent group
RL25 63grs Av 3122FPS SD15 Excellent group
RL19 64grs Av 3369FPS SD14- good group

I do not have any H1000 or Retumbo for testing.
OP if you need some 120BT bullets I have some I will sell you.

 

[1Shot]

From my experience with the 120BT it depends on what you want to do with it. If you are deer size game hunting I would not push it over 3000 fps impact velocity. I shoot it in my 6.5X55 at 3000 fps muzzle velocity and if you hit shoulder bone on a shot inside 100 yards it really comes apart. Just the jacket usually will exit or be found under the hide on the off side. That is with UNDER 3000 fps impact velocity. If you can find some 130 gr Accubonds you will be in high cotton. I run them in my 264 Win mag out of my 27 3/4" barrel at 3350 fps with 66.5 grs Retumbo, CCI 250, WW case. This bullet is awesome from point blank to waaaaaaaaaaay out there. I have killed around 20 deer with this combo and I have found that it flies like the BT and starts to open up like the BT but holds together like the Partition and keeps on trucking. I have only recovered 1 bullet from a buck shot at 111 yards almost facing me. Bullet struck edge of left shoulder and was found in the right ham when cutting up the meat. It was a text book mushroom and weight was 87 grs. With this combo I have not had a deer take over three jumps but most drop in their tracks.
If you only have a 24" barrel you may be able to get away with the 120 BT because you can't get the higher velocities of 26" and longer. If you will get a close shot you will have to pick your shot carefully.

 

[Kodiak]

Thanks for the info about the 120 gr. BT. I have 125 and 140 PTs and 130 ABs on hand.

So I'm in pretty good shape bullet wise. Also have Retumbo, RL25, 22, 19, 7828 etc.

 

[Wincheringen]

Too bad you weren't loading a 6.5x55 Swede. Mine really likes the 120 BT.

 

[1100 Remington Man]

I'm shooting Noslers 120gr BT in my .264 Win Mag. & it is my Mule Deer & Antelope Bullet of choice. Rifle is Winchester Model 70 XTR. 24 inch barrel.
Case Nosler
Primer CCI 250
Powder IMR 4350. 60.2 This is .02 over Noslers Max in there Reloading Book Use With Caution.
Bullet. Nosler 120 BT
COAL. 3.26

I have not shot any big game inside 100 yds with it. I have had zero bullet failures on Big Game. Most Big Game bagged have been shot 200 to 500 yds & have had complete pass through on all animals. I always shoot for center of chest on all big game.
It shoots under 2.5 inches at 300 yds for what it's worth I use to use Win Brass & by going to Nosler Brass groups shrank .5 inch at 300 yds. Inspecting the Nosler Brass it is a better quality product than Win. Brass.

 

[jagermeister]

I am too shooting BT120 out of my K95 1:8" 24" 6,5x57R Mauser caliber.
Although this caliber is nowhere near the 264 Mag, it is quite similar to the 6,5 Swede.
I get around 2800 muzzle velocity and accuracy is very good.
Terminal performance on small/medium game (Roe deer/Chamois) is very good out to 300 meters (330 yds.) then it worsen a little, probably due to the slow impact velocity.
They still drop fast, taking just a few steps.....but not as I was used to with my previous rifles :mrgreen:
I guessed that, in your caliber, it would be a deadly hammer....dropping 'em on their tracks.

Accubonds are too "stiff" for my set-up, but may work for a higher-speed bullet.....

:wink:
J

 

[SJB358]

Awesome reports. Never ran a 120BT outta my 264 but that has to be a deer/antelope killing SOB.

 

[FOTIS]

I have killed a few antelope with the sendero 264 loaded with 120 BT's at 3400 with RL 25. In fact GeorgeS was with me. All one shot DRT!