bullet selection for reduced charge cartridge

[pearson1662]

I'm wanting to let my son hunt deer out to 100 yards using a reduced load 6.5mm at 1800 fps muzzle velocity and according to my "Point Blank" calculator should have 1655 fps at 100 yards. Will the Nosler Ballistic Tips Hunting bullets be appropriate for this purpose at that velocity? Will they expand reliably or are they intended for higher velocities?

 

[Savage99]

I would expect Nosler to have the last word on this but assuming your loading the 100 gr bullet to reduce recoil then I would suggest some more power.

It seems that 100 yds is going to be the maximum range? If it is then I would like to see those bullets start out at about 2200 fps.

We owe it to the game to effect a clean kill. Also you don't want your son to see a bad situation. At some point one is either big enough to hunt big game or not. Also where I am in the frozen north it's not that much fun for a kid as nothing happens most of the time. I always enjoyed small game and varmint hunting more.

 

[NOSLER]

You are right at the edge of reliable expansion for the BT at 1600fps.

I agree, that 100yrds seems to be the "limit"

 

[cold_hunter]

think about this the BT and PT should expand at about the same speed. the front core on the PT expands quickly and leaves a core behind to punch a hole. you might want to try some 100 yd media tests to see what bullet might kill cleanest and what velocity you will need to get-r-done. With reduced energy loads i would make sure you can have an exit. Like shoot into wet phone books or news print. and in your media box be sure to include a few pork bones or something to simulate an internal bone strike. trust me its no fun tracking an animal that doesnt have an exit wound bleeding you a trail. Also i believe the AccuBond is better at low speeds because of how they are bonded generally speaking these bullets are annealed so they are soft and will hold up in most conditions close up shots and long range.