160gr 6.5mm - part two

[Sweet 6.5]

  Just came back from my hunt!

I tried for three days for kudu, but with no luck. I wonder how many I walked passed that just stood there, looking at me. I saw some blue wildebeest a couple of times. I decided on the last day (yesterday ) if I get a shot on a blue wildebeest I will take
it otherwise I was going to end up empty handed.
I was nearing the treeline on the edge of a clearing late yesterday afternoon when I saw some movement in the clearing. It was
on the ground so I thought it was a small buck like a duiker or steen buck. I slowly stalked closer to the edge when I realised with
a shock that it was some blue wildebeest lying down, some were browsing just a bit further away. They gave the shakes - I had a hard time holding the range finder still! It kept on picking up the leaves from the tree I was sitting under and telling me they are 11 meters away. I just could not get a reading on them. I ended up taking a reading on trees behind them (260 meters) and decided they are half between me and the trees - about 130 meters away.
I put up the shooting sticks, slowly stood up and started looking for one to turn side on. A young bull turned right - and right, showing me his left shoulder.
I shot him about 4 inches behind the left shoulder towards the right  front leg. Broke two ribs going in - through the lungs just above the hart, the bullet stopped inside the right shoulder. He jumped, started to run, stopped, flipped on his back and that was it - not more than 20 meters. I don't think I will use any other bullet in my Swede again for hunting in the bush.

What a week! Now just to work all the meat - I will post pictures of the bullet as soon as possible.

Sweet

[Siskiyou]

Congratulations on your successful hunt and write-up.

I have found that game does not always present itself in a storybook position when using a range finder.  While it is nice to know the exact range, picking another spot for estimation is the way to go, even a nearby piece of ground will do.  I have been watching an edge area where deer come out to feed early in morning and evening.  They move in and out of broken cover and I found that getting a reading off of the ground or brush is the way to go, if one waits for the game to stand in the ideal spot the opportunity maybe lost.

Last fall one of the areas I hunted was covered with heavy vegetation and my choice was a 30-30 Marlin because a fifty-yard shot would be a long one.  But my opinion changed when I broke into an area where numerous fingers of brush had been cleared into long, narrow shooting lanes.  When I used the range finder to determined the maximum range it varied from 160-yards to 200-yards.  If an opportunity presented itself I knew to put the crosshairs on the spine at 200-yards and the bullet would drop about 3-inches.

Two hundred yards is my cut-off point with the 30-30 with the 4x scope.  I also plan on switching scopes on the rifle from a fixed 4x to a 2.5X-7X scope which I have available. 

The value of the rangefinder was apparent because it was a difficult location to estimate the range because of the shadows cast by the nearby tall timber.    I took a number of readings in the stand that will be of value when I return in another season. 

It appears that you are very pleased with the 160-grain Hornady and it is going to be your default brush load.  Will you go back to your 140-grain Speer for hunting open ground?  What is the difference if any with point of impact between the two bullets at sight-in distance?  I have found that my 6.5 puts 120-grain C-L bullets and different 140 grain bullets in the same group at 100-yards.

Last year I replaced the 4x scope on my 6.5 to a 3x9 scope with bullet drop compensator.  I also purchased a Nikon scope and a Burris scope with ballistic type crosshairs.  I believe such enhancements along with a rangefinder are a value in the field.

[Sweet 6.5]

Thank you!

The 140 Speers print about 1 inch higher than the 160s which is perfect for me.
I love the Speers and will keep on using them, I think the Speer would have done the job
on this blue wildebeest but I would have had to do some tracking. I think the 160 might be too much for
impala size animals, even at 2400fps. The damage at the entry wound and inside the blue wildebeest was serious
but because of the angle I did not lose much meat. If you hit a deer size animal on the shoulder you might end up
with more meat loss.
I will have to shoot at least one impala with the 160 to see for myself but for all our medium game (common reed buck,bush buck)
I will use the 140s.
But from the one extreme to another. I have a spring buck hunt booked for end of May - I am going to try and get 120 Speers to about 2800 fps for this hunt. This will be a first for me (shooting such small buck) and the first time I will do some longer range (250 - 300 meters) hunting.

Sweet

[nomosendero]

Great story & thanks for sharing the hunt with us.

[Siskiyou]

2800-fps pushing the 120-grain bullet should be easily obtainable with your slow burning powder.  I had to lookup a Springbuck, and found a heavy one to be around 100 pounds or a little over 45 kilos.  Should be a fun hunt.

It is interesting that you are “right sizing” the 6.5 for different size game.

My ballistic program shows the 120-grain bullet out performing the 140-grain Speer beyond a 1000-yards.

I would not be surprised if you found the 120-grain bullet effective but rather destructive on the Springbuck.

Appreciate your post because I take a little time to research the game you are hunting.  A tad of knowledge when I take the grandkids to the zoo.

[WyoStillhunter]

Congratulations, Sweet!  And thanks for posting the photo.  We are five months away from deer season here, a little less for antelope, and about five and a half until elk season (Oct. 15).  So it is nice to see some actual hunting pics and read your story.

[Brithunter]

Never been to Africa but I do use the Speer 120 grain flat based bullets on our light deer species such as Roe and Muntjac with excellent results so I cannot see you really having a problem with them provided your rifle likes them that is  Out of my two rifles chambered for the Swedish cartridge the sporterised Swedish Gustav shoots them better than the modern Mauser Slide Bolt M96. Both give accuracy well good enough for hunting at the ranges your going to be trying but the Swedish Mauser will group them  (when I do my part that is  ) in about 5/8" whilst the M96 slide bolt is more like MOA. I know it's splitting hairs really but just thought I would mention it. Oh both shoot the Hornady 160 grain bullets well!