Scored with the 6.5 JDJ!

[Da-Law-Dawg]

Yesterday marked the opener for the Kentucky modern gun season for deer.

I vowed to myself that the 'Tender was the only thing going with me to the stand. Despite fellow GBO member deh223 ribbing me against not taking a rifle, I set out with the 14" SSK 6.5 JDJ as my favored companion for the day.

After eating a few "tag sandwiches" waiting on horns the last couple seasons, I was hunting for "freezer fodder". Shortly after 9:00 am yesterday, I spied a young whitetail slipping through along the creek bottom. Having an anterless tag to burn, I thought the young deer would make excellent table fare.

I had to choose my shot as it was a mess in the bottom along the creek. I found a small opening around 45 yards out and waited for the deer to cooperate. The deer stopped as if on que in the opening and I settled the crosshairs of the 5x Burris behind the shoulder. When the trigger broke, the 129gr Hornady SST found its mark. The whitetail went about 20 yards and piled up in the bottom.

This was my first whitetail with the 6.5 JDJ. I can honestly say that I am tickled with the results and having fresh venison in the freezer makes it all the better!

[spinafish]

congrats..going to get me a 6.5 JDJ one of these days!

[ChrisK]

congrats

[Gswag]

Great. Have a 6.5 also and have wondered how that sst would hold up. Any pics?  Congratulations.

[Da-Law-Dawg]

Gswag,

Sorry partner, don't have any pics. I can honestly say, the SST performed perfectly. Dead on broadside shot at about 45 yards yielded a clean pass through the chest cavity. The deer went about 20-25 yards and piled up, left a blood trail Ray Charles could've followed.

I received the barrel in a trade earlier this year. Along with it, I got ammo, brass, dies, etc. The previous owner forwarded load data for it and I haven't seen any need to change it. I am a big fan of the Amax's and planned on load work up with them. The SST load data I got proved I didn't need anything else. The load is super accurate and in a word, deadly.

I've ran this load out to 300 yards with excellent results. With a 100 yard zero, it nets a 6.5 MOA come up for 300 yards. Shooting prone, from a bipod, she will hold 1/2 MOA (1 1/2" three shot groups) at 300 yards if I do my part.

With a ballistic coefficient of .585 and a muzzle velocity of 2250fps, the SST will make an excellent mid range cartridge for the 'Tender. Planning on running her on some coyotes this winter.

[longwinters]

Nicely done.  I hunted with my 7-30 Waters this week with 120 Ballistic Tips.  This is the 1st time in over 10 years that I have gone out with it.  Took a young doe with my doe permit at 95 yds.  What a thrill.  I've taken lots of bucks with my rifles over those years but using the Contender was very exciting.  I need to work up some heavier bullet loads and your choice of the sst will give me something to look at.
 
Thanks for sharing.
 
Long
 

[Da-Law-Dawg]

Long,

If yours will shoot them, the SST's will deliver.

After I brought smoke with the 6.5, I set the stand a few days with my Super 14 7 TCU. Haven't had an opportunity to pull down on anything with it yet.

I enjoy handgunnimg only second to bowhunting. Makes it more gratifying for me compared to rifle hunting.

[Gswag]

Thanks LawDawg.  I may try some of them one day.  For the time being, I have a good many 120 ballistic tips put away for it.  I've found in the few times I've taken my 6.5 to the range that it is indeed a very accurate cartridge.  Good luck.