Author Topic: the 6.5mm bullberry as a hunting round? (Read 1611 times)

tarpponjim · « **on:** March 28, 2006, 05:17:42 PM »

Anybody have any specs/sources on the 6.5mm Bullberry round other than what Bullberry publishes? Seems like it would be a very flat-shooting , powerful hunting round and easy to make.

Tarpponjim

coopershooter · « **Reply #1 on:** March 29, 2006, 02:21:50 PM »

i'm interested in this as well. i'm a big fan of the 6.5 swede, but it's a bit hot for the contender, and thats what i have. the spec's from bullberry look good! just a bit slower than the swede. i think the 125gr. partition would be great for deer! and it would be a great walking varminter! as the recoil would'nt be that bad. i'm just guessing but the specs from bullberry are most likely correct. good luck!

tarpponjim · « **Reply #2 on:** April 14, 2006, 10:35:01 AM »

coopershooter:

The 6.5 Bullberry does seem to be a fine cartridge. However, I thought you might be interested to know that, after gathering a lot of data, I chose and ordered a 6.5 TCU in a Bullberry bull barrel(20inches).

My view is that the TCU is reportedly a more accurate cartridge; still capable of punching out a deer within 150 yards placing the shot(1000 ft.lbs with 120 gr), and great for varmints with light recoil and blast. Brass is cheap. If I need a lightning spitter I have a 30-06 and a 308.

To me the 6.5 bullet is superior to any other; i.e. sectional density, ballistic coefficient , proven again and again in the field.

If I wanted a powerful, accurate cartridge in the Contender and wasn't concerned about varminting with 100 grainers, recoil etc., I would go , for certain, to the 7-30 waters...hands down.

But, like I said, I don't need a boomer.

tatonka · « **Reply #3 on:** May 09, 2006, 02:42:21 PM »

Gentlemen, I have a 15" 6.5mm Bullberry improved from Fred. It has been undoubtedly the most consistant and accurate pistol I have owned.
I shoot IMR4064, Nosler BT 120 gr., Winchester brass, CCI primers. The gun will shoot 1/2" 3 shot groups all day at 100 yards. 5 shot groups are not much larger. It has felled many whitetail deer at ranges from 60 yards to 250 yards with reliable results. It will put groundhogs, coyotes, and stray dogs & cats down for the count without incident up to 275 yards.
I am toying with the idea or ordering a 21" barrel in the same caliber for deer/antelope, coyote, at longer ranges. The gun will shoot a variety of powder with excellent results and is not too picky about primers. The last
time I run a round through my chronograph, I was getting around 2350 FPS. at 10 ft from the muzzle. Pressure seems fine. I have put around 1050 rounds down the tube with no change in accuracy. Give it a try - you'll love it within it's limitations. I did manage to pop a crow last year at
323 yards according to my rangefinder. Even rednecks get lucky - huh?

Lone Star · « **Reply #4 on:** May 12, 2006, 03:30:15 PM »

I have taken a number of Kodiak Island blacktails with my 15" .25 Bullberry - identical to the 6.5 except the bullets are 0.007" smaller. With 100-grain Ballistic Tips it kills very well, I have not recovered a bullet on lung shots.

As far as accuracy is concerned, with the Contender what matters is the quality of the barrel, not the name of the cartridge. The 6.5 TCU is a fine cartridge, but mine was no more accurate than my .25BB is. With its favorite deer load the .25 aggs 1/2 moa - that's an average of four consecutive 5-shot groups, nothing thrown out, flyers and all. This is far better than anyone needs - or that anyone can use - shooting deer in the field with a handgun. The BB cartridges give somewhat higher velocities than the TCU too, which means more killing power and flatter trajectory - in theory. In reality if the right bullet is put in the right place, the animal will die quickly. Isn't that what really matters?