6.5cm light for caliber choices and opinions?

[S-3 ranch]

Sorry if this is a redundant question.
I was given a savage 11 predator 22 inch 6.5 cm by a friend’s father for helping him move his wife who has Alzheimer’s, in to a home in a different state
I know zero about a 6.5cm , but he said try to stick with 130-120gr ammunition in mono or something bonded and I would be happy using it as a truck gun over beating up my m70 pre64
We primarily hunt Wt deer & mule deer, aoudad, pronghorn .
Before I order some ammo I guess I am fishing around for some advice on if light for cal is the best option

 

[nm.otter]

It might be. The only way to find out is to try a few different loads and see what the gun likes. I'd include some 140-143gr options along with the 120-130gr class stuff.

 

[S-3 ranch]

It might be. The only way to find out is to try a few different loads and see what the gun likes. I'd include some 140-143gr options along with the 120-130gr class stuff.

Yes I understand, he said ( original owner) said he didn’t have as good of accuracy with 140 -156 gr stuff?

 

[RWT]

PM sent.

 

[kota]

I would make sure you get a box of hornady precision hunter ammo with the 143 ELD-X. The CM was designed to shoot heavy for caliber bullets, and that’s been a really accurate and consistent factory ammo for many.

IMHO, the CM doesn’t have enough velocity to require bonded or mono bullets, so I don’t think this is a necessity. We have taken deer with 120 nosler ballistic tips, 125 nosler partitions, 127 Barnes LRX and 143 ELD-X. All worked just fine, though the 120 BT is my favorite.

Long story short, pick a couple that sound good and see what the rifle likes.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Sorry if this is a redundant question.
I was given a savage 11 predator 22 inch 6.5 cm by a friend’s father for helping him move his wife who has Alzheimer’s, in to a home in a different state
I know zero about a 6.5cm , but he said try to stick with 130-120gr ammunition in mono or something bonded and I would be happy using it as a truck gun over beating up my m70 pre64
We primarily hunt Wt deer & mule deer, aoudad, pronghorn .
Before I order some ammo I guess I am fishing around for some advice on if light for cal is the best option

What is the twist rate on your barrel? That would be the determining factor for me in deciding between short/light bullets or long/heavy bullets.

If you go with monos, I tend to find a cheap bullet length that the rifle shoots well and then pick a copper bullet the same length.

Sample size of one 1:8” Tikka, but I got more consistent results from the 120-grain ELDM than the 129-grain Interlock. And I got the best overall results from the 140-grain ELDM, followed by the 143-grain ELDX.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[hiker270]

If your rifle will accurately shoot the Federal 130 Terminal Ascent it have been and excellent bullet for me in several calibers. The shank is solid copper and the frontal area is bonded lead with a polymer tip. The best of both worlds in bullet construction.

 

[KenLee]

Wreck em with 120 gr NBT

 

[S-3 ranch]

I just looked it’s 1:9 twist rate so I assume that 130-120 is why original owner was shooting them ?

 

[Hnthrdr]

Have a savage UL hunter in 6.5 with the 1:9 twist, it loved the 129 Barnes vortex