Thread: 130gn 6.5 tgk (game changer)

Brought a sample pack of these with a recent gunworks order been interested in them since they come out but the price was silly over $100 a box now they have come to a more reasonable$75-$80 a box
I thought I might try them in the creedmoor

How have people found them on game and accuracy?
Was Surprised At the length of them they are longer than the 130eldm which was surprising

Have you seen any cross section pictures of them? There is a lot of jacket material at the base that is supposed to arrest expansion to ensure deep penetration.

When I was reading around for experience with these it seems that anecdotally they still expand fairly quickly initially. I believe @outdoorlad mentioned he had knocked over some animals with them - do you have feedback good or bad on them?

Shoot really well in my 6.5 but stopped using them because of cost issues as a box does not last too long

Originally Posted by mikee

Shoot really well in my 6.5 but stopped using them because of cost issues as a box does not last too long

They are now cheaper than the 130gn eldm’s $79 a box
Originally the pricetag is what put me off as they were well over a $100 a box
And when you think of all the other great bullet options for 6.5 for far less it tends to make you think fuck that lol

I’m using them in my 260, (2860fps) I’ve shot fallow, red yearlings, couple big spikers and hinds from 10m to 310, broadside shots have exited, so far I’m very happy with them.

Last roar I used some factory 129SST which I later chrony at 2650fps & they killed very well as well.

They have been very accurate in my 6.5-284 producing < 0.25 MOA 3 shot groups at 100m and still holding 0.44 MOA at 400m. To date I have only shot one stag at 300m through the neck, exit wound was around 22mm.
Lately I have been working on a load for a modern 6.5x55 with Rel 23 and they are shooting sub 0 5 MOA at 100m.

@Tech how quick do you reckon you got them moving?

@csmiffy, in the 6.5-284 I am loading 56.8gr of Rel 26 in Lapua brass sparked by a Fed 210 GM primer. This is giving me 2988 fps with an ES of 4.45 fps and SD of 1.89 fps. I have loaded up to 57.6gr (3046 fps) with no pressure signs. There may well be a higher node but my load is so accurate why bother?
The 6.5x55 is with Rel 23 in RWS brass and Fed 210GM primer. I started at 45gr and worked up to 48.5 gr, velocity at 48.5 is 2813 fps. There was a node at 47.5 gr with ES of 11fps at 2751fps. Once again no pressure signs so I will load up to 50gr to see if I can find a higher node.
Both cartridges have the projectile seated 0.030" off the lands, when I altered the 6.5-284 from 0.020 off to 0.030 off the groups virtually halved in size.
ALL LOADS ARE SAFE IN MY RIFLES!

@Tech I haven't even got the rifle together yet but have a 264 win mag in the wings. Your loads don't apply to that lol.
Its a bit like my long suffering 270 project of which I have accumulated projectiles, ammo, cases but still haven't got the rifle going yet haha.
One day I will start buying up projectiles etc to try so its good to see what's working. There have been a couple of people around here like @300_BLK that have some great info and experience
Mine will only ever be a hunting rifle and as long as it will out to 400ish meters ill be happy. real world experience on animals is invaluable.

@csmiffy my solitary kill doesn't help much in that respect but I was impressed at the damage the TGK did to the stags spine. I will continue to use them.

@Flyblown has plenty of good info.

I wrote a comprehensive review on them including a video on the tube you can look up.

My impression is that they are a hard projectile but perform well.

ah that was you.
good stuff

We discussed the gamechanger in depth here:

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....bullets-44751/

Im am still of the belief that these bullets are too hard for most NZ game from anything other than a magnum case.
I chose to stick with 130gr TMKs and 147gr ELDMs for all my hunting. They dump most of their energy inside the animal and at longer ranges as they slow up they still expand and perform great.

130 tgk 2.900 oal 2.284 cbto .020 jtl
130 eld 2.881 oal 2.258 cbto .020 jtl
123gn eld 2.843 oal 2.254 cbto .010 jtl
Surprised how long they are compared to the eld’s