Thread: Is a 6.5x55 enough gun for Thar

Originally Posted by Stocky

More importantly learn where in the puffball is the shoulder. They are tough in the shoulders and are often shot quite far forward in the mane.

Very good point.

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Originally Posted by imaca

@Stocky do you mean they SHOULD be shot quite far forward because the shoulder is tough, or people incorrectly shoot them quite far forward because they don't know the anatomy?

I remember Derek Johnson wrote an article about tahr hunting for NZHunter. He reckoned verticle crosshair on the front leg and 1/3 of the way up the body if I remember correct. Should break the shoulder join.

Originally Posted by K95

I remember Derek Johnson wrote an article about tahr hunting for NZHunter. He reckoned verticle crosshair on the front leg and 1/3 of the way up the body if I remember correct. Should break the shoulder join.

Good advice. Ive been a bit inclined to shoot them where I estimated the crease was to avoid shooting too far forward, and consequently have had quite a few of those slow killing lung shots. They die, but can gallop a long way with all legs working and it usually ends badly over a bluff.

Unlike a deer, the front legs on a tahr are similar size and muscle mass to the back legs. This sets a minimum cartridge size (about 308 in my opinion).
Also a bull tahr is quite a large animal, perhaps not quite as big as a cattle beast bull but getting in that way.
I'l go with the advice from forum member @Tahr (and other experienced hunters on here). Try and break bone. Avoid angling from behind crease lung only shots.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Good advice. Ive been a bit inclined to shoot them where I estimated the crease was to avoid shooting too far forward, and consequently have had quite a few of those slow killing lung shots. They die, but can gallop a long way with all legs working and it usually ends badly over a bluff.

Done the same thing on this bull. 150m shot front on hit him good. He ran and I shot him again broadside, missed the shoulder joint and hit through the lungs. He fell a long way down the face and broke one horn clean off which I miraculously recovered enroute to where he lay. 130gr swifts from the 6.5 single shot. Would have been better to get a broadside shot at the original location and drop him there. I was lucky it ended the way it did, it was a dodgy recovery involving hanging onto a tussock on the edge of a bluff and using the other hand to do the cutting work.

Easy as, they're just another animal that you need to get shot placement right.
Alot of guys use big bangers as to try sack them on the spot as they can bolt into dirty bluffs gorges etc.
Can be pretty windy down there too so having a bit of horsepower is quite handy to buck the wind.
Ya gotta walk and retrieve the animal so you might as well stalk closer to start with if possible to do so

Definitely more than enough gun for tahr. As with anything shot placement is key and knowing your rifle. Low recoil and knowing your rifle is much more important than a larger caliber.

What accubond are you using @imaca? I hate the old white tip ones on thar.
Seriously, while I know they're accurate and all that jazz I have had more issues with them in faster cartridges than a non mag 6.5 and 7mm on thar than anything else. I hear they improved them but never run across the new ones. SST is another I hate.




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I've been fortunate enough to be in on a few hundred tahr kills and can assure you that a 6.5 is ample. As has been said above, shot placement is the most important, regardless of calibre. And dont think you have to emulate the Duley's - there forte is long range, your average tahr hunter is less than 300. No need for the long shots, you've still gotta go and recover them so may as well close the distance before you pull the trigger. Take the 6.5 and hunt with confidence, you will not be disappointed.

Originally Posted by R93

What accubond are you using @imaca? I hate the old white tip ones on thar.
Seriously, while I know they're accurate and all that jazz I have had more issues with them in faster cartridges than a non mag 6.5 and 7mm on thar than anything else. I hear they improved them but never run across the new ones. SST is another I hate.




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@R93 they are the white tipped ones. I bought them in the US about 4 years ago, I also have some Nosler 140 gr partitions that I haven't worked up a load for yet.
What are you using?

Originally Posted by Husky1600

I've been fortunate enough to be in on a few hundred tahr kills and can assure you that a 6.5 is ample. As has been said above, shot placement is the most important, regardless of calibre. And dont think you have to emulate the Duley's - there forte is long range, your average tahr hunter is less than 300. No need for the long shots, you've still gotta go and recover them so may as well close the distance before you pull the trigger. Take the 6.5 and hunt with confidence, you will not be disappointed.

Thanks mate, that's good advice, also mentioned by Pongo

I was going to use my 6.5 Swedish on everything.

Are you reloading? Factory ammo unless using premium European ammo is really crap. Slow speeds.

You're much better off with a low recoil chambering, accurate and fast enough to drive an appropriate bullet than a magnum if you've not shot them much

Originally Posted by Russian 22.

I was going to use my 6.5 Swedish on everything.

Are you reloading? Factory ammo unless using premium European ammo is really crap. Slow speeds.

You're much better off with a low recoil chambering, accurate and fast enough to drive an appropriate bullet than a magnum if you've not shot them much

Yeah I'm reloading 140gr Nosler Accubonds. Getting about 2800fps and cold bore shots exactly where I expect them to be

I use the berger VLD hunting. It works so far for what we do with it. But that's not to say it would work for you. I have only used them in a 6.5 at 2950-3100ish MV.

The only other projectile I have plenty of time with and especially If I was not getting the above velocities I reckon would maybe be the Hornady interlock if you get it to shoot well in your rifle.
Has shot well in several 6.5s I have owned and know of. Doesn't have a flash BC but that isint an issue at sensible ranges.
No doubt there are plenty of other suitable projectiles and no doubt heaps of people with defend the accubond from their personal experience.
Mine is the Accubond always kills if placed right but 9 out of 10 times Thar can act like you have clean missed and wander to die or fall where you don't want them to. Very little damage compared to other projectiles.
Had it happen more than I would like and as recently as last year with a big magnum. I didn't see the swirl or impact and extra shots were fired. 2 shots were kill shots but the bull moved into the scrub and looked no worse for wear. It wasn't till we reviewed video we knew it was hit well.
I am only talking about Thar. I don't really have any experience with how they perform on other animals apart from chamois. But you can' fart near some chams and they will tip over dead




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Originally Posted by imaca

Have just raised the idea of a Thar / Chamois trip with Mrs Mac and she didn't hit the roof so as far as I'm concerned it's all on but is 6.5x55 enough gun do you think?
I've seen those Duley jokers shooting 700m + which might strain my barrel.
I was contemplating a 300 win mag or similar but maybe shooting what I am most familiar with might be better?
I'm not recoil sensitive but I am 70kgs soaking wet with my boots on so its a consideration.
I'm thinking November or February at this stage
Thoughts?

Mac

Look at it this way, if your current cartridge kills deer ok, then you are good to go. I'm killing big bodied Tahr with a .243 (95 VLD) and do not feel "undergunned" DO NOT USE THE DULEY MOB AS ANY KIND OF EXAMPLE. Shoot the rifle you are comfortable with, don't rush and it will be all good.