First off, thank you to everyone that has responded.
I’ve completed the load work on the 140 Ballistic tips, getting about 2825 FPS and 1/2 moa. This is not my first choice for hunting , just what I had to start with. Next round will be with 140 interlok.
I will continue to look for better bullets. Next trip is planned for end of May 2022.
I have used 140gr Accubonds very extensively with the 6.5x55 (shooting them at or just under 2800ft/s).
About a year ago I added 140gr BT's because the AB's are now hard to get and expensive when available - I wanted to test if they would shoot to the same POI. Which they do in my gun.
Yes I have hunted with the BTs and they tear up a springbok on exit. A direct comparison with an AB (shot another animal out of the same herd at the same range) and the AB has an exit wound of 1/4 the size, and the shot placement was pretty much identical.
On medium game, even at longer ranges when I'd expect expansion to be a little less, the BTs do not exit. I shot a sub-adult gemsbok bull at about 265m just behind the humerus and the BT did not exit - it did drop the gems DRT though. Chest contents were soup but the biggest bone encountered on the way in was a rib. With the AB on gemsbok, I have always had exits, except on one large bull on a frontal shot. Same story with hartebeest, kudu cows and black WB.
For the hunting you want to do, I would say that the BT
may do the job but probably cannot be relied upon on medium sized game. For Springbok, blesbok and impala, I would endorse the BT but meat damage is to be expected.
For bigger animals (i.e. medium PG) I would suggest a premium bullet such as the AB or a mono. A-Frames are great but the BC isn't that hot if you anticipate shots of more than 300m. For what it's worth, I have found that the AB out-penetrates the A-Frame in 140gr 6.5.
I think Blue WB and zebra are at the upper end of what 'should' be attempted with a 6.5 and then only with a premium and you want to pick your shot carefully. Realistically eland are outside of the 6.5 envelope and I believe some provinces in RSA require a minimum of .30 to take on eland.
Regarding powders, I use Norma MRP behind the 140gr bullets but will switch to RL-26 when I finish the Norma. IMO RL-26 is the lowest pressure powder for a given velocity in the 6.5x55/140gr bullet combo.