Hornady 6mm 87 gr BTHP

Vince · Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 4:42 am Post subject: Hornady 6mm 87 gr BTHP

Picked up a 100 count box for $39 today as I can't seem to find any Remington 80gr PSP. Remington bullets are damned hard to get out here at the moment...I think the shortages in the USA have finally had an effect on our supplies.

These bullets are Varmint bullets, but I am thinking that they will be suitable for everything from rabbits up to and including fallow deer. I expect them to expand quite dramatically when they hit so a neck shot on fallow would be the best option.

I intend using Varget (my favourite powder) using a starting load of 34 gr and working up to a maximum of 37.5 gr.

Does anybody have any experience with these bullets? Any advice?

alice · Rookie Member Joined: Nov 27, 2013 Posts: 1

The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. -- Thomas Jefferson

SingleShotLover · Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 6:22 am Post subject: Re: Hornady 6mm 87 gr BTHP

It's hard to say. Varmint bullets tend to be frangible for quick expansion/disintegration on light bodied animals for a quick kill. Without input from someone that has actually used them, I would be tempted to say that you might be disappointed. Then again, maybe at moderate velocities they may work just fine.

Hornady says:

Features:

Streamlined design for ultra flat trajectories.
Match grade jacket design provides maximum accuracy at all ranges.
Explosive expansion, even at low velocities.

They are listed as "Temporarily Suspended" on their web site.

Let us know how you fare.

Aloysius · Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 7:04 am Post subject: Re: Hornady 6mm 87 gr BTHP

Alice, are you coming from Wonderland? Maybe this here is not the Vince you're looking for, you might be better of with Elvis's Vince Smile

Vince · Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 7:16 am Post subject: Re: Hornady 6mm 87 gr BTHP

Thanks SSL...I am hoping that they will hold together long enough to do the job on fallow deer. If not, they should still be more than adequate for everything else I am likely to encounter, with the exception of pigs.

Be good though if they turn out to be a good all round bullet.

slimjim · Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 7:24 am Post subject: Re: Hornady 6mm 87 gr BTHP

Vince, the Hornady 110gr BTHP is one of my go-to bullets for my 6.8mm. It is very accurrate - 28.6gr AA2200 with a mv or 2660 fps (BC 0.360). I've done terminal performance testing with it which may or may not translate to the experience you will have with a 6mm 87gr BTHP. The 110gr BTHP may have a hollow point (open tip) but this doesn't affect bullet expansion. This bullet yaws on contact then quickly breaks-up and fragments (I've found the HP tip still intact). The bullet does this reliably out to 300 yards - 2000 fps. I'm about to test it down to an 1800 fps velocity (400 yards) which I anticipate will be successful. The 110gr BTHP has been used for varmints and successfully on small deer for both neck and lung shots. Avoid the shoulder.

Vince · Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 8:35 am Post subject: Re: Hornady 6mm 87 gr BTHP

Thanks Slim...that is pretty much what the guy at the Gun Shop said, but I take what they say with a grain of salt because they are trying to make a sale. I know I can trust you guys here.

I can't wait to get some out on the range and do a little load development.

Dawgdad · Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 10:47 am Post subject: Re: Hornady 6mm 87 gr BTHP

I have used the 75 V-max in a .243 for Coyotes with Bang-flop performance on those critters. A good center hit will not have an exit wound and the insides are all jellied up.

That bullet is not the same as yours but Hornady has always been a go to bullet for hunting.

moose2 · Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 1:42 pm Post subject: Re: Hornady 6mm 87 gr BTHP

Vince wrote:

Picked up a 100 count box for $39 today as I can't seem to find any Remington 80gr PSP. Remington bullets are damned hard to get out here at the moment...I think the shortages in the USA have finally had an effect on our supplies.

These bullets are Varmint bullets, but I am thinking that they will be suitable for everything from rabbits up to and including fallow deer. I expect them to expand quite dramatically when they hit so a neck shot on fallow would be the best option.

I intend using Varget (my favourite powder) using a starting load of 34 gr and working up to a maximum of 37.5 gr.

Does anybody have any experience with these bullets? Any advice?

Vince, I've shot a lot of these in my 6MM. Loaded mine with IMR 4350 at 46 grains. Very accurate in my 6mm. Never used it on deer sized animals. Did take a lot of deer using the Hornady 87 gr. SP though, also with IMR 4350 powder. Good luck with yours. Very Happy

Elvis · Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2013 2:21 am Post subject: Re: Hornady 6mm 87 gr BTHP

you beat me to it moose2..the 87grn sp is highly recommended by all for deer with a two for free!!!
Slim thats interesting as I used the 110hp flat base in my .270 loaded down to about 3000fps and they were super explosive putting 1 litre sized holes in wallabies...just couldnt get a good group with them..good enough for 100 yards but didnt play with them enough to get better as got .223 by then.

slimjim · Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2013 8:10 am Post subject: Re: Hornady 6mm 87 gr BTHP

Elvis wrote:

Slim thats interesting as I used the 110hp flat base in my .270 loaded down to about 3000fps and they were super explosive putting 1 litre sized holes in wallabies....

Elvis, the Hornady 110gr HP is different bullet and made for the .270. When the 110 HP is launched at slower speeds from a 6.8mm it turns into an ice pick. Here is some terminal performance testing I've done. The only HP I've gotten to expand from the HP opening is the Sierra 90gr HP which is a big wide hollow-point compared to OTM like the Hornady 110gr HP and BTHP. Here are some pictures. You can see the recovered 110 HP still has the tip intact in the 100 yard test. OTMs typically yaw and breaks up which still can be explosive. You can see at 200 yards the 110 HP doesn't break-up because it is made for the higher velocities of the 270.

*90gr Sierra HP - 2775 fps (30.5gr AA2200)* - MIA
110gr Hornady HP - 2660 fps (28.5gr AA2200)
110gr Hornady HPBT - 2640 fps (28.5gr AA2200)
115gr Nosler Match - 2570 fps (28.0gr AA2200)

Caution - these loads worked in my rifle but this is no guarantee that they will work safely in yours.

Bushmaster · Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2013 9:20 am Post subject: Re: Hornady 6mm 87 gr BTHP

Outstanding info, but who's alice?

Vince · Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 1:02 am Post subject: Re: Hornady 6mm 87 gr BTHP

Bushmaster wrote:

Outstanding info, but who's alice?

Interesting question Bushy...I think she may be a sister to "Kate" (another strange poster) or Kate is Alice's alter ego and vice versa. Confused

Watching them both for evidence of SPAM. Another option is they are "somebody" watching us. Confused

Elvis · Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 2:01 am Post subject: Re: Hornady 6mm 87 gr BTHP

interesting...they sure blew up too well for me!!!! maybe slower would have worked.

slimjim · Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 8:20 am Post subject: Re: Hornady 6mm 87 gr BTHP

Elvis, I believe 2300 fps is about the minimum velocity that the .277 110gr HP will still fragment. I'm about to test the .277 110gr BTHP which I think will be 1800 fps or less.