6.5 Barnes question.... (yes another one)

[Gamikatsu]

So,

I have a somewhat unique situation, but one someone here has CERTAINLY dealt with.

I have an 18" 6.5 CM Sig Cross. The rifle absolutely hammers... to the point I've used it with quite a bit of success in PRS Sportsman's Division... However... the 18" barrel really bleeds off velocity off most ammo. I have a load worked up... using Peterson brass, Win Sta-Ball 6.5, and a 120 Barnes TTSX. Right to 2900 fps. considering the absolute lack of load data with this combination... (Hodgdons shows like 2100 fps as a starting point with no max)... I went VERY slowly with load data. Hit pressure, backed off a bit, and found a node that shot well. I get 5 shot, 1/2-3/4" groups.

tonight while doing my normal browsing of ammo components, i stumbled upon a halfway decent deal on the 100 gr TTSX bullets.... And this got me thinking...

I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the Hornady 100 gr ELD-VT bullet... I've shot it out of this rifle out to 1260 yards with great success... That little bullet defies everything I thought I knew about 6.5 CM.. So seeing the 100 gr TTSX.... i figured maybe i should try them.... I have gotten the 100 ELD up to 3200 fps out of this 18" barrel using Varget... (absolutely NOT working within published load data... so don't ask)... and thought... maybe the 100 gr would do something the 120 won't?

my target species is PA Whitetail deer out to 200 yards... obviously Federal Power Shok, or Winchester Super X, or Rem Core Lokt will do just fine for this application... but... we ALL know.... why stop there? Tinker, Load, tinker, adjust, etc.....

Is there any real world benefit, to going 100gr, and picking up 200+ fps over the 120?

Thanks....

 

[Koda_]

Is there any real world benefit, to going 100gr, and picking up 200+ fps over the 120?

On deer out to 200yds no.
Ballistically just plug in the bullets data into a ballistic calculator with estimated velocities to see which has the flatter trajectory and maintains the most velocity. Im guessing the 120gn has a slightly higher ballistic coefficient.

 

[Gamikatsu]

On deer out to 200yds no.
Ballistically just plug in the bullets data into a ballistic calculator with estimated velocities to see which has the flatter trajectory and maintains the most velocity. Im guessing the 120gn has a slightly higher ballistic coefficient.

I KNOW this is the answer.... but sometimes we all need BONKED in the nose with reality. TY.

 

[Koda_]

I KNOW this is the answer.... but sometimes we all need BONKED in the nose with reality. TY.

I recently went thru this same question
I made up a handload with a lighter bullet that shoots well cause I thought the higher velocity would be better. Then later I decided a heavier bullet would be better for elk but when I went thru the exercise within the distance I would take a shot it really didnt matter.
Not that I still wont switch someday but it got bumped down in priority for sure. With a copper bullet the heavier version will be slightly longer improving sectional density. 2900fps is still a respectable velocity.

 

[01Foreman400]

My kids have killed 14 deer with the 100 gr. TTSX. I’ve been impressed with their success with that bullet. Most were DRT and if they did run they left a short but easy to follow blood trail.

On a side note. I’ve had numerous barrels cut down in various cartridges and the 6.5 CM seems to suffer the most with velocity lost. Most of the time I load Hammer bullets to make up some of the velocity lost with the shorter barrels.

 

[Gamikatsu]

My kids have killed 14 deer with the 100 gr. TTSX. I’ve been impressed with their success with that bullet. Most were DRT and if they did run they left a short but easy to follow blood trail.

On a side note. I’ve had numerous barrels cut down in various cartridges and the 6.5 CM seems to suffer the most with velocity lost. Most of the time I load Hammer bullets to make up some of the velocity lost with the shorter barrels.
View attachment 908860View attachment 908861View attachment 908862

Hey thank you very much!

Yes, i absolutely love my cross. But the 18" barrel makes for some very slow bullets. Factory hornady precision hunter was like 2400 fps. Although that stuff.is slow out of 24" barrels.

I was able to work up a load to 2900 fps with a 120. Which is crazy. No pressure signs... but i wouldnt share my load with anyone. The cross has a +P rated bolt, for use with .277 fury. Im thinking a 100 gr at 3000 would be lower pressure, and for sub 200 yards, would be a death laser


Ed

 

[ShortMagFan]

The 120gr at 2900 will do everything you want it to and then some. I’m shooting that bullet at 2930 out of my 16” 6.5 saum as my primary whitetail rifle

I shot two mature bucks with the 100gr TTSX last season and they worked. Velocity was 2850 and I recovered one from an 80 yard hard angled shot. Perfect Barnes mushroom

 

[CJ_BG]

I've shot and seen shot a lot of PA whitetails at the typical sub 200yd PA ranges. The only two barnes kills I saw that had significant 1.5+ inch permanent wounds were a 130 ttsx at 3100 impact in a 270, and a 130 at 3600 impact in a 300 wby. If you're looking for the widest wound from a barnes then I would go with the 100gr. Not to say the 120 won't work, but copper bullets haven't impressed me much below 3k fps impact.

FWIW I shot two deer last year with a 110 vmax in the 270, impact velocity over 3250. One exited and one was under the skin on the far side. I have the post in here somewhere but it was about as much damage as you could have short of maybe like a 174 eld-vt in a big 30 cal. I say this to tell you that the little 100gr VT in a 6.5 will likely be fine on deer. All my whitetail that I've measured weren't even 7.5 inches wide behind the shoulder, they don't take much to get to the vitals

edit: This thread https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/110-vmax-carnage-graphic.384618/#post-4180052

 

[Caseknife]

My Ruger American shoots the 100TTSX at 3200+ with RL-17, 22" barrel. 2900 with the 120 and an 18" barrel is doing good.

 

[hibernation]

Most of the time I load Hammer bullets to make up some of the velocity lost with the shorter barrels.

Do you find you get more velocity out of a Hammer bullet than a similar weight Barnes? Any weight or model of the Hammers you like for 6.5 in particular? I want to try them out but man do they have a lot of product lines.

 

[01Foreman400]

Do you find you get more velocity out of a Hammer bullet than a similar weight Barnes? Any weight or model of the Hammers you like for 6.5 in particular? I want to try them out but man do they have a lot of product lines.

Yes 100-150 fps faster for a similar weight bullet is. It uncommon. I bought some 125 gr. HHT’s for my 6.5 CM but haven’t loaded any yet.

 

[Gamikatsu]

Yes 100-150 fps faster for a similar weight bullet is. It uncommon. I bought some 125 gr. HHT’s for my 6.5 CM but haven’t loaded any yet.

The Hammers have a weird bearing surface design. Similar to a barnes bore rider. They have half the bearing surface of a normal bullet. So you really have to be careful loading them. They dont show pressure signs like any other bullets.

They state that very clearly on there website
For expert reloaders only.

Do what you wish with that info.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

My kids have killed 14 deer with the 100 gr. TTSX. I’ve been impressed with their success with that bullet. Most were DRT and if they did run they left a short but easy to follow blood trail.

On a side note. I’ve had numerous barrels cut down in various cartridges and the 6.5 CM seems to suffer the most with velocity lost. Most of the time I load Hammer bullets to make up some of the velocity lost with the shorter barrels.
View attachment 908860View attachment 908861View attachment 908862

That’s a pretty impressive hole for a Barnes. The only exit wound I have seen with a Barnes that is similar was a 100gr TTSX out of a 257 Bee at around a 3300 impact velocity.

 

[01Foreman400]

The Hammers have a weird bearing surface design. Similar to a barnes bore rider. They have half the bearing surface of a normal bullet. So you really have to be careful loading them. They dont show pressure signs like any other bullets.

They state that very clearly on there website
For expert reloaders only.

Do what you wish with that info.

My experience with Hammers and pressure signs is the same as with any other bullet. I’ve seen no difference and I’ve fired a couple of hundred now. What’s your experience?