Favorite Lead Free 6.5CM round in your Tikka T3x lite?

[SirFellowShrimp]

Hey y'all,

First of all, thanks for your input. I'm hunting in CA so need lead free reccomendations only. I've shot a few brands of rounds through my T3x lite in 6.5 creedmor at this point and have had mixed results. The Nosler 120g ET didnt seem to group as well as the Barnes VOR-TX LR 127gr LRX BT. I have limited options around me to try out (and limited funds) so I wanna hear what has worked best for y'all. Doing high altitude (10,000+) hunts.

And yes, I know getting better at shooting will help with the grouping. I'm working on it

Thanks much,
-S

 

[Macintosh]

Most of my experience on game is in other cartridges, but Ive tried a handful in 6.5cm. I dont handload so limited to factory offerings, so I havent tried some of the specialty offerings like DRT or hammer. Ive used the federal trophy copper (etips?), they worked but I only have one animal/2 shots at close range with them—they worked as expected. My gut feeling given my limited experience, is they are harder than the LRX’s, which imo is not helpful at lower impact velocity. Currently using LRX’s, which Ive had uniformly good luck with across the board in other cartridges. I have had good success with ttsx in other cartridges but havent used it in the 6.5, have heard mostly good about ttsx with one exception from this website—unfortunately barne’s recommended velocity window for different weight TTSX’s is all over the map and clear as mud so its possible its one of the harder ones, but I wouldnt know. I personally have avoided the non-tipped TSX’s.

Sounds to me like those LRX’s can at least be a standby for you while you take your time finding your goldilocks option.

 

[SirFellowShrimp]

Most of my experience on game is in other cartridges, but Ive tried a handful in 6.5cm. I dont handload so limited to factory offerings, so I havent tried some of the specialty offerings like DRT or the like. Ive used the federal trophy copper (etips?), they worked but I only have one animal/2 shots at close range with them—they worked as expected. My gut feeling given my limited experience, is they are harder than the LRX’s, which imo is not helpful at lower impact velocity. Currently using LRX’s, which Ive had uniformly good luck with across the board in other cartridges. I have had good success with ttsx in other cartridges but havent used it in the 6.5, have heard mostly good about ttsx with one exception from this website—unfortunately barne’s recommended velocity window for different weight TTSX’s is all over the map and clear as mud so its possible its one of the harder ones, but I wouldnt know. I personally have avoided the non-tipped TSX’s.

Sounds to me like those LRX’s can at least be a standby for you while you take your time finding your goldilocks option.

Thanks much for sharing your experience. Seems like I've stumbled on a solid option and will stick with it until I have a good reason not to. Take care

 

[DangerRanger]

I’m interested in this, the sig 120 is priced really nicely

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I’ve seen a few large cow moose drop hard form the 124g hammer hunter moving along close to 2900fps.

 

[Short Track]

My Tikka loves ELD-X and accubonds. Maybe you can hide some in your pack.

 

[ScreamingPotato]

You looked at the Norma offering?

Norma ECOSTRIKE 6,5 Creedmoor 120gr

NEW PRODUCT

www.norma-ammunition.com

 

[EmperorMA]

You didn't say what you're hunting and at what ranges. If you're hunting deer at ranges out to 400 yards or so, I'd give the Winchester Copper Impact 125gr loads a try. They have been quite accurate for me and knocked the crap out of everything I've hit with one.

I admit this is limited experience, with only three animals down. But this projectile seems to perform more like a slightly-frangible lead bullet such as the 120gr Nosler Ballistic Tip as opposed to a true monometal like a Barnes or E-Tip. Great results every time.

 

[Schutzprecision]

127 lrx out of my 6.5 has worked well for me. 4 cow elk , 3 hogs, and 3 mulie bucks. Good penetration and terminal performance. Closest shot was on a big hog at about 60 yds farthest was cow elk at 458 yds. It’s a good bullet for your 6.5

 

[Ens Entium]

I shot a mule deer at 436 with 6.5 Creedmoor Federal Trophy Copper. Very little expansion and ended up hitting it 3 times before he expired. The first shot would have been a kill shot but didn't want to stop until he was down. The time between being shot and expiring left me wanting for better terminal expansion.

I will be trying the 130 TMK in other states and the 135 gr DRT in CA next year as I wasn't happy with the performance of the Trophy Copper.

 

[Wrongside]

We handload it, but the 127LRX has performed well for us. From badgers on up to moose. It’s probably where I’d start with factory loaded monos as well.