Barnes Bullets in a 6.5 PRC?
- Thread starter Pyscodog
- Start date
B23
Gold $$ Contributor
Curious, for those intended targets, why would you want to shoot Barnes over other bullets like Hornady or Berger's.
It's your money so of course spend it how you like but for the intended purpose you've described, for me, I'd go with one of the many different Berger's in the 130-140gr range or Hornady's in the 140-147gr that have both proven to be extremely accurate not to mention cost less. Nothing against Barnes bullets and I'm sure there are many that they shoot great for but I think the odds are more in your favor with some of the others shooting extremely well over the Barnes. Barnes bullets are tough as hell so there's not much discussion there but I don't know that you need a bullet that's particularly tough to shoot deer, coyotes, punch paper, or ring steel.
Pyscodog
Gold $$ Contributor
I'd like to work up a couple of different loads, one for deer hunting, is why I was considering the Barnes, and another with something lighter and cheaper for coyotes. I had a real good load for a 270 using Barnes and they would plant a deer where he stood. My main and only reason for Barnes. I love Bergers but unless they are in your home on your shelf....good luck. Its a new rifle and new to me cartridge, just looking for suggestions. Thanks
Pyscodog
Gold $$ Contributor
Tried the Barnes TSX bullets in the PRC this morning. Depressing for a lack of a better terminology. I used Staball HD powder and a Fed 210M primer in new Hornady brass with bullets seated .050 of the lands. I started with three at 59.5 and jumped a half grain to 61, 3 each. In all honesty, there's nothing good enough to give me a clue where to start and adjust. the groups are so bad its hard to tell where one started and the other stopped. Sierra 130 Game Changers were much better but not the greatest and the factory 147 grain ELD-M still shot the best with two touching and one just out, maybe a 5/8 =/- inch group. Back to the loading bench!!
I would not use a heavy TTSX on deer. The 120 gr TTSX would be about perfect for the 6.5 PRC.
I've used 130 TTSX in my hunting 300 winmag rifle and works like a charm on deer at 3,550 fps.
The 6.5 PRC should be able to spit out the 120 TTSX at 3,300 or faster depending on powder. Something like N-560 would be a good powder to start with.
H-4831sc would also work great but it's not a speedy powder.
The TTSX bullets love long jumps to the lands and the faster you push them the better they work.
I found the max load with the TTSX was the most accurate and jumping it a mile to the lands.
I've used 130 TTSX in my hunting 300 winmag rifle and works like a charm on deer at 3,550 fps.
The 6.5 PRC should be able to spit out the 120 TTSX at 3,300 or faster depending on powder. Something like N-560 would be a good powder to start with.
H-4831sc would also work great but it's not a speedy powder.
The TTSX bullets love long jumps to the lands and the faster you push them the better they work.
I found the max load with the TTSX was the most accurate and jumping it a mile to the lands.
Pyscodog
Gold $$ Contributor
I was using the TSX, hollow point. I have several different light weight bullets, mostly Hornady. I think I may try some of them next with different powders. They worked good in other 6.5 CM rifles. This rifle may have to set out this season and I'll use something with a load already proven. A 120ish bullet at 3300 sound right up my alley!!
RegionRat
Gold $$ Contributor
Did you consider my "seat them deeper" suggestion? These shoot best when seated way deeper than you would anticipate. Also, scrub the barrel squeaky clean before you switch to them, they don't seem to do well going back and forth to regular bullets.
Infrequent Shooter
Gold $$ Contributor
sorry to hear. I would be tempted to load 4 or 5 different bullet weights and models using 'standard' loads and see if one is tighter than the others? and go from there. you may get lucky and find there is a bullet good match for the barrel. try SMK?
Pyscodog
Gold $$ Contributor
This was first time out with the Barnes 130 TSX, I jumped the .050. I had to start somewhere. Usually I start at .020 on other brands. I'm just saying for the first time out with them they didn't shoot good enough to even know what to do to help them. One group of three was 3 3/4 inchs at 100yds, The others were 2-2 1/2 inchs. I've never used the Staball HD powder before either so I don't know what to expect from it. I've 'heard" its good powder. I have some different powders, actually lots of different powders, but not much recommended for the PRC. I plan on trying some Accurate 4350 and 123 grain ELD-M's for the next trip. I just don't want to spend a bunch of money on different bullets and powders that will end up setting on my shelf. I have plenty of those already.
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I hunted for decades with barnes in 243, 257, 7mm, 338. Never an issue. I like the 80 gr 257, 120 in 7mm and always passed thru and always destroyed the heart lungs. Much less meat damage ime So the saying about eating right up to the hole is pretty accurate. As already said, they can be hard to find which is why i left them for hammers.
I jump the 130 ttsx in my 300winmag close to 0.200" !!!!!!
0.050" jump is way to close to the lands to get good accuracy with them.
I would probably use the 100 gr TTSX instead of the 120 or 130, and push the 100 gr ttsx to the max.
6..5 PRC + 100 gr TTSX = FAST - FLAT SHOOTING - and use the same load for deer and coyotes.
Accurate 4350 should work good with the 100 gr TTSX as well.
According to Quickload, with a COAL of 2.800", the 100 gr TTSX and 58 gr of Accurate 4350 is close to max ( 61,700 psi according to QL ) and the same charge weight with RL-16 should produce about max pressure ( 63,500 psi )
Maximum PSI Rating for the 6.5 PRC is close to 65,000 psi.
0.050" jump is way to close to the lands to get good accuracy with them.
I would probably use the 100 gr TTSX instead of the 120 or 130, and push the 100 gr ttsx to the max.
6..5 PRC + 100 gr TTSX = FAST - FLAT SHOOTING - and use the same load for deer and coyotes.
Accurate 4350 should work good with the 100 gr TTSX as well.
According to Quickload, with a COAL of 2.800", the 100 gr TTSX and 58 gr of Accurate 4350 is close to max ( 61,700 psi according to QL ) and the same charge weight with RL-16 should produce about max pressure ( 63,500 psi )
Maximum PSI Rating for the 6.5 PRC is close to 65,000 psi.
My 338 RCM jumps .22 due to mag length and shoots .5"
My others love the .050 jump and shoot well under .5"
My 280AI is the only exception and prefers .020"
What weight TTSX are you using ?
I use 130 gr @ 3,550 fps right now in a 300winmag to get good Point Blank Range for deer, and I'm tempted to go down to 110 gr ttsx and push them to 3,750 fps and have a PBR out to 350 yards. That's the only reason why I can use the 300wm on deer. Otherwise the 300wm is absolute overkill for deer.
I have a 243 and 7-08 hunting rifles as well as an SKS's with a peep sight I use in deep woods at close ranges.
My brother and I take all 4 when deer hunting.
We like trying different spots so we don't know what the area will be like. Then we choose what rifles and what loads to carry.
1 load for the 300wm with the 130 ttsx,
2 loads for the 243 with 85 gr bthp GK or 100 gr old school Sierra SemiSpitzer,
2 loads for the 7-08 with 140 VLD hunt. or 139 Hornady BTSP,
1 load for the SKS with 123 Horn. SP.
Pyscodog
Gold $$ Contributor
I found some 130 grain Berger VLD hunting bullets and tried them today. I used a CCI standard primer instead of the Fed 210M and used H4831SC powder. I seated the bullets .010 of the lands and they still fit the mag. I started at 50 grains and loaded 3 each to 54 grains. A .689 was my largest group and a .146 was my smallest. The small group was with the max load. All shot at 100yds. Not sure yet of the velocity but accuracy was excellent IMO. Not to shabby for an off the shelf factory rifle.
Rifle is a Tikka T3x Veil.
Rifle is a Tikka T3x Veil.
nakneker
Gold $$ Contributor
My experience with Barnes bullets is rifles either shoot them really well or really bad. I’m a fan of the bullet when my rifle likes them and I just move on when a rifle groups them like a 12 gauge. The suggestion for a deeper seating has helped me in the past.
Some other good options for deer and coyotes in a 6.5 PRC would be a Sierra 130 grain TGK and Nosler ballistic tips.
Some other good options for deer and coyotes in a 6.5 PRC would be a Sierra 130 grain TGK and Nosler ballistic tips.
Pyscodog
Gold $$ Contributor
I tried somec130 Game Changers and I think they are about the same bullet as the TGK or really close. They did OK and plenty good enough to hunt. I was using Staball HD powder with them and with the Barnes. It may have been a powder issue more than bullet. IDK? But I've always had great results with the Bergers and today was no exception. Good enough I went back to the store and bought another box. May go back in a few days and buy more is they are consistently as accurate and not one of those good group today, no so good tomorrow situations that we run into at times. I want to chronograph the loads also. I'm hoping for 3000fps or better.
Pyscodog
Gold $$ Contributor
Back to the range today with the Bergers. Great accuracy again but velocity was much lower than expected. The "Book" said with a max load of IMR 4831 I should be around 3180ish. I subbed with H4831SC because I am out of IMR and velocity was 2760 average. Very disappointed. Now I need to find another available powder to get the FPS up. Suggestions??
I did shoot the Barnes in my 6.5x55 Mauser. It has a long throat so I thought that should be made to order. They shot decent. Plenty good enough to kill deer anyway.
I did shoot the Barnes in my 6.5x55 Mauser. It has a long throat so I thought that should be made to order. They shot decent. Plenty good enough to kill deer anyway.
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