Non- lead hunting load for 6.5x47

[muleman69]

We are not aloud to shoot lead here in CULLafornia any more so I'm looking for a non-lead load for the 6.5x47. Anybody out there have a top secret load I can borrow?

 

[FeMan]

I am in the same boat. I'll be working up a load with Barnes 120 TTSX and H4350. I am thinking something around 42.0 grains should give me around 3,000 fps. I shoot Barnes a lot and they like to jump. I'll try 50, 70 90, and 110 k jump, see what works best and tune from there. My buddy tried Hammer bullets in his Creedmoore and they should very well. That is another option.

 

[AckleymanII]

We played with several copper bullets.

The Barnes 127g long range was super easy to work up loads in the x47, creed, and 6.5/06.

I seated the bullet .050 off the lands, never made an adjustment.

In the x47, I used AA4350 which was more accurate than IMR or H.

Barnes 127g Long range has been an easy bullet for us to tune, can't say enough good about the bullet, and it kills deer very quickly at shortish range that we hunt at.

120g Barnes ttsx was not easy to tune trying to achieve the tiny groups that we are getting out of the 127g LR.

 

[muleman69]

I am in the same boat. I'll be working up a load with Barnes 120 TTSX and H4350. I am thinking something around 42.0 grains should give me around 3,000 fps. I shoot Barnes a lot and they like to jump. I'll try 50, 70 90, and 110 k jump, see what works best and tune from there. My buddy tried Hammer bullets in his Creedmoore and they should very well. That is another option.

Thank you, let me no how it goes

 

[muleman69]

We played with several copper bullets.

The Barnes 127g long range was super easy to work up loads in the x47, creed, and 6.5/06.

I seated the bullet .050 off the lands, never made an adjustment.

In the x47, I used AA4350 which was more accurate than IMR or H.

Barnes 127g Long range has been an easy bullet for us to tune, can't say enough good about the bullet, and it kills deer very quickly at shortish range that we hunt at.

120g Barnes ttsx was not easy to tune trying to achieve the tiny groups that we are getting out of the 127g LR.

I do like the barnes 127 lrx, any idea of what velocity you are getting?

 

[AckleymanII]

I can not remember at this time, will get back to you later on. We load right at the rifle range, did not take long to find a good load in two rifles using AA4350, bullets touching on three shot groups with .050 bullet jump.

 

[Al Lu]

Will these Barnes 127g long range, work well with 6.5mm Creedmoor? Thanks.

 

[johnfred1965]

Will these Barnes 127g long range, work well with 6.5mm Creedmoor? Thanks.

What won't work in the Creedmoor, or so I"ve heard!

 

[wedgy]

I have switched to the Hammers after a long history with the Barnes, especially the 127LRX at 3,000+fps from a 6.5x284 I have shot two cow elk shot diagonally with complete pass thru and only a bullets diameter exit, no blood trail, same results with half a dozen deer(to 680 yards) and a couple dozen pigs. Pencil exit and no blood trail. All the animals dies from shot placement in the vitals, insides were ruined but pencil exit hole and no blood. I never recovered a single bullet. They were very accurate once dialed in to the best seating depth. The 30 caliber bullets left huge exits and the half dozen I recovered all looked like the peeled banana and had about 100% retention. Something about the 6.5 127 LRX I guess.
The Hammers are a much softer copper, better expansion sooner but the base stays together and penetrates, less engraving pressure will give you more velocity, they are NOT sensitive to seating depth like Barnes and will not give a big pressure spike from seating depth changes. Use a magnum primer as they need a fast start and a little fasted powder for a given weight. I have not loaded for the 6.5 x47 yet but the 124 grain Hammer will work in an 8 twist.
https://hammerbullets.com/product-tag/264-6-5mm/

 

[Kurz]

I have used and will continue to use the Barnes 120 gr. TTSX-BT running about 3,000 fps in 24" barrels. But I have recently tested the 124 Hammer Hunter with excellent results. Again, about 3,000 fps in a 24" barrel. I have a 20" barrel in the works for use with a suppressor. Probably will expect near 2,900 with the can. The powders I use are Re-16/17 depending on environment and VVN-550 for a little more gusto.

 

[JackT]

I have used a Barnes 130gr TSX in a 22" 6.5 x 47 using RL 15. Got about 2800 fps and the load was consistently the most accurate load (sub .2" 3 shot groups) In a barrel that seemed to like every 120-130 gn hunting load I tried (Sierra, Nosler, Berger). My issue with the load was a sticky bolt, likely the outcome of not having enough jump.

I seated some of my remaining Barnes loads a ittle desper which lessened the pressure problem but have yet to test accurarcy and velocity.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

One thing ive learned, dealing with lead free hunters/shooters is to measure the bullet length. If a 120 is the same length as a 140 lead core then you need to have the twist rate suitable for the 140 lead bullet. Twist rates are generally known for weight ranges but length is what actually matters on stability so twist accordingly.

 

[X-Caveman]

110 Hammer Hunters is what I load in my 22” 6.5x47. Easy to push to about 3,000 fps with Varget. Very accurate. Only shot one animal thus far, but it was a bang, flop on a feral hog sow at 120 yards. Huge exit hole.

 

[onelastshot]

Try Hammer, you won't regret it. Using the 125 grain Hammer I went with 55.2 gr of H4831 and it gave me 3095fps and just under 0.3MOA group. In terms of accuracy you can't beat them. For my 270WSM I'm using the 145 grain Hammer with a stout load of RL17 and it's pushing it a close to 3,200fps and the accuracy is amazing. I'm switching all my rifles over to Hammer loads, you just can't beat them for accuracy. I've been loading them just touching the lands and have had great success with my loads.

 

[Zero333]

Barnes TSX / TTSX bullets work best at higher velocities.

In the 6.5 Lapua and 6.5 Creedmoor I would only think of using the 100 TTSX if you want DRT results.

The 120 ttsx and 127 lrx are better suited for the 6.5x284, 26 nos, 264winmag etc.

At the longer ranges the velocity is not high enough to ensure a quick clean kill. Keep it within 500 yards.

If you're planning of shooting farther than 400-500 yards, maybe the 127 lrx will be ok for the mid size 6.5's, but I have never used it so I can't give any real world experience.

Ohh yeah, forgot to mention, I've had best luck loading them jumping very far to the lands.