Good day,

I would like to use the 120gr barnes x bullet this fall for whitetail in my 260 rem. I've heard many good things about the X bullet in various other calibers and I would imagine that the 6.5 is no different. If you will, please share your experiences, either good or bad and share your thoughts on this combo. I am also considering the 125gr partition but if the 120gr barnes will do the trick I would like to use it instead.

Kman:

I tried some Barnes X in my 260s and 6.5 x 55s also. Accuracy was typical Barnes. I could not get groups that satisfied me at all.

The 125 grain partition on the other hand was more than sufficient.

Can't attest to the performance of the 120p grain X on game. I have used the 53 grain in 22 caliber on deer and it worked great.

I have also shot the 85 grain X bullet in a 6mm Remington that was very accurate. I just could not get the 6.5 mm 120 to shoot well at all. Tried it with about 6 powders and in three different 260s and two different 6.5 x 55s.

Hope you have better luck if you try it. As for me, I do the 125 grain partition. Don't overlook the 100 grain partition also. That bullet is not to be underestimated at all. It is a buzz saw thru anything I have shot it with.


[ 10-31-2003, 11:02: Message edited by: seafire/ B17G ]

My 6.5X55 shoots both 120 and 140 grain XLCs very well, but I wasn't really impressed with my one on-game experience with the 120 grainer. I shot a smallish mule deer buck at about 60 yards quartering away pretty tight. Bullet went in behind the back rib and exited in front of the other shoulder. I guess because it really didn't hit any bone it didn't have the opportunity to expand much. In fact, it acted like a solid - little hole in, clean bullet path, and little hole out. The Barnes rep claimed that I was probably pushing it too fast and the petals ripped off right after impact, but I didn't see evidence of that in the deer. The wound looked a lot like an arrow wound - pretty clean with a lot of blood. I admit to pushing them pretty hard. I was looking for a good, fast, flat-shooting load, hence the use of 120s. I don't know if excessive velocity would cause the bullet to not open.

Now I use the 140s exclusively and love them. I've shot several pigs, ranging up to about 125 pounds at ranges from 10 yards to 50. I also shot a blackbuck antelope (doe) at about 100 yards with this bullet. In every case, there was evidence of perfect X bullet performance - massive internal destruction and a great ~1" exit wound. I have not recovered one yet. Even on the light-bodied blackbuck (I doubt she weighed more than 75#, if that) performance was great on a straight broadside shot through the heart. I shot a small pig from a treestand this spring. I shot her through the top of the back at about 10 yards and the bullet absolutely destroyed her heart, it was barely recognizable. Of course it wasn't in her, and I didn't feel like digging around in the ground under her to find it in the dark, but I'm sure it was opened up. These types of experiences have given me great confidence in this particular bullet when I have none in the lighter version. Kind of contradictory to what the X bullet's supposed to do (lighter is better cuz they're stronger and can take more speed). Oh well, go with what works.

I would recommend the coated XLC or the new TSX (if they make it in the weight you want to try). Seems like I hear/read more positive reports (related to accuracy) with them than with the regular X. Good luck.

Try the triple shock. In 130 gr .277 I got great accuracy, more velocity and they hit a muley like Thor's hammer.

Barnes doesn't make the Tripple shock in 6.5 as of yet.

According to what I have heard the Barnes TSX in 6.5mm should be out very soon. It will be a 130gr. projectile though if that makes any difference. I am getting ready to try traditional X's in both 120 and 130 gr. weights in the next week or so with my 6.5x55.

Last time I tried the 140 XLC in a different 6.5x55 and the accuracy, if you can call it that, was terrible. Hopefully this barrel likes them a little more!

Thanks for the info guys. I'll give the 120 x's a try and if they don't shoot I'll use the 125 partitions.

cheers

Kman, I tried the 130gr X's in my Win 6.5x55 also and could not get them to group well. In my win 7x57 the 120gr X will shoot 5/8 in three shot groups. I shot a 200 lb plus black bear with this load back in Sept. The bear went about 60 yd and died. The bullet went clear through the chest cavity and took out the lungs and left a quarter size hole on the exit. I've used the 125 gr Nosler in my 6.5x55 to take two reindeer in AK and a muley buck here in WA state, that bullet worked fine on them. The reindeer bull was at least 250 lb on the hoof and when shot at 150 yd went less than 20 yd. I don't think you need the X bullet to kill deer size game but it's nice to have if you want to hunt bigger and tuffer game than deer with the smaller caliber guns. If I ever draw a trophy mule deer tag I will use the 100gr x in my 257 Robert's, it also shoots this bullet under an inch. I've also used the 200gr X in my 338/06 to take nine of the large African antelope, most of them were one shot kills. The Barnes X is a great bullet if your gun will shoot them well. Do you need them for deer is up to you. I may give the triple shock a try in my 6.5x55