Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 120 grn. Barnes TSX in 6.5x55

I have had great results with RL-19 and the 120grn Barnes TSX.
The load is a little stout and gets 2970 in my Tikka T3. It is a great flat shooter and that bullets flat Axx lays the big bucks down. Very accurate so I have great faith in it. I don't think it has to go this velocity to still be a great load. You kind of have the best of both worlds in that it lays em down yet it doesn't kick like a mule, fun to shoot. Powder/Case in the middle to high 40's for grn. weight means a lb. of powder goes a long ways. Buckfever1

I shoot the 120gr TSX in my .260 Rem at 2940fps with 44gr of H414. Shot two mulies with this load so far. Bang flop on both. Switching to the 120gr TTSX this year just because.

If I owned a 6.5, that is the bullet I would be shooting.

CRS, that sounds like a personal problem you need to fix.

2970 fps?

I'm getting 3,045 FPS with a 120 grain bullet in my 6.5 X 55 and a 21" barrel.....

While I admit that I don't know what pressure I'm shooting at, there are no pressure signs at all.

just bought some 120 ttsx for my swedes. plan on a healthy dose of rl-19 and using cow elk for my test medium.

you guys basically loading these on the top "ring" of the bullet for oal?

I have a Tikka T3 with some freebore so my first band shows and the next on is about to but does not show. I read where these bands are not always on the same spot on the bullet so you need to use a case and mark a bullet with a felt pen, no powder, no primer. Then start it with press and while it is long put it in the chamber and push until it closes . When after a few back and forth's with the bolt and it closes as usual stop and remove dummy cartridge. Measure the dummy cartridge and start back about 30 to 50 thousands. Now you have to do the work that means moving the bullet back and forward to find the sweet spot for your rifle. With this dummy cartridge you know where you start to hit the lans because you do. You can't depend on the lans location as a reference they move in manufacture based upon who is running the equipment and their constant development on the bullet. Buckfever1

i have a 6.5 modified case, so no back and forth for me. ijust compared it to my 130 accubond and i think the overall length is going to be damn near the same.

I guess I'm the odd man out here. I really like the TSX in the fast movers in situations where a shot might come anywhere from spitting distance to way out there. For me, though, my 6.5 X 55's aren't about that. I'm happy with a 130 AB at (yawn) 2700 out of my Sako. No stress, no strain, recoil a little girl can handle, and bughole accuracy. I keep my shots at deer within 400 yards and they seem to die very thoroughly. To each his own though, and if it works for you, I say, "Let 'er rip!"

yes, 2970 FPS. CRA1948.. I also load 140 grn Nosler Partition with RL-22 for in woods work. This load is just south of 2700FPS
and really works well. I use the 120 Barnes TSX for prairie shots or 200 yd. and over. The 140 NP works fine also just two different ways to get there. Buckfever1

The 120 grain bullets of any make work well for most game and the TSX is an excellent choice.

I have a fairly new 6.5 Creedmoor I'm playing with. I will have to try some of these as soon as I can get my case trimmer set up for this case. Les

Someday, just haven't found the right one yet. I just need to find the right Swede chambered rifle.

Go get a military surplus '96 Mauser, then make it your own! I don't have more than $900 into mine which includes a $300 Burris 2-7 handgun scope, gunsmithing and drop-in stock. It's a better rifle than I am a shooter.