Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Barnes LRX 6.5 127gr

Wow, most of the time the bullet makers rate too high.

Which Cartridge?

Nomosendero2,

Actually, a lot of recent bullet-company BC's are pretty good. Many weren't for years because of several reasons, most recently because most companies measured velocity at the muzzle and 100 yards, then figured BC. But BC tends to be higher at faster velocities, so those BC's weren't accurate at longer ranges.

Barnes measures BC's with velocities at the muzzle and 300 yards, so they tend to be pretty good--at least over "normal" ranges.

Actually, Litz's website has the G1 at 0.446 and the G7 at 0.228.

I use .500 at 2870 out of the .260.... I’ve run them out to 1/2 mile and they hold pretty well at that number. They also shoot to exactly the same POI and almost the same dope as the 123 Amax/ELD our to that range. This fall it’s the Amax for steel/rocks/vermin.... LRX for punching tags.

Gasman,

I got my numbers from the third (2017) edition of Bryan's book BALLISTIC PERFORMANCE OF RIFLE BULLETS.

Thanks. I had seen the .446 too, but I think the source was prior to 2017. I’ll take .501!

Well, there are actually several numbers, because BC varies with velocity. Litz's book breaks them down into velocity categories.

I quoted the highest numbers in the book, for velocities over 3000 fps, which for overall use are optimistic. Gasman quoted the BC's for the BC's for velocities from 3000 down to 1500 fps, which for hunting use are probably a little too low, since many bullets won't open consistently at 1500. The LRX bullets are designed to expand at lower impact velocities than TTSX's, but 1500 would still be marginal.

For hunting purposes I average the listed BC's from 3000+ to 2000 fps, or 3000-2000, depending on the cartridge. For 3000+ down to 2000, the 127's average BC's are .476 (G1) and .232 (G7). For 3000 to 2000, they're .470 and .230.

That bc looks great to me, for all normal ranges that big game is usually shot at.

Interesting - I have that edition of his book, too, but I got the BC numbers from his online ballistic program.

I really wish that Litz would add the BC figures for the new Federal Trophy Bonded Tip and Edge TLR bullets. I think they show real promise as all-around hunting bullets.

If they would just get around to some .264 offerings!

Spoke with Federal a few days ago they have a 6.5 offering in the works for the TLR it will be a 136 grain..

The 127 barnes long range bullet was very easy to tune in 3 rifles, very accurate bullet, jump them .030-.050.

In one of my rifle the jump was .120" and another was .180". Make sure you make big jumps to start with. Like -.010, -.040, -.080. -.120.
Then you can narrow it down from there.

That’s promising. When I asked they suggested nothing ready this year in 6.5. Maybe Spring?

6.5-300 Wby., 127 LRX at 3500 FPS, 130 yards. First shot in the frontal chest at a hard quartering too. Bullet exited toward the last rib on the off side for close to 3’ of penetration. I gave him another straight up the butt that didn’t exit. Killed him fast. I’m very happy with it at hyper bat crap velocity.



Todd

Would you mind sharing your load? I have a new tikka 6.5 Swede and would like to try this bullet.
Thanks!

Nice. Glad to hear how well the 127 LRX did in your 6.5-300 Wby.

I tried it in my 26 Nosler. It did well, but 120 TTSX and 120 E-Tips shot better groups at 400 yds.

You drilled that bruin.

Happy young lady, love that smile.

DF

Tried a 120 E-tip out of my tikka Swede. Not good at all. Will seat them deeper and try again. Up to 51 grains RL26 but didn’t get the chrono set up.

Have been using the Barnes 6.5 120gr X since it came out. Some where around 1990. The early X bullet did leave more copper fouling than other jacketed bullets. This all changed with the TSX. The heat treating & copper alloy used today have come a long way since these bullets started. A lot of the criticism I see today comes from problems that existed years ago & keeps getting passed on. Me & mine have fired thousands of these bullets over the years. with no problem of excessive fouling or proper expansion. I prefer the Barnes because of the extra relief cuts around the bullet. Seems to reduce friction & gives a space for displace copper to move to. Can't comment on the 127 LRX as have never used it. Have used the TSX 120 in my 6.5x308 wild cat, 260 Rem, 6.5x55. & 264 mag. This has been our elk bullet. Velocities have been from 3004 to 3450fps. They have all successfully taken elk with complete pass thru every time even thru heavy bone... Could not begin to remember how many elk we have taken & observed taken with this bullet. I do have a friend who uses the Hornady 120GMX with the same results. I don't see a big difference between the 120 TSX & the 127 LRX. I believe your results would be indistinguishable between the two. I have my own range on my land & shoot regularly out to 500yds. The big thing with the mono's is deep seating required for best accuracy. Always start at .050 off the lands & go from there. My 6.5's seem to prefer about .060 to .065 off the lands. Every rifle can be different. The mono's do not like rifles with worn throats.Which ever mono you select you will get penetration well beyond lead core bullets. That includes bonded & NP. We have used them all.