Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Barnes dropping the 140 grain 6.5's is disappointing.

I'm disappointed to see Barnes has discontinued the 140 grain weight in the 6.5/260 caliber. I assume they did so because it didn't sell well enough - but the 6.5 fans I know, have always raved about the great ballistic coefficients and sectional density numbers from the heavy-for-caliber bullets available. To me - that was the whole attraction of the 6.5/260 family of cartridges. But now I have only two weights available in that caliber 120 and 130 with my favoured Barnes bullets. I like more choices - even if they are not "needed".

I always thought that bullets of that weight would be my choice for big game (elk, moose and big bears) in a 6.5 - and was even close to ordering a Tikka or Sako in that caliber.

Now I'm not so sure I will.

Anyone else disappointed - or am I alone on this?

Perhaps I'll go 270 route now?

When Barnes went to the TSX from the X bullet, everything got a bit longer. I think the 130 TSX is about as long as you can get to stabilize very well in most guns. That 130 TSX is a great bullet in my 6.5X284

A 6.5mm 130 gr. flat base TSX is going to have some drive behind it. Mebbe look at the 140 gr. Cor-lokt ultra? I don't know what the BC and SD are of those, but they sure look like missles to me.

Personally, for 140 grains, I'm up to a 7mm.

I'd bet dollars to donuts a 6.5mm 130 TSX would out penetrate pert-near every standard 140 grain bullet out of the same rifle. And, if'n you could find one of those 130 grainers after it made a trip through a critter... I bet it'd weigh about 130 grains, can't say the same for a 140 core-lokt (or Partition, or A-Frame, or whatever).

I like choices too. But, I think the 120-130 gr weights are ideal for virtually any 6.5. They are very long. 10-20 grs of bullet weight (especially with a TSX) won't make or break its performance, IMHO.

Brian,

I have used a 6.5-'06 for over 20 years, and I started out with 140 gr bullets for hunting. My first choice was the 140 gr Hornady Spire Point. I also tried the 129 gr Spire Point.

The newer bullets of premium or super premium grade don't have to be as heavy to give the same penetration in game as the older cup and core designs. In the last couple of years I have come down in bullet weight in my 6.5, for example the 120 Swift A-Frame. Last year I used the 130 gr Berger VLD. This year I am looking to load some TSXs in my 6.5-'06, and I would go as light as possible. All that to say I probably won't miss a 140 gr Barnes.

jim

It's probably sales, but maybe those 140's were making pencil holes in whitetails and not expanding as they should at 6.5X55 velocities? Think about it. If you hit the intercostal space, and miss a rib on impact, you go through thin skin,thin muscle (ever eat ribs?),lung(like air), and exit on the opposite wall(already passed the vitals)...Deer runs off, and it takes hounds and torches to find him..now the meat is so full of lactic acid the hounds won't eat it! The moral: hard skiney bullets gotta go fast!....IMO

Art

In my 6.5 caliber bullet test I did last year (it's posted somewhere here) the 130gr TSX outpenetrated every other bullets. That included the 140gr Partition, 156gr Norma and Lapua, and 160gr Hornady and Sierra.

I'm not going to miss the 6.5 140 TSX. Thats because I won't give up on 140 Partitions. Weight retention isn't everything.

DDP, the only 140 Partition I ever recovered weighed around 95 grains. It took a lot of mule deer to stop that bullet

You don't waste the front core of a partition. It does what its supposed too. Blow up and cause tissue damage. Which kills [bleep]... It may not be the best 6.5 bullet for cape buffalo (I might miss the 140 TSX then) but its the best one for critters up to the size of elk. I may be a little biased, I guess. When I was a kid, the "Book of John" in my house meant the Nosler manual.

I agree with Dan, Old John had it right..a bullet that does it both ways..a softer nose to expand in softer tissue, and a bone crushing core to penetrate. I'm sure the TSX is a good bullet, and if there are issues with expansion, I hope they can be worked out. I have not shot any TSX's in any of my rifles, but I hear good things about their accuracy. I did buy a box of 85gr 243's to try...testing bullets in the lab with "ballistic gell" doesn't tell the full story...the shooting public will be the jury.

art

Hey there...one thought would be to hope (or perhaps even suggest) that Nosler come out with a 140 gr. 6.5 mm E-tip. Nosler seems to like fairly heavy for caliber bullets, it offers 180 gr .308 E-tips, and is going to offer 150 gr 7mm E-tips. A 140 or 135 gr. 6.5 E-tip should be pretty sweet...

I'm planning on trying the 150 gr E-tips in my 7mm. BTW, bullet availability is what made me decide on a 7 instead of a 6.5 initially.

I'm thinking a 140 E-Tip probably isn't in the works... it would be Loooooong. Hell, a 180/.30 cal E-Tip is about as long as a 200 grain Accu-Bond (which is a long bullet in its own right). A 140 that long would be pretty tough to stabalize unless you're running in the neighborhood of 1-8 twist.

Brian

Stick one of the 140 grain 6.5 partitions at around 2800 f.p.s. in the right pace in any plant eater in B.C. and you will be eating it shortly.

I'd happily take a 90 or 100 gr TTSX in place of the 140 X. The 130 TSX is as much bullet I'd ever want out of my Swedes on the top end. 130's penetrate so well you can virtually point your muzzle into the dirt and hunt panda bears. What more does a guy need?

GE

I've got to remember that one...

If Barnes made a 100 TSX or TTSX I would have kept my .260 or bought another one. Instead I went with a .270, all of the new toys come out in .270, .284 and .30 long before we get them in 6.5s....