Best lead free 6.5 bullet

[nun_hunter]

Now hear me out as I know the title sounds way to vague and will get 100 answers that won't help so let me try and narrow it down a bit.

I'm after the opinions of people who have used themselves or been with other people who use lead free bullets rather than what they have heard.

What was easy to reload (wasn't supersensitive to OAL or jump, wasn't just one powder weight was good and everything else was scattered about etc) what are easy to get hold of without constant supply issues, which had available loading data (I don't have quickload and some newer bullets aren't on it anyway) and obviously what seemed to work well (assuming shot placement was good and appropriate for a lead free bullet).

It will be mainly for fallow with the rare roe and possibly a muntjac if any show up and I'm shooting a 6.5 Creedmoor (sub 200m shots) so appropriate velocities and I assume around the 120 grain will be best suited for what need.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

I think you just need to get out there and start using non-lead bullets. They are a relatively immature product and I'm sure we will look back in ten years time wonder how we ever managed with the currently available bullets. I've had success with Fox and Barnes, but better bullets from these manufacturers and others will emerge in the coming years.
Regards
JCS

 

[Alantoo]

Currently I have ended up with 110gr TTSX in .308W for those three species at that range.

There are a number of other lead free designs around now. But one of the main differences are whether you want a fragmenting bullet or expanded petal 100% retention type. Barnes, Fox and Peregrine expand and retain petals unless pushed really fast, and the Yew Tree, Nielson Sonic and some of the Virtus are designed to fragment at more usual terminal velocities.

More meat is wasted and has to be cut away and discarded with frangible bullets...the lack of contaminated meat is one of the advantages of the mono metal lead free whether fragmenting or expanding petals.

Barnes MPG or Varmint grenades are Jacketed frangible copper dust cored.

The RWS Evo Green and Brenneke TUG are jacketed partitions with a frangible front tin core and a solid rear tin core, so are somewhere in between.

Alan

 

[25 Sharps]

Currently I have ended up with 110gr TTSX in .308W for those three species at that range.

There are a number of other lead free designs around now. But one of the main differences are whether you want a fragmenting bullet or expanded petal 100% retention type. Barnes, Fox and Peregrine expand and retain petals unless pushed really fast, and the Yew Tree, Nielson Sonic and some of the Virtus are designed to fragment at more usual terminal velocities.

More meat is wasted and has to be cut away with frangible bullets...the lack of contaminated meat is one of the advantages.

Barnes MPG or Varmint grenades are frangible copper dust cored.

The RWS Evo Green and Brenneke TUG are partitions with a frangible front tin core and a solid rear tin core, so are somewhere in between.

Alan

Are the yew tree and nielson not partition type in reality? The front end breaks off and the bulk of the shank is solid and stays together to penetrate? the main difference being that the solid rear will not have expanded at all

 

[takbok]

I would choose 100gr Barnes TTSX (or 120gr if you can't get your head around using lighter bullets).

The 110gr TTSX are great in the 270 and work well being seated far off the lands and with minimal load development required.

 

[Alantoo]

Are the yew tree and nielson not partition type in reality? The front end breaks off and the bulk of the shank is solid and stays together to penetrate? the main difference being that the solid rear will not have expanded at all

I arrived at lead free bullets via the idea of straight line penetration of the partition's back end so I sort of agree...as far as a retained rump goes.

But I think the difference is that the Yew Tree and Nielson fragment the front section, and jacketed partitions, whether with lead or lead free cores, are designed with a frangible front core which contaminates meat with metal particles from both the front core and the jacket.

The energy transfer model and terminal effects of expanding petals, fragmenting or frangible also sets them apart.

Alan

 

[25 Sharps]

I have 2 6.5s which I use 120/140 gr bullets for and a .308 and .280 for heavier bullets - looks like I'll now be running 110s in .308 and 120s in .280

 

[Alantoo]

At the ranges I shoot the terminal energy with the flatter faster 110gr is almost identical to the identical diameter 130gr. As the energy is generated with higher velocity and less mass there is also less residual energy to lose downrange having scrubbed most of it off in the animal.

Alan

 

[Richiee_Nankz_Knivez]

Love using the Barnes LRX 127gr

 

[JockStalk]

Fox & Barnes TTSX

 

[jimsim]

I'm using barnes 120 ttsx and 127 lrx in my creedmoor both do the job no problem , Also trying the yew tree 112 grain so far so good with those also , I have found all the above need to be 100thou back roughly. Velocity with the two are 2900fps

 

[gixer1]

I found the Fox 123gr super sensitive to OAL change in my 6.5 CM - I have put up posts on here going over the story so they are there is you want to read them.

Regards,
Gixer

 

[Yew Tree Fieldsports]

Perhaps by British? No supply issues with my bullets and I can provide load data for you for pretty much any appropriate burn rate powder in your given cartridge. Any one that has used my bullets on live quarry will confirm how effective they are. By all means drop me a pm for more info or get in touch via the website if you like.
www.copperbullets.co.uk
Cheers
Rich

 

[nun_hunter]

Thanks for all the advice so far guys. I tried Barnes TSX 130g in a 308 years ago and couldn't get anything decent with them at all and that rifle shot all other ammo superbly so that put me off for a while. Even the cheaper S&B blue energy I'm using now are £2 a round so if I can get a more premium bullet and reload it to get more accuracy for the same price then I'll be happy.

 

[Utectok]

Thanks for all the advice so far guys. I tried Barnes TSX 130g in a 308 years ago and couldn't get anything decent with them at all and that rifle shot all other ammo superbly so that put me off for a while. Even the cheaper S&B blue energy I'm using now are £2 a round so if I can get a more premium bullet and reload it to get more accuracy for the same price then I'll be happy.

I think the trick to get Barnes to shoot is to push them fast as reasonably possible. That’s been my experience Anyway

 

[stevenedwards]

Yew Tree over V-N150 60 to 75 th back depending on what your barrel prefers. Good for both deer and fox, whilst my experience with them is limited I am pleased so far.

 

[Jelen]

Yew Tree over V-N150 60 to 75 th back depending on what your barrel prefers. Good for both deer and fox, whilst my experience with them is limited I am pleased so far.

I second that. RL17/RS60 50th off lands, 1" groups at 200m. Great for Roe and Muntjac so far. A bit pricey for regular Fox work though.

 

[nun_hunter]

I second that. RL17/RS60 50th off lands, 1" groups at 200m. Great for Roe and Muntjac so far. A bit pricey for regular Fox work though.

That's good to know as I currently use RS60 with a 120g ELDM. With the Yew Tree bullets did you start at a lower charge than recommended for a lead core 120g bullet?

 

[Yew Tree Fieldsports]

That's good to know as I currently use RS60 with a 120g ELDM. With the Yew Tree bullets did you start at a lower charge than recommended for a lead core 120g bullet?

Yes and as I posted before I can provide load data. For fear of stating the obvious I designed and manufacture the Yew Tree bullets. There is a ‘reloading tips’ page on the website too which is worth a read.
Cheers
Rich

 

[nun_hunter]

Yes and as I posted before I can provide load data. For fear of stating the obvious I designed and manufacture the Yew Tree bullets. There is a ‘reloading tips’ page on the website too which is worth a read.
Cheers
Rich

Thank you. I will most likely be in touch about some bullets and relevant loading data.