Copper with 6.5

Browning X Bolt 2 Cashback
Richie_6.5x55 said:
Has anyone ventured over to copper using the 6.5 cal ?

would love hear your thoughts and findings

carcase damage? ranges tested at, etc etc

price?
Click to expand...

Likewise. Have bought some E tips 130g because I've always used Nosler but would have preferred if they did 110-120g for 6.5 Cr.
 
There are a couple of threads on the go at the moment, not specifically about 6.5.
Barnes, Fox and Peregrine are three that I'm looking at.
The weights that are available seem to be 100 or 120 grain, but looking at Peregrine, they do a 118 and 124 and Fox do a 123 grain
 
Andyquadra said:
There are a couple of threads on the go at the moment, not specifically about 6.5.
Barnes, Fox and Peregrine are three that I'm looking at.
The weights that are available seem to be 100 or 120 grain, but looking at Peregrine, they do a 118 and 124 and Fox do a 123 grain
Click to expand...
barns do some heavier i believe, i use 140 g serria gamekings at the min and their brilliant
 
Richie_6.5x55 said:
i'm the other way, i like heavy bullets, 140 g or 170 g, but i think the heaviest is about 130?
Click to expand...
Just be cautious, the monometal bullets typically rely on higher velocity to perform optimally compared to lead cup and core bullets. This means that faster lighter bullets generally perform better than heavy/slow. There is a thread that shows better expansion at lower velocity from the Fox brand but I’m not sure that they do a truly heavy bullet
 
truly heavy in non-lead monolithic would be truly long, so long you'd need a truly fast twist to get them to stabilise
 
Barnes TTSX here - no issues. 120gn through a 6.5x284. Everything has dropped where it should. I’ve a roe in the chiller to skin off when I get a minute - I’ll try and take some pics of entry and exit. It was only 75yds though so velocity will have been up there!
 
Richie_6.5x55 said:
Has anyone ventured over to copper using the 6.5 cal ?

would love hear your thoughts and findings

carcase damage? ranges tested at, etc etc

price?
Click to expand...
Yes, Barnes TTSX 120gr in Sako factory loads. 20" barrel chrono'd at 2710fps average. Group size 1.5" at 200m through my M12.
Only shot 3 Roe 60, 100 and 200m and 1 Fallow -big old doe - 50m. All penetrated leaving a 1" exit hole. 2 Roe heart shot dropped. The 200m Roe ran 35m and was dead. She was lung shot. The Fallow fell onto knees and stumbled 15m before dropping. Less jellying and bruising than Ballistic tips. Only a small sample and my first use of monolithic bullets but so far I'm pleased, except for the price which was over £50 for a box of 20!!
 
Last edited:
Roe doe shot at 75yds, 6.5x284 running at about 3000fps. Exit just behind the shoulder. Effective but I’m not seeing the miraculous no-meat-damage that some are reporting. Not much to chose between these and the 130gn accubonds that I previously used. Certainly not had any issues with pencilling through and do like the idea that there aren’t shards of lead spread through the carcass.

Ignore the cut in the brisket - I trimmed a bit of meat away rather than that being shot damage (although clearly bruising behind).

68EE6BDC-67C9-412B-9358-ADA09A793C8D.webp
 
I'm just doing some load development with 120 grain Barnes TSX in my 6.5x55 using RS 60 and Lapua cases.
I've got a very successful load for my .300 Winmag using 180 grain Barnes TSX which cloverleafs at 100m so if I can get that result again I'll be pleased.
I would've liked to go 130 grain TSX but it's not a boat tail round so I'll continue with the 120 grainer and see what it's like on deer once I've got it accurate and consistent. There's lots of nonsense spouted about copper - I've shot a few deer with Barnes and it's been as deadly as the lead I was using before. I can't honestly say I've seen any difference.
 
75 said:
Roe doe shot at 75yds, 6.5x284 running at about 3000fps. Exit just behind the shoulder. Effective but I’m not seeing the miraculous no-meat-damage that some are reporting. Not much to chose between these and the 130gn accubonds that I previously used. Certainly not had any issues with pencilling through and do like the idea that there aren’t shards of lead spread through the carcass.

Ignore the cut in the brisket - I trimmed a bit of meat away rather than that being shot damage (although clearly bruising behind).

View attachment 152888
Click to expand...
what bullet is that?
aside from the range and velocity I dont see that kind of bruising and damage even when using a .270 with non lead running 130gr at 3100

Shot a sika yesterday on the point of the shoulder joint which left a lot of bone shard damage in the shoulder itself but nothing like the bruising (139gr at 2900fps at 65yds)
 
Shot quite a few animals large and small with 95 g and 103g GS custom at 25 yd’s to a lot further out

All were killed without issue

You do not need to pursue weight with copper - speed and above all accuracy of your chosen load

Mine are doing 3000 in 6.5/ 47 Lapua and a “bit”more in 6.5/284
 
Richie_6.5x55 said:
Has anyone ventured over to copper using the 6.5 cal ?

would love hear your thoughts and findings

carcase damage? ranges tested at, etc etc

price?
Click to expand...
Me. I’m using 120gr Sako game head with a Barnes TTSX ( I think). Works fine no plans to change. Ranges out to 200, generally neck shots, accuracy is more than adequate. Still haven’t got one back, perfect pass through
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Lead and copper through the same barrel
2
Replies
20
Views
1K
Merlyn
Merlyn
copper 308
Replies
11
Views
442
Rutland lad
Rutland lad
lead ban, what calibre too chose?
3 4 5
Replies
90
Views
5K
calumb
C
CZ 600+ American
Replies
0
Views
120
Dougal McGuire
Dougal McGuire
6.5 variation question.
2
Replies
21
Views
1K
Edinburgh Rifles
Edinburgh Rifles
The No1 App in Europe for Hunting Area Management - MyHunt
Back
Top