6.5CM Monometal factory loadings - anyone had success?

[THellURider]

What monometal factory loads are ya'll having luck with?

Yesterday I tried the Barnes TTSX 120gr, the Federal barnes TSX 130 gr, and the Hornady Outfitter and Superformance 120gr CX loadings.

The Barnes was meh.

The Hornady loads were atrocious - like 5"+ 5 shot groups.

The Federal 130gr load showed promise but I need to confirm...

As a control, my ELDM 140gr 10-shot group was <1".

 

[MT-nuffgun]

Do you have to shoot copper?

 

[THellURider]

No - but I'd like to. I'm heading to Kodiak in early December - wouldn't mind having those terminal ballistics on board just in case.

 

[nidahobrushswimmer]

Yikes on the Hornady stuff! What rifle are you running it in?

 

[FB Trout]

The Barnes Vor-tx 127 LRX has shot decently in my Tikkas.

 

[Jim1187]

Winchester's deer season copper impact would be one I looked to try.

 

[Macintosh]

I had a tikka 7mm08 that was shooting poorly. Folks told me that the mono bullets were sensitive to previous copper fouling from lead bullets and suggested I clean thoroughly with a copper solvent. I did, it helped. If your gun is pretty well, fouled already, it could be a contributing factor?

 

[hiker270]

The Federal 130 Terminal Ascent is a tack driver in my Tikka 6.5 CM. I have shot the Barnes 127 LRX and it shoots under MOA also. I personally don't use all copper unless I have to.

 

[Unckebob]

I don't know if it is Fuddlore, but I have heard it is better for accuracy to clean a barrel down to bare metal if you switch to copper.

 

[Wyo_hntr]

No - but I'd like to. I'm heading to Kodiak in early December - wouldn't mind having those terminal ballistics on board just in case.

What would that be, versus a lead core projectile?

 

[hiker270]

I don't know if it is Fuddlore, but I have heard it is better for accuracy to clean a barrel down to bare metal if you switch to copper.

I personally have not been able to tell the difference in accuracy when changing from lead core bullets to all copper without cleaning the barrel. Maybe some rifles act differently.

 

[THellURider]

Yikes on the Hornady stuff! What rifle are you running it in?

Sig Cross in 6.5CM.

 

[THellURider]

What would that be, versus a lead core projectile?

OK - let me put this a different way

140gr ELDM and 143gr ELDX Hornady loads shoot phenomenally. However, neither are what I consider a particularly good hunting bullet outside of light skinned game. Very poor weight retention, and not particularly great penetration.

I've killed a lot of game with Barnes bullets and have confidence in their abilities and thus would like to find something similar...

 

[THellURider]

I personally have not been able to tell the difference in accuracy when changing from lead core bullets to all copper without cleaning the barrel. Maybe some rifles act differently.

I don't know if it is Fuddlore, but I have heard it is better for accuracy to clean a barrel down to bare metal if you switch to copper.

Funny - someone said the same to me but I guess I don't understand why that would be the case. Whether a monometal or not, the outside of the bullet is typically a copper jacket is it not?

I'll clean the barrel regardless I suppose - though I typically shy away from heavy de-fouling - I have less than 300 down this tube.

 

[LongWayAround]

https://g9defense.com/6-5-creedmoor-114gr-brass-super-match/

I haven't shot these personally.

 

[cubdriver84d]

Not a "mono" but they are non-lead: https://drtammo.com/product/6-5-creedmoor-135gr-terminal-shock-20-round-box/

No personal experience with these yet but another member on here has had good luck with the bullet (check the 6.5 thread).

 

[Wyo_hntr]

OK - let me put this a different way

140gr ELDM and 143gr ELDX Hornady loads shoot phenomenally. However, neither are what I consider a particularly good hunting bullet outside of light skinned game. Very poor weight retention, and not particularly great penetration.

I've killed a lot of game with Barnes bullets and have confidence in their abilities and thus would like to find something similar...

I'd just use the 140gr eldm.

 

[THellURider]

I'd just use the 140gr eldm.

I take it you haven't looked into its terminal performance. Not what I'm looking for personally.

 

[Wyo_hntr]

I take it you haven't looked into its terminal performance. Not what I'm looking for personally.

Only while cutting up elk and antelope I've shot with them. Granted it's only around 10 or 12 critters, but they appeared to be real dead.

 

[nidahobrushswimmer]

The issue I have seen with monos, is that they tend to be inconsistent with a couple things. Putting shots through the lungs, I’ve yet to see an animal just drop. I have however seen wildly inconsistent blood trails. 2 deer in ‘22 with a .300 win mag and copper ammo, zero blood trails. Both made it a decent ways. ‘23 shot a deer with the cx bullet from my 6.5 creed, and the blood trail was insane. That being said it still ran 80+yds. I will say the lack of bloodshot meat is nice.