120 Ballistic Tips in 6.5 Creed

TackDriver284

Handloader
Feb 13, 2016
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I have only used 140 grain bullets in my 6.5 Creedmoor, and I just purchased some 120 grain Ballistic Tips and love to see its performance on whitetails before deer season ends. I read recently that the 120 grain BT has a slightly thicker jacket than the 140's, is that correct? I'm pretty sure I can push those 120's past 3000 fps.

Should I use H4350 ( I use it in with the 140's ) or is RL-26 too slow for the 120's?
 
TackDriver284":1j5efw7s said:
I have only used 140 grain bullets in my 6.5 Creedmoor, and I just purchased some 120 grain Ballistic Tips and love to see its performance on whitetails before deer season ends. I read recently that the 120 grain BT has a slightly thicker jacket than the 140's, is that correct? I'm pretty sure I can push those 120's past 3000 fps.

Should I use H4350 ( I use it in with the 140's ) or is RL-26 too slow for the 120's?
I used the 120 BT on around 15 deer in a 260 rem. Never once caught a bullet. I think it is a superb bullet for whitetail. The only 120 gr I used on deer with the 6.5 CM was the 120 TTSX with excellent results also.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
 
In the 260 I used H4350, and in the 6.5 CM I used RL16. Both with excellent results. Ive never seen a jug of RL26 lol so I've never got to use it. If u have H4350 I'd definitely give it a go if I were u.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
 
Like Cleveland said, if you have some RL16, it may do better than 4350 with 120 BTs. I settled on 45 gr in Horny brass at just under 3000fps. Good accuracy with good speed in my rifle. No after action report, but it should be fine.
 
The 120's work great on deer. I load ours with IMR 4451 and have had no issues with them whatsoever. I have tried RL-16 (which works great too) but haven't tried RL-26 or H4350 yet.

We have used them out of 24 and 19 inch rifles (both Tikkas) and 260's of similar barrel lengths with great success.

We have had very good to excellent accuracy and terminal performance. Complete pass throughs but we haven't shot anything at extended distances. 200 yds or less.

Ron
 
I killed somewhere around 17 deer with the 120 BT's chambered in the 260 Rem. launched from a Rem. XP100R with a 14" barrel. I loaded the cartridges with Reloder 19. I killed every deer I hit with one shot. I shot at two which I did not get. One I know was a clean miss. The other deer gave no indication of being hit with no hair and no blood trail so I assume another clean miss. (It was a 200 yard shot).

That was before I had a chronograph so I have no idea of the velocity other than the trajectory wasn't as flat has the ballistic tables for rifles.

But at whatever velocities the bullets were traveling, they killed the deer. Three other people killed deer with that pistol and bullet also.

I highly recommend the 120 BT for deer hunting in comparable cartridges to the 260 Rem.

Dan
 
I have an partially used 8 pound jug of H4350 that was reserved for the 6.5 Creed, I'll get some brass prepped soon and post some results. :grin: Thanks for the recommendations.
 
Never used them myself but if it’s a typical BT I can’t see it being anything but great.
 
TackDriver284":1g545kj8 said:
I read recently that the 120 grain BT has a slightly thicker jacket than the 140's, is that correct?

While this is true for the .284 BT (the 120 grain has the same jacket as the 140 grain), I can't speak to the .264 BT. Regardless, as others have pointed out, the 120 grain BT will work just fine in your Creedmoor. I can't see any whitetail walking away from a well-placed bullet launched from that cartridge.
 
I use 120 BT in my 6.5x55 and it is a very good bullet for whitetails. You won't be disappointed. Dan.
 
From my experience shooting both the 120 and 140 BT in my 6.5x55 and killing a good number of deer with both running the 120 3000 fps and the 140 2800 fps. Both are constructed about the same. With a close in, under 100 yards, shot hitting the shoulder and passing through both scapula with the 120 you may not get an exit. Usually you will find the fully expanded jacket and base with just a little lead attached just under the off side hide but most of the time there is no trailing. Bang Flop. I am a shoulder shooter and do not have any experience as to what it will do through the ribs. When the yardage gets long enough for the impact velocity to get down to 2800 fps and below it will usually exit. The 120 as well as the 140 is an extremely accurate bullet in my rifle.
 
not sure that the jacket is any thicker on the 6.5 version. We've used them on deer and antelope with outstanding results. Usually just shy of 3000 fps in the creed, much better killer than the 129 ablr, which I hate. You won't be disappointed.
 
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