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Barnes Vor-Tx 6.5 Creedmoor 120 gr TTSX Boat-Tail

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Ammo Reports Team 5 6.5 Creedmoor

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Official Specs

BC discrepancy note: The Ammunition Depot listing publishes a BC of 0.412 for this load. Barnes’s official published BC for the TTSX BT 120 gr in 6.5 Creedmoor is ~0.453. The 0.412 figure may reflect a G7 value listed in the wrong field, an older data entry, or a retailer error. This page uses Barnes’s official 0.453 G1 figure for ballistics calculations as the more authoritative source. Community submissions with multi-distance velocity data will help establish the empirical BC.

Ballistics Table

Calculated. Zero: 100 yards. Sight height: 1.5″ above bore. BC (G1): 0.453 (Barnes official, see BC note above).

Key takeaway: at 2,910 fps this is one of the fastest factory 6.5 CM loads in the hunting category — only the Barnes 100 gr TTSX (3,300 fps) runs faster. The trajectory is flat and predictable: 6.5 inches low at 200 yards and 19 inches at 300 from a 100-yard zero. At 500 yards 1,165 ft-lbs is above the practical minimum for deer-sized game. The all-copper TTSX construction ensures terminal performance is consistent regardless of angle or bone contact.

Barnes Vor-Tx vs Fiocchi Hyperformance — Same TTSX Bullet Compared

Both this load and the Fiocchi Hyperformance 120 gr TTSX use the identical Barnes TTSX bullet — Fiocchi sources the projectile from Barnes and loads it in Italian brass. Here is the direct comparison:

The 10 fps velocity difference is not meaningful in the field. The $0.17/round premium for the Barnes-branded load buys US-manufactured brass and Barnes’s own quality control on the full cartridge. Whether that premium is worth it is a personal decision — terminal performance from the TTSX bullet is identical in both loads.

The Barnes TTSX Bullet — Engineering Details

The TTSX (Tipped Triple-Shock X) is Barnes’s flagship hunting bullet:

• All-copper monolithic — no separate lead core and jacket; the bullet is machined from a single piece of copper alloy; fully lead-free
• Polymer tip — seated in the hollow point cavity; initiates expansion on contact and protects the cavity during magazine feeding and flight
• Double-diameter expansion — the hollow point opens to approximately twice the original bullet diameter on impact
• 95–99% weight retention — the all-copper design stays in one piece through bone and tissue; no jacket-core separation
• Three copper driving bands — reduce bore friction compared to a solid shank design; lower pressure, easier feeding, less fouling than older all-copper bullets
• Boat-tail base — improves BC over flat-base TTSX designs; standard on the BT variant

Best Uses

Good fit:

• Deer and mule deer at 100–350 yards where all-copper construction and flat trajectory combine for clean, ethical kills
• Elk inside 350 yards — the TTSX’s ~100% weight retention handles shoulder bone reliably; reliable performance at angles where lead-core bullets can fail
• California and lead-restricted hunting — California-certified non-lead; one load covers all species and public land requirements
• Hunters who want Barnes’s own quality control on the full cartridge rather than a third-party load of the same bullet
• Combination seasons — deer in September, elk in October with the same load

Not the right tool for:

• Maximum long-range BC — the 127 gr LRX (BC 0.510) and heavier lead-core loads have better aerodynamics beyond 400 yards
• Pronghorn at extended range — the 100 gr TTSX at 3,300 fps is the Barnes speed/flat-trajectory specialist for antelope
• Budget hunting — at $2.92/round, Fiocchi’s Hyperformance load with the same bullet is $0.17/round less
• Self-defense — not designed or rated for it

Reliability Notes

No structured submissions yet.

General notes:

• Barnes TTSX has one of the most extensively documented terminal performance records of any all-copper hunting bullet — field reports across North American and African game consistently describe reliable double-diameter expansion, high weight retention, and clean exit wounds
• The Barnes Vor-Tx factory line is loaded at Barnes’s own facility — consistent with the same quality control standards Barnes applies to their component bullets sold to reloaders
• All-copper bullets produce higher chamber pressures than lead-core bullets at equivalent velocities — Barnes’s load development at 2,910 fps stays within SAAMI limits; no widespread reports of pressure issues in standard 6.5 CM chambers
• Barnes specifically notes California certification for this load — it meets California DFW non-lead ammunition requirements for all licensed hunting statewide

Competitors

The Hornady Outfitter CX is the strongest direct competitor — identical weight (120 gr), identical velocity (2,910 fps), comparable BC (0.458 vs 0.453), and $6–10/box cheaper. The choice between the two comes down to brand preference, bullet design details, and availability.

Price Reality

• Typical retail range: $56–60 per box of 20 (~$2.80–3.00/round)
• vs. Fiocchi Hyperformance (same TTSX bullet): Fiocchi runs $3–5/box less for the identical Barnes TTSX projectile — the price premium for Barnes-branded vs Fiocchi-loaded is the only meaningful difference
• vs. Hornady Outfitter CX: Hornady runs $6–10/box less for a competing all-copper design at identical velocity — the CX vs TTSX choice is the most relevant comparison at this weight class
• Lead-free premium: consistent $15–25/box over lead-core alternatives — inherent to all-copper manufacturing
• Fair price benchmark: under $58/box is reasonable; above $63/box is overpriced relative to Fiocchi and Hornady alternatives with the same or similar performance

Where to Buy

Affiliate links. These do not influence ratings, data, or any editorial content on this page.

• MidwayUSA
• Brownells
• Palmetto State Armory
• Natchez Shooters Supplies

FAQ

Barnes Vor-Tx vs Fiocchi Hyperformance — same TTSX bullet, why pay more for Barnes?

The projectile is identical — both use the Barnes 120 gr TTSX BT. The Fiocchi load uses Italian brass; the Barnes load uses US-produced Barnes brass. Barnes runs $3–5/box more (~$0.17/round). The practical terminal performance difference in the field is zero — the TTSX bullet performs identically regardless of which company assembled the cartridge. The Barnes premium buys brand consistency and Barnes’s own factory QC. For budget-conscious hunters, Fiocchi Hyperformance is the better value. For hunters who prefer buying direct from the bullet manufacturer, the Barnes premium is justified.

TTSX vs Hornady CX — which all-copper 120 gr is better for elk?

Both are 120 gr all-copper loads at 2,910 fps with nearly identical BCs (0.453 vs 0.458). The Barnes TTSX uses a polymer tip and multi-groove shank design developed over decades; the Hornady CX uses Hornady’s more recent copper alloy design with a heat-resistant polymer tip. Field reports on both are positive for elk. The TTSX has a longer documented track record; the CX is newer but backed by Hornady’s engineering credibility. In practice, either performs reliably on elk at hunting distances. The Hornady Outfitter at $6–10/box less is the value choice; Barnes if you have a brand preference.

Is this load California-legal for deer and elk?

Yes. Barnes explicitly states this load is California-certified non-lead. The all-copper TTSX construction with no lead core qualifies as nonlead ammunition under California DFW regulations. Always verify current California DFW requirements before your hunt as regulations can change.

Why is the BC listed as 0.412 on the retailer but Barnes says 0.453?

BC discrepancies in retailer listings are common — the most frequent cause is a G7 value being entered in a G1 field, or use of an older pre-revision BC figure. Barnes’s official published data for the TTSX BT 120 gr in 6.5 Creedmoor consistently shows ~0.453 G1 across their technical documentation. The 0.412 figure on the listing is likely a data entry issue. This page uses Barnes’s official figure as the authoritative source.

Submit Your Data · Real-World Results

Manufacturer velocity figures are measured under controlled lab conditions — barrel length, temperature, and lot number all affect real-world performance. The data below comes from community submissions tied to specific test conditions and reviewed before publishing.

Once this page reaches 3 approved submissions, aggregate velocity and confidence level will appear here automatically.

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Results vary by firearm, barrel condition, ammunition lot, and environmental factors. Submitted data is for reference only. AmmoReports does not guarantee accuracy of user-submitted results.

Last updated: April 2026 · Data confidence: Low (0 submissions) · BC discrepancy documented — see specs note above.