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Barnes Harvest 6.5 Creedmoor 140 gr Sierra Tipped GameKing

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Ammo Reports Team 3 6.5 Creedmoor

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Official Specs

Velocity note: Barnes does not publish muzzle velocity or energy for the Harvest line on the retail listing. The ballistics table below uses ~2,700 fps as a conservative estimate based on the Sierra TGK 140 gr bullet’s typical factory loading velocity in 6.5 CM from a 24″ barrel. Barnes Precision Match (same weight, different bullet) publishes 2,700 fps — this is the most reliable reference point available. Community submissions are essential to establish actual velocity for this load.

Ballistics Table

⚠️ Estimated — muzzle velocity not published by Barnes for this load.

Zero: 100 yards. Sight height: 1.5″ above bore. Assumed MV: ~2,700 fps. BC (G1): ~0.535 (Sierra TGK 140 gr, published by Sierra).

Key takeaway: the Sierra TGK’s BC of 0.535 is competitive in the premium 140 gr hunting category — higher than standard soft point and InterLock designs (~0.480–0.485), slightly below the Hornady SST (~0.527). At 300 yards an estimated 1,650 ft-lbs retained and 20.6 inches of drop covers all practical deer and elk hunting scenarios. The trajectory figures carry uncertainty until velocity is confirmed — see community submissions below.

Barnes Harvest vs Vor-Tx — Two Lines Explained

This load is not from Barnes’s premium Vor-Tx line. It comes from their Harvest line — a more affordable tier that uses third-party component bullets rather than Barnes’s own all-copper projectiles:

The Harvest line is Barnes’s entry into the value-tier hunting market using quality third-party bullets. The Sierra TGK is a genuine premium hunting bullet — using it in a Barnes load at $2.07/round is the core value proposition here.

The Sierra Tipped GameKing Bullet

The Sierra Tipped GameKing (TGK) is Sierra Bullets’ premium hunting bullet — their answer to the Hornady SST and Nosler Ballistic Tip in the polymer-tipped boat-tail category:

• Polymer tip — initiates reliable expansion across impact velocities; protects the hollow point cavity during flight and feeding
• Boat-tail base — reduces drag for higher BC vs flat-base hunting bullets
• Controlled expansion — Sierra designed the TGK for deeper penetration than their earlier GameKing, with the tip driving into the lead core like a wedge on impact
• Not bonded — the core and jacket are held by mechanical fit, not chemical bonding; consistent with other non-bonded premium hunting bullets in this price tier
• BC ~0.535 (G1) — competitive with Hornady SST (0.527) and above standard soft point designs

The TGK is a step above Sierra’s classic GameKing HPBT and positions against Hornady SST in the mid-tier polymer-tipped hunting bullet category. It is the same bullet loaded by Sig Sauer in their Marksman Hunter line.

Best Uses

Good fit:

• Whitetail and mule deer at 100–350 yards where the Sierra TGK’s reliable expansion and competitive BC deliver excellent results
• Hunters who want a Sierra Tipped GameKing factory load at the lowest available price — Barnes Harvest pricing is below competing TGK-loaded ammunition
• Elk inside 300 yards with broadside or quartering-away shot placement — TGK is not bonded but performs reliably on elk at moderate hunting distances
• Hunters who want quality polymer-tipped 140 gr performance without paying Hornady Superformance or premium bonded prices

Not the right tool for:

• Lead-free requirements — this is a lead-core load; see Barnes Vor-Tx TTSX or LRX for California-compliant options
• Elk at difficult angles where a bonded bullet (Scirocco II, AccuBond, Terminal Ascent) provides better core retention
• Long-range hunting beyond 400 yards without confirmed velocity data — ballistics table is estimated
• Self-defense — not designed or rated for it

Reliability Notes

No structured submissions yet.

General notes:

• The Sierra Tipped GameKing is a quality hunting bullet with a positive field record — loaded by multiple manufacturers including Sig Sauer; its terminal performance on deer and elk is well-documented across those loads
• Barnes Harvest is a newer, more accessible line from Barnes — less documented than Vor-Tx but using established component bullets from trusted suppliers
• The absence of published velocity is the primary data gap for this load — standard practice in the industry is to publish at minimum muzzle velocity and energy; the gap reduces confidence in planning holdover for longer shots
• At $2.07/round this is among the most affordable Sierra TGK factory loads available — the value argument is the load’s strongest differentiator

Competitors

Direct bullet comparison: The Sig Sauer Marksman Hunter uses the Sierra GameKing HPBT (untipped version) at 130 gr — a lighter, faster, but lower-BC alternative. The Barnes Harvest uses the Tipped GameKing at 140 gr — heavier, slightly slower estimated velocity, higher BC. Both are Sierra-bulleted loads in overlapping price territory.

Price Reality

• Typical retail range: $40–43 per box of 20 (~$2.00–2.15/round)
• Value position: at ~$2.07/round this is the lowest-priced Sierra TGK factory load currently available — the Sig Sauer Marksman Hunter uses an untipped Sierra GameKing at a comparable price; the Barnes Harvest gets you the tipped version for similar money
• vs. Fiocchi Hyperformance SST: comparable price for similar BC performance (TGK ~0.535 vs SST ~0.527); Fiocchi publishes velocity, Barnes does not — Fiocchi has the documentation edge
• vs. bonded premium loads: $15–25/box less than AccuBond, Terminal Ascent, or Scirocco II — for whitetail deer the TGK is fully adequate at lower cost
• Fair price benchmark: under $42/box is good value; above $46/box loses ground against better-documented alternatives

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

What is the Sierra Tipped GameKing and how does it differ from the GameKing HPBT?

The Sierra GameKing HPBT is Sierra’s classic match-accurate hunting bullet — a hollow point boat-tail without a polymer tip, used for decades in hunting and match applications. The Tipped GameKing (TGK) adds a polymer tip that serves two purposes: it initiates expansion more consistently at a wider range of impact velocities, and it improves the BC by filling the open tip cavity with a streamlined plastic insert. The TGK is Sierra’s answer to Hornady SST — same design category, Sierra execution. The TGK has a slightly higher BC than the untipped GameKing HPBT of the same weight.

Why is the Barnes Harvest cheaper than Vor-Tx?

The Harvest line uses third-party component bullets — in this case Sierra TGK — rather than Barnes’s own all-copper TTSX or LRX projectiles. Lead-core bullets are cheaper to manufacture than all-copper monolithic designs. Barnes passes that cost difference through as a lower retail price. The Harvest line is Barnes’s strategy for the value-tier hunting market where hunters want quality components at accessible pricing. The trade-off vs Vor-Tx is lead-core (not lead-free) construction and no Barnes-specific terminal design.

Is the Sierra TGK appropriate for elk?

Yes, with the standard caveat for non-bonded hunting bullets. The Sierra Tipped GameKing is designed for medium to large game and has performed reliably on elk in the field at moderate hunting distances. It is not a bonded bullet, so under extreme impact conditions — heavy shoulder bone, steep angles — core-jacket separation is more possible than with bonded designs like AccuBond or Scirocco II. For elk inside 275 yards with broadside shot placement, TGK performs adequately. For tougher shots, a bonded bullet provides a larger margin.

Barnes Harvest TGK vs Fiocchi Hyperformance SST — which is better value?

Both are 6.5 CM hunting loads with polymer-tipped boat-tail bullets at similar price points (~$2.07 vs ~$1.80/round for Fiocchi). The TGK has a slightly higher BC (0.535 vs 0.527) and is 11 gr heavier (140 vs 129 gr). Fiocchi publishes velocity (2,820 fps); Barnes does not. For hunters who want a 140 gr load and the Sierra TGK bullet specifically, the Barnes Harvest is the best-priced option. For hunters who are weight-agnostic and want published specs, Fiocchi SST is the more transparent choice.

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.

Shot this load? Share your results — firearm type, barrel length, average velocity, shots fired, temperature. No account required.

Velocity confirmation is the top priority for this page — Barnes does not publish it, and the ballistics table uses an estimate. Your chronograph data directly improves every figure shown above.

All submissions are manually reviewed before appearing on this page.

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) · Velocity estimated at ~2,700 fps — community verification needed.