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Barnes Vor-Tx 6.5 Creedmoor 127 gr LRX Boat-Tail

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Ammo Reports Team 4 6.5 Creedmoor

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Official Specs

Ballistics Table

Calculated. Zero: 100 yards. Sight height: 1.5″ above bore. BC (G1): 0.510 (Barnes LRX BT 127 gr, published).

Key takeaway: the 127 gr LRX occupies a genuine sweet spot in the 6.5 CM lead-free hunting lineup. It runs 150 fps faster than 140 gr loads and carries a higher BC than the 120 gr TTSX (0.510 vs 0.453) — flatter near range than heavy loads, better wind resistance than light loads. At 300 yards 1,612 ft-lbs of retained energy and only 19.2 inches of drop covers every North American hunting scenario from pronghorn to elk with a single load.

LRX vs TTSX — Barnes’s Two All-Copper Designs

Barnes produces two all-copper hunting bullet lines for 6.5 Creedmoor. Understanding the difference is important before choosing:

The LRX was specifically engineered by Barnes for hunters who take shots beyond 300 yards — the longer ogive improves BC without sacrificing the all-copper monolithic terminal performance the TTSX is known for. The result is a bullet that works equally well at 50 yards and 500 yards — Barnes’s claim of “unrivaled on-game effectiveness at every range” reflects this design intent.

The Barnes LRX Bullet Construction

The Barnes LRX (Long Range X) shares the core engineering of the TSX/TTSX family:

• All-copper monolithic — no lead core; fully lead-free and California-compliant
• Polymer tip — initiates reliable expansion at long-range reduced velocities where standard hollow points may not expand consistently
• Double-diameter expansion — expands to approximately twice the original diameter on impact
• ~100% weight retention — Barnes published specification; the all-copper construction stays in one piece through bone and tissue
• Boat-tail base — longer than TTSX for improved BC; the defining LRX design feature
• Reduced bearing surface — the LRX uses a longer freebore design with fewer driving bands than TTSX, reducing bore friction and allowing the longer bullet to seat correctly in standard SAAMI chambers

Variants

This page covers Barnes Vor-Tx 28986 · 6.5 Creedmoor · 127 gr LRX BT only.

Barnes’s lead-free 6.5 CM Vor-Tx lineup:

• Barnes Vor-Tx 6.5 CM 100 gr TTSX BT — pronghorn specialist, 3,300 fps
• Barnes Vor-Tx 6.5 CM 120 gr TTSX BT — loaded by Fiocchi Hyperformance at same velocity
• Barnes Vor-Tx 6.5 CM 127 gr LRX BT — this page, long-range versatility

Best Uses

Good fit:

• All-range versatility — the 127 gr LRX is Barnes’s answer for hunters who need one lead-free load that works from close timber shots to open-country 400-yard opportunities
• Elk and mule deer at 200–400 yards where the higher BC vs 120 gr TTSX holds velocity and energy better at distance
• Pronghorn and deer in open terrain where 300+ yard shots are possible — better BC than the 120 gr option
• California and lead-restricted hunting across multiple game species — one compliant load for the whole season
• Hunters who want Barnes all-copper performance without choosing between the speed-specialist 100 gr and the heavier match-BC options

Not the right tool for:

• Maximum close-range speed — the 100 gr TTSX at 3,300 fps is the Barnes speed option
• Precision match shooting — LRX is a hunting bullet, not a match bullet
• Budget hunting — at $2.70/round this is premium lead-free pricing
• Self-defense — not designed or rated for it

Reliability Notes

No structured submissions yet.

General notes:

• The Barnes LRX was introduced specifically to address field reports that the original TSX/TTSX, while excellent on game, could underperform in BC at longer ranges — the LRX redesign delivers a measurably higher BC while retaining all the terminal performance characteristics Barnes built their reputation on
• All-copper bullets can produce higher chamber pressures than lead-core bullets of the same weight — Barnes’s 2,850 fps load is developed within SAAMI limits; no reported pressure issues in standard 6.5 Creedmoor chambers
• The reduced bearing surface design (fewer driving bands vs TTSX) means less fouling at the bore than older all-copper designs — relevant for hunters who run multiple shots in a session
• At 127 gr this bullet requires a 1:8″ or faster twist for reliable stabilization in most 6.5 CM chambers — standard for modern 6.5 CM factory rifles

Competitors

The 127 gr LRX niche: among lead-free 6.5 CM loads, this is the only option at 127 gr with Barnes’s LRX long-range design. The Federal 130 gr Barnes TSX (no tip) is the closest weight competitor — the LRX’s polymer tip and boat-tail give it a BC and long-range expansion advantage over the untipped TSX.

Price Reality

• Typical retail range: $52–56 per box of 20 (~$2.60–2.80/round)
• vs. Barnes 120 gr TTSX (same Vor-Tx line): comparable pricing — 7 gr heavier, higher BC, slightly slower; right choice for elk and longer shots
• vs. Hornady Outfitter CX: Barnes runs $4–8/box more — both are all-copper with similar BC; Hornady has slightly lower price point, Barnes has the LRX’s longer-range optimization
• vs. Nosler E-Tip: Barnes runs $6–10/box less — both are 120–127 gr lead-free; Nosler E-Tip has a strong field record but the LRX’s BC and velocity profile is competitive
• Lead-free premium: consistent across the category — expect $15–25/box more than equivalent lead-core hunting loads
• Fair price benchmark: under $55/box is reasonable for the 127 gr LRX; above $60/box is overpriced relative to competitors

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

LRX vs TTSX — which Barnes load should I choose for elk?

For elk, the 127 gr LRX is the stronger choice over the 120 gr TTSX. The LRX’s higher BC (0.510 vs 0.453) means better velocity and energy retention at the 200–350 yard shots where elk hunting often happens in open country. Both use all-copper construction with identical terminal behavior — double-diameter expansion, ~100% weight retention — so terminal performance on bone and tissue is equivalent. The LRX was specifically designed for the hunter who takes longer shots on larger game. For pronghorn inside 250 yards, the 100 gr TTSX’s flat trajectory is equally valid; for elk at distance, LRX.

Is the Barnes LRX California-legal for deer and elk?

Yes. The Barnes LRX is an all-copper, fully lead-free bullet with no lead core or lead components. It qualifies as nonlead ammunition under California’s nonlead hunting regulation which applies to all licensed hunting statewide. Always verify current California DFW requirements before your hunt.

Why is the LRX heavier and slower than the TTSX at the same caliber?

The LRX uses a longer ogive design to improve BC — a longer bullet at the same caliber diameter is inherently heavier. More mass requires more energy to accelerate to a given velocity within SAAMI pressure limits, which is why the 127 gr LRX at 2,850 fps is slower than the 100 gr TTSX at 3,300 fps or the 120 gr TTSX at 2,900 fps. The trade-off is intentional: the LRX exchanges some muzzle velocity for better downrange performance — it starts slower but sheds velocity more slowly than the lighter TTSX designs. The crossover point where the LRX’s BC advantage begins to overcome the velocity deficit is approximately 200–250 yards.

Can I use this for pronghorn as well as elk — one load for both species?

Yes — this is the LRX’s design purpose. 2,850 fps is flat enough for pronghorn inside 350 yards (see ballistics table), and the ~100% weight retention all-copper construction handles elk bone reliably. If you’re hunting both species on a Western combination tag with one rifle, the 127 gr LRX is the most versatile single lead-free 6.5 Creedmoor load for that application. The only scenario where you’d want a different load is if pronghorn shots will consistently be at 400+ yards, in which case the 100 gr TTSX’s flatter trajectory at shorter ranges is worth considering.

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Last updated: April 2026 · Data confidence: Low (0 submissions) · Page will update automatically as submissions are approved.