Ammo Reports Team
Federal Premium 6.5 Creedmoor 130 Grain Barnes TSX (Box)
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Big-game hunting at short to long range |
| Bullet Type | Barnes TSX (Triple-Shock X) — monolithic all-copper hollow point |
| Bullet Weight | 130 grain |
| Case Material | Brass |
| Primer Type | Boxer (assumed standard for Federal Premium centerfire) |
| Packaging | 20 rounds per box |
| Typical Price | $53.49/box · $2.67/round |
| Closest Competitors | Hornady Precision Hunter 6.5 CM 143 gr ELD-X · Federal Premium 6.5 CM 140 gr Trophy Bonded Tip · Barnes Precision Match 6.5 CM 140 gr OTM BT |
Official Specs
| Spec | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Muzzle Velocity (fps) | — | Not published by manufacturer for this listing |
| Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs) | — | Not published by manufacturer for this listing |
| Bullet Weight | 130 gr | Manufacturer |
| Bullet Type | Barnes TSX (monolithic all-copper hollow point) | Manufacturer |
| BC G1 | — | Not published |
| BC G7 | — | Not published |
| Manufacturer SKU | — | Not published in available data |
| UPC | — | Not published in available data |
| Reloadable | Yes | Brass case, Boxer primer |
Note: Federal Premium does not appear to publish muzzle velocity or muzzle energy for this specific load in the available product listing. Barnes lists a G1 BC of approximately 0.468 for the 130 gr TSX in 6.5 caliber through their standalone bullet data, but that figure applies to the component bullet and has not been confirmed by Federal as the factory-loaded BC. It is not used in the ballistics table below. All ballistic estimates are therefore calculated using commonly referenced community data for this bullet weight and caliber. If you have chrono data from this load, submit it via the community data form.
Ballistics Table
Calculated estimate. Real-world results vary by barrel length, temperature,altitude, and lot. Community submissions will provide measured muzzlevelocity for comparison.
Calculation basis: ~2,875 fps assumed muzzle velocity (common community reference for 130 gr TSX in 6.5 CM from a 24″ barrel); G1 BC 0.468 (Barnes component bullet data — not confirmed by Federal for this factory load); sight height 1.5″ above bore; zero 100 yd; sea level, standard atmosphere. All values marked ~ to indicate unconfirmed muzzle velocity.
| Yards | ~Velocity (fps) | ~Energy (ft-lbs) | ~Trajectory (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | ~2,875 | ~2,386 | −1.5 |
| 100 | ~2,674 | ~2,064 | 0.0 ← zero |
| 200 | ~2,481 | ~1,778 | +3.6 |
| 300 | ~2,296 | ~1,521 | 0.0 |
| 400 | ~2,119 | ~1,295 | −10.7 |
| 500 | ~1,949 | ~1,096 | −30.4 |
Key takeaway: At the assumed velocity, this 130 grain TSX load stays supersonic well past 500 yards and retains over 1,000 ft-lbs of energy at that distance — a meaningful threshold for ethical hunting use on deer-sized game. The flat trajectory out to 300 yards makes field holds straightforward without dialing, though the ~10-inch drop at 400 yards demands a confirmed dope card rather than guesswork. Because muzzle velocity is unconfirmed from the manufacturer, shooters should chronograph their specific rifle and barrel length before trusting these numbers for field use. A 20–24-inch barrel will produce meaningfully different results than a compact hunting rifle.
The Barnes TSX Bullet in Factory Loads
The Barnes TSX (Triple-Shock X) is one of the most significant bullet designs in modern hunting ammunition. It is machined from a single piece of copper — there is no lead core, no bonding process, and no jacket to separate. The hollow-point cavity initiates expansion at impact, and the bullet peels back into four uniform petals that remain attached throughout penetration. This design is the reason manufacturers routinely claim near 100% weight retention, which is not marketing language for this bullet type — it is a structural property of the monolithic construction.
The TSX replaced Barnes’ earlier X-Bullet by adding three relief grooves cut into the shank. These grooves reduce the bearing surface in contact with the rifling, which lowers chamber pressure and improves accuracy compared to the original solid-copper design. The TTSX (Tipped TSX) added a polymer tip to the same platform; the TSX used here relies on the open hollow-point cavity for expansion initiation. Both versions are functionally similar on game, but the open-tip TSX can be slightly more sensitive to velocity at longer ranges for expansion initiation.
From a regulatory standpoint, the all-copper construction makes this load California-compliant and legal in any jurisdiction that prohibits lead-core projectiles for hunting. This is increasingly relevant as more Western states expand lead-free zones.
Best Uses
Good fit:
- Deer, pronghorn, and black bear hunting at distances from close range out to approximately 400 yards
- Hunting in states or zones that require lead-free ammunition, including California condor range
- Hunters who want a single load that performs on both light and heavy big-game species without changing bullet selection
- Situations where deep, straight-line penetration matters — quartering-away shots, shoulder-heavy animals
- Hunters who prioritize weight retention and do not want fragmentation under any impact condition
Not the right tool for:
- Varmint or prairie dog shooting — the TSX is overbuilt and far too expensive per round for high-volume use
- Competitive long-range shooting where a high-BC match bullet outperforms at extreme distance
- Hunters on tight budgets — at $2.67/round this is a premium-tier hunting load
- Situations where rapid, wide-diameter fragmentation is preferred over deep penetration (some hunters prefer this for thin-skinned deer at close range)
- Rifles with slower twist rates that may not stabilize a 130 gr projectile — confirm your barrel’s twist rate before purchasing
Reliability Notes
No structured submissions yet.
From the manufacturer product description and open sources: the Barnes TSX design is documented across decades of field use and is not a new or unproven platform. Federal Premium’s loading of this bullet follows their standard brass-cased, Boxer-primed construction, which is consistent with reliable ignition and reloadability. The monolithic copper construction is noted by the manufacturer to deliver consistent, large-diameter expansion across a range of impact velocities — a property that has been observed in independent ballistic gelatin testing of TSX bullets at comparable velocities by third-party publications. No reports of feeding or extraction issues specific to this Federal load were identified in open sources. These notes come from manufacturer claims and open-source references, not structured community data.
Competitors
| Load | Weight | Bullet | BC G1 | Adv. Velocity | Price/box | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady Precision Hunter 6.5 CM 143 gr ELD-X | 143 gr | ELD-X (bonded-style lead core) | 0.625 | ~2,700 fps | ~$42–$48 | Higher BC; better for extreme long range; lead core |
| Federal Premium 6.5 CM 140 gr Trophy Bonded Tip | 140 gr | Trophy Bonded Tip (bonded lead core) | ~0.490 | ~2,750 fps | ~$48–$54 | Same brand; bonded lead-core alternative; not lead-free |
| Barnes Precision Match 6.5 CM 140 gr OTM BT | 140 gr | Open Tip Match (lead core) | 0.540 | ~2,600 fps | ~$45–$52 | Match bullet; not designed for hunting expansion |
| Nosler Trophy Grade 6.5 CM 130 gr AccuBond | 130 gr | AccuBond (bonded lead core) | 0.488 | ~2,875 fps | ~$48–$55 | Same weight; bonded lead core; not lead-free; premium tier |
| Winchester Expedition Big Game 6.5 CM 142 gr AccuBond LR | 142 gr | AccuBond LR | 0.625 | ~2,700 fps | ~$46–$52 | Higher BC; long-range optimized; bonded lead core |
| Browning BXR 6.5 CM 129 gr Rapid Expansion | 129 gr | BXR Matrix Tip (lead core) | ~0.460 | ~2,950 fps | ~$28–$34 | Budget alternative; lead core; rapid expansion design |
Note: The Hornady ELD-X and AccuBond LR loads carry a significant BC advantage for shooting past 400 yards. The Federal TSX load’s primary advantage over all lead-core competitors is its lead-free construction and monolithic weight retention, not raw ballistic coefficient.
Price Reality
- Typical retail price runs $50–$56 per box of 20 rounds depending on retailer and availability
- Per-round cost: approximately $2.67/round at the reference price of $53.49
- Hornady Precision Hunter 143 gr ELD-X typically runs $8–$12 less per box, offering a higher BC at lower cost — the trade-off is lead-core construction and no lead-free compliance
- Browning BXR 129 gr represents the budget end of the 6.5 Creedmoor hunting market at roughly $28–$34/box, though it uses a conventional lead-core design
- Nosler Trophy Grade 130 gr AccuBond runs comparably priced at $48–$55/box, making the Federal TSX competitively positioned within the premium tier
- A price above $60/box for this load at standard retail should be considered elevated; at or below $54 is fair value for a lead-free monolithic hunting load in this caliber
- Case pricing (typically 10 boxes) is not widely listed for this load; when available it rarely offers more than a 5–8% discount over single-box pricing at major retailers
Prices change. Check the Where to Buy block for current listings.
Where to Buy
Federal Premium 6.5 Creedmoor 130 Grain Barnes TSX (Box)
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FAQ
Is the Federal Premium 130 gr Barnes TSX legal for hunting in California and other lead-free zones?
Yes. Because the Barnes TSX is a monolithic all-copper bullet with no lead core, this load qualifies as non-lead ammunition under California’s condor-zone and statewide hunting regulations, as well as similar regulations in other states that restrict or prohibit lead-core projectiles. Hunters should always verify current regulations for their specific zone and species, as requirements can change between seasons. This is one of the primary reasons hunters choose this load over bonded or conventional lead-core alternatives at similar price points.
How does the Barnes TSX compare to the Barnes TTSX in this application?
The TTSX (Tipped TSX) adds a polymer tip to the same monolithic copper platform, which improves the ballistic coefficient slightly and provides more consistent expansion initiation at lower impact velocities. The open-tip TSX used in this Federal load relies on the hollow cavity for expansion and generally requires a slightly higher impact velocity to initiate reliable petal formation. For most hunting distances within 400 yards at 6.5 Creedmoor velocities, the practical difference on game is minimal. The TSX has a longer field history; the TTSX was developed to address long-range performance at reduced velocities.
What game animals is this load appropriate for at 6.5 Creedmoor velocities?
This load is well-suited for whitetail deer, mule deer, pronghorn, black bear, and similarly sized North American big game. The deep penetration characteristics of the TSX also make it a credible choice for elk at moderate ranges, though many hunters prefer a heavier bullet for elk. It is not recommended for dangerous game where caliber and bullet mass requirements exceed what 6.5 Creedmoor delivers. For thin-skinned, light-bodied animals like pronghorn, the TSX’s controlled expansion and deep penetration may produce less hydrostatic shock than a rapidly fragmenting bullet — it will still be highly effective, but the wound channel character differs from fragmenting designs.
Why doesn’t Federal publish muzzle velocity for this load?
This is not unusual for Federal Premium’s Barnes TSX offerings — some loads in this line have limited published ballistic data on retail product pages and packaging. Muzzle velocity can vary meaningfully by barrel length (typically 25–50 fps per inch of barrel difference from the test barrel), which may contribute to manufacturers being conservative about publishing a single number. Shooters are strongly encouraged to chronograph this load in their specific rifle before using any ballistic table for field distance estimation. The Barnes component bullet data and community chronograph results from similar loads suggest a muzzle velocity in the 2,850–2,900 fps range from a 24-inch barrel, but this has not been confirmed by Federal for this factory load.
How does this load compare to the Hornady Precision Hunter 143 gr ELD-X for long-range hunting?
The Hornady ELD-X carries a substantially higher ballistic coefficient (G1 ~0.625 vs. ~0.468 for the TSX), which results in less wind drift and drop at distances beyond 400 yards. For hunters who regularly shoot past 400 yards, the ELD-X’s trajectory advantage is real and meaningful. However, the ELD-X uses a bonded lead-core design and is not lead-free, which matters for regulatory compliance in certain zones. The Federal TSX load trades some long-range ballistic efficiency for monolithic construction, guaranteed weight retention, and lead-free compliance — a different set of priorities that suits a different type of hunter rather than making one load objectively superior to the other.
