Disappointing Bullet Prefomance

[Desert Fox]

I 'd been a Barnes snob for a long time. I just refuse to feed any rifle in my battery with Barnes. Even after all these years watching my buddy killing deer at spectacular distances with his 300 Win Mag loaded with 200 grain X bullet won't convinced me to use them otherwise. If not for my buddy Frank insistence, I would have never used Barnes on our Safari. But this trip in Africa kind of open my eyes a bit. We harvested a total of 9 animals, from the smallest Impala to the 900 lbs Zebra, all one shot one kill. Nine animals were taken with 375 and one with the 300. Seven were all killing zone shot with the exception of Franks Zebra, which was gutshot, and our buddy Georges Red Hartebeest that was hit farther behind the shoulder. Both animal did not go far from where they stand. None of the bullets were ever recovered. The exit wound were small but all fatal.

Most of our hunting areas here in Kalifornistan were declared lead free zone so our choice are limited. Currently I'm working up loads for my 300 Weatherby using 180 grain Barnes TTSX. I already found an accurate load using the regular TSX bullet but, I like that extra BC that the TTSX has to offer. So far the TTSX and Reloader 25 combination were very promising. One unlucky crow made a mistake in taking a leisurely walk right at the 500 yard mark at our club shooting range. I must admit, the 180 grain TTSX did not open. The crow dropped instantly though.

 

[bullet]

Yes, I have two friends down here that have just killed game with the TSX and not problems, I have just lost my confidence in them and I had a 180gr load using 84.5grs of RL-22 in my 300Wby that was a raged hole load.

Forgot to put in the one I killed at GB300wm place it was about 100yds and it took only one shot but went about 50yds and GB300wm found it and I am glad he did because there was not a blood trail.

 

[Big Squeeze]

Although I don`t use Barnes bullets and have never done so, I have read of their inconsistencies in various bullet performance reviews and reports.

The basic idea for complete penetration of an animal, is to easily track the animal if needed to do so, with the help of a very good blood trail. I don`t like to track game after the shot. Depending on the terrain, it can be a royal PIA and time consuming. So why not eliminate tracking as best as possible with a different approach!

The vitals in the animal`s center, is what needs to be hit, disrupted and shocked effectively. With the exception of getting a good blood trail, complete penetration isn`t necessary.

Using the 30 cal 168 gr Berger hunting VLD on big hogs, I have no need to track anymore. They are either DRT or they are dead only a few short yards away. That wound channel shock into the vitals after penetrating bone is veeeedy effective and something else. These are extremely accurate bullets too, once the sweet spot is found for a particular rifle.

I will use either the 190 or the 210 VLD on my next big elk hunt. If those guys on "Best of the West" TV can down a big bull elk from 925 yards using a VLD from a 7 mag, then a 400 to 500 yard shot if needed (my max), will be a shocking piece of cake on a bull elk.

 

[nomosendero]

The failures I had with the TSX: It was the last two deer I shot this last season with the 257wby. First one was 354yds the second was 100yds. I had a good rest each time and I hit where I was suppose to hit. Both 100gr TSX's were pass through shots with no expansion. It took two hours the find the first one and it was luck because there was no and I mean NO blood trail. The second one never broke stride and I thought I missed him and after an hour and ten minutes of hunting any sign which there was none, I ran upon him in a thicket and he broke and ran and I hit him again at 25 yards behind the head and he went down. I promise I won't be using them again. In my 300Wby I had a pass through on deer at 120yds and found this one 45 minutes later still breathing and starting to get up and I shot him with my 44 mag I carry as a back up.

I am going back to the 200gr AccuBond in my 300Wby and the 180gr Ballistic tip in my 30-06. As soon as I can afford some more components after picking up the Accubonds and Ballistic tips I will be ordering some Partitions for my 358. Tired of messing around doing all this load work looking for accuracy when all I really want is a bullet that give hunting accuracy, puts game down and that I can depend on. All this work I have done over the last three years is getting old, tired of it, just going to settle for what has worked for me in the past.

Forgot to put in the one I killed at GB300wm place it was about 100yds and it took only one shot but went about 50yds and GB300wm it and I am glad he did because there was not a blood trail.

VERY, VERY interesting. I was looking at using the 100gr on my WY. trip, but maybe not. But I do wonder if the tip on the TTSX would solve the problem? I think it might, but I have no personal experience, so I don't know.

 

[FOTIS]

Never used Barnes bullets, only Noslers and Hornaday's. Now on Noslers. I think it was POP or JD338 who said once in a forum subject. "If it ain't broken don't fix it." Noslers always, repeat always worked for me so I'm not changing.

Well said Russ.

JD338

I agree. Every time I bring up the possibility of the aforementioned results along with my witnessed 4 TSX failures on other forums I get chastised. They are a great concept and after 3 or 4 generations of Barnes bullets,
(X, XLC, TSx MRX TTSX) none have a stellar reputation.

Thus far none have been proven as consistent in expansion. I know I am a nosler freak but if limited to non-noslers I would GLADLY choose, hornady Interlocks. Truth be told! :wink:

 

[russ808]

The outfitter that I use swears by the Barnes. For me I don't see spending the time to do load developement for the other bullets. I'm not saying that they are better or worse, its just I found the loads that my rifles like with the Noslers and don't see any reason to change. I took them to Africa and got all my animals with them including two black wildebeeste with one shot. (Very lucky) The 180 Partition went through the spine at the neck of one and the skull of another and kept on going. Nosler bullets works for me.

 

[nomosendero]

I did not realize that the TTSX has already been proven to be a failure.

 

[JD338]

JD,

I just loaded up my first E-Tips (130 grain) for my 270 WSM. I haven't worked up loads yet for any of the 7 mm or the 30 cal., but I plan to work on them this summer to see if I can make them shine. I'll post my results for the 270 WSM, hopefully by next week.

Best accuracy results with the E-Tip seem to be about .100" off the lands.
Let us know how they shoot in your 270 WSM.

JD338

 

[JD338]

Never used Barnes bullets, only Noslers and Hornaday's. Now on Noslers. I think it was POP or JD338 who said once in a forum subject. "If it ain't broken don't fix it." Noslers always, repeat always worked for me so I'm not changing.

Well said Russ.

JD338

I agree. Every time I bring up the possibility of the aforementioned results along with my witnessed 4 TSX failures on other forums I get chastised. They are a great concept and after 3 or 4 generations of Barnes bullets,
(X, XLC, TSx MRX TTSX) none have a stellar reputation.

Thus far none have been proven as consistent in expansion. I know I am a nosler freak but if limited to non-noslers I would GLADLY choose, hornady Interlocks. Truth be told! :wink:

Yup, there are a few that really get up set about this topic. :roll:
We are not trying to dis credit any manufacture, just reporting the facts. It is what it is.

JD338

 

[FOTIS]

o to 24 hour campfire and do a search. There are tons of pictures posted there of both beautifully expanded TSX's and some that look like you can handload them again.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

Guess I won't be loading the Barnes-x for defense load in my AR.
I'll stick with the BT's and Partitions.

 

[JD338]

A_S

The little 60 gr PT is one heck of a bullet, a BG doesn't stand a chance with a center mass hit. The companion 60 gr BT would also work well.
If over penetration is a concern, take a look at the new 30 gr lead free bullets. BG beware.

JD338

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

Yes, those little 60 gr bullets making it to the 9th jug, when fired from a 16" barrel is very impressive. :grin:

 

[bobbyrum]

The only experience I've had was with the 53 gr. TSX in my .22-250 & I couldn't get it to group under 2" so I didn't try it in anything else. Besides, I used the 160 NP in my 7mm mag. for over 30 years. It turned out to be so reliable that it almost bordered on boring :wink: Like the man said, if it ain't broken, don't fix it. But you know, when I started shooting the 7mm RUM I did change, to the 160 AB & it has proven to be just as reliable (& boring?) :lol: :lol:

 

[JD338]

Antelope_Sniper

Here is a real word comparison for you with the 60 gr PT from a 22-250.
Complete penetration length wise through a coyote at 70 yds. Entrance head on center chest and exit just under the tail pipe.

JD338

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

Nothing disapinting about the 60gr PT.

 

[nomosendero]

As we say down South, You tore him a new A-hole.
Well, you get the idea.

 

[JD338]

As we say down South, You tore him a new A-hole.
Well, you get the idea.

:grin: :grin: :grin:

JD338

 

[bobbyrum]

Holy mackerel, never mind the tailpipe, that was damn close to the pecans :lol: :lol:

 

[cloverleaf]

ROFL......
I shot a deer like that once with a 12 ga. federal premium "Barnes Expander" (OK not exactly- slug stopped under the hide on far side of the hind quarter) at about 40 yards. The deer turned and walked away another 40 yards. I expect the yote was DRT. CL