X-Bullets I gotta get rid of...... on what?

[cloverleaf]

Ok, while I was home in SD yesterdady I was going through the reloading inventory I have down at my Dad's and came across half a box of the old Barnes "X" bullet. Not the Tripple Shock, but the original "X". I bought them because they are in the 90 grain weight range and with 41 Grains of 4350 I can actually push them a little faster and flatter (hopefully) than my 100 Gr BT's. The shoot fairly accurately out of my 250-3000 Savage. My assumption is that they are between 2800-2900 FPS at the muzzle. Nver did a "quick load" on them.
Here's the question: At that assumed velocity, given the less than stellar reputation of those bullets for consistient expansion, what do I dare use them on? Originally I was thinking big Mulies across the draws, west river, but mabe they are just suitable for yotes (minimal pelt damage when they dont expand) or just paper?
I know there are way to many variables in bullet performance to draw conclusions but I would like some first hand experience from the knowledgable here. Thanks CL

 

[JD338]

CL,

I would be hesitant to use them on game due to the lower velocities of the 250 and unpredictable expansion.
You might be able to trade them for some Nosler bullets or just use them for plinking.

JD338

 

[C.Smith]

Coyotes would be good or just punch some paper. I don't think I would be comfortable shooting at an animal thinking they may not expand.

Corey

 

[BK]

Well, you've already admitted that you don't have much confidence in them, so if you were to draw down on a game animal, you're gonna have that little voice of doubt in the back of your mind questioning whether they will expand. You need to have utmost confidence in your gear. With that in mind, I'd use them for paper, vermin, or 'yotes.

 

[Guy Miner]

Years ago I pitched my last box of the old X bullets in the trash because I was so disgusted with their performance, or lack of, at the range. :evil:

The TSX though, has worked just fine. Barnes did make a big change with that grooved design.

Kind of funny now, but frustrating then. I'd been trying to make those X-bullets work, and they just kept giving me fits:

Poor velocity. Poor accuracy. Badly fouled barrel.

I suspect they were simply under-sized for my factory barrel. After giving up on them, I bought a box of 175 Nosler Partitions, loaded them, sighted them in, shot an elk with one and called it good. I was back home with "my" Partitions and feeling good about it.

 

[Anonymous]

Melt them down into something useful... like pennies. :grin:

Sorry, I had to. Couldn't resist.

 

[Guest]

I think even pennies require some alloying, don't they?

 

[SJB358]

Melt them down into something useful... like pennies. :grin:

Sorry, I had to. Couldn't resist.

Ha! I like where your heads at! Scotty

 

[PJGunner]

I think even pennies require some alloying, don't they?

Nope. Scratch a penny sometime. They ain't even copper any more. Copper is too expensive to make pennies so now they're aliminum with a vey thin copper coat. :shock:
If you think I'm kidding, take a sharp knife a scract the edge sometime.
Paul B.

 

[kendog]

Wow, I slammed a nice 7 pointer with a 165 X bullet out of my 30-06 about 15 years ago and it hit him hard, turned everything in his chest cavity into jello. I never used them again because of high pressures and wasn't pleased at the range with them. But that one sure did the job.

 

[Guy Miner]

I've no doubt it was effective! :grin: A buddy of mine at the time had experienced tremendous success on elk with the X bullets, and was trying to get me to use them. I was singularly unimpressed at the range, but believe that was largely due to the bullets and the bore of my rifle not matching up well.

Some years later when the Barnes TSX came out - it cured most everything I'd found wrong with the "old" X bullets.

Guy

 

[JD338]

Melt them down into something useful... like pennies. :grin:

Sorry, I had to. Couldn't resist.

Good one Justin! :grin:

JD338

 

[Greg Nolan]

My experiences match the rest. Took forever to get the copper out of my new 257 Wby. I had to reverse electroplate the barrel to finally do it. They seem to be a "one size don't fit all" kind of situation. Since you only have the one box there's not much use wasting a lot of time and powder trying to work up a optimun load. I drilled mine and used them for slip sinkers. Caught a nice striped bass!
Greg

 

[cloverleaf]

Slip sinkers..... :lol: I like the idea. Seems like a lot of work though. Maybe I'll send em back to barnes and see if I can talk them out of a few TSX's. Thanks guys. Sounds like its a good thing I am well stocked in 100 gr. BT's. CL

 

[nodak7mm]

BK said: Well, you've already admitted that you don't have much confidence in them, so if you were to draw down on a game animal, you're gonna have that little voice of doubt in the back of your mind questioning whether they will expand. You need to have utmost confidence in your gear. With that in mind, I'd use them for paper, vermin, or 'yotes.

No truer words on the internet!!


Go hunting Milk Jugs CL, always in season, extermely low fat and low calorie (just dont eat the skin), entertaining results. Easy to find and plentiful.. Good trigger time & make it a hunting challenge kinda shoot for you and your daughter..

Rod

 

[BK]

Boy, I sure hope you guys don't start expecting wisdom from me! :roll:

 

[Elkman]

I agree whole heartdly with Nodak no confidence no shootie !!!! Trade em, give them away or make pennies.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I think even pennies require some alloying, don't they?

Nope. Scratch a penny sometime. They ain't even copper any more. Copper is too expensive to make pennies so now they're aliminum with a vey thin copper coat. :shock:
If you think I'm kidding, take a sharp knife a scract the edge sometime.
Paul B.

Actually pennies are 95% zinc with a pure copper wash plating.

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

I too must say the original X-bullets let me down on elk and I have never used Barnes bullets since then personally. I have loaded the TSX and others for friends rifles and they have had no problems at all. I would use them on coyotes and call it a day. That 250-3000 is a great gun for both yotes and deer but use a Nosler bullet for your all around bullet, you'll never have any doubts or let downs.

 

[Guest]

Just my two cents,

I too had trouble with Barnes bullets. Shot the 180 XLCBT Bullet for years from my 300 RUM, actually have 200 left over and don't know what to do with them. They never failed to kill game, just was losing velocity. My take is I was getting blow by, bullet not sealing the barrel. Tried the MRX & TSX too, wasn't that impressed initially. During all this my Colorado Hunting buddy was experiencing problems with the same blue bullet, the petals were tearing off or just wouldn't open. On one occasion his son shot through a Muley buck 3-times @ 50 yds with a 300 win mag. bullet never opened. My friend said his past experiences shooting Elk with the Partition was like night & Day compared to Barnes. All the reason I returned to Nosler and he will be too this year.

He has shot more Bull Elk than anyone that I know, adding to that with the 180 Partition using the 300 Win Mag. 99% of the time it was one shot. He commented, never did I see that bullet fail to perform.

Don