I wasn't sure where to put this but since I'm looking into a Namibia or SA trip I put it here. Didn't see too much on terminal bullet performance in the reloading section:

Help me out with some experience with the TTSX bullets. I see several posters here who really like them. Other than maybe a little better BC with the tip, are there any differences downrange with terminal performance?

My experience so far has been several elk and mule deer mainly with 180 TSX out of a .300 WBY, nearly all one shot kills and several at 300+ yd range, so absolutely no complaints so far.

Are the TTSX supposed to be better at opening up on smaller game, or at long range with lower velocities. How are they vs the TXS on game larger than elk?

Thx.

6 one way...half a dozen the other

Mr. Tape,

Particularly with your 300 WBY with its super velocity if the 180 TSX works well I wouldn't be concerned about changing bullets. I've shot the 180 TSX in the 30-06 quite a bit on aniamls from 20 to 365 yards. It always works and you can take a shot from any angle presented. As I said in another post I don't think you get the DRT shots with TSX that you might with a more frangible bullet but for safari were shots often are taken at less than ideal angles I think it might be perfect in you 300.

Mark

Thx Mark. The reason I ask, and didn't post earlier, is that I'm looking to build up some loads for my 270 and 340 WBY's. Since the 270 will probably be for smaller game, and the 340 for larger (or at least that's the starting game plan), I was wondering if the TTSX was better for either.

Plus I may have an angle on M70 375 H& H

Duc,

After speaking with the Brooks...and...shooting a lot of them myself...for all practical purposes...when comparing TSX to TTSX...6 one way...half-dozen the other...both great bullets and fine choice for your application.

Mr. Tape,

I don't think even in Namibia you'll get long enough shots that the TTSX's better B.C. will be of any advantage. I have a some reservation about the TTSX as a story was related to me of the tip breaking off in a gun making the rifle temporarily inoperable. Not what you want on safari.

Your 270, 340 and the possible 375 would all be great choices with the TSX. The 270 gr TSX is now my go to load for the H&H which I think is all you need for everything except elephant.

Mark

OK...I will just come out and say it...I agree with Mark...I...would just load the plain ole TSX.

I have shot both out of my .300 WM at my 800 yd range...they shoot exactly the same for me.

As for shooting game...a looonnngggg shot for me is 200 yds!

Marks advice is...as usual...spot-on and practical.

No expert but I get far better accuracy out of the TSX than the tipped bullet. Just simply performs better. I can shoot consistenly a sub 1/2 group with a 300 win mag and TSX. Only think I have found is you better have velocity to make them expand. Too slow and they are a solid. Only drawback would be at extreme ranges or lower velocity.

quote:

Originally posted by BigBBear:
No expert but I get far better accuracy out of the TSX than the tipped bullet. Just simply performs better. I can shoot consistenly a sub 1/2 group with a 300 win mag and TSX. Only think I have found is you better have velocity to make them expand. Too slow and they are a solid. Only drawback would be at extreme ranges or lower velocity.

Not to be argumentative but I can get the same expansion from the same box of TSX 180 gr bullets from my .308 Win and my .300 W M.

Used Barnes 160 gr. TSX on first safari for plainsgame in 2004. Outstanding performance on shots from 50 yards to 324 yds. This was in 7MM Mag. Next safari used Barnes TSX in 300 gr. for
Cape Buffalo, Waterbuck and Nyala. Again , outstanding performance & one shot kills on all.
Since then I use Barnes TSX for all my hunting rifles. I would stay withn TSX due to proven performance and accuracy for me.

Well I guess I'll step off into it. I've shot over 100 head of African game with Xs, TSXs and now TTSXs. My experience runs from .300H&H to .416 Rigby. In short I think the TSX is an improvement over the X bullet in both fouling and accuracy. I have shared the same experience as an earlier poster, that the TTSX is not quite as accurate as the TSX. I took the TTSX to CAR and shot an 800 pound roan with no problems as the finisher was unnecessary. I used the TSX in .375 on LDE and savanah buff also with good results. The Barnes' line of bullets is really impressive on tough game. I have a zip loc full of perfect musrooms of TSX bullets that I've taken out of most African game. Probably my favorite load is the .338 RUM with a 250gr TSX on anything but ele or rhino. Great accuracy and stunning terminal performance. I've shot several eland at 300+ yds and they couldn't get up after the first shot. I'd shoot the TSXs unless your rifle shoots the TTSXs well and there is some serious long range shooting to be done where BC is going to be an issue.
I am reminded of the FAR SIDE cartoon where the two cave men are staring at the mastadon that is dead on his back with only one arrow in him. The one cave man says," We need to write that place down." Just get good shot placement and either the TSX or TTSX will do the rest. Good hunting. MMP

Gentlemen,

I have since searched "TTSX" (imagine that) and read many posts, mostly from the medium bore forum. Many there claim that due to the larger nose cavity and the delrin tip, expansion is better on smaller game or at lower velocities, with wound channels perhaps more akin to the Nosler BT or maybe AB than the TSX.

Would folks here, who seem on average to have many more kills, concur? At this point I'm mainly talking about sub 300 calibers.

Hi Duct.
I agree with Mufasa, and have about the same amount of experience (10 African safaris). I would stick with the TSX to avoid expansion on smaller animals and reduce unnecessary and undesirable destruction. In Africa, you never know what the next animal you shoot might be. Anything from an Eland to a Duicker.

I would suggest that you load your Weatherby calibers down a bit in velocity. Kevin "Doctari" Robertson explains the reasons better than I can in "The Perfect Shot", which I highly recommend. If you are going to the SCI show in REno you can probably get an autographed copy from him and also discuss the point. He is very approachable. (He is also a veterinarian in addition to being a fine PH.) You can also order a copy from Safari Press.

Good hunting.

Mr. Tape,

I think at least in theory the TTSX will open more easily than the TSX but they cannot be compared to the BT or AB because the BT and AB are completely different bullets that are designed to be frangible and particulalry in the case of the BT they are designed to almost instantly fragment causing a grenade effect. The TTSX or TSX are designed to retain nearly 100% of their weight and that has to cause them to produce a much smaller although deeper wound channel.

Mark

while i agree with mark I must say i have shot several small animals with a 300wby with 180 grain tsx with the hope of having a nice full mount only to have the animal basically explode with tsx so if you think it will not cause damage to small animals maybe you will have better luck than i did. i was shocked at the massive wounds on jackal and duiker.

My experience with Barnes TSX matched gerryb's results. Jackals exploded. However, when using the 300 Weatherby loaded with Barnes TSX on Kudu, Gemsbok and Waterbuck, the results were outstanding and my PH constantly commented on the combination being outstanding. I was shooting a 180 grain bullet. I lack the experience that many old African Hands have, I cannot but believe this is a superior load with wonderful penetration and from all I've read from fellas who've killed truckloads of game, Barnes makes a wonderful bullet.

I've used the X and TSX in .338, .375, and .416 calibers in game as light as deer and piggies to heavies like Cape Buffalo.

I have always gone one step down in weight save for the .375 where I might need the penetration performance of a bigger gun.

Have never had the first problem in the field. They just work.

gerryb,

I've noted other posters recounting the use of the TSX on the small guys with perfect satisfaction so I have to think that the 3,200 FPS of the 300 WBY contributed to the destruction you witnessed. I've used the TSX as my main load on the last 4 safaris but when I hunted the small antelope on purpose I used solids, 22 Hornet or shotgun.

Mark

I think the reg tsx expand quit quickly also. I shot a jackel with a 350gr 416 tsx and it blew him completely in half. I suspect if it did not expand quickly this would not have happend. I agree that the slight bc advantage is negligible but I suspect there may be more reliable expansion with the ttsx due to a larger cavity in the bullet. I however never rely expasion since all bullets will fail to expand on occasion and as such use larger calibers to ensure adequate tissue distruction.

I have used TTSX out of my .338 and nothing ever walked away, I love them, boattailed and all. I hand load them and they fly just perfect. I do shoot alot of range and they are right on. Can not go wrong with them.......

...like I said...TTSX or TSX???...6 one way...1/2 dozen the other!

In process of switching all TSX to TTSX and of those switched accuracy has actually been slightly better than with TSX.

Cleanly (DRT) killed a 330 class elk with the 168 TTSX out of 300 Wby slightly quartering toward me. Bullet entered about 1/3 down in left shoulder, broke the neck and made gravy out of the lungs. Did not retrieve the bullet and it did not exit. FYI, caught my guide/outfitter looking through his Cabela's catalog when we returned to his home and he was looking for some 168 TTSX for his own 300 Wby and he and his wife and knocked many, many elk down.

Prior to this experience I killed seven African animals with the 210 TTSX out of my 338-06. All were clean one shot kills with animals ranging from Zebra, sable to impala. Zebra went forty yards before giving it up and all the rest dropped at the shot. All exited other than the sable and it was found in perfect Barnes ad style.

That is all so FAR but expect more to follow.

QUOTE]Originally posted by ledvm:
...like I said...TTSX or TSX???...6 one way...1/2 dozen the other![/QUOTE]

Lane could you please tell us how you feel the the TTSX compares to the TSX?

All kidding aside I've used X and TSX for the last 15 years or so and I've killed hundreds upon hundreds of head of game with them. I had a lease in Texas where I'd shoot several hundred hogs a year for the last decade or so everything from little pot porkers to big nasty boars. I've killed several cape buffalo piles of plains game and piles of deer, elk, bears and various assorted North American critters.
I've never had an or a TSX fail me. I use them in any thing from a .308 to a .470.

I found the TSX to be a vast improvement over the X in regards to accuracy and fouling also I think they open faster and more violently than the old X.