I shot a caribou this fall with a 185 grain.338 triple shock. 12" barrel encore handgun. Muzzle velocity was only 2600fps. One bullet was recovered after smashing shoulders, perfect mushroom. I love barnes bullets. Can't tell you about increase in velocity. This was the only bullet shot in this barrel.

Saeed has no need to mess with the Triple Shock. He rolls his own Walterhogs. What could possibly be better? For lesser mortals who can't make their own bullets, and who can't get GSC's reliably, the Triple Shock is a great alternative, and so is the North Fork. The North Fork works at any velocity. Some have said the Triple Shock does not open up reliably over the entire velocity spectrum. Barnes will fiddle with the size and fracture scoring of their hollowpoint and get it right eventually. I don't have enough experience to comment further, but the GSC HV's will do about 100 fps better than X-bullets in my experience, and I don't see how the Triple Shock could do any better than that without excessive pressures. They will probably fall somewhere between the X-Bullet and the GSC HV on all quality issues, and that is very good territory to be in.

Hello gang,

Being a bullet freak and always looking forward to learn more about bullets, I decided to post and inquire about the new Barnes Triple-Shock. I was wondering if anyone had ever used them and if they noticed less fooling compared to the conventional x-bullet. The other thing I was wondering is if there was a real increase in velocity as stated by Barnes,(between 125 to 150 fps) over conventional x-bullets. If this is true, it would meen that I could push out of my 375H&H a 270gr at 2800 to 2850 fps and a 300gr at around 2700 fps... That would give me a little better trajectories when hunting deer at 300 yards...

P.S. Saeed, if you read this thread, I would love to hear from any expreience you had with that particular bullet... the Triple Shock version... and reloading info for the H&H version would be appreciated to.

Enigma

Ray:

When I firts used X's about 10 years ago, I had instances where they were complete pass-throughs. Thorough post mortems showed very little, if any at all expansion. WHen pushed at lower velocities, as in the 7x57, it was far worse. WHen shooting sounthern whitetails, they would run off with ZERO signs of being hit and then run a mile. THis can be a very bad thing in the thick stuff down South. Plus I had terrible fouling problems

Played with TSX's this year and they shot incredibly well and fouled liek any bullet. Used one on a sheep this August adn will loan the rifle and ammo to a friend for the next two weeks in MN and Canada. I'll be watching it closely. I was hoping they had this non-expansion thing lined out. I am glad to hear you say this (though very sorry you lost the deer). Every other person I told this story to told me I was crazy. Maybe I had a bad batch from the early runs, but I was sure soured on them. Will have to watch the new TSX's very closely.

I said on the Big Game forum that I think X bullets are too hard for deer sized animals, and I won't use them triple shock or old style. I have a recovered X bullet that I put through a big bull elk that didn't open at all. It went through the heart and broke the humerus on the other side and was found under the skin of the leg. That bullet showed no expansion at all, and I think that's what you're going to see when the speed of the bullet is too slow.

I think X bullets are great bullets for larger game; my bullet that didn't expand was probably going too slow for expansion.

Maybe Terry Blauwkamp will chime in here. he's done extensive hunting with them in Africa on a variety of game with great results. I still think that the TSX and for that matter ALL premium bullets are a waste on thin skinned, light bone animals like deer. Regardless, I plan to use the TSX (180gr 3006@2750 fps 3006) next month on Maine deer. jorge

OK, I'll chime in.

I've had wonderful results with TSX, both on game and on paper.

With the 7 mag and 160 gr TSX I got perfect expansion and pass thru a nice White Tail Buck.

In Africa, I used the 140 gr TSX in my 270 Win for numerous head of game aand the 225 grTSX in my 338 Win Mag for several too.

The PH's I hunted with were "impressed" with it's performance.
In one situation, on a Gemsbok in heavy cover, I had only a hard quartering shot away. My PH asked if I could make the shot? Yep I replied. So he said, "do it".

The 225 TSX went in the last rib, and passed thru and out the brisket. The Gemsbok, just fell down at the shot.

Later my PH told me, "I seldom would let you, let alone any other hunter, take that shot, had I not seen the previous performance of the TSX."

That said a lot for his thoughts on using them.

I have pictures of a couple 338 cal 225 TSX that were recoverd, plus more details on TSX bullet performance on the hunt.

Write me and I'll send them to you.

tblauwkamp@superior-sales.com

Ray and all:

I used the TSX while hunting in Tanzania ( with Pierre van Tonder) on Buff, Zebra, and Heartebeast. On the two Buff I used a 458 Lott 500 grain TSX at nominal 2250 fps we only recovered one bullet. That bullet was from a front on (facing shoulder shot) the passed through the length of the Buff while breaking the back leg coming to rest against the hide...it was a perfectly mushroomed "X" weighing 499 grains! On broadside shoulder shots this load/bullet combination completely passes through causing much destruction.

On the Zebra I shot (approx. 200 yds) quartering away..I had to shoot behing the last rib...I shot a little farer back than I wanted, however, the 375 H&H 270 grain TSX (nomial 2720 fps)continued on through lungs, etc exiting the neck, a significant amount of penetration. The Heartebeast was shot 120 yds with 375 behing on shoulder exiting the other shoulder. Both Zebra and Heartebeast took one shot.

While searching for a bullet that would produce accuracy at long range while holding together at high impact velocities we went through alot of testing of different bullets this past year. In every instance the TSX were the most accurate in the rifles we tested...and especially in Weatherby calibers/rifles.

I imagine conditions, shot placement, distance/velocity, etc all play into the results we obtain with different load/rifle combinations. In my opinon and experience to date, the TSX is an extremely accurate hunting bullet while also being very tough. Would I use it under all conditions, etc...probably not...as I see impact velocities (at distances) and the relative size/toughness of the game to be part of the equation. We plan on using the TSX when we head to Canada in a couple of weeks to hunt Whitetails...Why...because we hunt cut lanes where shots can be short and rather long...we use high velocity rounds i.e. 30-378's, etc...pushing the 168 grain TSX at nominal 3500 fps...under those conditions, etc..I think the TSX will work great...we will see...I hope...

If I was using a cartridge will lower potential impact velocity??? (say maybe less than 2800 fps or so) and the game is lightly constructed, such as deer... I would opt for the lightest bullet weigth(acceptable for the game)in the TSX to obtian higher impact velocity...I know other will say it works at lower velocities as well...but I think the TSX, X, or XLC's need to be pushed at higher velocities (than standard or even other premimum bullets) on animials such as Deer...

That said a Deer shot at 40 yards (as Ray explained) at those impact veloicities should have expired quickly...so that concerns me (Ray's experience)...but I still plan on using them, hopefully I will have some results in three weeks to report.

I have had only very good experience with X bullets even on Whitetail...and the TSX is a better bullet...more accurate, higher velocities, less bullet fouling, etc...I do not think it will be long for Barnes to discontinue at least the standard X and may be the XLC's as the TSX makes them obsolete in my view!

When I go back to Africa...I hope soon!...I will use the TSX without reservation...although I will try the Northforks Ray had such a good experience with, when they become available...

Good luck, JJS

So far I've taken 5 animals with a 300wsm using the 200gr XTS, 2 Blue Wildebeest, 1 Zebra, 1 Impala, and 1 Grey Duiker. The longest shot was about 85 yards or so, on one of the Wildebeest. The shortest was 40 yards on the Duiker and from the looks of the exit hole I'd say it opened up. I really like the 300wsm-Barnes-XTS combo and plan to use it on many more hunts.

I saw my first head of game shot with a tripleX this year a 5x5 Mule Deer with a 150 gr. tripleX in a .308 at near 2800 FPS, the shot at 40 yards was right on the spot, no blood except at the hit scene and very little there, no deer, I was observing with binocs..

I tracked him until he got in with a bunch of other deer in the Ceanosa brush, then it was hopeless. I tracked for about 4 hours before he got in with those other deer, mostly on my hands and knees in that horrible stuff, then my tracking capabilities ceased.

IMO the bullet did not open up..and being an unforgiving soul and having had problems with Barnes X in the past, I think I will just give up on using them and use GS Customs, Nosler, Northforks and Woodleighs...

When a Barnes works it is par excellent, but when it fails and it does on ocassion, it fails miserably....I have been the unlucky one where Barnes bullets are concerned and I know other who have had good success with them...I have seen a number of failures in Africa and always on smaller game as they always seem to work perfect on big animals...

Did one of us get caught voting for solids before he voted against them????!!!
I thought that was Kerry's kind of rhetoric.
Sorry Ray, but when I read Surestrikes' post I couldn't resist.

I've seen between 50 and 100 animals shot with X's (mostly original X's and XLC's) and I can't remember one failing to expand. The Triple Shocks sure seem to be accurate too and with less copper fouling than standard X's in my experience.

Kyler

There have been several threads started on this and I have mentioned my success with TSXs there. Suffice it to say that I am very pleased with them. In Africa my dad and I shot 14 animals ranging in size from jackal to kudu with 140 grain TSXs from a .270 WSM and 225 grainers from my .338 Win. There was no evidence of a failure to open, even on the jackal I shot at close range with my .338.

A couple days ago I shot a smallish muley buck with a 100 grain TSX out of my .257AI at 133 yards. The shot was quartering away uphill. The bullet entered the left side of the deer, taking out the second and third ribs (from the back). The deer dropped at the shot and never even twitched. I was a little surprised to find that the bullet didn't exit - until I butchered the little bugger. The bullet passed through those two ribs and the vitals, totally destroying the heart and liquifying the lungs, smashed upwards through the spine (about 4" of it), and came to rest just inside the top of the right shoulder. It was a perfect X bullet mushroom and could appear in Barnes' catalog! I'm sold on these bullets and will happily use them for all my hunting - even the little critters like deer.

I could repost plenty of pictures but I'll just keep it short instead:

My experience: you do not need any other bullet, at any range. Shoot smartly. At shots less than 75 yards, aim for bone. Expansion has never been an issue.

To date I've killed or have seen killed with my loads, 3 mule deer, 8 whitetails (all sizes), 7 coyotes, and 2 black bears.

Accuracy surpasses Sierras in my rifles.

Bullets used: 130 TSX in 270 Win. 168 TSX in 30.06 and 300 SAUM, and 300 RUM.

Good luck.

A few weeks ago I used the 185 gr TSX in my 338-06 to drop (instantly I might add) a very old, large bodied 5x6 elk at a lasered 269 yards. I recovered the bullet just under the hide after entering behind the near shoulder and centering the off one. Recovered weight was 121 grs, all petals were gone. I was surprised by this at that distance. Muzzle velocity was 3000 fps. I used the standard 250 gr X in my 9.3x62 on game from springbuck through eland and all but the eland dropped at the shot. The eland was hit low and required a second shot. On 10 animals I have been impressed and will continue to use them. The TSX is also unbelievably accurate in my 338-06.

Ray,

Do you believe that a deer can survive having a .308 diameter hole punched through both lungs even with a non- expanded bullet?

The most common trait of a pointed solid is that it tumbles and or does not give straight line pentration after hitting bone. This is a problem on thick skined DG animals where deep straight line pentration is esential. A tumbling .30 would not be a problem on a light critter like a deer in regards to killing it.

I am still guessing that the said bullet did not get into the thorasic region. A low or high placement possibly?

Depending on light, angle, etc etc I know I've called more than one shot wrong when observing through glass....

Having shot more than a few animals with military style ball ammo and having it kill them very dramatically most of the time. I just can't believe that bullet was perfectly in the sweet spot.

I'm not telling you what to shoot, it doesn't really matter to me. I'm just asking if there could have been another explination?

Got to jump in here. I've had only a few hunters bring Barnes X along. Both times ended up in a tracking job and not necessarily from poor shooting. I've also seen total bullet failure on an eland from a 7 mag and on a water buff with the 180gr out of a 300 win mag. On the eland, we recovered a perfect bullet that you could have reloaded - no expansion what so ever. On the buff I noted that the bullets tumbled soon after entry. Closer examination revealed that one petal came off early causing the bullet to turn on it's axis thus stopping penetration. I don't use them and don't recommend them. Loved the old Barnes Original though. Wish they'd start making them again.

I shot my first Federal factory TSX bullets at paper this AM and was mighty impressed with accuracy. I have a tempermental pre-garcia sako in '06 that I have tried every premium factory load in to no avail. This TSX bullet had no problem in 1" accuracy. Same for a pre-64 '06 win that I just acquired for the action. Had shot the same factory ammo that would not shoot in the sako it would not group them either but low and behold this rifle also shot the TSX ammo in about an inch. These were the 180 gr TSX. Also had along a Husky in 270 that is pretty accurate with win fail safe 140's. The 130 gr TSX's again shot close to 1" accuracy. I will test them on whitetail during the season and report on their terminal effect on "thin skin".

Ive had and seen similar results as Ray and Pancho while using Barnes X bullets. Seen too many game either lost or almost lost due to non expansion of these bullets therefore I dont use them JMHO.

Had a hunter in camp with us in Africa this year using Barnes X bullets he almost lost a couple animals and came back very late on more than 1 occasion due to tracking his game for a long time before finishing the job. He had to shoot his eland 4-5 times before it went down 3-4 of these bullets caused little damage just punched holes right on thru in fact one bullet passed thru the the shoulder and left a perfect circle bone didnt even crack,chip etc. It just caused me even more not to use this bullet. But im sure as have been said others experienced very different results and im of the opinion if it works for you then do it. I personally wont use barnes bullets.

Surestrike,
I know a deer can make a lot of tracks shot through both lungs with a non expanding solid, and I have a Swift softpoint that came out of my last years buffalo that passed through both lungs perfectly expanded and came to rest on the off side shoulder, it was confined in a a ball of grissel and the lungs showed a pass through scar..I have seen the same on a bull elk and have talked to other who have also witnessed such things, so to answer your question, yes it is possible and does happen, although very seldom I'm sure.....

During WW2, the only ammo available to us was black market military ball ammo, and that is what we had to hunt with on our West Texas ranch...Most of those bullets slipped right through the deer, and I would venture contrary to what you have been told, that one in 30 or 40 tumbled..Fortunately it was big wide open country in that Big Bend and although the deer ran a good ways, we could always find them, mostly due to the tracking ability of our Mexicans, and later on I just took head shots as a few of them just made too many tracks..

As in any forum on Barnes X you will always hear from some disenters which tells me that my evaluation on them is correct, as their experience is exactly the same as mine..I know your a Barnes X fan, and that's fine if you have confidence in them, I on the other hand choose not to use them because an ocassional failure is one too many in my books.....Guess that what makes a horse race...

I almost hate to ask, but are the GS HV's still available?
Have they resolved their shipping problems?

Thanks