Why does the Barnes X bullet now have 3 grooves , I have read it is because the original bullet created to much pressure, and it also fouled the bore badly. High pressure, fouled bore, this is why it was redesigned. Is this true. thanks

[ 11-10-2003, 01:23: Message edited by: 243winxb ]

The old X bullets were nasty, a chicken fell out of my barrel.

More drag from the long (for weight) bullets would sometimes result in slightly lower velocities, fouling was a problem in some barrels, pressures could be higher due to the monolithic design, and accuracy was a hit or miss proposition (no pun intended, OK, maybe just a small one). That's what i've read in various sources. I've just now gotten my hands on some(thanks to the kindness of Mark Dobrenski, thanks again Mark) and will be testing them over the next little while on paper and, hopefully, moose, elk, and mulies. - Dan

Dan
I just shot some 140's out out of my 98 chambered for 7mm Dakota this afternoon. The first group, just looking for some pressure signs, were 3/4''.
A very promising start.
Shayne

Iam using them next week on mulies. The TSX's,168gr., are doing good in my .300WM with RL22, 78.5gr., and Fed 215M primers.
I realize this powder charge is a little low for the TSX, but it gives great accuracy. No chrono.

5 shot group @ 100yds, was a little over a half inch..sakofan..

[ 11-09-2003, 11:48: Message edited by: sakofan ]

"The new triple shock Barnes X provides three stages of shock when it is delivered"

Awsome! Now there is a bullet that kills an animal three times with one shot. What a bunch of snakeoil hype..

Products get developed in the marketplace. This is nothing new. First we had X bullet, then XLC's and now triple somethings.

If it were just that but the Barnes loading manual #3 is really off the wall with dangerous loads and they never recalled them.

Since the Groove bullets, triple somethings and GS bullets all have some sort of rings on them maybe this design is getting close where it should be.

I would like a non lead bullet available. As far as the effect on game goes the other bullets are just fine with me.

Sierras do better..Not in my experience!

POP,

Were you the guy that asked about Match Kings?

Sierras will shoot better groups, but don't hold a candle to an X Bullet for game performance.

The grooves in the x-bullets overcome the biggest problem the copper bullets have: fitting into the bore.

If you have a long copper bullet of the correct diameter, and you have a barrel that is a little "tight" resizing that hunk of copper is going to require some pressure. Much more than a corresponding amount of soft lead.

The grooves allow the copper an easy place to move to, reducing the engraving pressure required. It makes the bullet less sensitive to diameter variations, too, which would improve it's accuracy. FWIW, Dutch.

I am proud to say I never read that thread.

I do not blame you. I subscribed to it and over 1300 e-mails later (one for every response) I was ready ti kill myself!