I saw where Federal has (or at least had) a 130gr Barnes TSX in .300 Win Mag.

It moves along at about 3500 fps MV.

I have never used an all copper bullet, but I was wondering if this would be a good combo for long range shots at antelope.

Would it open up fast enough?

All of my previous antelope have been killed with a 139gr PSP in Wby .7mm Mag. (Alas I no longer own this gun.)

Anyone ever try this load on antelope?

Thanks.

BH63

I've killed several antelope using the 80gr TTSX out of my 243 Win at 3415 fps. This combination has produced excellent results on both antelope and whitetails. As a matter of fact, it will be the same combo I'll be using when going afield on Saturday.

All that said, I can't think of a reason why a bullet heavier, larger and faster wouldn't produce similar results.

Good luck!

Such a light bullet will shed velocity and energy quicker than a heavier bullet, but it would have ample energy for a pronghorn as far away as it would be appropriate to shoot at such an animal. However, you might be surprised how its trajectory begins to rainbow out where "flat" trajectory counts the most.

Yes, such a load will kill just fine, provided the bullet strikes the animal in the proper place. How accurately a given rifle will shoot a given load is another question altogether. So, only you can answer whether this load in your rifle would be an appropriate one for any type of game pending actually shooting it for grouping and accuracy.

Haven't tried it but it's use well result in dead antelope.

I would be a bit concerned about meat damage.

My first antelope hunt was in 2017 with two doe tags in Wyoming.
Hunted for lopes on my way to the unit I had an elk tag for. So, I was using the rifle I brought to hunt elk, my .300 win mag.
Used 180gr ELD-X bullet over 76gr of R-22.
I expected serious carnage, but both were knocked flat, and with minimal meat damge.
Both shot straight through the shoulders, breaking the bones on one side, one at around 80yrds and the other closer to 200.
The 180 will probably work well for all North American big and bigger game .
Most 1-10 twist .300 mags don't group bullets under 165gr very well at all.
Good luck on your hunt.

My brother used a Barnes 110 TTSX in his 270 WSM at some hyper velocity, it is definitely a killer but if you hit an antelope anywhere around the margins you will have a huge gaping wound.
He also killed a large Mule Deer buck and a cow elk with this bullet and it worked like a charm and completely passed through.
Very accurate in his rifle if the 130 is accurate in yours it will be fine.

I've shot 8- 10 antelope with Barnes bullets shot from my 270 (110 grain), 6.5x284 (120 grain) and a 7mm Mag (130 grain), expansion has never been an issue even out past 400 yards.

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff mills:
Most 1-10 twist .300 mags don't group bullets under 165gr very well at all.

The 150 gr TTSX goes well under MOA in both our .300 Win 700s. The 150 gr Accubond is decent in one of those guns. IMR-4831.

As for our .300 WBYs (also 700s) you're right. The 168 gr TTSX seems to be the floor. IMR-7828.

Only reason I bothered to try is we're planning a trip for pronghorn next fall.

Don't be fooled into thinking that a light bullet at very high velocity holds some advantage over a slightly heavier bullet at a lower velocity.

Here is a comparison between a 130 gr TTSX at 3500 fps and a 150 gr Nosler A-Bond at 3300 fps, both zeroed at 200 yards:

TTSX: 500 yard drop 31.9", 10mph crosswind drift 21.6", energy 1,306 fp.

Nosler: 500 yard drop 32.6", drift 17.9, energy 1625 fp.

TTSX: 600 yard drop 55.8", drift 32", energy 1042 fp

Nosler 600 yard drop 56.3, drift 26.9, energy 1360 fp

The long range drop is almost identical, so is of no consequence. The more difficult to judge wind drift is somewhat better for the heavier bullet. And energy is strongly in favor of the heavier bullet. Either of these loads will take a pronghorn (and at quite a distance), but the lighter bullet is in several ways a bit inferior to the heavier bullet.

Moral to story: Don't let dazzling muzzle velocity unduly influence your choice. If it were performance at the muzzle that counted then a .32 ACP would probably do the job.

Thanks for all the great information.

I will definitely do some shooting with the 130gr bullets before taking them on a hunt.

BH63

Ive killed more Antelope at 100 to 200 yards than at longer distances.

If long range is on the docket, then you need to look at BC....not starting velocity. On an extremely long shot, the better BC bullet, will shot flatter, retain more velocity, have more energy, and be affected less by a crosswind. You could probably start an “airsoft pellet” at unbelievable velocities, but it will slow very quickly!
If long range is a criteria....a higher BC is your friend, not a high starting velocity! memtb

^
Actually the BC of the 130 gr Barnes Tipped Triple Shock is .358. It starts out at 3500 fps.

For comparison, the BC of the 180 gr Winchester Silvertip is .508. It starts out at 3275 fps.

According to Ammo & Ballistics 5, at 500 yds with a 10 MPH wind you are looking at a wind drift difference of just over 3 inches for the two bullets (20.2" for the 130 gr and 16.8 for the 180 gr).

Cheers,

BH63

I think I'm gonna use my 25-06 this weekend on a speed goat. Drew a doe tag which is perfect!

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
Ive killed more Antelope at 100 to 200 yards than at longer distances.

I'm with Ray on this one. To often people automatically think all antelope are shot way out there. In reality doing a little sneaking brings them in much closer. Plus it's more fun.

Yes, a howitzer will kill a jack rabbit just fine.

quote:

Originally posted by Cougarz:

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
Ive killed more Antelope at 100 to 200 yards than at longer distances.

I'm with Ray on this one. To often people automatically think all antelope are shot way out there. In reality doing a little sneaking brings them in much closer. Plus it's more fun.

I knew an old sourdough from Wyoming who was a lumberjack in the summer and a guide in the winter. He would say that patience is the key. Speed goats are skittish, but they are also curious. He would also put all of his hunting duds in a trunk and spray them down with pine scent or something similar. His weapon of choice was the old 264 W Mag. He used it for everything.

quote:

Originally posted by BuffHunter63:
^
Actually the BC of the 130 gr Barnes Tipped Triple Shock is .358. It starts out at 3500 fps.

For comparison, the BC of the 180 gr Winchester Silvertip is .508. It starts out at 3275 fps.

According to Ammo & Ballistics 5, at 500 yds with a 10 MPH wind you are looking at a wind drift difference of just over 3 inches for the two bullets (20.2" for the 130 gr and 16.8 for the 180 gr).

Cheers,

BH63

Shoot a Hornady ELDX at 3000 (I can get that easily from my RUM, not sure about a WM) and the drift is 12.8 inches - significantly better.

As Stonecreek and memtb said, starting velocity is not the panacea it would seem to be.

Assuming you have an accurate rifle and know how to shoot, wind is the reason you miss at long range, not bullet drop (unless you have a wide MV ES).