The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Medium Bore Rifles 250 gr 9.3 "X" Performance - PhotosGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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While setting up to take a photo of my recovered .338 185 TSX for another post I snapped a couple of photos of the 250 gr Barnes X's that I recovered from a trip to Africa 5 years ago. They were fired from my FN 9.3x62 with a muzzle velocity of 2650 fps.   Left to right. A gemsbuck taken at 80 yards through the shoulders with the bullet found under the hide. A bushbuck taken at 90 yards entering a hair left of the tail and recovered in the neck. The third took two kudu. The bull at 170 yards I was aiming at and a cow whose misfortune was to bolt by behind the bull at the shot. The bullet went through the bull just behind the shoulder and into the cow on the point of the shoulder and was recovered under her hide on the off side. The last one was taken from an eland at 30 yards after a long track due to the first shot landing a bit low. The bull leaped to his feet when we got to him and ran. The bullet entered a bit high on the shoulder, rolled him over, and was found in the off shoulder. Recovered bullet weights for all but the last one is 250 grs. The last one weighs 222 grs. With the exception of the gemsbuck, all shots resulted in near immediate death. The gemsbuck did a bit of a round around then dropped. | ||
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I'm sold on Barnes X bullets after seeing what they did on plains game in Namibia. However, I got nothing to show for it as all were pass throughs. 225 gr out of my 338-06AI for zebra, 2 kudu, gemsbok, warthog and red hartebeeste. 6 springboks also using 85gr .257 X bullets. I was thrilled with the performance but disappointed that I didn't get to collect one expanded copper bullet to display like Boxhead. Even hitting the shoulder broadside they plowed out into the Mopane thornbush. Yes, I was VERY aware of what was behind my targets as I had no extra cash in reserve for 2 trophies with 1 bullet. Thanks for posting the pics. | |||
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Boxhead, How did the 185 TSX look. I'm headed for a Elk hunt this fall and thought I might use the 185 in my 338-06. Please post a pic | |||
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Boxhead Thanks for the pics I have been shooting the Barnes X bullets of 12 years and have never found one , never took more that one shoot and never lost a Animal. They are the ultimate in bullets. Throw the NP in the trash or give them to a old timer that dosen't know any better. Dr B | |||
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Boxhead, Great photos! I can post almost identical pictures from my 35 Whelen and 225 grain Barnes X and TSX. BigBullet "Half the FUN of the travel is the esthetic of LOSTNESS" Ray Bradbury https://www.facebook.com/Natal...443607135825/?ref=hl | |||
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Bigbullet please post some pics. I would like to see some because I just bought a 35 whelen and am interested in the barnes xxx shocks performance and accuracy. Mine has the 1 in 16 twist so maybe 225's would be best. Like this rifle more than I thought I would. Straight shootin to ya | |||
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.300 WM 200 gr Barnes X, mv 2,850, into the centre chest of a black bear at 150 yards, ran his length and was recovered between hide and thigh behind his left thigh. Weighed ~202 grains on recovery. Bear died (you were wondering how I got the bullet, eh?). | |||
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X2 I got a Whelen being built as we speak as well and looking trying to decide on my moose bullet for next fall. The 225 TSX is also at the top of my list. I'd love to see these pics. | |||
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BigBullet "Half the FUN of the travel is the esthetic of LOSTNESS" Ray Bradbury https://www.facebook.com/Natal...443607135825/?ref=hl | |||
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i think that the x bullet is better in lager calibers. a friend used them in 6,5x55 but they did not expand good, and they gave high pressures and they fouled the barrel very much, so he used swift insted,but from 8mm and up something happens,they became better bullets. i saw a 250grs x once that had expanded so good like the ones in the pictures, that one had been taken from a moose that had gotten it on 300 meters. guess if iam going to try them in my 358 norma magnum | |||
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I prefer the 225 gr bullets in the Whelen myself, but don't be afraid to use 250 gr if that's your preference. The 1:16 twist will handle it.  | |||
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Thanks for posting those pics BigBullet. Got to love those TSX! | |||
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Here's the 185 gr 338 TSX that was recovered from this fellow in 2004,   While I was unimpressed with the recovered slug, weighing 122 grs, that bull just flat dropped at the shot. Range was a lasered 270 yards and it was launched out of my 338-06 at a bit under 3000 fps. The bullet entered just behind the near shoulder on a slight quartering away shot and centered the off shoulder landing under the hide (amazing to me how that hide seems to stop so many bullets). In a 338 Mag I would move up to the 225 gr TSX and I will likely bump up to the 210 gr in my gun. | |||
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Here's a 160gr from my 7mm Rem Mag recovered in a bull moose last fall. 100 yard shot, quartering toward shot, bullet entered at the neck shoulder junction and was recovered on the opposite side kidney area (yes, against the hide again) 100% weight retention.  | |||
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The Barnes-X bullet and its younger brother, the TSX, will generally perform well up to 2,650 fps, before it starts to lose petals - that is if no major bone was struck. Over-expansion, where the petals are folded close to the shank, is a clear sign that the impact velocity was too high. These mono-metals will yield picture book perfect performance when they strike between 2,200 and 2,300 fps - penetration is very good and meat damage is minimized at the same time. Try this out and then you decide if you will ever need more impact velocity than this. Good hunting Chris | |||
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Bigbullet thanks for the photo's. Boxhead and BCSteve thanks too. I believe that the barnes or a nosler partition in the 35 whelen,9.3's or the 338-06 is the way to go for large game. Although I have no first hand experience with them the experience's and advice from the people on this forum have got me convinced. I'll try the 225gr. first for the little better trajectory but 250's are not out. Thanks again fella's. Straight shootin to ya | |||
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Raybass I have some 250gr Speer Hotcore and Hornady SP and just ordered yesterday some 250 Speer Grand Slam and 225gr TSX. When my .35 Whelen is ready (1-2 weeks) I'm planning to do some penetration/espansion tests in wet newspaper to compare all four. I'll let you guys know the results. | |||
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BCSteve Let us know and I'll bet there are plenty that would like to see the results of your test. Interested to see what the grand slams will do,I think there was something on the forum about grand slams not expanding on game in somebody's 35 not sure of that though. Straight shootin to ya | |||
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BCSteve, I have done my own similar testing. I had looked at the 225 gr Nosler Partitiion as well. I won't tell the results at this time though as I don't want to influence your testing. But, one thing to check out is the wound channel between the different bullets. They are not all the same. Good luck with your testing. I am very curious to hear of your results. truvelloshooter - I agree with your assesment of the monometals. Though even if they do hit bone at the moderate velocities the petals may still remain attached. BigBullet "Half the FUN of the travel is the esthetic of LOSTNESS" Ray Bradbury https://www.facebook.com/Natal...443607135825/?ref=hl | |||
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Well, if there's that much interest maybe I should start charging for the results   I should have my Whelen in a week or two and don't plan on waisting too much before starting to play with it. My test's results with pics should follow shortly (and they will be free!). | |||
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Regarding the 35 Whelen, I have used only the 250 gr Partition and the 250 gr Speer on big game (elk, nilgai and black bear) and found that the plain ol' Speer is a solid performer and, perhaps, the Partition more than is needed? That said, a Partition has always delivered the goods. Prior to the use of the TSX in my 338-06 my bullet of choice was, and perhaps may still be, the 210 gr Partition at 2800 fps. Now I have not recovered one of those bullets... | |||
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