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TSX & TTSX EXPANSION Reliability?
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My apologies if this has been discussed at length before?

I write this post because I honestly don’t know the answer and would like to hear from those with first-hand, game on the ground experience. From reading hundreds of posters who’ve used Barnes bullets, it appears the majority favor the TSX and TTSX. Many with their strongest recommendation. But there are others who don’t and cite their disappointments as well. Me? I’m just trying to get a better handle on whether they can be trusted to EXPAND. Penetration is not the issue or the question. From what I’ve gathered, their reputation for penetration has already been well established. Likewise for accuracy…mostly high marks.

My experience has been very limited…2 whitetail deer, approximately 140 lbs, distance 90 and 150 yards. 7 Rem Mag handload, 140 gr TTSX. Both pass-through, both deer lost with no blood trail. Rifle is very accurate as was the <moa load. Broadside shots were made from a stand, solid hold, crosshairs tucked behind the elbow. That’s where both bullets went. Both deer exited and vanished with no signs of a hit.

I’d like to try the TTSX in a few other cartridges but, based on the above, have reservations.

Lastly, please don’t remind me that no bullet is perfect and can fail. True. But I’m not the only one voicing “lack of expansion” issues and why I’m asking…before I write these bullets off entirely. I would greatly appreciate any “first hand experiences” you’d like to share.
 
Posts: 136 | Registered: 08 December 2013Reply With Quote
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TASK1,

Read over your post twice. My question is how do you know you got pass throughs if you did not recover the deer? I don't doubt you did with the TSX but you stated flatly that you did get pass throughs on both deer. I have shot quite a few animals now with TSX's and in some cases they do run further than you would expect with a straight through lung shot. 200 yards would be a pretty long run but I've not lost an animal hit well either.

Mark


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Posts: 13091 | Location: LAS VEGAS, NV USA | Registered: 04 August 2002Reply With Quote
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Barnes bullets are outstanding when they work but very very bad when they fail, but that's a pretty broad statement..

If you didn't recover the deer, you really don't know what happened. but with any bullet an animal can run 200 yards or better on occasions..I can name half a dozen times when an animal ran between 200 yards and half a mile shot well with a big rifle..An impala ran a half mile shot with a 416 soft..It just happens, a good reason to use a bullet such as a Rem corelokt or WW power point on deer size animals. Super premium bullets in many cases are just too tough for light animals.


Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
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Posts: 42230 | Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | Registered: 04 June 2000Reply With Quote
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Task, i have friends that have used them and they said the deer run alot further than when shot with softer bullets like the sierras and ballistic tip type bullets. they no longer use them and i would be afraid to trust them. a broad side deer shot behind the shoulder is only a few inches wide and i doubt there is much energy transfer from a deep penetrating bullet in that short distance.
 
Posts: 241 | Registered: 15 January 2010Reply With Quote
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Mark,

You raise a valid question to which I can only say, I "assumed" a 140 gr TTSX at about 3,200 fps would penetrate a WT deer at those ranges. You are correct though...I may very well have been wrong about that?

On both deer, I spent more than a considerable amount of time looking for blood or any sign that would take me to those deer...unsuccessfully. And, I intentionally chose the cartridge and load I thought would ensure the TTSX would have enough terminal velocity to expand? I was most surprised when neither deer showed any sign of being hit?

Again, these are my assumptions and are not meant to contradict what you said. Thank you for your response.
 
Posts: 136 | Registered: 08 December 2013Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by TASK1:
Mark,

You raise a valid question to which I can only say, I "assumed" a 140 gr TTSX at about 3,200 fps would "completely" penetrate a WT deer at those ranges. You are correct though...I may very well have been wrong about that?

On both deer, I spent more than a considerable amount of time looking for blood or any sign that would take me to those deer...unsuccessfully. And, I intentionally chose the cartridge and load I thought would ensure the TTSX would have enough terminal velocity to expand? I was most surprised when neither deer showed any sign of being hit?

Again, these are my assumptions and are not meant to contradict what you said. Thank you for your response.
 
Posts: 136 | Registered: 08 December 2013Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Phil Brousseau:
Task, i have friends that have used them and they said the deer run alot further than when shot with softer bullets like the sierras and ballistic tip type bullets. they no longer use them and i would be afraid to trust them. a broad side deer shot behind the shoulder is only a few inches wide and i doubt there is much energy transfer from a deep penetrating bullet in that short distance.


Phil,

My go-to rifle for this particular area is my 7x57 with the 120 gr BT HUNTING bullet. Time and again, this bullet reliably delivers a DRT. I was hoping for something reasonably close to that with the 140 TTSX out of the 7 RM. Just didn't turn out that way and why I decided to pose this question. Thanks for the reply.
 
Posts: 136 | Registered: 08 December 2013Reply With Quote
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I guided for 30 yrs and have seen many animals shot and killed. I personally have used Barnes bullets in many calibers with never an animal lost, even with the original very hard x-bullets. If you had hit the deer through the lungs with a 7mm ttsx bullet, the deer would be dead. That particular bullet opens very reliable and fast, but keeps on driving. The deer was lost because of poor shooting and not the bullets. Period!
 
Posts: 297 | Location: Clyde Park, MT | Registered: 29 December 2005Reply With Quote
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Trying to delete the 1st of a double post...
 
Posts: 136 | Registered: 08 December 2013Reply With Quote
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I have shot one hog and four Oregon Blacktails (one doe, three bucks,) with 168 TSXs out of a 30-06. I have also shot two Blacktail bucks with a 168 TTSX out of a 300 WSM. Didn't lose any animals and they all fell over dead as fast as with the deer and hogs I have shot with other bullets. I have only recovered one bullet, a TTSX.

It was about a 170 lb Blactail buck full in the rut with a swollen neck and a stinky smell. He was facing me, slightly angled at 60 yds. Bullet hit center of the chest. The deer hunched up, walked 20 feet and fell over. When I field dressed him the lungs were bloodshot jelly and torn up. The butchers found the bullet in one of the hams. The bullet penetrated the entire length of the deer which is what, four feet? It weighed 167 grains and had expanded to 5/8" of an inch. It doesn't really get better than that.

On broad side shots these deer typically would fall where they stood and there would be a 2-3" wound channel as opposed to the 5-6" you get with a typical expanding bullet.

The last deer I shot with the 168 TTSX was at 435 yds. He was bedded facing away from me. Bullet impacted somewhere just in front on a ham, fully penetrated, and buried itself in the dirt. This deer quickly expired as well. There was a lot of internal damage.


Conversely, I once shot a small Texas doe with a 180 Ganeking from a 30-06. Texas heart shot at 60 yds and the bullet only made it halfway through. I had to go find her to finish her off. I recovered the bullet. The bullet weighed 112 grains and has expanded to 5/8". The Oregon Blactail buck I shot with the TTSX was 2.5 times larger than the Texas doe.

I know what bullet I am using.......
 
Posts: 3701 | Location: Oregon | Registered: 27 May 2004Reply With Quote
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I have guided quite a few hunters that have shot white tail with Barnes TTSX. I have seen about 3 cases in which the bullet did not expand. Found 2 out of the 3 but it was luck. The exit hole was the same size as the entry hole and there was no blood trail. I assume the hide slipped over the small holes. Both deer were found a couple of hundred yards from the shot but I found them after we had given up the first time and the hunters were back at the lodge. I shot 21 deer this year as culls and had one TTSX failure. For some reason it did not open up. Made a pencil hole in and out of a doe at 200 yds. I shot another doe a few seconds later at about the same distance and same bullet and bang/flop. All bullets can fail. I shot a wildebeest in Africa with a 400 grain a-frame. Quartering to me. Found bullet with nose clamped shut in the rear hind quarter. I have seen impala hit with a Hornady soft point and no penetration? I shot a zebra with a 180 grain a-frame at 100 yards, punched right through and killed another zebra 75 yards behind it a heart/lung shot. That is a lot of penetration. A lot of funny things can happen in that 1/10000 of a second. I still use the TTSX when culling deer. It works most of the time.
 
Posts: 58 | Location: Texas | Registered: 29 July 2015Reply With Quote
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Very strong bullet, going very fast at short ranges, at a relatively "soft" animal. Pending you didn't miss (Not accusing, just laying it out there) I wouldn't be overly surprised here. Of course you didn't say what hunting conditions you deal with. But, most of the complaints I've always heard about Barnes comes from similar situations. The bullet may be over matched for your hunting.


If you think every possible niche has been filled already, thank a wildcatter!
 
Posts: 2287 | Location: CO | Registered: 14 December 2007Reply With Quote
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I have shot quite a few whitetails with the TTSX and have not been favorably impressed with the results. The majority of them went a good bit further than I would normally expect after the shot but were found dead with two holes in them.

A TSX I shot in the shoulder of a broadside kudu at under 100 meters somehow ended up in the very rear of the body cavity and showed very little sign of expansions. It was a perfectly clear shot (no limbs or leaves) so weird things sometime happen. I still occasionally use TTSX bullets on elk sized game and TSX bullets on big game.
 
Posts: 156 | Registered: 06 November 2012Reply With Quote
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I've used Barnes exclusively since 1992, and cannot say if they expanded or not, as I have never recovered one.

The very first elk I shot with a Barnes, a 140gr X, in 1992, went about 7-8 steps. The last Bull I shot with my 270 was at 417yds, broadside, and he took 2 steps and dropped. The 130gr TSX went in the right side, exited the left and entered the upper left leg, breaking the large upper leg bone, then the bullet exited again.

In general, the exit holes are only slightly larger than the entrance.

I am very pleased with the performance of Barnes.
 
Posts: 620 | Location: Colorado | Registered: 04 January 2005Reply With Quote
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I have had great success with the TSX and never lost an animal with them when it was a good hit. Blood trails have been small sometimes but never lost one.

Like Mile High said, I am not accusing but there is no deer and no bullet so we just don't know.

It seems this generally occurs on deer at less than 100 ranges and generally in thick cover. I rarely here this about an antelope in open cover. Now granted antelope are generally shot at longer distances but if it was a lung hit, eventually that animal starts to spew blood out its mouth or nose and even if it pencilled thru there would still be material damage to the lungs.


Mike

Legistine actu quod scripsi?

Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.




What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
 
Posts: 10169 | Location: Loving retirement in Boise, ID | Registered: 16 December 2003Reply With Quote
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I have used TSX exclusively since 2004. The few bullets that I was able to recover, were a perfect mushroom with full weight retention. Whether it was 65 yards or 465 yards... same outcome. Impressive.
Have not tried the TTSX.

Was there any flesh or blood found, even from a small explosive pass through that the bullet connected. Not once but twice in a row. Any physical indication or sound of a hit.
More discription would be helpful.
 
Posts: 1024 | Location: Brooksville, FL. | Registered: 01 August 2007Reply With Quote
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I shoot tsx's in everything from 223 to 300 h&h, none of my loads are hotrods, quite the contrary. I shoot the 223 with a 70gr at 2,750 fps, 7x57 with a 140gr at 2,750 and 308 with 180gr at 2,550. I have never had one fail to expand.
I've been using tsx's since they came out and usually shoot 20 ish whitetail a year, never a problem.

Perry
 
Posts: 2252 | Location: South Texas | Registered: 01 November 2005Reply With Quote
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Just to stay on point here, this particular Sako 85 rifle, Leica and load consistently grouped 4 shots into <.5 at 100 yards before the hunt. All my rifles are handled carefully, both during transport (hard case) and to and from my stand using a sling. Watching the bean field from the stand, the rifle was on a rest, broad daylight, no buck fever, no wind on either day. You’re welcome to your opinions on the shooting. I respect your right to disagree.

After reading the above posts…

My search for each deer well exceeded 100 yards with zero sign of blood or any disturbances pointing to a fleeing deer in distress. As a seasoned bowhunter, I’m reasonably competent at tracking, better than many, and have never lost a deer. Possibly extending the search another hundred yards might have revealed something else?

I appreciate the replies. In the future, will likely choose a bullet I believe to be more suitable for WT. JMO.

Thank you.
 
Posts: 136 | Registered: 08 December 2013Reply With Quote
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Well remember, its recommended to "step down" a bullet weight class by Barnes, so you're more or less, shooting a 150-160 7mm tough bullet. That's a great place to be for elk! Maybe try a 120 gr tsx? You'd basically be replicating a 257 Wby, ain't no fleas there.

Another thing I've read many times, the TTSX is a little more stout then the TSX. I shot a medium sized mule deer at around 165 yards with a 130 gr TSX from a 30-06. Didn't recover the bullet, but it was effective.

Another idea to entertain.... Maybe go with a faster powder, reducing your velocity. Maybe running them a little slower like the post above using modest FPS.

OR, a different bullet. Benefit there is, most other bullets are cheaper!


If you think every possible niche has been filled already, thank a wildcatter!
 
Posts: 2287 | Location: CO | Registered: 14 December 2007Reply With Quote
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I've killed so many deer with tsx's it's mind boggling. I never step down in weight or run peak velocity. A matter of fact I shoot heavy for caliber in every gun. I have never lost a deer because of a bullet's failure. Even if a bullet fails, and your shot is spot on, the deer is going to die and probably within 100 yds. Most of the time its our fault when things don't shake out like we think, mine at least Wink .

Perry
 
Posts: 2252 | Location: South Texas | Registered: 01 November 2005Reply With Quote
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I started using Barnes bullets in 1995, and at one time had a collection of 6 or 8 bullets I had recovered from various animals ranging from a javelin to a moose and a Musk Ox. All those were the Barnes "X" Flat Base, and each one had expanded as in the catalog photos. The 50 grain .224 out of the javelin had shed one petal, but I was using those bullets in my .22 Hornet, and the animal was 95 to 100 yards out and the initial hit was high behind the right shoulder hit the spine, turned and went upstream about 12 inches into the skull and was lodged in the brain cavity.

All the rest had retained 90 to 95 percent of their original weight.

What happened in your case is anyone's guess. Pushing the bullets too fast is a possibility, too light of an animal, with no muscle or bone contacted?

One thing I practice and when guiding hunters I recommend, is instead of a classic behind the shoulder, heart-lung shot, hold dead center on the shoulder and try to take out its front legs. With the exceptions of American Buffalo and feral hogs, that have the larger front shoulders reminiscent of true European wild hogs, There is not that much meat that will be wasted. Broke front shoulders and most critters have a hard time pushing themselves anywhere from my experience, but an animal can drag its ass a long ways.

One other comment, I don't know how many on here are familiar with or remember when Winchester brought out their "Black Talon" bullets. They were supposed to be super tough, yet I had a hunting partner using a .300 Win. Mag, with 180 grain factory load Black Talons take out over 5 pounds of back strap and spine on a 75 pound whitetail doe at about 80 yards. That bullet evidently exploded on impact. Barnes bullets are either loved or hated.


Even the rocks don't last forever.



 
Posts: 31014 | Location: Olney, Texas | Registered: 27 March 2006Reply With Quote
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Shot this California public land buck with my Pre-64 M70 .270 handloaded with 130 grain Barnes TSX at 3,100 FPS. +/- 100 yard shot through the lungs. Buck kicked out his hind legs at the shot, took a few steps downhill and then tumbled down. No real tracking required. Bullet passed through but did its job!



 
Posts: 1430 | Location: California | Registered: 21 February 2001Reply With Quote
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My experience has been very limited…2 whitetail deer, approximately 140 lbs, distance 90 and 150 yards. 7 Rem Mag handload, 140 gr TTSX. Both pass-through, both deer lost with no blood trail. Rifle is very accurate as was the <moa load. Broadside shots were made from a stand, solid hold, crosshairs tucked behind the elbow. That’s where both bullets went. Both deer exited and vanished with no signs of a hit.


Simple you missed.
 
Posts: 19743 | Location: wis | Registered: 21 April 2001Reply With Quote
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I've been using Barnes exclusively in NA for about 30 years. I don't know how they expand on animals for the simple reason I have yet to recover a bullet but did recover the 50 odd deer and a few hogs and elk that were shot with them.
There is one caveat with monometals mentioned earlier, the animals tend to react less to the shot than with expanding lead core bullets. The solution is to shoot for the CNS whenever possible so with an undisturbed animal, the best option is a neck shot. If the animal is moving a heart lung shot has never failed to put meat on the table but sometimes they run a ways. Shot a small buck through the heart with my 375H&H with 235gr TSX and he ran about 100 yards but he was pumping blood out of both sides.
If there is 2 holes in an animal shot with a TSX or TTSX there will be blood.


Have gun- Will travel
The value of a trophy is computed directly in terms of personal investment in its acquisition. Robert Ruark
 
Posts: 3831 | Location: Cave Creek, AZ | Registered: 09 August 2001Reply With Quote
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Most of my Barnes experience is with big bore calibers. I think the smallest I have used on game is the .338, mainly due to other bullets being more accurate in my particular rifles.

If you hit them as described, and the bullet did not expand, I would expect it to behave like a solid, and while it may run a while, it would react to the shot and you would eventually find a dead animal. Thus, I suspect, for whatever reason, you missed.

I have occasionally had Barnes bullets blow petals off and I had a .338 185 TTSX fail in that all we found was some fragments in the shattered shoulder of a wildebeest... but the animal dropped in less than 25 yards, a matter of a short shot with a hypervelocity light bullet ( I think that bullet was intended for the .338 Federal, and I used it in a .330 Dakota at max loading and the shot was at maybe 30 yards if memory recalls right.) so I am not saying bullet failure isn't possible, but unless it came apart in midair, failure would still result in a dead deer in relatively short order.

In over 200 shots on game with Barnes bullets, I have had 3 not expand, and two of those were solids. The one that didn't was recovered from a clay bank behind a reedbuck. I have had a few not expand when shot into dirt banks or trees.

From my reading, it sounds like smaller bore bullets have a bit more issues with expansion in the TSX line, but the bigger ones have not given me any issues.

I don't expect to convert you, it sounds like you have lost confidence in them, which is no big deal given how many good bullets are out there. I have a few bullets myself that I have no confidence in for various reasons, some of those bullets have strong followings here. ( the nosler ballistic tip as a big game bullet and the hornady dangerous game expanding bullet)
 
Posts: 11205 | Location: Minnesota USA | Registered: 15 June 2007Reply With Quote
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I've shot 20 big game animals including Sitka Blacktails, mountain goat, a hog, caribou, moose, a black bear and brown bears with 225 grain Barnes Xbullets out of 338 Win Mags. Since switching to the 225 grain TTSX, I have killed 4 more animals (Blacktails and brown bears). Three months ago, my hunting group shot 3 caribou with 168 grain TTSX bullets out of 30-06s. Two of the the three caribou showed no immediate sign of being hit but died within a few hundred yards. Had we drilled the caribou through the shoulder, I'm sure they would have went down immediately. Broadside shots just don't seem to incapacitate most animals I've shot with Barnes bullets. I don't know if that is a function of the bullet design but I will continue to use them as penetration is more important to me than expansion.
 
Posts: 452 | Location: North Pole, Alaska | Registered: 28 April 2001Reply With Quote
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Like Blacktailer, I've switched to Barnes for just about all my hunting now.

I've shot half a dozen pronghorn, a couple of whitetail (buck & doe), a couple of muley bucks, impala, steenbok, monkees, kudu, gemsbok, wildebeest, bushbuck, zebra, jackals and cape buffalo with Barnes TSX and TTSX bullets in 243, 6.5x284, 270, 7mag and 375 H&H without losing anything and all had great wound channels.

After last year's failures by the CEB extended range raptors that I tried in the KZN, I've decided to just stick with what I know works, Barnes.


Frank



"I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money."
- Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953

NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite

 
Posts: 12767 | Location: Kentucky, USA | Registered: 30 December 2002Reply With Quote
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Hi,

I hunted several times with TSX and TTSX and my opinion is, that it does its job usually but I am not totally overwhelmed.

While hunting in the US we hunted two black bears both with 300RUM and TTSX. My bear was a good hit and the bullet exited. Good performance nothing to complain. On the second bear the hunter hit the spine. The performance was good but the bullet broke into two pieces.

I used factory Barnes ammo and this was a really issue. I used it for 9.3x62 and 30.06 and with both calibers I had two rounds within 100 shots that didn't fire at all... Clearly has nothing to do with the bullet and maybe I had bad luck but I decided to not use Barnes Ammo for my rifle anymore.

So I use an "improved" Barnes TTSX now. Lastly I shot two red deer and both of them didn't had a exit wound and so we couldn't find it easily. The one walked <20m so we found it quickly. The other one was found on the next day with a dog. Didn't walk too far 50-70m but within the forest it can be hard to find.

On small game like roe deer (I think it is smaller then Whitetail), the Barnes is sometimes like a solid, especially with my 9.3x62. However it is not a real problem since they often drop on the spot.

Personally I think those two red deer where bad luck. Since I have to use led-free ammo in my hunting area in Germany, I will continue to use the TTSX since on the led-free bullets it is one or maybe the best. If you are allowed to use led, I would maybe take another one especially on smaller game.
 
Posts: 114 | Location: Germany | Registered: 18 February 2013Reply With Quote
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I've killed many hundreds of game with TSXs and what you describe is just about exactly what I'd expect. Rib shot deer are going to run more often than not. Shoulder shots will change that considerably, and the guys mentioning shooting through animals lengthwise aren't kidding. They are very good for that.

If you're going to be shooting broadside deer through the ribs, put the lead back in your bullets and live happily ever after. Did you mention Ballistic Tips earlier? If you love those you are going to hate Barnes, and the other way around. Two more opposite bullets would be hard to imagine, and yet both have fans.
 
Posts: 1928 | Location: Saskatchewan, Canada | Registered: 30 November 2006Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by TASK1:
My apologies if this has been discussed at length before?

I write this post because I honestly don’t know the answer and would like to hear from those with first-hand, game on the ground experience. From reading hundreds of posters who’ve used Barnes bullets, it appears the majority favor the TSX and TTSX. Many with their strongest recommendation. But there are others who don’t and cite their disappointments as well. Me? I’m just trying to get a better handle on whether they can be trusted to EXPAND. Penetration is not the issue or the question. From what I’ve gathered, their reputation for penetration has already been well established. Likewise for accuracy…mostly high marks.

My experience has been very limited…2 whitetail deer, approximately 140 lbs, distance 90 and 150 yards. 7 Rem Mag handload, 140 gr TTSX. Both pass-through, both deer lost with no blood trail. Rifle is very accurate as was the <moa load. Broadside shots were made from a stand, solid hold, crosshairs tucked behind the elbow. That’s where both bullets went. Both deer exited and vanished with no signs of a hit.

I’d like to try the TTSX in a few other cartridges but, based on the above, have reservations.

Lastly, please don’t remind me that no bullet is perfect and can fail. True. But I’m not the only one voicing “lack of expansion” issues and why I’m asking…before I write these bullets off entirely. I would greatly appreciate any “first hand experiences” you’d like to share.

If you want to be positive they expand, shoot the deer in the shoulder joint not behind the shoulder. First, they won't be running anywhere because they can't run with 2 broken shoulders. Assuming you are using a 30 caliber or larger, like I do.
 
Posts: 5725 | Location: Ohio | Registered: 02 April 2003Reply With Quote
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buckeyeshooter: tu2

I have shot a lot of animals with Barnes bullets and I have never lost any of them. I normally shoot every animal through the front shoulders.

No matter the reason, if you lose confidence in a bullet, don't use it anymore.

Larry
 
Posts: 887 | Location: Wichita Falls Texas or Colombia | Registered: 25 February 2011Reply With Quote
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Interesting comments.

At a very early age, I began reading about hunting and fishing more than 60 years ago. I did this non-stop, voraciously. Vicariously, I lived inside those book & magazine stories by JOC, Keith, Fred Bear and many others. One thing I vividly remember reading about, and was told over and over again, was “do not shoot directly at the shoulder.” Everywhere you looked, this message was repeated sternly. So I never did and over the decades, “holding on the vitals” has worked very satisfactorily. So that concept was deeply reinforced and ingrained into my shooting.

What I’m now hearing about the TSX & TTSX…

First, WT hit with these bullets have a tendency to run a bit (a lot?) further than when struck by a C&C / BT etc…especially with a lower, behind the shoulder hold.

Second, hold for the shoulder creating instant immobility. NOT disagreeing with this at all, but, as I said, this is contrary to everything I was ever told / taught.

I will likely choose a C&C for WT, but, Elk, Black Bear and Moose are still on the menu for future hunts and why I started this thread.

Thank you for sharing your reassuring experiences.
 
Posts: 136 | Registered: 08 December 2013Reply With Quote
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... then: c&c for WT and Partitions for larger...problem solved.. Cool
 
Posts: 1416 | Location: Texas | Registered: 02 May 2003Reply With Quote
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Originally posted by olarmy:
... then: c&c for WT and Partitions for larger...problem solved.. Cool


Exactly what I have successfully used over the years olarmy. Just wanted to try the Barnes to gain some first hand experience. I regret that it didn't work out but now understand, if I use them again, my approach to these bullets needs to be adjusted.
 
Posts: 136 | Registered: 08 December 2013Reply With Quote
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I have used TSX a lot with great results. Nothing lost and lots of blood.

On the other hand, I started borrowing rifles/renting on trips to Africa and have used a polyglot of ammo. Some are brands I have never heard of. Again, they all worked and killed what I was after.

At the end of the day, nearly any bullet type will kill deer or antelope or plains game - Core-Lokt, Winchester SilverTip, and others all do the job.

I quit shooting behind the shoulder and aim for the shoulder as I want that shoulder wrecked. Using a TSX will wreck any critter's shoulder. I used them on Cape Buff and my sons used Trophy Bonded Bear Claws - same result - wrecked shoulders and dead buff.

For thin skinned game, nearly any bullet will do.
 
Posts: 10440 | Location: Texas... time to secede!! | Registered: 12 February 2004Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by TASK1:
quote:
Originally posted by olarmy:
... then: c&c for WT and Partitions for larger...problem solved.. Cool


Exactly what I have successfully used over the years olarmy. Just wanted to try the Barnes to gain some first hand experience. I regret that it didn't work out but now understand, if I use them again, my approach to these bullets needs to be adjusted.


Task: Tried the TTSX a few years ago just to see what all the hullabaloo was about. the 80 grain TTSX worked fine in my 257 Roberts. First four deer were DRT. Then I took mature buck at just for under 300 yds. He was quartering away. He disappeared into the brush. Found him a couple of hours later. No blood, no exit wound. Lucky to find him

For my uses, I don't really see any advantage to the monos. YMMV
 
Posts: 1416 | Location: Texas | Registered: 02 May 2003Reply With Quote
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My approach has always been to shoot behind the shoulder with frangible bullets and to shoot on the shoulder with tougher bullets. The argument for tougher bullets like the TTSX is you get okay performance behind the shoulder and great performance on the shoulder. With a frangible bullet you don't have the on-the-shoulder option and lengthwise shots are iffy. Seems like you get the most flexibility out of a tougher bullet.......
 
Posts: 3701 | Location: Oregon | Registered: 27 May 2004Reply With Quote
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Sometimes it's just the deer. My son shot 2 white tail does this year. He was shooting his 06' with 150 grain partitions. This combination has accounted for a lot of silver dollar exits and deer on the ground in 0-50 yards after the shot. Both deer this year were identical in size, around 130 pounds. Identical in position and state - calm and broadside. both deer were hit center lung above and slightly posterior of the heart. Both deer ran over 100 yards with silver dollar size exits. Blood did not begin to expel from the cavity until about the 80 yard mark and only sprayed when they hit the ground. We try to back track all of our deer after recovery to see what we can learn for future tracking knowledge (these could both be watched until they fell). We searched for some time on hands and knees around the track they were stand in at the shot before finding the smallest amounts of cut hair in the dry dirt and grass. No blood and no tissue could we find. With some of that blood spray we may have been able to see where it has misted, but without aid we found nothing. bullets out of the same lot, same box in fact have produced bang flops from very similar shots. My guess would be you hit high enough in the lungs without touching a rib and those deer drown in 120 yards. Ballistic Tips, Bergers, Pro Hunters, or smaller calibers will usually speed the process. they may also present other problems if the
ideal broadside shot is not available. these problems are usually limited to meat damage and unsightly photos. I have not lost a deer to over expansion, but have lost shoulders and had some pretty gruesome exits.
Dropping down a weight is a good suggestion. we have shot a bunch of deer with the 130 grain TSX from 300 Weatherbys and performance is very impressive. Even with impact velocities in the 3400fps range meat damage/blood shoot tissue is comparable to most hard bullets, exits are 1.5" to 3" in diameter and most deer just go stiff and tip. The 120 from your 7em em would bring the smile back.
 
Posts: 849 | Location: MN | Registered: 11 March 2009Reply With Quote
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Originally posted by Mike_TX:
I shot a TX whitetail (160 lbs. on hoof) as it was standing broadside with a 210gr TTSX from a .338wm......I placed the bullet behind the front leg and shot through the bottom half of the heart. The deer ran about 50yds and piled up. There was a blood trail that a blind man could follow. The bullet expanded perfectly even though it didn't hit any bone etc. Pretty impressive as the deer was only about 5-6" thick (side-to-side) where the bullet went through and it appeared to have fully expanded.....the heart was gone. I normally don't hunt whitetails with a .338 but wanted to see how this bullet would perform.

Also shot a elk at 409yds with the same load. Bullet expanded and wasn't recovered as it exited.
 
Posts: 229 | Location: Houston, Texas | Registered: 26 April 2016Reply With Quote
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Originally posted by Quintus:

Dropping down a weight is a good suggestion. we have shot a bunch of deer with the 130 grain TSX from 300 Weatherbys and performance is very impressive. Even with impact velocities in the 3400fps range meat damage/blood shoot tissue is comparable to most hard bullets, exits are 1.5" to 3" in diameter and most deer just go stiff and tip. The 120 from your 7em em would bring the smile back.


Will do. Thank you. Occasionally hogs pass thru this area and I'd have a lot more faith in my 7 Mag with the 120 TSX / TTSX than the 120 BT I like so much in my 7x57.

With your 300's and the 130, are you holding on the shoulder?
 
Posts: 136 | Registered: 08 December 2013Reply With Quote
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