Which Barnes bullet is likely to provide better expansion at lower velocity, say below 2000 fps, a TSX or a TTSX?

the tip was added to initiate expansion.

quote:

the tip was added to initiate expansion.

Or was is to improve the BC?

Or maybe both. While it probably increases the BC it could also help with expansion.

And to protect the tip from getting battered closed in the magazine under recoil.

From the pictures I've seen, I'd want more velocity to fully open the TTSX. The copper at the front of the TTSX is thicker than on the TSX because of the plastic's taking the place of the copper at the very front of the bullet.

Look at this picture. The 180 TTSX hasn't fully expanded at 2526 fps.

Also look at Bobby Tomek's pictures in this thread

I'm down to just a few 168 TSX loaded for my .30-06. I want to try the TTSX, but I want more velocity. So I bought the 150 TTSX because I can get a couple of hundred more fps out of them.

LWD

To actually answer the question you asked, really neither. Even with the TSXs I'm shooting I don't want to use them at a range beyond the point where I'd have 2200 fps at impact. But I think the TSX since its got a thinner nose.

LWD

I've heard that Barnes has a fairly new "LRX" as in "long-range" x, designed to open well below 2000 fps - maybe around 1300 fps iirr.

The Barnes website should give you the answer. Good luck!

friar

I am avoiding the 'mono' bullets for now.

As I understand it bullets that partially fragment do more damage to the game and kill faster that way.

The is a report by a gunwriter who kept track of deer shot with the Barnes bullet and they ran further than those shot with regular bullets.

I read that the old Barnes copper bullets hollow point would get closed by handling damage and the plastic meplat was to prevent that.

I have used the Barnes "X" Flat Base for years in calibers from the .22 Hornet and up to the .375 H&H and have not had any problems.

I prefer them to the Triple Shocks and won't use any of the polymer tipped bullets.

I use TSX in 223 and TTSX in 308, 6.5-06 and 375Ruger.
They all work very well, but my impression is that they really like speed.
At high speed, they kill very fast.

As I understand it, is the TTSX supposed to expand a bit easier and combined with their higher BC for the weight, higher down range speed is also easier to get.

Speed kills, no matter how it is applied.

All the manufacturers keep running around trying to be Nosler Partitions.

Is it a caliber that they still make the original for? That would be my choice on a Barnes at that speed.

Here's a page out of the Hodgdon 2012 manual. It shows a couple of things. On the top left are cross-sections of TSX and TTSX bullets. The copper at the front of the TTSX is thicker than on the TSX. Also, at the bottom of the page are TTSXs recovered at several impact velocities.

Never had a single problem with a Barnes X, TSX, or TTSX at any range with any caliber from .243, .277, .284, .308, .338, .375, .416, .458, or .510.

I have, however, had core-lokt come completely apart into shrapnel on whitetail with a 7mmRM at 100 yards. I've also had Partitions come apart with 338WM on Caribou at 100 yards.

LWD,

It doesn't take long for velocities to drop to 2K fps, and it's back to near solid bullet performance. Too much like a solid to me.

TW,

A NP is suppose to come apart on the front end. I've never seen the back half "come apart" but could be, on rocks anyway!

Sorry but I'm not a mono-metal fan except for solids - no, wait - I'm not using them there either.
Nothing wrong with the old Sierra, Nosler, Speer, and Hornandy cup & cores. Cheaper too.