I have been hearing about several people who are using the 160 gr TTSX bullet in the 338 Win Mag on deer. This bullet can be loaded to 3300 + fps and apparantly kills like lightning. Anyone have first hand experience with this combination ? Is there a lot of meat damage with the bullet at that speed ?

Hi Snowman, Yes I have used a lot of them. I use 81 gn Reloader 17, for just over 3300fps. It shoots very flat out to 300 yds (drops off a bit after that), penetrates well, kills like lightning, is very accurate but it does damage meat. My load is a maximum in my rifle, so use caution in working up your own loads, start around 75gn top be safe.

velocity is the meat ruiner, and at 3300 fps you just have to get a lot of black bloody blood shot meat, loaded with piss and shit, end of story.

I don't see where this bullet combination would be any worse than say a 264 Win Mag or a 257 Wby as far as meat damage goes. It would be less than a traditional cup and core bullet at that speed. Even the bonded or partition type bullets are going to do the same thing. The TSX or TTSX will penetrate and inch and a half while its expanding. Then it will shed the petals and continue as a solid where a cup and core bullet will go everywhere in a pattern. I've shot deer with a 270 at close range with a Nosler BT and with a Barnes TSX. Both under 20 yards both with meat damage but the Nosler was way worse. just my opinion I don't work for Barnes or Nosler. DW

dwheels,
Nobodt would think otherwise, I did not mean the 160 gr, bullet in the .338 was the only one and you named some of the rest...For deer I use the tougher 180s in my 30-06, and same with other calibers..I try to keep the velocity down around 2600 fps. a favorite deer load of mine is the 200 gr. Nosler Accubond and it works good on deer and elk...In a .338 I like the 300 gr. Woodleih at 2550 FPS or even a solid in the .338 and 375 for PG..

bullet designed for the 338-06 or 338-08 ... why drive it fast?

quote:

Originally posted by dwheels:
I don't see where this bullet combination would be any worse than say a 264 Win Mag or a 257 Wby as far as meat damage goes. It would be less than a traditional cup and core bullet at that speed.

let me stop you right there...
160 gr at a kajillion isn't the same as a higher sd at 2850...

bloodshot is bloodshot ... sure, you can make chilli out of it, but why ruin meat?

how about a 160gr at 2800? there's some smackdown!!

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:

quote:

Originally posted by dwheels:
I don't see where this bullet combination would be any worse than say a 264 Win Mag or a 257 Wby as far as meat damage goes. It would be less than a traditional cup and core bullet at that speed.

let me stop you right there...
160 gr at a kajillion isn't the same as a higher sd at 2850...

bloodshot is bloodshot ... sure, you can make chilli out of it, but why ruin meat?

how about a 160gr at 2800? there's some smackdown!!

Well it would kill quite well, but not shoot as flat. Most of the time I use this load for pest destruction (e.g. pigs) not meat harvesting. It blows rabbits in half, pigs just drop dead if hit in the chest.

perfect description at a kajillion .. heavy medium varmit load!

Kajillion! I like that. I have also taken feathered pests out to 250 yards with that load.

It would be something in a 338/378

Why, do folks buy a 375, 338 or 416 and shoot light bullets that don't have the penetration needed for the animals those calibers are designed for...I hear a lot of ca-ca about light monolithics penetrating the full length of buffalo for instances, but if they do the belly ain't full of wet grass..I will concur a 150 gr. 30 caliber monolithic will penetrate as deep as most 180 gr bullets, but you cannot go to such extremes as a 160 in a .338, that's what I shoot in my 8x57 and 7x57s..I like the 168 TTSX in a 7x57 extremely well..In a 338 I highly recommend at least a 225 gr Barnes...but to each his own..