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Tipped monometal recovered bullets
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I am starting a new thread because of what I call clutter in a thread on the medium bore forum.

Has anybody ever recovered an unexpanded TTSX, GMX or other tipped monometal bullet from an animal?

A. Not interested in unexpanded non tipped monometal bullets.

B. Not interested in I shot this animal and I know I hit it good and it ran off so therefore the bullet must not have expanded

C. This will also be a test of lesson learned #1 below.


Mike

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: 10136 | Location: Loving retirement in Boise, ID | Registered: 16 December 2003Reply With Quote
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Nope!


Guns and hunting
 
Posts: 1119 | Registered: 07 February 2017Reply With Quote
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Chances are that if it didn’t expand, it blew through like a solid.
 
Posts: 12104 | Location: Orlando, FL | Registered: 26 January 2006Reply With Quote
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Larry,

I'll take that as a "no" Big Grin


Mike

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: 10136 | Location: Loving retirement in Boise, ID | Registered: 16 December 2003Reply With Quote
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That would be correct sir.
 
Posts: 12104 | Location: Orlando, FL | Registered: 26 January 2006Reply With Quote
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"B. Not interested in I shot this animal and I know I hit it good and it ran off so therefore the bullet must not have expanded

C. This will also be a test of lesson learned #1 below."

rotflmo

Mike we think alike.
 
Posts: 5604 | Location: Eastern plains of Colorado | Registered: 31 October 2005Reply With Quote
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Fried Chicken

Love ya Mike......No I've yet to catch a tipped mono


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Posts: 7361 | Location: South East Missouri | Registered: 23 November 2005Reply With Quote
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quote:
Tipped monometal recovered bullets



I can't help you with an unexpanded recovered bullet. If you want a picture of an expanded tipped monometal recovered bullet I can help you.

Mike, you gave me a couple of hundred 130g .277 Hornady GMX bullets. I shot a cow elk with my 270 win broadside. As I was unsure if I had connected on the first shot I put one more into her as she turned to run(I held on the belly line as I thought the first shot went high...I was thinking the scope was haywire).

Anyway the first(broadside) shot did a lot of damage in both lungs and exited.

The second shot entered very low in the belly and exited the chest near the armpit taking some ribs/breastbone with it(missed the paunch). It then entered the front leg, smashed the humerus and made it through the muscle and came to rest under the skin.

I have to get a photo but it looked like a perfect mushroomed monometal and retained something like 129.5 grains.

I will try to get a photo.


Jason

"You're not hard-core, unless you live hard-core."
_______________________

Hunting in Africa is an adventure. The number of variables involved preclude the possibility of a perfect hunt. Some problems will arise. How you decide to handle them will determine how much you enjoy your hunt.

Just tell yourself, "it's all part of the adventure." Remember, if Robert Ruark had gotten upset every time problems with Harry
Selby's flat bed truck delayed the safari, Horn of the Hunter would have read like an indictment of Selby. But Ruark rolled with the punches, poured some gin, and enjoyed the adventure.

-Jason Brown
 
Posts: 6838 | Location: Nome, Alaska(formerly SW Wyoming) | Registered: 22 December 2003Reply With Quote
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I have not used any of the tipped monometals because the old Barnes "X" Flat Base and TSX's seem to do what I require.


Even the rocks don't last forever.



 
Posts: 31014 | Location: Olney, Texas | Registered: 27 March 2006Reply With Quote
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Ted Thorn - you are a funny man!


Mike

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: 10136 | Location: Loving retirement in Boise, ID | Registered: 16 December 2003Reply With Quote
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Jason,

Would love to see a photo if it's not too much trouble.


Mike

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: 10136 | Location: Loving retirement in Boise, ID | Registered: 16 December 2003Reply With Quote
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Pancakes!

I'm just switching over to the tipped TSX bullets and have only shot one antelope with them. The 110 grain TTSX shoots through the neck of an antelope from my 270, even at 400 yards.


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: 12710 | Location: Kentucky, USA | Registered: 30 December 2002Reply With Quote
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We have shot hundreds of big game animals with the original Barnes X.

We did recover some that did not expand at all.

We have had the same experience with our own Walterhog bullets too, so I would assume others might behave the same way.


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Posts: 68781 | Location: Dubai, UAE | Registered: 08 January 1998Reply With Quote
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I've shot 30+ animals with Barnes TSX or TTSX bullets. Many were complete pass throughs, and I did not look for many of the other bullets. I did recover nine bullets, and they all did fully expand.


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Posts: 1635 | Location: Boz Angeles, MT | Registered: 14 February 2006Reply With Quote
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I've recovered, sort of, 2 185 gr .338 TTSX.

One was a classic textbook Barnes bullet. If I recall correctly, it was out of a waterbuck.

The other was a 30ish grain piece from a Cookson wildebeest that I shot right on the shoulder at point blank range out of a .330 Dakota. That was the only piece I found, and it was a no exit wound animal.

Of course, the lungs, heart, and diaphragm were sludge, I presume the bullet fragmented and was in the stomach contents. The bull dropped to the shot.

I have not had a "failure" or non expanding recovery otherwise.
 
Posts: 11028 | Location: Minnesota USA | Registered: 15 June 2007Reply With Quote
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So another three "No"s.


Mike

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: 10136 | Location: Loving retirement in Boise, ID | Registered: 16 December 2003Reply With Quote
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Put me down as no, no, no. Not an X, not a TSX and not a TTSX. This must be proof that they "penciled on through". Of course 95% of my hunting has been blacktails and they aren't big enough to stop most bullets.
I have recovered bullets from the dirt behind my target stand, all perfect mushrooms. Big Grin


Have gun- Will travel
The value of a trophy is computed directly in terms of personal investment in its acquisition. Robert Ruark
 
Posts: 3830 | Location: Cave Creek, AZ | Registered: 09 August 2001Reply With Quote
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The only recovered tipped monometals I have are a couple 250 grain Barnes TEZs fired from my .50 caliber muzzleloader. All TTSXs fired from centerfires have been pass-throughs (with no evidence of "non performance, I might add).


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Posts: 3301 | Location: Southern NM USA | Registered: 01 October 2002Reply With Quote
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in a word.....NO!

Zeke
 
Posts: 2270 | Registered: 27 October 2011Reply With Quote
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I've used the TSX or TTSX almost exclusively since I think 2009. I've only recovered 4 with 3 from a buffalo that didn't want to die and a bang flop moose. They all looked text book being perfectly expanded so no I've never recovered an unexpanded TSX or TTSX.

Mark


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Posts: 13023 | Location: LAS VEGAS, NV USA | Registered: 04 August 2002Reply With Quote
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Well Mike, so far, no counterexamples...
 
Posts: 2628 | Location: Colorado | Registered: 26 May 2010Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by surefire7:
Well Mike, so far, no counterexamples...


Yep, pretty sure they fixed any occasional problem they had by adding the tip on those mono metal bullets.
 
Posts: 5604 | Location: Eastern plains of Colorado | Registered: 31 October 2005Reply With Quote
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I have quite a few that I recovered, most from Buffalo or Hippo, but they killed the animal or I would not recovered them??? Some could be considered failures I suppose. A bullet that tumbles kills well, sometimes a solid kills as good as a soft..Its a campfire classic, just for entertainment and good conversation.


Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120

rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
 
Posts: 42171 | Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | Registered: 04 June 2000Reply With Quote
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Ray,

I am asking specifically about unexpanded tipped monometal bullets.

Have you ever recovered a an unexpanded plastic tipped monometal bullet such as a TTSX or GMX?


Mike

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: 10136 | Location: Loving retirement in Boise, ID | Registered: 16 December 2003Reply With Quote
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Mike,

I have never recovered a TTSX bullet period. This comes from a sample size of about 30-40 animals from 6mm to .308 calibers.

I have recovered two 180 gr TSX bullets out of a 300 Win Mag from a blesbuck and a common reedbuck taken in 2014. Both had expanded and found on the opposite side under the skin. This coming from a sample size of 50-60 animals.


Graybird

"Make no mistake, it's not revenge he's after ... it's the reckoning."
 
Posts: 3722 | Location: Okie in Falcon, CO | Registered: 01 July 2004Reply With Quote
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Mike-

I have one: 1 7mm 120 grain TTSX that I tried right after they became available. I shot a hog lengthwise with my little 7mm Bullberry. The impact was app. 2365 fps.

The bullet entered the chest as it was facing me and wound up in the edge of the hip (lodged in the meat after penetrating the bone). The bullet was missing the tip and was unexpanded. I will try and hunt down the photo. Might take me a bit as that has been a few years ago already (I still shot on film back then!). I know I posted it on Specialty pistols, but the old threads there were purged.

Anyway, I tracked the hog for at least a couple hundred yards. When I found her, she was in a very weakened state but still alive. When the sow stood up to face me, I placed another in her neck to end the ordeal. She likely would have expired shortly, but I wasn't taking the chance.

The saving grace was that the bullet clipped the top of the heart. It also penetrated the length of the lower portion of one lung, the liver, the edge of the stomach and perforated some of the intestines before driving through the hip bone and coming to rest.

I also have photos of a couple that only expanded very minimally after similar impact -- and far from the double-diameter expansion that Barnes once claimed. With that being said, they have indeed tweaked things with some of their bullets since then. (I also have two other 120 grain TTSXs that did very well at these lower speeds.)

I tried hard to like them as they shot incredibly well for me -- as good as the best match bullets would do. But they just weren't a viable match for the medium-velocity rounds I use as I did not find the consistency in low-velocity performance that I required.

The current exception to that is the 110 and 120 grain TAC-TX bullets intended for the Blackout. They open fast and wide. I've used them in a couple 30-30 Contender barrels with amazing results. I really wish they'd extend that same technology to a 6.5 and a 7mm 120 grain bullet. Life would be good then Smiler

I'll try finding those photos tonight or tomorrow, Mike. In the meantime, here's a few of the 120 grain TAC-TX results from my 30-30.







This one was taken from the coyote above. It penetrated the full length of the animal. I start these 120s right around 2600 fps MV.


Bobby
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Posts: 9412 | Location: Shiner TX USA | Registered: 19 March 2002Reply With Quote
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Bobby,

As always, a on point accurate and fact based response from you.

Thanks,


Mike

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: 10136 | Location: Loving retirement in Boise, ID | Registered: 16 December 2003Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Bobby Tomek:
Mike-

I have one: 1 7mm 120 grain TTSX that I tried right after they became available. I shot a hog lengthwise with my little 7mm Bullberry. The impact was app. 2365 fps.

The bullet entered the chest as it was facing me and wound up in the edge of the hip (lodged in the meat after penetrating the bone). The bullet was missing the tip and was unexpanded. I will try and hunt down the photo. Might take me a bit as that has been a few years ago already (I still shot on film back then!). I know I posted it on Specialty pistols, but the old threads there were purged.

Anyway, I tracked the hog for at least a couple hundred yards. When I found her, she was in a very weakened state but still alive. When the sow stood up to face me, I placed another in her neck to end the ordeal. She likely would have expired shortly, but I wasn't taking the chance.

The saving grace was that the bullet clipped the top of the heart. It also penetrated the length of the lower portion of one lung, the liver, the edge of the stomach and perforated some of the intestines before driving through the hip bone and coming to rest.

I also have photos of a couple that only expanded very minimally after similar impact -- and far from the double-diameter expansion that Barnes once claimed. With that being said, they have indeed tweaked things with some of their bullets since then. (I also have two other 120 grain TTSXs that did very well at these lower speeds.)

I tried hard to like them as they shot incredibly well for me -- as good as the best match bullets would do. But they just weren't a viable match for the medium-velocity rounds I use as I did not find the consistency in low-velocity performance that I required.

The current exception to that is the 110 and 120 grain TAC-TX bullets intended for the Blackout. They open fast and wide. I've used them in a couple 30-30 Contender barrels with amazing results. I really wish they'd extend that same technology to a 6.5 and a 7mm 120 grain bullet. Life would be good then Smiler

I'll try finding those photos tonight or tomorrow, Mike. In the meantime, here's a few of the 120 grain TAC-TX results from my 30-30.







This one was taken from the coyote above. It penetrated the full length of the animal. I start these 120s right around 2600 fps MV.




The expansion shown on those pictures is great.

But, I can guarantee you not every bullet will look like this during a hunt.

GUARANTEED!

Advertising photos and photos of every single bullet recovered from a hunt will look drastically different.

Don't believe the copy writers.

As the old saying goes, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.


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Posts: 68781 | Location: Dubai, UAE | Registered: 08 January 1998Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Mike_Dettorre:
Jason,

Would love to see a photo if it's not too much trouble.


Here you go Mike:

The bullet in the middle is one of the 130 Hornady GMXs(tipped, of course) that you gave me. It is the only one I have recovered. It came from a cow elk that was shot at +-100yds with a MV 3100fps. It retained 128.9g.

The other is a 270gr .375 Barnes X(original) that I recovered from a warthog sow in Cameroon. the shot was +-75 yards on a quartering away shot. MV was about 2500fps. Retained weight was 270gr. It was a bang-flop.

The cup and core bullet is a from a Hornady light magnum 270 win. I took a mule deer buck with it at 225yds this year. It only retained 89.8gr of its original 140gr. It killed the deer very well though...












Jason

"You're not hard-core, unless you live hard-core."
_______________________

Hunting in Africa is an adventure. The number of variables involved preclude the possibility of a perfect hunt. Some problems will arise. How you decide to handle them will determine how much you enjoy your hunt.

Just tell yourself, "it's all part of the adventure." Remember, if Robert Ruark had gotten upset every time problems with Harry
Selby's flat bed truck delayed the safari, Horn of the Hunter would have read like an indictment of Selby. But Ruark rolled with the punches, poured some gin, and enjoyed the adventure.

-Jason Brown
 
Posts: 6838 | Location: Nome, Alaska(formerly SW Wyoming) | Registered: 22 December 2003Reply With Quote
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Saeed,

I am firmly in the camp of no bullet performs 100% of the time.

But so far there seems to be a difference in consistency of performance between tipped and non-tipped mono-metals.

A couple of handful or more of folks have pictures of un-expanded non-tipped monometals.

So far only Bobby T may have evidence of an un-expanded tipped monometal.


Mike

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: 10136 | Location: Loving retirement in Boise, ID | Registered: 16 December 2003Reply With Quote
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Picture of Bobby Tomek
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Mike-

My senile brain forgot about the .30 caliber 130 grain TTSX bullets I tested. I found the file while hunting for the 7mm/120 photo.




Bobby
Μολὼν λαβέ
The most important thing in life is not what we do but how and why we do it. - Nana Mouskouri

 
Posts: 9412 | Location: Shiner TX USA | Registered: 19 March 2002Reply With Quote
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Excellent Bobby. Thank you! Do you remember about when these tests were done?


Mike

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: 10136 | Location: Loving retirement in Boise, ID | Registered: 16 December 2003Reply With Quote
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Picture of Bobby Tomek
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Mike-I found where I had posted in the past tense about this photo back in August of 2008. So it was sometimes before that -- my guess being 2007 or so as I recall still having decent mobility when conducting that test. I'll see if I can get a more concrete date, though.

Tomorrow I'll look more for that 7mm/120 photo. If nothing else, I am sure I still have the bullet someplace as I have a few large cans of "recovered" projectiles that I could never bear to throw away.


Bobby
Μολὼν λαβέ
The most important thing in life is not what we do but how and why we do it. - Nana Mouskouri

 
Posts: 9412 | Location: Shiner TX USA | Registered: 19 March 2002Reply With Quote
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Bobby,

Don't worry about the exact date but would love to see the other bullet though.


Mike

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: 10136 | Location: Loving retirement in Boise, ID | Registered: 16 December 2003Reply With Quote
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Forum member Brad recovered a 30 caliber TTSX un expanded from an elk. There was another guy over on 24hourcampfire that had the same thing happen.
 
Posts: 384 | Registered: 18 January 2006Reply With Quote
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I’m just kind of curious as to why you asked the question? Wouldn’t the “unexpanded” mono’s be the ones that pass through animals and are why some people write online about the bullets not performing well on game?

I’m curious mostly because I have never used a mono before, but plan on changing that this year.


I heal fast and don't scar.
 
Posts: 433 | Location: Monessen, PA | Registered: 23 February 2005Reply With Quote
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Tipped or not tipped.

Mono metal bullets are infinitely better for hunting than any other muti metal bullets.

They will always be my first choice anyway.


www.accuratereloading.com
Instagram : ganyana2000
 
Posts: 68781 | Location: Dubai, UAE | Registered: 08 January 1998Reply With Quote
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Justin,

The reason I asked the question the way I did is in my original post.

Stated another way, when somebody says

"I shot this animal and I know I hit it good and it ran off...damn bullet must not have expanded"

They are making a huge assumption about what actually happened. They don't know where they actually hit the animal or completely missed the animal. What they do know is that the animal ran off an was not recovered. They are also "violating" the principle of Occam's Razor which is the simple answer is the likely answer. Given, that there are likely a 50+ times more "perfect" expansions than non-expansions, the simple answer is it was likely a poorly placed shot or a complete miss.

There are many (although a very small % of the animals taken with) recovered unexpanded non tipped mono-metals that forum members have pictures of.

So far we have 2 unexpanded actual accounts of tipped monometals shot into media and likely 3 more.


Mike

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: 10136 | Location: Loving retirement in Boise, ID | Registered: 16 December 2003Reply With Quote
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Mike,
I have not. But, I do have two TSX examples (30 cal 180 gr, MV 2880) that we’re recovered from a red stag. These were quartering shots and penetrated about 3.5 feet to be recovered under the hide. One hit the shoulder on entry and it appeared most of the petals sheared off. The second was a perfect example of expansion. It was a finisher but it was at the request of the guide and unnecessary. The stag was already down. Range was about 60 yards. I was completely satisfied with the performance. I have not weighed the bullets. The first appears to have lost a little of its weight, the second is no doubt very close to the original weight.
 
Posts: 1032 | Location: Central California Coast | Registered: 05 May 2007Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by JeffreyPhD:
One hit the shoulder on entry and it appeared most of the petals sheared off.


Not to muddy the waters, but this is a somewhat common complaint with monometals. Personally I don't see it as a real problem as the animal usually dies quickly in these instances.


Jason

"You're not hard-core, unless you live hard-core."
_______________________

Hunting in Africa is an adventure. The number of variables involved preclude the possibility of a perfect hunt. Some problems will arise. How you decide to handle them will determine how much you enjoy your hunt.

Just tell yourself, "it's all part of the adventure." Remember, if Robert Ruark had gotten upset every time problems with Harry
Selby's flat bed truck delayed the safari, Horn of the Hunter would have read like an indictment of Selby. But Ruark rolled with the punches, poured some gin, and enjoyed the adventure.

-Jason Brown
 
Posts: 6838 | Location: Nome, Alaska(formerly SW Wyoming) | Registered: 22 December 2003Reply With Quote
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