My deer hunting these days is from elevated stands. The deer are either in a field in front, or wandering thru the woods behind me. Shots are from 30yds to 350yds. I have plenty of deer here on the farm, and killing 8-9 per year is easy. I always wait for a broadside shot, and always shoot right behind the shoulder. If I can't get THAT particular shot, I wait for the next deer (which is never long). The NPs have ALWAYS worked great, but I have strongly considered the TSX because of its potential for increasing accuracy (and just for something different). My concern is that the bullet won't open up. So, for those who have taken deer with the TSX out of a 270 Win (or the like), with a broadside shot, at the ranges mentioned, is this bullet going to perform like the NPs? Go Ahead!! Make My Day!!

If it aint broke, don't fix it!

Don't have info on the 270 yet, but shot a coyote broadside at about 75 yards with a TSX out of a .243 Win. Opened up just fine. My S-I-L got 2 does with them out of his .243 Tikka, neither went over 30 yards. For deer, I doubt you would need partitions or TSX bullets out of a .270, but like you, I enjoy trying something new from time to time.

I don't disagree that if it ain't don't fix it. HOWEVER, if you want to try something different then try the TSX. I shoot them out of my 7 MM Rem Mag, 338 Win Mag and 416 Rigby.

Shot a 7 pointer in Maine in November from my climber at 45 yards and the bullet did ecactly what is it supposed to do. Deer balled up in a heep with in 30 yards of where I shot him.I recovered the bullet and it looked like a mushroom.

Personally I think the TSX shoots better in all my rifles than anything else I have tried.

Like they say "try em, you'll like em"

Worth the investment to see how they shoot from you gun.

Barnes changes their bullet offering like the weather in S. Texas. Might want to try the MRX if you are taking mainly whitetail as it will open much easier than the tsx. At least that is what they are saying in their ads - well duh! My guess is that the tsx will go bye bye! Just my guess on that however.

I'm trying them in my 270 in the next few weeks. I shoot them in my .300 win mag and I think that the new TSX is a spectacular bullet. I'll warn you though. Once you see the accuracy and the power they have with so little effort, you wont go back.

Good shooting

quote:

Originally posted by muygrande:
Barnes changes their bullet offering like the weather in S. Texas. Might want to try the MRX if you are taking mainly whitetail as it will open much easier than the tsx. At least that is what they are saying in their ads - well duh! My guess is that the tsx will go bye bye! Just my guess on that however.

If Barnes ever discontinues the TSX I want to know about it in advance so I that can buy a lifetime supply for my 7 mag and 300 H&H.

My 7 mag has taken three antelope from 150-300 yards with the 140 grain TSX and they performed great. I got 1.25 - 1.5 inch exit holes and massive internal damage each time. That and the fact that they'll shoot MOA out to 400 yards (if I do my part) will keep me shooting them as long as I can.

I just wish that I could recover one

LBGuy,

I shot a deer this past fall with a 270 Win. and Federal 130 grn TSX factory load. The deer was at 150+ yards, quartering away from me. The bullet just clipped the front of the rear leg, entered just behind the last rib and dropped the deer in it's tracks. The bullet vapo-rubbed the lungs and we found it underneath the hide of the far shoulder. there was very little meat damaged compared to the damage to the lung tissue. The bullet lost part of one petal but otherwise looks like any of the ones you see in their adds. It was more accurate in that gun than the Nosler Partitions had been. I am looking forward to trying the 210 grn 338 in my 338-06 once it's completed.

Sorry, I think the sun rises and sets on Nosler. My buddies and I have had way too many "ice pick" holes when using Barnes products, leading to lost deer or mile long sparse blood trails. Everytime Barnes comes up with a new offering, folks down here bust a gut to give them a try...then they hear the same old story...lost deer, faint blood trails. Then they go back to Noslers, Sierras, etc. Just my opinion and thats all...I know that for every Nosler guy there is a Barnes guy as well....use what works best in your rifle and place your shots with precision. I'll stick with my Nosler Partitions for elk, and Accubonds for deer and be quite happy.

have to agree w/ hank h. used them in a 7/08 last year loaded very hot (3200) neck shots and shoulder shots were ok BUT lung shots (right behind shoulder) better get your tracking shoes on and a magnifying glass to find what little blood that your gonna find. nosler still rules.

b h

For deer I like noslers better personally as well. For the likes of elk or moose the TSX is a superb bullet.

In my rifles both have proofed accurate with minimal efforts.

I have killed 25+ critters with Barnes bullets, and have only recovered 5 bullets out of the animals,(the rest blew clear thru) and all of them were opened up like a little flower just like in the ads.
I shot a whitetail buck with a .243 and 85g. Barnes X four years ago, when he turned to run you could see the blood shooting out of him like a sprinkler. He only went 25 yards and dropped.
I swear by Barnes products.

MG

One thing about the TSX is they are so darned expensive, I have been playing with them and burned through a whole box, now I get to spend $27 more for a box of 50 if I want more.

for deer, white tails especially, you don't need a bullet like the TSX or partition, plain ole bullets will work just fine, especially if you can pick shots for the boiler room only, If you are set on using the TSX to try something differnt, shoot the deer in the shoulder or texas hart shot em, for a dramatic effect

I found them to open up just fine. I was useing 200 TSX in a 300 win mag. Although both deer I shot hit bone. The bloodshot effect was nearly none. Exit holes were good size. On the first deer the entrance hole was very hard to find and I had to split hairs to find it. I am trying to eliminate lead from my hunting bullets and like to get all the penetration I can get since I only hunt in bear infested areas.

TSX is fantastic. I shot a cow elk once with a .30-06 with TSX, right behind the shoulder, and she dropped as though spined (She wasn't) and lay there like she had a broken back. I found the bullet in the scapula of the off shoulder when butchering and it had opened up just as advertised. I used factory Failsafes out of a .270 in RSA a couple years ago and shot five animals, including kudu and black wildebeest that all dropped literally in their tracks. (I mention the Failsafe because it is essentially the same concept as the TSX.)

TSX's are damned accurate for sure. They are as good or better than anything else out of all the rigs I have tried them in. I have had the pencil through experience on several whitetails, but they all died right on the spot, so as I have said before, they must be 'doing their thing'. I have not hit bone on any these shots, and have never recoverd a TSX. I think this is a good thing, I like pass throughs, it will give you at least some blood trail typically.

If expense of a bullet is a concern for you, stay away, the accuracy might hook you, especially compared to an NP, having said all that, if expense is a factor, shoot a Ballistic Tip, they do fantastic on deer, and have been more accurate out of my rigs than Partitions.

Good Luck--Don

quote:

Originally posted by bounty hunter:
have to agree w/ hank h. used them in a 7/08 last year loaded very hot (3200) neck shots and shoulder shots were ok BUT lung shots (right behind shoulder) better get your tracking shoes on and a magnifying glass to find what little blood that your gonna find. nosler still rules.

b h

I loaded the 140 TSX in my 7mm08 and had 6 perfect kills and massive blood loss from the exit hole. TSX is a great bullet.

quote:

Originally posted by LBGuy:
I always wait for a broadside shot, and always shoot right behind the shoulder. If I can't get THAT particular shot, I wait for the next deer (which is never long).

Honestly, with a TSX, you won't have to wait for that perfect shot...same goes for the partition. If the hard point of the shoulder is to you, shoot right through it if you wish.

quote:

The NPs have ALWAYS worked great, but I have strongly considered the TSX because of its potential for increasing accuracy (and just for something different).

If the NPs have ALWAYS worked great, no need to change. If you try the TSX, your accuracy potential is very good. It has been for me and it is my favorite bullet.

quote:

My concern is that the bullet won't open up.

Legitimate concern. Same as mine which is why I never tried the original Barnes. Something about the TSX literature convinced me to try them. I've had no regrets, and 90% of my kills since 2003 have been with a 270/TSX combo.

quote:

So, for those who have taken deer with the TSX out of a 270 Win (or the like), with a broadside shot, at the ranges mentioned, is this bullet going to perform like the NPs?

This bullet opens up just fine. For myself and 3 fellow hunters I load for, we've never had a problem since using them in 2003. How many pictures of TSX kills do you need to see? There have been more than plenty posted in the last several hunting seasons.

I still use a partition in some rifles simply because I have them on hand, and THEY WORK. I keep hearing of stories of TSX not opening at longer ranges, and for the most part, I just keep quiet.

I've killed some animals with them at ranges where most here would call me unethical so I don't always mention the shot distances but I can tell you this, they open up just fine at very long ranges too. Even with shots behind the shoulder.

There was a thread not too long ago and I don't remember who stated it but 1 post went something like: "you can't kill a deer at 500 yards with a 270." Well, that is complete bullshit. In fact, I know a 270 and a 130 TSX will dump a deer (120 pound Doe) at 508 yards (Leica 1200). Yes she was hit in the high shoulder but sometimes the stuff you read here makes me just sit back and laugh. Speculation vs. eyewitness accounts, or even better, first hand experience.

These firearms are capable of killing, IMO, much further than most give them credit for.

LBGuy: given your deer hunting parameters, you don't NEED a deep penetrating bullet like the TSX. If you just want to try something different, try a Sierra GameKing, Speer BT, Hornady SST, or some other accurate, fast-opening bullet. For behind-the-shoulder shots on deer, a premiun bullet is not necessary.

If your buying premium bullets for hunting such a small wimpy animal and also only taking behind the front shoulder shots, I think you are wasting your money, all this talk of not expanding enough will be solved by just going with regular old softpoints. If you want to get fancy on a deer buy something with a plastic tip and a boattail like a ballistic tip. In my opinion you should only use a premium bullet if you are using a small caliber for game hunted.

Sorry I didn't read all the posts and I totally agree with olarmy

Certainly want to thank everyone for their response. Of course I realize I don't NEED either partitions or the TSX for deer, but I like the NPs and I thought I wanted to try the TSX. All things considered, I'll stick with the NPs. Thanks again Gentlemen.

With your patience and willingness to wait for the perfect shot, there's no need for a premium bullet. Like olarmy and cummins cowboy said, the "standard" bullets will do just fine.

Personally, for that type of situation, the Nosler Ballistic Tip, in my opinion, is THE perfect projectile. It has the best low-velocity expansion window and generally gives match-grade accuracy.

But then again, half the fun is experimenting and trying different loads, etc. So to that end, I say go for it and give the TSX a whirl...

quote:

I thought I wanted to try the TSX

LBGuy,
Why don't you try them? With the amount of deer you shoot it would be interesting reading about the results next year. Doc's writings about the TSX convinced me to try the Barnes again. I was amazed at the accuracy. There's nothing to lose in trying them out...except the accuracy with the TSX's is addicting. It's a whole different bullet than the old Barnes.

quote:

One thing about the TSX is they are so darned expensive, I have been playing with them and burned through a whole box, now I get to spend $27 more for a box of 50 if I want more

If you think the tsx is expensive,wait until you see the price of the new mrx.My local dealer told me that it is going to be much higher.

catboat - A well thought out response, and quite frankly, one which motivated me. OK, I'll get Midway to send me a box of the 130s and I'll see how they do come Nov 06. If I can remember this thread, I'll certainly post some results down the road.

For you reloaders, I use Win or Fed cases, and usually Win primers. What powder/grs do you suggest. Something around 3000fps would be nice. Or perhaps you have other ideas. Thanks

Convince you to use the TSX... for deer? Nope. I wouldn't bother with Partitons either, but that's just me.

Just use a suitable weight power-point......it's deer......................doesn't take a magic bullet.

quote:

Originally posted by stubblejumper:

quote:

One thing about the TSX is they are so darned expensive, I have been playing with them and burned through a whole box, now I get to spend $27 more for a box of 50 if I want more

If you think the tsx is expensive,wait until you see the price of the new mrx.My local dealer told me that it is going to be much higher.

Only if you buy it.


Lemmings.

I hunt out of high blinds in West, TN. Like the original parameters, my shots can be at 25 yards or 300+. I have been using the 140 gr. TSX out of my 7MM's. I have pretty much settled in on the Encore with the 26" heavy barrel, my advanced years liking the weight on well constructed shooting rails. I do not feel handicapped at all with the single shot.

I have nephews and friend's kids in Iraq, so I take several deer a year for the makings for jerky which I send by the 20lb. package over to them. I have averaged 12 deer over the last two years, taking mostly does to better my buck-doe ratio, and to let the bucks grow up.

I hunt my own place, and try to keep the coyotes thinned out as well. (I also help a friend who is a dairy farmer keep the groundhogs out of his pasture, the 7 makes a great varmint round as well.) So over the last two years I have taken over 35 larger animals with the TSX, and have not one walk or run more than 50 yards after the shot, most I watched go down on the spot. I try to keep meat damage to a minimum, especially on the does, so I only take broadside shots as a rule.

I did take my best ever deer 3 years ago at a measured 305 yards, just at dark. He eased to the edge of a warm season native grass field, out of a thicket. I was glassing at the moment he stepped into the clear, facing me 3/4 on, just about even with the height of the stand. I hit him in the juncture of the neck and the left shoulder, and the bullet exited the right hip. He hit the ground like a sack of potatoes.

One has to shoot a beaver with a TSX at 50 yards to appreciate it. Words do not adequately describe it; the closet thing would be watching some of those prairie dog videos out there.

With the cost of time, land, the pear trees, sawtooth oaks, Allegheny Chimpakins, ponds, tree stands, tractors and such invested, Barns bullets are the logical thing, I think. For me anyway, they are wonderfully accurate. I have a substantial bench and a good rest at the place, and I honest to goodness shoot 1" groups of three at 200 yards on a decent day for wind, repeatedly. My son who rides a bicycle 100 miles a week, has 6% body fat, and never smoked anything in his life can shave that a little, better B.P.

I have had really good accuracy using IMR 4831, the Encore likes them .003 off the lands, the old Ruger likes .005.