Anyone have hunting experience with the 30 caliber Barnes X boattail bullets? If so how did they perform for you? Interested in both smaller game such as antelope and larger game such as elk.

The Barnes XBT is great on Game.

The trouble is getting them to shoot groups.

------------------
May I be half the man my dog thinks I am.

I have used them on deer at close range. The bullet was not a bt it was the 75gr in 6mm Rem. the 8 pt. buck never took another step and I had complete penetration. I'm now loading them in 185 XLC 338-06 at 2900 fps and I get MOA at 100 yds. I hope to be using it on Elk this fall.They seat different than most bullets (deeper) and Barnes recommends seating their bullets only .01 off the lands I think. You should check their web site to be sure though. Good Luck with them.

I shot a moose with a 308 win and 165 X boattails. The bullet worked very well with good penetration and expansion.

I haven't used the boattail version, but my brother and I used the .308-200 gr X on gemsbok, kudu, hartebeest, wildebeest and springbok with great results. All but one bad shot of mine were 1 shot kills and most did not travel more than a few steps.

I agree with Terry! God...I wish they would shoot in my guns.

------------------
"If guns are outlawed...only outlaws will have guns!

Nothing but one shot kills (and one one-shot, two kills -- but that's another story). That's with a 7mag. No problem getting the XLC's to shoot, either. HTH, Dutch.

I think I have "finally" found the right load for the 165 gr Coated XBT in my 30-06. I ended up with using 52 gr of IMR 4320 and am getting 2837 avg fps.

Usually Rel 19 is my favorite, but I just had to go with a faster powder to get the job done.

Going in the opposite direction, in my 338 Mag, I usually use Rel 19 with 200 gr X, but had to go to Rel 22 with 210 XBT to get those to shoot.

------------------
May I be half the man my dog thinks I am.

The Barnes X and XLC bullets perform so well after the hit that I will use them if they will group to my satisfaction in my rifle. I use them exclusively in my 7mm STW with the 160 gr. XLC. I use them exclusively in my .340 Wby with the 225 gr. bullet. I can get one hole groups with these two chamberings and loads. Don't shoot just one or two groups and draw a conclusion, shoot enough to determine the correct information, use more than one powder, try different OAL for the cartridge. In conclusion, I love them if they will group. Good shooting.

------------------

Terry's comment about a faster powder made me remember something I've noted in my limited range work with the X. I believe that they need either a faster powder, or perhaps a bit higher pressure to cause the bullet to obturate, and thus fit the bore, same deal as with cast bullets, and having to push hardcast bullets harder. Well, the X is even harder then a hardcast, or jacketed lead core bullet.

I haven't taken any game with them, but do plan to try them in the 500 Jeffrey, and possibly the 458.

My 338 has logged 5 one shot kills with the 225 X and droped dead from 0-20 yards. Some of the other hunting party still uses standard hunting ammo and requires 3-5 shots. The ballistic would channel of the X bullet does not taper off due to lost bullet weight it remains like a tube through the animal. Where a standard bullet looks like a cone. With proper loading in all our guns groups are 1 moa or less

I use them in both my 308, and 338 win's I have had great results. Long or short range these bullets kill stuff dead.
As for the accuracey problems people always complain about. I geuss I'm just lucky, or something I have had good luck working up loads with Xs,& XBTs They shoot slightly looser groups than other bullets do in my rifles, but not enough I'm going to worry about it. These are hunting rifles for me. not target rifles. I think my 308 went from 1''at 100yds with 165gr Balistic tips to 1.5" with 165gr Xs I don't know that I saw any differance when I went to XBTs in that same rifle. Much the same results in my 338.
I have killed countless deer at all ranges 25yds-300yds
Several elk. Most of these kills are one shot kills, But that seams to get to much attention now days. Maybe I'm wrong, but aren't most your kills one shot kills. I mean if you do your job right most hunting bullets on the market are going to produce one shot kills are they not? JMHO.
One other thing I have noticed that Paul H hit on they (Xs) seem to work better with higher pressure. (Accurace wise anyway) 1 note of caution they will tend to run higher pressure per same bullet weight than other bullets. Due to the harder surface being forced down the barrel causing more drag. So use caution when working up a load. Don't just throw them in on top of the same powder charge you use for a differnt bullet. I have not yet tried XLCs they should slide easyer. I would sure hope so anyway or what good is the stuff?
Again just my humble opinion.
X-Ring

------------------
Freedom wasn't free. Today they want our guns. What will they want tommorow?

If higher pressure is good for X bullets might the Lee factory crimp die help with accuracy? Any experience?

I posted a new topic on this in the reloading section. Saeed did a study of crimps with regular bullets and it did make some improvement in accuracy for already good combinations.

I'm in Colorado and am interested in working up a one bullet all big game load. The 150 grain .30 XBT looks like it would be good for everything from antelope to elk.

Loren, I recently ran a little test of my own with Lee Factory crimped rounds vs. non-crimped rounds in a 338-06. I shot Barnes X's as well. Everything that was crimped shot better, including the X's. At least in that particualr gun, or with that particular cartridge, or all the above in conjunction with the RCBS dies I used, the Lee claim was proved true. I'd say I saw a 20% increase in accuracy (approx)... I didn't get too scientific about it... the groups were obviously better!

I'd add that my rifles that shoot Barnes X's well always seem to prefer the BT design over the standard flatbase. I have NO reasons why this should be so... perhaps being a BT design they're seating "straighter" than FB's?

Interesting comments, too, from Terry regarding "faster" powder... worth looking into. Also, use the "coated" XLC version of the X's if you can find them... they're generally more accurate and definately foul less. Use Barnes CR10 to get your bbl. clean too, though follow the directions carefully! With CR10 I don't even use a brush... just run soaked patches through... all the copper comes out.

Brad

[This message has been edited by Brad (edited 07-20-2001).]

I posted a message about a year ago in regards to my success reloading Barnes bullets and producing sub-MOA groups in full power hunting loads. I use the Lee Factory Crimp die and also the Lee Collet Neck-sizing die exclusively. Just seems to be the right combination as that is what was recommended by the Lee catalog when I ordered my first reloading equipment and it hasn't failed me yet through 5 different rifles in 4 different calibers.

I've had good luck and bad luck shooting the various Barnes X bullets. They're good because the terminal performance can't be beat. I have not yet recovered one from a whitetail. They are, however, very finicky to handload for, in my rifles. Barnes X bullets have never produced the best groups for me and you usually have to settle for the accuracy that you get. Like a previous post said; they are for hunting not for match. But somehow a tight shooting huntin' iron instills a lot of confidence.

I've used them for deer and moose. They perform very well, especially their penetration. But handloading can be a nightmare. They are not the most accurate bullets that I've used, but as a hunting bullet they are great.

I've not used the boattail version but have shot several deer with the flat base with mixed results. While I believe they don't get any better at penetration, sometime they penetrate too much. I got used to deer falling straight down, or at most, hopping a few yards when shot with my -06 and 150 grain NBTs or Rem Cor-lokts. With broadside shots on deer with the X, they drilled holes all the way though alright, but they tended to run quite a ways.

------------------
Ignorance is curable, but stupidity is terminal.

The 270 grain Barnes X bullet shoots consistent sub MOA groups out of my 375H&H. However, this rifle is a Sako M75 and it shoot everything really well.

I'm leaving this afternoon for a short pig hunt in Paso Robles, CA and I will be using this rifle with the 270 grain Barnes X at 2,700 fps. I hope that I'm not undergunned. Actually, I have been shooting this rifle alot to get ready for my Africa trip in October.

Tim

I have been playing with the Barnes bullet for quite a while now. I have tried them in 243, 7 rem, 7 stw, 308, 3006, 338, and 340 wby.

The only gun I could get them to shoot in is both of the 3006's I have. One I shoot the 180 XLC and the other the 150 XLCBT.

The 150 only does well at velocities below 2800 fps, push it any faster and you are shooting a shotgun with a full choke.

I have to agree with Terry's observation about faster powders working better.

Has anyone played with the new 168 gr. "match" X bullet yet? Dutch.

Hello Everyone,

I have had good accuracy in my three rifles I have used the X's in. I am currently handloading for a 300 H&H with IMR 4831 at 72 grains (if memory serves me right) with a 165 grain XLC XBT bullet. So far so good, things are grouping well.

I will be using this rifle for Oryx at White sands missle range in Southern New Mexico. I cant wait to go, its a once and a lifetime hunt, so I need to connect.

Chad