I used the 160gr Barnes X bullet years ago in a couple of 7mm Weatherbys and took a bunch of deer and my only Elk. But didn't like the barrel fouling problems. Now I'm thinking for trying the 180gr XLC in my 300H&H, Winchester Classic with a Lother-Walter barrel. Are the XLC coated bullets that much better?

I shoot 180gr XLC's in my 300 win mag and I think they're great. Fouling isn't a problem and at 3050fps my rifle groups 5 of them into 3/4" at 100 yds. With this bullet in this rifle I feel adequately armed for what I hunt, which can be quite varied here in a single season.

chuck

I didn't get the velocity increase that Barnes claimed in my 25/06. Great bullet with killing power. Make sure you are careful when seating as the coating can be scraped off. Have fun

Hcliff

For some strange reason #3 doesnt have any XLC data for the 300 H&H...go figure and give em a call.

The 160 grain Barnes XLC is my bullet of choice for my 7mm STW. Others are close but not as good. I also shoot the 225 grain XLC in a .340 Wby with excellent results. The coating may chip off somewhat but that has never been a problem when I have used the XLC's. Good shooting.

I had very good reports from friends using it. They say it works better than the old ones. Less copper in the barrel

Let me see if I can get this right, I'm not a great fan of, nor do I have much experience with coated bullets, so please apologize if I don't get my questions right.

Moly-coated bullets seem to have a tendency of shooting to a different POI in a clean vs. a "Moly-fouled" barrel. Does this go for XLCs as well - I believe the XLC coating is different to Moly, yes?

With Moly, sometimes there is a problem with shooting Moly-coated and non-Moly-coated bullets from the same barrel (without claning). Not only might the POI be different, there also seem (sometimes?) to be differences in pressure. Is this also the case for XLC coated bullets?

Does the XLC coating work like Moly in terms of changing pressure?? I seem to remember reading that Moly-coated loads can be expected to use different (higher?) powder loads for the same velocity (or something like that??).

How does one clean a barrel after using XLC??

Are XLC bullets easier to get to shoot than regular X bullets, which are not always that "benign" - IMHO?? Some barrels seem to like X bullets, but I have seen an awful lot that didn't.

- mike

[ 03-07-2003, 16:01: Message edited by: mho ]

I have shot the 165 gr. XLC in my 300 H&H and it worked fine on deer..It is extremely accurate in my old Winchester M-70....that blue stuff doesn't foul like the regualr Barnes X but it sure gobs up the reloading dies....

I much prefer the GS Custom HV 180 gr. bullet and the Winchester Failsafe over the Barnes bullets..

The xlc coating is nothing like moly, no change in impact, and Barnes says that it will not stay in the bore. It does however allow you to load to somewhat higher velocities.

CHUCK,
Where in Alberta are you? Where do you hunt?

Thomas, I would be Chuck, just added to my identity. I'm from right around Waterton/Glacier, and that is where I do most of my hunting (not specifically Waterton/Glacier ). I did make it to the Wilmore for sheep last August/September but the sheep didn't cooperate (the big ones anyway).

Chuck

I worked up loads of the 180gr XLCBT for my .30Gibbs (about 75fps slower than your H&H) this past year and found them to be very accurate (.875" groups @ 100yrds) for a deep penetrating "hunting" bullet, but did not shoot at any critters with them. They have a great BC of .552 which gives me 2000ftlbs energy @ 500 yards. They were much more accurate than the regular XBT's and did not foul as much. They are long which made me decide on a dense ball powder (H414) for best results. I clean w/Sweets or Barnes copper solvents OFTEN. I am curious to see how the new "ringed" triple shocks will work.

Deke.

I'm also looking to try the new triple shocks when they show up in April.

Barnes claims they will work like the XLC but with the coating. lower pressure for the same powder charge. So expect to work the charge up. This will also require a new POI since velocities and pressures are changing.

I have found that I can get the barnes bullets to be accurate IF I am willing to play with the reloading. ie move the bullet back and forth off the rifling, minor changes to powder charge etc.