I had great performance out of the 350 gr .416 dia tsx on my plains game hunt. 1/2 moa out to 400 yards was not a problem on a quite day. I picked up 4 box's of the ttsx because of it.

The first problem.

The recoil broke a tip off on the first round down in the box mag. Just what you don't need in a rifle used for DG. A little piece of plastic to tie up the bolt or trigger at the wrong time is bad news.


2nd problem

The tsx in my 416 was very accurate (down to 1/2 moa) with several loads in the rifle I took to to africia. The ttsx would barely keep 3 shots in a 1 1/2 bull at 100 yards. I had 10 round left from my first hunt and shot them in my new rifle a montana 1999 in a accurate inovations stock, it's wearing a 1.5 x5 leo scope. 5 shots into a cluster group well with in a inch with the new rifle,so its not the rifle.. At 200 yards the tsx out performed the ttsx in both wind resistance and drop. The load for both was 81 grs of rl 15.

JD

JD

JD
I also have had fantastic luck with the 350 gr TSX. I haven't ever tried the TTSX. Saw no need. My rifle really performs with them. I dn't have the exact load in front of me but, Varget seemed to really make them shine.

For any rifle intended for use on dangerous game the KISS ( keep it simple, stupid) principle is still the best advice.

I have always had such great luck with Barnes in every thing from .223 to .505. I spoke to their tec man. He was very interested in what happen, how it happened, and what lot etc. They do testing to prevent problems. He also agreed it might not be the best choice for DG. They are sending me a lable to ship them back to them for the TSX. I got 30 or so on hand for my up comeing trip to alaska.

JD

quote:

Originally posted by J D:

2nd problem

The tsx in my 416 was very accurate (down to 1/2 moa) with several loads in the rifle I took to to africia. The ttsx would barely keep 3 shots in a 1 1/2 bull at 100 yards. I had 10 round left from my first hunt and shot them in my new rifle a montana 1999 in a accurate inovations stock, it's wearing a 1.5 x5 leo scope. 5 shots into a cluster group well with in a inch with the new rifle,so its not the rifle.. At 200 yards the tsx out performed the ttsx in both wind resistance and drop. The load for both was 81 grs of rl 15.

JD

JD

I know this is simplistic, but if the tsx had less drift and drop than the ttsx, then the tsx was going faster, even though the load charge was the same. As I'm sure you know, even a small difference in velocity can affect accuracy a great deal.

If you could crono the loads you could tweak the ttsx load to get the same velocity as the tsx load.

I've used both the TTSX and TSX with excellent results but only the TTSX in 300H&H and 270Win. I'm a big fan of the 350gr TSX in the 416 Rigby. Thanks for pointing out this potential flaw as I've been happy without the tips.

quote:

Originally posted by 458Win:
For any rifle intended for use on dangerous game the KISS ( keep it simple, stupid) principle is still the best advice.

I also favor that principle....

quote:

Originally posted by TrademarkTexan:

quote:

Originally posted by J D:

2nd problem

The tsx in my 416 was very accurate (down to 1/2 moa) with several loads in the rifle I took to to africia. The ttsx would barely keep 3 shots in a 1 1/2 bull at 100 yards. I had 10 round left from my first hunt and shot them in my new rifle a montana 1999 in a accurate inovations stock, it's wearing a 1.5 x5 leo scope. 5 shots into a cluster group well with in a inch with the new rifle,so its not the rifle.. At 200 yards the tsx out performed the ttsx in both wind resistance and drop. The load for both was 81 grs of rl 15.

JD

JD

I know this is simplistic, but if the tsx had less drift and drop than the ttsx, then the tsx was going faster, even though the load charge was the same. As I'm sure you know, even a small difference in velocity can affect accuracy a great deal.

If you could crono the loads you could tweak the ttsx load to get the same velocity as the tsx load.

there is another possibility:
the tips may be spinning out of the hollowpoint in flight, in which case the BC becomes much worse than the TSX because the hollow point is bigger, and losing the tip probably induced some extra instability. the end result would be more drag, more wind drift, less speed and more drop out at longer yardage.

I would bet that is what is happening. If the tips are breaking under recoil,how much sharper is a blast of powder?

Love the 350 TSX in my 416 Ruger with 75 grains Reloader-15 for elk loads. Pleasant and shoots under 3/4" all day hot or cold. Haven't messed with the TTSx because the first is so good.

I've had the same problems with the .416 350 gr TTSX. The tips broke off and jammed up my action big time on my CZ 416 I had. The reason is because the round under the bolt was high enough in the magazine for it's tip to be able to contact the feed ramp under recoil and that ramp is enough to bend and snap the tip off under recoil. I also had poor accuracy with the TTSX even when i loaded them singley so the tips didn't break off.

I refuse to use a tipped bullet.
I dropped one on the loading room floor that I loaded up in a .30-06 case. The tip broke off!
Nope, no more for me!

I gotta admit I have only used the TSX in the .375 H&H. They great in the M70.

I still have enough .416 caliber 350 gr Barnes Xs to last a while. They shot so well in my Rigby that I bought a BUNCH of them when they got cheap as the TSXs transitioned in.