From my previous discussions it may be evident that I am interested in bullets that kill but also limit meat damage/bruising.

A few people recommend the Barnes TSX, and I was just interested in how many people, are they expensive,what they are like and what mono metals are being used in the UK or elsewhere.

Also are they classed as expanding ammunition (they cannot be classed as soft points) for use in the UK for deer?

What are they like on barrel fouling also...

Regards Nightwalker

At our local importer's request, I recently tested the new French "Balle Flèche Sauvestre" in 9,3x62. An article would also be published in our most popular hunting magazine. I shot this leadfree bullet in my 2 rifles thus chambered (Blaser R93 & K98). Chambering of the angular bullet in the Blaser was smooth thanks to the in-line magazine but I experienced hangups on the conventional feed ramp of the Mauser. Accuracy at 100m : groups were about double as those usually produced by the rifles. Plenty of copper fouling after 10 shots. I reported back to the importer and we agreed that there would be no article... I sincerely hope there never comes a ban on our classic lead core bullets.

I have used Barnes XLC in my 308 with two observations.
1. Groupings were poor even with correct load development.
2. They are good a ricocheting of rock etc compared to lead core bullets.

They are expanding ammunition not match.
I will be trying out some GS custom monometal on recommendation from some of my African buddies in 7mm and 458. Very informative website. They are very expensive so I will save them for hunting only.
http://gscustom.co.za/

Regards

Mark

I have used Barnes X and now TSX quite extensively, although not much for European game, where I prefer bullets less skewed towards penetration. For cartridges generating velocities above 3000 fps, I can't think of a much better choice than the TSX. They normally shoot really well, seem to expand even on light skinned game, penetrate like nothing, and don't foul nearly as bad as the original X bullets did.

- mike

I have used TSX's extensively here in Australia and in Africa on plains game.

The bearing bands on the TSX improve accuracy markedly over the old XBT and fouling is not a problem. At high velocity they will shear off their petals and you end up with a wadcutter.

The GS HV is even more accurate and fouling is nil!

Regards,

Blair.

I've had no problems with the TSX at all touch wood..

Saying that in handloads we (my mate) needed to find the powder that my rifle liked before the loads worked in tight. prior to that they were a bit random, although the pattern was evident with super hammerheads too.

A couple of observations. I've used 165g (federal factory), & 168g (handloads) in 308win. They (the handloads) worked flawlessly on African plainsgame. Meat damage was minimal and performance was excellent. In total I've probably taken 20 to 30 head of game with the TSX's.

Both loads used back in the UK on Foxes showed definate evidence of expansion on exit even on a light thin skinned target.

Both loads used on fallow in the UK were a little less satisfactory, (admittedly only 3 or 4 bucks), but only in so much as I experienced more meat damage. all bar one were taken with the fedral factory loads that I felt are being pushed too fast for what I want to acheive. Hence the resulting meat damage and bruising.

This weekend I'll be going back to my less aggressive handloads as my federal ae running out, (assuming the deer play ball on Sat and Sun)

I When I'm done with these i think I'll be following IAnF's ideas of heavier and a little slower for my next loads (if i get as far as loading!! ). I'll probably step upto the 180grain if it shoots well which should be a little less aggressive.

All in all it is a great bullet that perhaps needs to be thought of a little differently than regular softs.

This is a German manufacturer with a vast knowledge on both external as well as terminal ballistics: Kupferjagdgeschoss.

I have extensive experience involving one deer shot with my 22/250 with barnes 53 g xlc. I hit a roe deer that was quartering away at about 25 yards. The bullet will have impacted at approximately 3600fps and performed perfectly. It penetratedthrough the chest via the heart and exited half way down the neck (head was down feeding. Hardly any meat damage, certainly far less than I would have expected from my .308 and the deer just folded. I have meant to try them in my .308 and 7mm mag but have not yet done so. Midway UK appear to have a good selection and will send them out to a local rfd for a few quid (quoted me £7.50 or so for 2 boxes).
Let us all know how you get on if you try them.

Simon

I've tried the TSX's in .224", .284" and .308", mostly the lightest bullet weights in these calibers. They do seem to deliver what they promise in the "non-bloodshot meat" department so far.

Haven't shot enough of them to worry about barrel cleaning and having mixed and matched various bullet types in these barrels they've been shot from - haven't noticed anything but sterling accuracy.

Here's another of the same mon-metal bullet ilk, manufactured by a friend of mine but haven't got around to making myself a nuisance for "free" ammo testing!

http://www.german-precision-ammunition.de/index.php

Ive used Barnes TSX in .224 and .264 calibres and providing you can get them to shoot accurately - which has taken some considerable "fiddling" with seating depth and powder variation, i find they work very well and do exactly what they are intended for.

I have a friend who swears by Moeller mono metal bullets both in conventional UK calibres and for Big Game shooting.

The only thing I will add to the discussion is that the lighter weight of the mono metal bullets causes some extra thought to be required when taking longer shots. Light bullet and low BC when you would think the opposite applied as these bullets are usually quite long for calibre.

Just my observation.