Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles TSX and XFB... How much difference?

My experience in the XFB is limited to the 75gr .257 and the 53gr .224 but I was under the impression that they were similar performance wise. This year's deer season gave me reason to question that.

I had loaded my last 50 53gr XFBs for my 223 in hopes that I would get to poke a deer with one this year. As it turned out I didn't, but my brother did. It was his first year hunting and he picked the 223 as his loaner for the week. Rifle was a fairly stock 700 ADL, the loads were just under max with H335. The load shoot well, no stabilization issues.

Thirty minutes into his first morning he spied a small buck broadside at around 40 yards. His shot went in just behind the shoulder breaking an on-side rib, but didn't exit. The bullet wasn't lodged in the far side rib cage and no bones were visibly broken on that side. It being his first I let him have all the fun of field dressing and he wasn't digging doing an autopsy to satisfy my curiosity so that's about all I have to go on.

Was this a fluke or is this typical of 53gr XFBs? The deer was dead in short order but I was expecting an exit given prior experience with the like sized TSX and larger XFBs.

Also, I am already convinced of the 223's performance on deer. This isn't a question of suitable caliber, but rather of the best bullets for said caliber.

Thoughts? Any similar experiences?

Would think the 2nd hole got missed in the fray.

Those 53's dig DEEP...................

Agreed. Those exit holes can be tiny, tiny. I shoot the 53 XLC for pelts for that reason. JMO, Dutch.

I'll third" that - I can't recall a 53grain X bullet NOT exiting a deer. I've shot more than 20 with a .22CHeetah - at ranges from about 15 yards to 385 yards - I still have no bullets to show off - just racks.

Thanks guys. Exactly what I wanted to hear.