Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles TSX VS. TTSX in over 30 cal

I picked a mono bullet for a deer hunt with my son, more than a few years ago. We were using 270’s. We shot our deer in the heart or near it. Each deer was standing maybe 20 feet away or less and in deep snow. Both took off like they weren’t hit. We followed the blood trails and when we cleaned the deer the exit hole looked as if there was zero expansion. I stayed away from mono’s a long time. Later, I watched as my brother shot mono’s in his 6.5x55 years later on white-tails and they worked great. I think he was using TTSX. After reading what a famous writer had to say which I’ll probably miss-quote, but here goes “Some of the early smaller diameter mono’s didn’t expand well.”
I then tried TTSX’s in my 7x57 and was amazed at the performance. Four deer were shot at over 200 yards and behind the shoulder, all four dropped without taking a step. Good size exit holes and severe internal damage. I wonder though about damage if the bullets hit meat.

I’m working up loads for 35 and 375 caliber rifles, 350 RM, 35 Whelen, 375 H&H AI, & 375 Whelen AI. I’m wondering about performance differences using those bullets in larger diameter cartridges on large game and even on smaller game such as white tail.

Have any of you had much experience with both of these larger caliber bullets - TSX & TTSX bullets - on game?

Thanks for your replies.

I don’t know if my experience will help…..but, maybe.

My wife has hunted with a .338 WM since 1996……and has used the Barnes 225 TTSX exclusively. She’s taken numerous Pronghorns, a few elk, a bear, and a moose! Her longest shot was on an elk @ 400 yards…..measured after the shot! She’s running them @ 2950 mv from her Model 70 Win.

I have used a .375 AI exclusively since 1990, and Barnes bullets since ‘92, I think! I started with the original X Bullet in 270 grain, then used the 270 grain TSX, and then while under duress at using a light bullet…..the 250 grain TTSX. The “ONLY” reason for going with the 250 was…..I wanted a bullet with a much higher BC than the 270 TSX and the 270 LRX hadn’t been introduced yet! I’ve taken Pronghorn, elk, deer, and moose with the Original X Bullet, the TSX’s, and the TTSX’s with no problems! My longest shot was 430 yards on a Pronghorn using the 250 TTSX.

When they finally brought out the 270 LRX, I had a bunch of 250 TTSX’s and couldn’t justify “shelving” them to go to a new bullet. I finally caved to self-induced pressure, and asked my wife to “gift” me 4 boxes last Christmas!

Waited until the heat of summer to develop a load. Used only a bit over 1/2 box to get 1/2” 3 shot groups @ 100 yards @ 3100 mv. These are what I would consider maximum loads!


Summary……We’ve experienced nothing but great success with all of the Barnes’ we’ve used, with the exception of my LRX’s, which have only been used on paper thus far! I never had the opportunity to shoot one at game this past season!

The “only” issue we’ve had was, a Pronghorn that my wife shot several years back. It was a quick, offhand shot at 204 yards, ranged after the shot. She hit just behind the front leg, another 3 or 4” lower and it would have been a miss. This was below the heart, offered very little pronghorn for the bullet to open-up in causing little tissue damage. The Pronghorn went about 40 to 50 yards before “piling up”! I think that, the impact point was a few inches higher, offering a bit more Pronghorn for the bullet to pass through…. the Pronghorn’s run would have been a bit shorter!

Just as a personal opinion, in the .375 I would recommend the LRX. If Barnes is correct with their expansion velocity claims……it would extend the useful range of the .375’s, not only with the higher BC but with the lower expansion velocity window! JMO. memtb

I’ve used the 338 and 358 TTSX bullets. I’ve been very happy with them. I’m shooting them in 338 Win Mag, 338 Federal, and 358 Winchester.

I've seen a fair number of animals killed with TSX and TTSX bullets including some larger calibers up to .375. They've worked very well in my experience. In smaller calibers I prefer the TTSX as they tend to open a little more based on what I've seen. Last year my son and I both had quick one shot kills on Cape Buffalo with the 270 grain TSX out of the .375 H&H.

Like others, switched from 225 TSX to 225 TTSX in .338 only because of higher b.c. for longer shots. Very accurate and perform well on game...would not go back to non-monos. The only question I have is whether the 225 E-tips perform as well on game and whether they would be as accurate. The 225 E-tips have a much higher b.c. and because of that, would be better if and only if, they are as accurate and perform as well on game.

My only experience with larger than 30cal is 375H&H. I have taken several deer with the 235TSX with excellent results. I tried the 250TTSX because I was looking for a bullet with higher BC. For whatever reason I could never get the TTSX to group as well as I like. It would get down to about 2 inch groups but not less out of a rifle that shoots everything from 235-350 from several different manufacturers sub MOA. Haven't tried the LRX yet.

I used the 225 TSX in the Whelen for quite a few years. Also the 250 TTSX in the 375 Improved. Not a pile of stories, but enough that I like them when they fit my purposes. Currently using the 200 TTSX in my current Whelen and I have zero doubts it'll be great as well, when I get to use it!



This was recovered from a bear shot corner to corner and found the bullet at the butt during skinning. Only one I have recovered. The rest sailed thru elk and deer like a hot knife thru butter. I don't think I saw reaction to hits as much as I did from Partitions and Accubonds, but stuff tipped over just the same.

I use the 180gr Barnes TSX in my 8mm mag (.323") for elk and moose. The bullet holds up regardless of the distance, which is a concern due to the extreme speed and shots less than 50-100yds. I have never recovered a bullet from an elk but the exit wounds have been in the 1-11/2" diameter. I have recovered three bullets from moose. One bullet deformed badly from striking a rib at less <50yds and measured almost 13/4 inches in length. There was very little mushroom with this one. The other two bullets mushroomed nicely and retained over 90% of their initial weight.

The 160gr 338 TTSX is serious Whitetail medicine in 338 Federal. I shot a 150 pound live weight deer that was laying down. Bullet went through the neck reentered the body ended up in the offside ham after penetrating like 30". Perfect x bullet expansion. The bullet looked like it drilled a 1" hole through the chest cavity. That bullet leaves blood trails the blind could follow. There's some results posted in the 338 fed reloading thread.

Good luck and shoot straight y'all

I looked at the ballistic co-efficient of the 200 grain 35 cal TSX vs TTSX
Assuming 1100 feet elevation and the default humidity and pressure in my “ap”/application:
TSX 200 grain sighted in 3” high at 100 yards vs the TTSX version and each at 2700 FPS. The bullet strike is about .9” apart at 250 yards. I just bought some 35 cal, 200 grain of each type. The TSX bullets were on sale and I bought enough. The TTSX’s were significantly more so I only bought a box. The B.C. Isn’t going to be a major decision maker, at least in these two bullets. But it is a plus.

I know they are darned accurate in my Whelen.

I posted something this year about the TTSX not to long ago. I use the 130 ttsx with a stout load of varget at close to 3000 fps or more. Usually when I hit them, they never take a step, drop on impact. This year, I shot a nice 8 pt and he ran off. Didn't have to track him, but he did run off about 20 - 30 yards. Side shot slightly turned away, hit behind right shoulder and exited left shoulder. Left an exit hole the size of a golf ball. So no recover of the bullet, however I have to expect that the TTSX did it's job with an exit hole that size.

That’s another good thing in the monos that I’ve tried with other cartridges - accurate.

They have been very accurate (less than an inch) in my 300WM, 375HH, and 416Rem. I have recovered only 7 bullets out of many shot. The two bullets on the right are 400G 416, the one next to them is a Barnes 416 solid I recovered from a hippo. Barnes TSX and TTSX and Hammer Bullets are all I use for game. They work well for me.



They also worked well for one shot kills in a 338WM for sable, zebra, and eland, but no bullets were recovered.

Once you jump into the 375 and up caliber, that cavity in the nose is much larger than on the smaller calibers I think the regular TSX is pretty reliable in 375 and up.
I shot a smaller white tail broadside with the 375H&H and 270 TSX, without hitting any bones, and got expansion that drilled about a 1.25 inch hole through the deer. (granted he was at only 10 yards away).

Here is a .416 caliber TSX fired at a muzzle velocity 2650 fps and impacting gallon water jugs at 200 yards.

I'm using 180gr TSX's in one of my 8x57's. Shooting them at 2780fps. Good accuracy. Have shot a handful of game with them and I am impressed. Shots have been between 70-200yards. Recovered one bullet from a mule buck at 180 yards. 100 percent weight retention with 1.7X expansion. Most of my kill's dropped on the spot with only a couple going 20-30 yards before falling dead. No delayed kills or tracking involved. I also bought a bunch of 160gr TTSX to try in my 8mm's. Hoping to get 2900-3000 fps with those.

I’ve used 180 TSX’s in my 300 RUM for over 50 head of big game up to moose. 168 TTSX shoot very good out of this rifle but the 180’s are all I use. Very few bullets recovered and up to 3 ft penetration.