Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Mule Deer et all...what about the "blue" Barnes XLC?

Hi,

Having read with interest the post about the Fail Safe, I would like to know your experience with the rather short lived Barnes XLC.
Some 15 years ago got on a sale, for a ridiculous low price even then, some 7mm XLC: 4 boxes of 160 grs and 3 of 140 grs.
I developed some loads for the 160 grs, reaching near 2800 f/s in my 60 cm barrel M1935 Mauser without any issue. But never used them on game. I think they should work as the normal TSX.
Thank you for your answers!

PH

I started with the original X, then went on to the XLC, and now, of course, use the TSX and TTSX.

From what I recall, the XLC came about due to copper buildup issues with the X. I found the XLC to be as seating depth sensitive as the X was, but it did reduce the copper fouling. And, the XLC worked as well as the X did, which I've loaded in 22 Hornet, 223, 222remmag, 243, 270 (2), 30-06, 300 Win (2) and 300 Weatherby.

I still use the 45gr XLC in my Hornet for a coyote load, but have switched to the TSX and TTSX in the other cartridges.

I find the TSX and TTSX to be a big improvement over the X and XLC, in that accuracy has been very easy to achieve with the TSX and TTSX, and I have not had to play with seating depth to get the accuracy I wanted.

One of the XLCs was the first Barnes X that grouped pretty well in one of my rifles. Melvin Forbes made me a .257 Roberts Ackley Improved. (Actually I ordered a standard .257 Roberts, and Melvin talking me into the AI version.) Worked up a load with the 100-grain XLC and H4350 that got around 3350 fps and averaged around 3/4". Only used it on one pronghorn at around 350 yards, but it dropped right there with a behind-the-shoulder shot.

But I didn't have the same accuracy luck with any other XLC, I suspect because Randy Brooks was still having trouble getting consistent copper. But a couple years later that situation improved, and found the original Xs to group well in several rifles, including a very accurate Ruger 77 Mark II in 6.5x55 and my CZ 550 9.3x62. The TSX appeared a couple years later, which solved all the problems.

The only downside of the XLC that I encountered was the soft blue coating tended to scrape forward off the bullets as they were seated in cases, and gunked up seating dies. But it was also easy to clean out with a bronze brush.

Thank you!

I struggled getting them to shoot in 270 WCF and 338-06. As noted the coating scraped off easily.

Also thought the coating increased pressures. I tried them before I had a chrono. Saw pressures signs with moderate loads, and the only primer I have ever blown was with these bullets and a middle of the road powder charge of Varget.

i don`t think Barnes offers that blue coating anymore is that true ?

I shot a whitetail buck with one. 100gr in a 25-06. Mid rib entry clipped bottom of spine broke offside shoulder. Did no extensive load development. Groups were IIRC inch or so @ 100.

Not for at least 20 years....

Then Barnes made and loaded the MRX a while. It had a core, so it was shorter. It also had a polymer tip and grooves. The 180s shot pretty well from my .30-06.

Expat

Yeah, I tried some of those as well. The core was tungsten, which is heavier than copper, so they'd stabilize better in "standard" rifling twists.

Speer also offered a tungsten-core solid around the same time.

In my limited experience with both, they grouped and penetrated well. But they were pretty pricey!

I tried them and they were very accurate. I had heard that the were dropped because they left the coating gunked up in the barrel. I never experienced that though.

Life it too short to shoot a shat bullet. Barnes aren’t the most consistent bullets. So I don’t mess with ‘em

Thank you all!

Those are the original Barnes X on Viagra...

I hate them! I like to use compressed loads or very close to that, but really had to with the XLC! This was before LEE made the Factory Crimp Die. The XLCs I tried were all slick as snot! You had to use very compressed loads to get any real velocity ( 338WM/185). The compressed powder would "push" the bullet out of spec while using R19. I discovered this with my prepared hunting rounds 10days before my cow elk hunt! I had to end up using a very "mild" load of H4350 that did not compress. I killed my elk, but not at the speed "I" wanted, ha.

I want to add, I killed an 80 pound Shoat with a CZ527 221 Fireball and 50gr XLC easily. Made a 50 cal hole all the way through. Best experience with the XLC, ever, with anything! Ha!

Hi Jim

I had the same experience as yours with 160 grs XLC in my 7x57! Reach easely 2800 f/s with Winchester cases, standard primers, IMR4350 and very long OAL cartridge able to use in the M98 (1935) Mauser-Werke action and 60 cm barrel lenght. Groups very good as usual with this rifle

Thank you!

PH

Curious about the 22 50 grain bullets Jim. I purchased a 223AI from a friend and the loaded ammo was blue coated hp 50 grain Barnes according to the reloaded ammo box label. I never got a box of bullets with the package, but I scoured the net and found a mess of loosely packed bullets but haven't needed to reload any yet. I took one of the recently purchased bullets and my recollection is they were jacketed lead bullets, nit lead free.

Anyone else find blue coated Barnes 22-50grn that are lead? Curious if Barnes made lead pills, or if I need to section another bullet to verify what I believe I found.

Thanks

Allen

I shot the blue meanies 85 grain in my 6mm Rem. If I could get more I would! They shot really good. I killed a bunch of mule deer with them.

When Scovill invented the "ring-tailed" X for Brooks, the XLC became moot.

If I recall correctly Barnes coated some of the "Barnes Originals" as well, the same basic bullets that Fred Barnes made with pure lead cores and copper jackets. They still offer some Originals, but not with the blue coating.

Thanks John

That must be what I have. Heading out when the snow up north of me gives me a decent travel day, hoping to help another gun writer teach Flight school in the land I can empty lead ammo , lol. 2016 was the last year we headed north this early and had sun!

Allen