Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles TSX Performance

If JW says it works, it's because he has shot LOTS of animals with it. He has literally killed thousands.

I think what Mr. Barsness says is very well put-there are better choices for deer sized game than Barnes especially if you expect (or need) a dramatic result. That being said, Barnes kill game very well and do less damage to meat than more fragile bullets or even a medium tough bullet such as a Partition. And anytime that you need to go through an animal at a severe angle (such as hip to shoulder) it helps to have a better penetrator.

Well, I do like two holes for trailing.....and if the bullet fragments on the way through (Partition, Interlock, etc) and makes that trailing job easier, I'm all for that in our thickets.

Had this conversation with a mechanic friend of mine, when he asked why I "wasted" so much meat with my shots on deer.

"Bryan, if I put a round through the engine block, the heart of a car, it's dead, but it'll go a ways, right?"

"Yeah, likely."

"And, if I put one through the radiator, it'll go a ways, too, right?"

"Yeah."

"Well, how far is it going to go, if I blow out the front axle, and tear up the front suspension?"

"Nowhere."

Right.......................

Break stuff, at the shot.

I've killed 10 african plainsgame with the TSX and my experience, except for one, is all bang-flop. These were done with a 140gr 7mm STW at 3395 fps MV and a 168gr in a 300WSM at 3130 fps. Mt Reedbuck, multiple Springboks, Blesboks, Hartebeest, Fallow Deer, Wildebeest, Impala. The only one that ran was the heart/lung shot on the Brindled Gnu. All the others instantly fell over and wiggled. Amazing performance, in my experience.

You learn that early in the Pacific Northwest. Come trudge around in the Cold Jungle and find out why

Very true the frangible will drop them quicker. But even the examples given it is about a ten yard difference.

The Barnes has never given me a major mystery experience, other bullets have. Minor mystery was a Springbok we found parts but no animal. I shot the wrong one and we found it about 30yds away in the wrong direction.

Hawk Driver,

My experience is pretty limited, but we took two Pronghorns with my .257 Wby and 80gr TTSXs loaded to 3715 fps a couple of weeks ago. Mine was the first one. DRT from a neck shot at 275 yards. 'course that's what you would expect from a neck shot. Exit wound was about 2". Partner took three shots at his. First one was at a running 'lope and hit him too far back. Went in in front of hip and exited opposite side close to tailbone. Exit wound was probably the size of a softball. Next shot finished him and it was high through the lungs. Here's how it looked:



I think with enough velocity and bone a TTSX is probably ok but certainly not required for Pronghorn. I woulda used something else but fond a really accurate load with them and wanted to see how they would do. Still wanna try some on pigs ...

John

Barnes has always stated "go one or two steps down in bullet than normal". 100 gr. BT, PT, Horn inter....etc 87 gr. in Barnes is about right.


Kevin

Thank you for this confirmation, Ingwe. My _very_ minimal experience has confirmed this. I shot an antlered whitetail doe earlier this year @ 82 paces with my 7rm running a 140 x at 3080. Gravity took care of the rest (carefully avoiding cliches for JB - <g>)

My considerably experienced partner, who has never shot anything but a 160 partition in his 7rm, immediately called the tsx a meat spoiler. But when the final autopsy was done, blood was pretty much all in the membrane and washed off after a brief scrub with a towel. My partner still swears that he won't hunt with me again until I switch to a partition so he bought me a box of 160's.

So, I've got a box of 160 accubonds (that I bought) and the gifted 160 partitions waiting for lift off. Can't switch to a berger because elk is usually in the offing as well.

When you get the membrane bloodshot x thing figured out please let us know.

Aleth

The tipped tripple shocks will give you the performance that you are used to seeing with cup and core bullets...massive damage. You will usually through away both shoulders...not meat on them anyway.

Last speed goat I shot was at 430 yards with a 223 using a 55g Soft point with a muzzle velocity of 3250fps, he dropped like a toilet seat...behind the shoulder shot. We were shooting p.dogs and had tags. I had left my red wind flag out when we moved the truck forward, and he walked out smelling it. I used that trick on several other occasions.

If you have not had antelope jerky, you are missing a real treat.
A guy needs about 80 lbs of antelolpe jerky to get him through the winter.

Personally I can't fathom shooting lowly deer and pronghorns (on purpose) with $37 a box (per 50) Barnes TSX's... I've certainly done it because I was carrying a rifle so-stoked for elk season, but I can't see any other reason as a matter of choice. Deer, antelope, black bear just aren't that tough and, IME, good old cup and core bullets do a better job of terminating them decisively.

I've used X's, TSX's, TTSX's and Failsafe's on antelope, whitetail deer, mule deer and elk. The true believers are entitled to their opinions but I've seen more problems than positive performance with them, and that's not conjecture...

That has been my experience as well with the 257 Wby and the 100gr Hornady. Incredible performance on deer & hogs. I think I'm up to like 42/44 DRTs on deer. John, I'm getting ready to go and whack a Scimitar Horned Oryx in Texas at my friend's ranch. Going to take 180gr TSXs @ 3000 fps out of my 300 H&H. Will report back on results. jorge

It'll kill an oryx, no doubt.

I killed a scimitar-horned about 4 years ago with my 9.3 BS wildcat and the 250 TSX at about 2650 fps. (The 9.3 BS is the .350 Remington Magnum necked up .008". It duplicates the 9.3x62 in a short case, which means nothing much at all, like most wildcats.) Range was 80 yards and the first shot went just behind the shoulder, broadside. The oryx staggered and almost went down, then got it's stuff together and started to walk off, so I shot it again, basically in the same place. It took off running and disappeared into the semi-open thornbrush.

Trailing it up wasn't tough. Big blood trail. It went about 80 yards and ran into a mesquite and keeled over, obviously running blind, breaking one horn off.

It's an example of one so obviously not valid. And oryx are notoriously hard to kill. The meat damage was minimal, and the meat was also wonderful! Just like gemsbok, as far as I could tell.

IF there was something that killed better than an X,I'd be all over it.

To date,there is not...though I fling other offerings now and again,for the not so gentle reminder..............

I blew an easy shot last year on a smallish whitetail using an 85 grain TSX in a 6mm Remington, too high and too far back missing the spine. I'm primarily a meat hunter and a follow up shot placed above the heart dropped the animal quickly. I didn't loose much meat because of the first poor shot which is why I switched to the TSX. Previous experience with 100 grain GameKings convinced me that I stood to loose a lot of meat on a blown shot. Something to consider. Note that this is open country and a follow up shot is normally available. A GameKing would probably have caused enough damage to at least shock the spine (along with ruining a good part of the best meat on the animal) and put the deer down.

When properly placed deer usually go 20 or 30 yards further before dropping, in my experience, no more than about 60 total, compared to the same placement with a 100 grain GameKing which isn't an issue in croplands. There's no more meat loss with the GameKings if it goes where I intend but I admit that I can still screw up once in a while. It took three seasons after switching to the TSX but there it is.

Gunning for the spine is a new one on me. I shoot meat in the head,though boolit selection is moot in the CNS application.



I'd bet the farm on the .243" 85xX holding it's end up on any situation. BT/DT.................(lots)

Well, your experience with the TSX only trumps mine by about tenfold with change left over.

But like I said, in my limited experience with the 7mm and .30 cal. (mostly .30 cal) the results have been good so far. I was once going to try them in a .243 but decided against it for the reasons brought up in this thread. More than anything else, though, the main reason I use the TSX/TTSX is the boringly outstanding accuracy I get with them.

Yeah, reading that this morning it sounds sorta like that. I aim above the heart which gives me some leeway either way but not THAT much. Perils of late nite posting.

Man this thread now has me thinking. I've been switching everything to the TSX/TTSX including my 338 which I developed a hell of a load with the 210TSX2930 I plan to use on leopard and PG. Almost booked for 2012 either with my old standby John Sharp or Chifuti. I'm thinking you would not choose the 210 TSX on the cat? jorge