Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting 243 Barnes TSX 85 grain on deer?

I'm about to purchase some bullets for some fresh cases I have lying around. I've read some positive and a few negative reviews on the Barnes TSX. Anyone have experience on this particular bullet in the above configuration on deer?

I haven't actually got to shoot one into a deer yet. They're scary accurate in my M70 Feather Weight.

They work well on grouse.

There is not a better 6mm bullet for killing schit than that one, IMO.

Happy Birthday, Tanner.

Oh, and the 85 grain TSX is a good whitetail bullet out of the .243/6mm cartridges.

Look in the classifieds, Heavywalker has been selling some for a good price. Also they kill good!

Very accurate, TSX and TTSX. My hunting experience was with the 80 gr. TTSX in a .240 Wby at 3,600 fps. Huge blood clot between shoulder and rib cage on a mature whitetail doe. In and out thru chest, messing up lungs, but she ran 100 yds. I'm now going to try the 85 gr. NPT at 3,550 fps. Will report on that one next fall.

DF

Very accurate, and kills very well.

I've killed and seen killed at least 1-2 dozen deer with the .243 and 85gr X/TSX, and I've seen no reason to use anything else for deer hunting within 400 yards.

The 85 TSX is a killer - way beyond the recoil and muzzle blast the shooter endures to deliver it.

Killed this Axis buck with one through both shoulders. He went 70 yards or so, with souped lungs and a good blood trail after the bullet shattered the near shoulder and exited the off shoulder after shedding a few petals...



Daughter smacked this one at 225+ with an 80 GMX (which seem to perform about like the TSX's IME - although we've used the TTSX a bunch more), and it busted off shoulder and exited after she put it just behind the near shoulder on a quartering shot.



Pard's daughter killed huge buck with an 80 TTSX...He's an absolute GIANT of an old, 7.5+ year old South Texas buck, and worth a look if you haven't seen the thread...

Giant South Texas 7

85's or 80's - They make a 243/6mm into a lot more gun, IMHO.

DJ

Thanks for all of your input. I actually just got back from the range after having shot a box of Federal's factory Barnes TSX 85 grain loads which shot very well. So well I'm inclined to buy some bulk. Anyone have a source that I could get a good price on a case of them?

What do you need, I have just under 6000 of them on hand at the moment.

Loaded ammo, or bullets?

Thanks,

DJ

Bullets

I've got a pot of venison chili in the crock pot right now courtesy of an 85 grain TSX from a 240 wby mag. I've killed a pile of deer with both a 243 and a 240 with the 85 TSX's and I've never had a bullet stay in one or had a deer not be found. Most only went a couple of feet, straight down. Those that ran were easy to find. And there is no shot you can't take with the TSX out of a 243/6mm/240 wby.

As long as the quarry doesn't have a penchant to want to bite me, I would have no qualms using the 85tsx outta my .243 on any animal that walks in North America assuming a reasonable range and good shot placement. It makes animals sick quick and shoots great in my rifle.

My "new" (700 from early '70's) .243 absolutely loves heavywalker's bullets placing them into tiny groups. I will find out this fall if the whitetails hate them!!

tried them last season on one small buck and had a pinhole thru and thru at 40 yards. I wasnt aiming at bone though. 243 recoils so little i was able to get another one into him as he turned and ran. he made it about 40 yards before dropping.

One bad account, many good ones....

I've shot them a fair amount out of a slower than 243 6mm I have..... 6.8 SPC necked down.. have worked just perfectly for me so far. I've yet to shoot bone other than head. They will run a ways. Of course I don't mind going to find them either, don't have to have the DRT results some desire.

It doesn't get any better in the .243 Win than the 85 TSX IME. Never recovered one, they kill deer, and they are very accurate in the two .243's I load for. Expansion is not a problem with the TSX. I have seen deer shot with this bullet from 80 to 350 yards out with 100% recovery often DRT.

My teenage girls have shot 4 WT (3bucks) and 1MD (buck) in the last couple of years with their 243s using the Federal 85gr TSX. All the WT were one shot kills. I'm impressed.

Heavywalker's bullet load:

#1. 39.5-40.2g of IMR 4064 with fed 210 primer

#2. 45.5g of R#19 with win primer

all bullets seated 0.050 off the lands

I shot a doe in the azz at 100 yds. Bullet broke the hip bone, and front shoulder, found the bullet under the skin about to exit, picture perfect mushroom.

I would recommend that you buy a life time supply from heavywalker