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In preparation for a late season Arizona elk hunt this November, I have been testing different loads in my .338 Win Mag. I would guess the shot distance would be typical of most elk hunts, 0-400 yds or so. The top two contenders are the 210 gr TTSX at 2835 fps and the 225 gr TSX at 2780 fps. Accuracy being equal, which would you utilize?

I'm not interested in other bullets, the topic of discussion is the Barnes TSX, thanks!

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210 TTSX.

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Any .338 TSX/TTSX will work wonderfully, but the TTSX gives me the warm fuzzies a bit more than does the TSX, from a design perspective. The TSX has worked flawlessly for me in the field, but I do believe the TTSX is an improvement.

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Originally Posted by gunner500
210 TTSX.

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yep. Never hunted elk but have hunted animals of similar size.


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Thanks for the replies, the TTSX seems to have a following! I was leaning that way but wanted to get some opinions. I have used the original Barnes X bullet on elk and mule deer and the TSX on whitetail, but have never harvested game with the TTSX, I think it may the winner.

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Yessir, the 210 may have a slightly higher B.C., a bit flatter trajectory and wind bucking ability, plus less recoil, and in my limited experience, that bullet is more than enough for any Elk that ever walked.

I shoot the 225 TTSX's in my 338 WM to around 2800 with H-4350 powder, it's been so accurate I haven't tried another bullet.

Good Luck on your hunt.

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From what I've put through it the 210 TSX is my .340's favorite bullet. I've yet to want for more than it delivers.


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I have no problem recommending a 210 TTSX, pretty much like everyone else. I load it normally with RL19 at about 2950 fps.

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I have switched to the 210 TTSX in both of my .338 Win Mags, although I have yet to shoot an elk with it. Maybe this year...


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Can't knock the 210, but even in my former 338/06, I felt the heavier bullet was more efficient in it's case size, the 225 should pass up the 210 downrange w/little difference in drop.

Again, the 210 is proven, but I like middle/heavy weight bullets in larger capacity rounds as their trajectory is often fine at the speeds they run.

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Thanks guys. I think the weight of the 225 vs. the B.C. of the 210 may be a wash at further distances in regards to drop, drift, etc.

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The 225s the only way to go, unless you can get a 250. I used the 225gr Ttsx in my 338/06 on Oryx (4 of them) in Namibia and a deer here. Work fine. Just punching a hole in something not the point. The 225s and 250s have a lot more energy, and hold their speed and trajectory better. I would never use a bullet that's almost as wide as it is long. The 338 originally designed to be used with 250 and 275s. The 225 Ttsxs are longer for their weight than a lead bullet, so have a BC equal to a 250gr lead based bullet, so work well..I loaded 225s in my 340 last year and was hunting Moose and Caribou with it, and got a caribou. Weather went south and we didn't get a chance on a Moose.


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Realize it was not one of the options, but for the sake of discussion, why not the 185 TTSX? I tend to hear faster is better for TTSXs. There is even discussion in the bullet energy thread that given two similar bullets the one traveling through flesh faster will do more damage. In the case of TTSXs, you're not going to cause bullet failure with speed, and while the heavier bullets will have more energy, I don't think there is much question about creating two holes regardless of 185/210/225, so why not the faster alternative? I'm actually curious to hear thoughts on this for a different rifle, but similar situation.

Given the OP's alternatives, I'd go 210. More than enough energy and a wee bit less recoil. There's no wrong choice here.

Edit: I did run these, and the 185 at 3000 FPS in JBM, and all of them will be over 2000 FPS at 500 yds if shot at any meaningful elevation. The 185 will stay faster, but only by 30-50 FPS by 500 yds.

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I'm rolling with the 185TTSX out of my .338-06 for my plains game huntin Africa come Sept.


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I'm not much on using a bullet with a BC that's eqivalent to a patched round ball,in a modern rifle. Plains game animals mostly small, unless a Kudu, Zebra or Eland, so probably won't matter. But, when I was in Namibia, the shots STARTED at 200+ yards. Last year in RSA, had 3 shots over 250 yds, and 3 closer. Used a 308 and Ttsx 150s last year.

DVD, what load you using in your 338/06? and where you hunting in Africa?


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Originally Posted by ghost
I'm not much on using a bullet with a BC that's eqivalent to a patched round ball,in a modern rifle. Plains game animals mostly small, unless a Kudu, Zebra or Eland, so probably won't matter. But, when I was in Namibia, the shots STARTED at 200+ yards. Last year in RSA, had 3 shots over 250 yds, and 3 closer. Used a 308 and Ttsx 150s last year.

DVD, what load you using in your 338/06? and where you hunting in Africa?


Even the .338 185 TTSX has a better BC than a 30 cal 150 TTSX. Not exactly equivalent to around ball...

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DVD, what load you using in your 338/06? and where you hunting in Africa?
RSA North Eastern Kalahari area so 200 to 300 yd shots are very possible
185 gr TTSX 57 gr R-15 @ 2920fps


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prm, regarding the 185's, my thoughts are if I were to drop that low in weight, I might as well be using a .300. The 210 TTSX has a higher BC than the 225 TSX due to the BT and boat-tail design, I think it may be a good compromise between "light" and "heavy", though I'm quite sure the 185's would be more than adequate too.

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prm: was about to say, BS, but checked Barnes site, and it seems you're right. But, still, a 338 anything, was designed to be used with long heavy bullets. I just cannot imagine using a light weight bullet in a 338 anything. 225s should be minimum IMO.


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Ghost, how did the 150 perform?

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