Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Barnes 250gr. TTSX 9.3 bullet

I know that this bullet is relatively new but does anyone have any experience hunting,shooting or loading it? Any and all experience and opinion much appreciated. I took the plastic tip off one and the cavity is quite wide and extends down to the bearing surface of the bullet. What do you think as to use,minimum expansion velocity etc. thanks in advance....bearit..

I am not a gun writer, nor very experienced compared to others here, but I did shoot one cow elk with this bullet.

I used a Ruger 9.3x62 at about 2500 fps. Range was 85 yards or so. Broadside, little bit high behind the shoulder. The cow stumbled in a circle and went down before I could shoot again. Nice exit wound.

I am going to use it again next year if I get a tag.

Ted

I haven't used any of the TSX 250's in my 9.3 rifles, but have used the pre-TSX 250 in my 9.3 B-S on some stuff at a muzzle velocity of 2600 fps or so. It expanded fine out as far as I shot anything, around 250 yards.

The X's above .30 caliber all have pretty big hollow points, and I've yet to see one fail to expand, as I have with a few X's below .30.

Thanks for the replies...I'm wondering if the little load data thats available for the TSX can be used for the TTSX as well....bearit...

No experience with the TSX either but used the 250 gr X in my FN 9.3x62 for all manner of plains game in 2002. Worked very well on critters from porcupine/jackal to eland. My loads were at a bit over 2600 fps. As I have read, the TTSX opens a bit easier than the old bullet. Last year we used the 200 gr TTSX in a 358 Win on springbuck to kudu/gemsbuck and it too performed well. I would load what you plan and go.

I have used the TSX 250g in my CZ 550, I'm in a no lead area so the Barnes is about the only option. It is accurate, only shot one Hog and did not recover the bullet. Bigger hole on the exit side and the Hog basically fell where it was hit. Have not used the TTSX however.

The 250 ttsx has been the best shooting bullet I've tried so far in my Ruger African 9.3x62. I haven't hunted with it yet so can't comment on that. My CZ prefers 286's to 250's so I generally shoot Hornady, Norma or Noslers in it.

Not a gun writer, but have you considered alternatives to the TSX? I used Barnes X bullets since '92 with very good results overall, a few failed to open up, petals were missing on some early ones, some rifles just wouldn't shoot them with any precision.
A few years back started using Accubonds , in the 9.3 it was easy to load an accurate round, on game performance, although limited, equals that of the X bullet. Failure to open up and precision have been taken out of the equation with this bullet.

Yep, the 250 AccuBond is the bullet I switched to from the original 250 X in the 9.3x62. The X shot very well in my rifle (as did most of the old-style X's in the 3 years or so just before they were discontinued) but the AccuBond shot just as well, and on average killed quicker, while still penetrating very deeply. I've taken a bunch of game with it in both North America and Africa, borh from the 9.3x62 and the 9.3 BS, which is bascially a short-action 9.3x62. It just does the job.

I have used the AccuBond as well, but not on game yet. Very accurate and cheaper than the Barnes. If I did not have to use lead free in my hog area I would have picked the AccuBond. Haven't had the opportunity for really large game, just deer and hogs. Use the Norma 232 for deer and it works very well.

Sort of off topic but has anyone used the 286gr Hornaday on game, I've only plinked steel with them at 2500+fps for fun and load development.

Sorry not to reply sooner I was out of town...thanks for the replies....I have a new 9.3x62 on the way that has a 24" barrel and i'm trying to figure out [in theory] what would be my one do-all loading for the rifle,if it will shoot it....thats where the theory comes in...I've done a little shooting with the Nosler loading of the 250gr. Accubond and as Mule Deer has said it is tough for an Accubond. I've found them in the 6th. water jug at 200yds. and there was little expansion. Dug them out of the last pine board at 300yds. and they were only blunted to the front 1/3rd. I am aware that they are probably ideal for anything over 500lbs. at any range thats sane but what I'm trying to figure is if the 250gr. TTSX will do the same thing to include 300+lb. size game at range....my apologies in advance for poor writing skills...bearit...

Furprick....Another respondent did reply that his testing of 286-285gr. 9.3 bullets showed that the hornady spirepoint was soft...I myself took notice of that as it with its .400 BC it very well may be an option for what I'm looking for....something that will fly fairly flat and still expand on a modest black bear or large deer over 250yds....bearit...

i have a box of TTSX on the bench but I need to use up a pile of TSX already loaded before i tinker with them. With the original TSX and a good load of Ramshot big game everything from deer and pigs to elk has fallen within sight. good exit wounds, minimal bloodshot meat and short trails.