Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Question for JB re: Barnes bullets

Not necessarily. It may have been in the magazine previously, when other rounds were fired.

That's possible, I suppose but I never load up with rounds with dinged tips. Those get shot up when it doesn't matter if they are a little off in POI or otherwise.

I doubt you'd notice the slight amount of flattening that could prevent one from opening. The hollow-point is pretty tiny on the smaller TSX's--and I would guess the tip wouldn't have to be totally closed.

That's very true.
I had a web site 20+ years back where I posted Q&A and I did the responses though I had a lot of chatter about that bullet caliber and weight even back then.( though they were "X" bullets back then) I got a response from Dan Petersen, whom I didn't know back then and he had seen the same thing commenting to the point that I pulled some off my bench and went right over then to determine that there was caliber variance in between boxes, mostly undersized, so accuracy could be affected by that symptom alone in some barrels as obturation would be a variable. There was also a transition period where the first X bullets had bumps and dents on them and the open points were very thick suggesting more weight up front in comparison with other bullet designs. Can't say that mattered for accuracy but it likely did contribute to the calls of no expansion back in those days, though I never experienced it myself that I am aware of. Everything I shot died and the bullets are still orbiting for all I know. .

I concur with this

I watched a guy shoot a bull elk 3 times at 25 yards with a 25-06 and 100 grain Barnes. Not a single bullet expanded. My son shot the same bull with a 180 of another make (Fail safe)which was devastating. All the 100s penciled thru

"Everything I shot died and the bullets are still orbiting for all I know."

This is true of the Barnes, Punch, NF, Woodleigh bullets and some others. I shoot to kill game and not to find spent bullets and complain about them.

I don't doubt the experiences others have posted but I have killed at least a dozen deer and pronghorn with the 100 TSX in my 257 Roberts at around 3100 FPS and had nothing but the best performance. Never recovered a bullet and lots of DRTs. Never lost a critter I shot with that load.

I have had good success with the 25 caliber 100gr. tsx in multiple 257 Weatherbys on elk and deer . Usually 1 shot and dead , but the bullets never stay in the animal. I will continue to use them.

The only Barnes bullet that I used that seemed to have minimal expansion, out of a 257 WBY no less. The TTSX in the same round proved far more devastating. When I shoot a Barnes now, it is a TTSX, even for elk.

Which is exactly why Eileen and I have stayed with the 100 TTSX since it appeared. The difference in performance on animals from antelope to elk was obvious.

I am in the process of switching from the 100 gr. TSX to the 100 TTSX in my .257 Roberts. I was hoping to do this without going through a new load work up. For those of you that have made the change was a new load necessary? TIA.

Not with any of our rifles, but it would depend somewhat on magazine length--which might require the TTSX being seated a little deeper, and might not.

I switched from the TSX to the TTSX in a 257 WBY, COL was different and I did work up powder wise, but powder charge remained the same.

I would bet the COL would be different because of a different ogive and polymer tip on the TTSX.

My first outing with the 257WM was in '09, shooting speed goats with the TSX. Actually had them running off or no reaction after a broadside, behind the shoulder shot. Had never had that happen. When I commented on here after returning, you actually mentioned that the smaller caliber TSX's may experience lack of expansion problems. You suggested the TTSX, and it has worked like a charm on antelope, deer, hogs and elk. The difference is very obvious in the quarter bores.

It's for A Ruger No.1 so magazine length will not be an issue although I know I'll have to check for seating length.

hws, In my Vanguard 257 Weatherby, switching from the Barnes 100gr TSX to the TTSX, straight across, resulted in higher than expected velocity, a stiff bolt lift, primer cratering, & an ejector mark on the case head. I had to reduce my load by 1.5gr to even things out. I didn't expect the higher pressure w/ the TTSX; I thought it would be an even swap. Not in my case. Good Luck, -Mark

My expiereance was with a 25-06AI. I now use the 100gr TTSX and it's been flawess.

I have used the 115gr TSX in my 25-06 with good results on deer.

The first deer I ever deliberately high shoulder shot was a WT buck at 40 yds. He just tipped over with straight legs and his front legs shivered for a second. Great internal damage from that TSX and the best part was no blood shot meat, eat right up to the hole.

I chose that shot because he only needed about two steps to get back onto property that was closed to me for hunting.

I have read at least one negative report on the campfire regarding the 80 grain TSX in the 257 Weatherby. I can't find the report but it was a culling trip in Australia so the number of animals was significant 3-400 if I recall correctly. But the disdain for the 80 TSX was across the board not a single incident.

For my own use I went directly to the TTSX, E-Tip and 110 Sirocco II, I doubt I will have issues with any of them in the Weatherby and 25-06. I am also hoping to test the Lehigh 85s and 100 grain bullets on game.