Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting 150 grain TTSX on Elk

Brad posted earlier that Dober had shot or seen shot about 50 animals with the TSX bullets will one "so called" failure that came out of a "Dead" animal. well that's a 98% perfect reuslts with less than perfect 2% of the time.

Between myself and 6 others we have near 100 kills with all perfectly satisfifing results. Excellent odds IMHO

Blaine the TSX's that Federal loads from 243 to 470 Nitro there is only an 8% difference in penetration from the least to the most. The 150 TSX in the 30-06 will make short work of an Elk.

Big plus++

This was my first year, using Barnes bullets. I used the 150 grain T-TSX in my 30-06. These bullets grouped real nice, acuracy was top shelf. I was able to reach velocity that satisfied me.

I killed two W/T Deer with this bullet, this year. I know, Deer are not hard to kill. My first year using them, they shot good. They got the green light from me to use.

I felt I needed to test this bullet on these Deer. The two deer that I shot, were angling away shots. All bullet made exits. From looking at the Deer the bullet did expand. Nice wound channels.

From the amount penetration I got on these Deer I would have no reservation using them on Elk.

These bullets are not my favorite bullet. I just don't have anything negative at this time.

I used Ramshot Hunter for my best loads. This powder is easy to work with.



The group on the left is 61 grains and the other is 62.2 grains of Hunter.



This is the speed of the 62.2 grain load. The 61 grain load was just 25 fps less.

I have a Buddy, who also, was his first year with this bullet.
He used a Kimber 300 WSM. He too killed two W/T Deer with like results.

He and I are going on a Red Stag hunt this spring. We will be using this bullet. More testing to follow.

Sorry for this being so long.

Take Care

The target, each group is 3 shot.

150 TTSX's group well... no, VERY well in my rifles. That doesn't mean they're a worthy elk bullet all the time.

Kill some elk with them and report back.

It's not at all hard to shoot all the way through a deer with a 30-06; in fact I'd venture that it's hard NOT to. I've done it with Core-lokts and Accubonds from a 30-06. The Accubond penetrated a LOT of deer after hitting shoulder bone and then exited the opposite flank.

Still it seem clear that the proper answer to Blain's question is that yes, they will penetrate an elk shoulder. I mean I can't ever remember hearing a tale of woe, where a TSX didn't PENETRATE... penetration isn't the problem with them, if indeed there is a problem...

Brad, I agree. I don't even think I would use these bullets on an Elk. I think, I said they were not my favorite. This is the first year I used them. I do think they will penetrate an Elk shoulder with no problem.

I have used the following bullets to kill Elk. Nosler Partitions, # 1 right there. Hornady Interlock this is another good bullet, Nosler Ballistic tip only in 30 cal. 180 grain. Swift A-frame, Sierra Pro-Hunter.
These bullets have all worked very well for me. I would use any of these bullets again on any given Elk hunt.
Agian I'm not a big fan of the Barnes Bullets, there are people out there who use them with great success.

So have a good evening.

Jeff
We all know it's not hard to shot through a Deer. Yes I now. When I shot these Deer I waited till I had the quartering away shot so I could see what the bullet did to the Deer when I did the autopsy. I passed on the broadside shot.

Have a good one.

Yeah... my bad Hammerdown, sorry. Re-reading my post it came off all wrong.

Jeff
No harm, you are okay by me.

6x6, with Vanguard 300 WM, 130 gr. Barnes TTSX, 80 to 100 yds. One shot through shoulder and lungs about six inches below top of rib cage, into offside shoulder, no exit, no deflection. Ran about 30 yds and dropped dead. Lungs were destroyed.

Well Sir
You have a very nice Bull.

Good for you.

Did you recover the bullet? Pictures!!!

No, I didn't go after the bullet. At the time I was alone, and my immediate challenge was getting him that 80 or so yards to where I could get my truck in. By the time I got to the butcher shop, I pretty much didn't care about the bullet.

Butcher weight...skinned and trimmed...was 445 lbs. 230 on the front half, and 215 on the rear.

I tend to have my best luck when nobody is around to help me with the damn things after they're dead.

Well, you did just fine.

[/b]What I want to know is how the 30 cal, 150 TSX/TTSX at an MV of 3000-3100 fps performs on elk, and I told you to assume it would exapnd properly. (Something else you apparrently didn't understand.) My main concern is is this bullet heavy enough to reliably penetrate elk shoulders?[/b]


[/quote]

Without entering the debate my quick answer is yes, without question a 150 30 caliber TTSX will penetrate any living elk adequately for a kill.

My experience in 2007 1 bull @ 425 yards full penetration 140 gr TSX @ 3200fps from .280AI. Through and through, no bullet recovery, dead elk. In 2008 same gun, same load but with 140 gr TTSX @ 125 yards. Through and through, no bullet recovery, dead elk.

I obviously do not have the expertise of the vast number of debaters and this is a minute sample but adequate to convince me of sufficient penetration capabilities of 140 gr TSX/TTSX in .280 and that penetration capability of 150 gr TTSX in '06 would be equal or better.

Blaine,
I've always managed to have a lighter than "recommended" gun in my hand when elk hunting. The closest comparisons I can make are these:
I killed a huge bodied bull with a .270 WSM 130 Gr. TSX last fall. Blew through both shoulders at over 350 yards but he still pushed himself into the timber about 40 yards away.
I killed two smaller elk this year a .264 Win Mag with 140 gr Partitions. Penetrated both shoulders, and made some big holes.
Both these loads have smaller entrance holes, but have even less weight but similar velocities to your 150 gr .30-06 at 3100.
Oh and I did have a 150 gr Nosler Partition completely penetrate a bull elk's shoulders out of .280 from about 50 yards. So that's 150 grains, less stoutly constructed and a little slower (2800 fps) doing what you're looking for.
Here's the .270 WSM 130 TSX bull: