Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Thoughts on the TSX performance 2009

For those of you who have not enjoyed success with the TSX, don't use them. That will leave more for me. Price will reflect the slower demand and I can stockpile.

In my hands, they have performed admirably, and I have not found any other to be superior on game. Calibers I've taken game with the X or TSX include 9.3, .338. 8mm, and .30. All rifles produced a MV of less than 3000 fps, notably in the 2500-2750 fps range. Game taken range from deer/nyala to cape buffalo. It works for me.

I wonder if the sub-.30 caliber hyper-velocity crowd has a bigger problem with TSX than the rest of us? It would seem to follow since they have problems with all bullets.

Nothing quite like stirring the hearts of the internet crowd like trying to tell him your bullet is better than thiers..

JJ you should be ashamed of creating such a pandaminic!!

God is great, Beer is good, and people are crazy!

And that, economics of killing, makes sense in your business...in Africa, where the hunt is about plurality. I will agree with the idea that when the X design works as intended, it seems to kill faster in general than most, at least I always thought so. I don't think that really matters much most of the time for most hunting that is done by most people though.

Well I have at least 8 boxes of Barnes TSX bullets sitting on my reloading bench and I'll most likely use them for paper weights or Christmas presents to others. I did not purchase these mind you, they were exchanged for past XLC bullets that would not open up either. I will not waste anymore of my time nor money on powder, primers etc when it comes to Barnes bullets.

I don't need to read what others like or dislike, I found out for myself, what I needed to know and that is those TSX bullets do just as the Blue XLC and X bullets did in the past years.....They Don't Open Up!

I am content with spending my hard earned money on premium bullets for a money hunt and those are Nosler, Swift and TBBC bullets. If Barnes truely does fix their bullet problem, I might change my mind toward them but I seriously doubt this, as they been changing things since the mid-90's and still have not gotten it fixed. They do have very good PR work and advertising is top shelf too.

no that's 1 true statement that we can all bank on.......rej

Thanks for the report JJ, I've been a fan of Barnes bullets for a long time...even in the original X flavor.
However...a person might be rightfully suspicious of a guy that rides a Rokon...

Since JJ has not used the banded solids I thought I would jump in. I and the PH's I have supplied with these have used them with great success on Elephant and Cape Buffalo. We use a premium soft first on buff, then Banded solids but the PH will have the banded solids from the first shot on. On ele only solids all the way. For those of you who saw my DVD that incuded following up a wounded Cape Buff, I loaned the hunter my rifle loaded from the top to bottom with Barnes 400gr Banded solids at 2600fps from my 416 Rigby. They worked exeedingly well. Good initial 'thump' and then straight through deep penetration from any angle.

Put me in the 'bullet terminal performance FIRST, accuracy second' camp. I will and have, chosen a premium bullet that shot into 1.5 inches at 100 yards over a cup and core bullet that shot into an inch or less. Most of the time, though, the TSX and TTSX are the most accurate bullet one can use in his hunting rifle, but I used them (the original X bullet back then) 21 years ago when they were not always so accurate but still plenty good enough for big gmae hunting.

Ummmmmm..... I have and ride a late model customized ROKON as well. Is my rifle looney card now going to be retracted???

Now that right there is funny... and completely true

Whiskey is better

Tonk,

Are you interested in trading those worthless Barnes TSXes? What calibers and wieghts are they?

How about making mine Wild Turkey please!

Quite a few others have now come out with solid cooper bullets I suspect after seeing the success of the tsx, but I kinda feel like they have to with many states all ready outlawing lead ammo and many are in the process of following suit. Including washington which states it will be lead free by 2011. No bullet company is gonna let Barns be the only one sellin ammo in that state.

I heard several state that Nosler use's a very high quality alloy in production of the e-tip and that it will produce more consistant results related to expansion. (no friggin bananna's)

Me like's the results of the partition alot. I'm thinking the Partition is the best of both worlds. You know the perfect medium between the Interbond and the tsx. I'll bet blood trails are more consistant with Np's yet still great penetration.

Ray gotta love that song you quote from! Had the daughter load it on I-pod for recent trip over the pond and I must have listened to it 100 times!

Still looking for some old past bar patron to give me my first million however!

Ringman now that is a very strong possibility sir!

I have .338 caliber in 225 grain, 4 boxes. Also have 3 boxes of the .308 caliber in the 180-BT. 2 boxes of 7mm caliber in the 160 grian, however my son-in-law has spoken for those ok.

Now what do you have in the way of premium bullets to trade?

WOW talk about the ford vs chevy debate. I must admit I enjoy reading everybodys panties getting in a wad.....I am not a PH but I do use Barnes TSX in every rifle I own (6) and I can tell you they all shoot more accurate than I can and I have shot a pile of game with them as well. Mostly in Texas (hogs, exotics and whitetails, probably around 175 or better) I personally have yet to have a failure with one (recovered only a few). My buddy calls them my armour piercers. Thats OK though everybody has to use what makes them comfy. JJ, when I book with you that is what I will be bringin'

Tonk,

Thanks for posting. I use 210 in the .340 and 150 the .308. Maybe someone else wants your stuff.

God is great, beer is good, whiskey is better, monolithics bullets are both good and bad, and people are still crazy!

Tonk,

Can you tell me about your failures with the TSX. I've read accounts of others here and I would like to hear more.

Thanks
GK

Hey Tonk, bullet selection is somewhat limited for my 500 Jeffrey (no North Forks), so what would be your go to bullet as opposed to the TSX. I was thinking of loading up 600g Woodleigh PPs limiting the velocity to between 2000 fps and 2100 fps to keep recoil (and shoulder pain) under control and prevent over expansion. Would that be a good choice for brown bears and cape buffalo? Like all of us, I want something that will expand reliably and hold together and penetrate.

By the way I did buy a lead sled today, lol ...

Regards,

Chuck