Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles TSX report

After hearing all of the glowing terminal performance reports, I decided I would use TSX bullets for my hunting this year. I worked up a load with 180's for my 300 Win. I also worked up a load in my 6.5x55, going with the heavier 130's, in case I needed it as a back-up for elk hunting. I planned to also use it for my deer/aoudad/hog load in W. Texas.

About a week before I was to leave on my elk hunt, my 300 puked on me <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />, and that pretty much left me with only one option, using my 6.5x55. Some friends offered to loan me rifles, but I remained steadfast to my original plan, and decided to use old faithful.

Last Sunday morning, I was perched in a saddle, listening to several bulls bugle, deciding which one I was going to try and move in on. Suddenly I noticed a very large cow trying to sneak by me. Since this was what I really came for, I got set up for a shot. I carefully aimed for the lower third of the shoulder, and squeezed off a shot when she was a little less than 100 yds away. She ran about 60 yds, them crashed and rolled about another 25 yards into an aspen brush gully. She couldn't have been on her feet over 10 to 12 seconds after the hit. Then she spent another 5 seconds crashing and burning! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

While dressing and quartering, I done a careful examination. The bullet went through the shoulder muscle, under the shoulder blade. From the looks of the hole on the inside of the shoulder, after removing it from the body, it had done a good job of expanding before it got to the ribs. The 130 TSX then knocked about a 3" chunk out of a rib as it entered the vital area. It put a golf ball sized hole through both lungs, and knocked a large chunk out of the top of the heart. The bullet then went out through the other shoulder, and left about a nickel sized hole in the hide as it exited.

I know opinions on bullet performance vary considerably, but I was impressed with the penetration and performance of this bullet. I plan on using it for the rest of my hunting this year, to get a feel of how it will work on smaller game. I seems to have no problems on a big cow elk, provided I do my part.

Although this was only a single performance sample, I'm very satisfied.

Steve

this is very encouraging, I shoot the 130 gr. TSX @ @2840 fps in my 260 Rem

I've dumped two deer with it so far this fall and it really slams them.



congrats on the elk and the sucess with the TSX <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Wally,

What are the loads you experimented with your 6.5X55? I shot my moose this year with my 7mm Rem mag and factory Federal 160gr TSX but I want to work up something for my Featherweight 6.5X55. What the barrel lenght on your 6.5 and what kind of velocity are you getting?

Tod, what's the barrel lenght on yours?

Thanks guys

Steve,
The barrel length on my rifle is 23". It is a Model 70 with a custom barrel.

I've gotten close to 2900 with 48 gr. of RL 19 and 129 Hornadys. I've gotten nearly 2800 with 48 gr. of RL22 and 140 Hornady's or Partitions.

But, I've found if I back off 1 to 1.5 grs., it may slow me down a little, but my rifle actually shoots a little better, and my Lapua brass lives forever.

Two loads that have also worked well in my rifle are 46.5 gr. of RL22, and 47 gr. of H4831SC, both with a 140 Partition. Hell, my Swede will shoot about anything I put in it. It often makes me wonder why I mess with anything else.

Because I didn't have a lot of time, I tried 45 and 46 gr. of H4350 with the 130 TSX. The higher powder charge seemed to have no pressure problems, but the 45 gr. load shot several groups a little under 1". Unfortunately, because I was in a hurry, and couldn't get much range time, I haven't chronographed this load. I intend to do so in the near future, and will keep you posted. I'm going to estimate it to be going a little over 2800, based on my considerable experience with this rifle.

I'll keep you posted on the chronograph results. I hope this helps.

Steve

Awesome, thanks Wally. My Winchester has the stock 22" barrel so I can probably knock off about 50fps but that's still pretty good. That should get me started. Let me know what you find out with your chrono.

Steve