TSX Bang Flops

Gatehouse

Gatehouse

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
147   0   0
Location
Pemberton BC
I've been noticing quite a few people on various sites that used TSX bullet s this year describing "bang flops" or very animals down very, very quickly. I've experienced a few of these too.

Seems liek they are living up to thier reputation!
 
This year was my first experience with the Triple Shocks. In total, I shot 18 animals of various sizes that would qualify as pretty dramatic "bang-flop" kills: a 100 yard Warthog, 340 yard Red Hartebeest, <200 yard Blesbuck, six Springbuck, six jackals and three coyotes.

A 300+ yard Kudu walked about 40 yards, ~200 yard Impala ran 30 or 40 yards, a second Blesbuck ran a few yards and an Elk ran about 30 yards before keeling over (those were all lung and/or heart shot).

If the animals were hit properly they all died very quickly. Most of the bullets passed through the animals. I'd say that Barnes has made an excellent hunting bullet in their Triple Shock. They'll certainly be high on the list for future hunts.
 
Great bullets. I have a box of them at home and I've never had a water leak. Proves they prevent water leaks as well.
 
I like the TSX but get more bang flops with conventional bullets. The trade-off between maximum penetration and limited expansion is inescapeable and choices have to be made. The TSX will shoot through a big animal lengthwise or corner to corner, but may leave another looking unhit. I have had more run than not on rib hits, some a long way. Shoulder hits tend to KO anything.
My experience is limited to about 40 animals with this bullet (5 calibers), but I see them at their best in big calibers for real big animals, and hyper velocity calibers. It gets bonus points for the meat hunters, but they are the least likely to pay a buck or so a bullet. The search for the elusive perfect bullet continues, perhaps with A-Frames?
 
Not to hijack the thread, but Hornady Interbonds work very well in terms of super-quick killing ability on assorted large game animals, (check Neo's post http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=174934). The only downside to their fast expansion was more limited penetration.

Not that it mattered in the ~30 animals of his that dropped dead, of course. But in the odd case where the hit was less than ideal, there was no blood trail to speak of since the bullets typically did not exit.

At about half the cost of the TSX's, I'd say Interbonds are another great choice for most big game. TSX's are still top of the list for best trade-off of penetration and lethality IMHO.
 
After years of using 175 gr. Partitions in my 7mm RM, I switched to 160 gr. TSX's this year for a change. Took a medium size whitey at 350 yds. with a broadside shot entering behind the shoulder on one side and exiting through the shoulder on the opposite side. No bang flop as it still managed to run up a sidehill about 50 yds. but it sure did a lot of damage. Will try them again next year before passing judgement.
 
Gatehouse I killed a 11 point this year as quick as I ever have!
It was bang flop not even a flitch!
The 30-378 roared and by the time I focused in the deer, it was down dead,
Shot was facing me about 100 yards i took hin through the brisket and into the heart.

Dead as i have ever seen with out a flinch.

180 grain Tripple shocks!
 
Last edited:
krazy said:
A very accurate and deadly bullet but good or bad they definatley produce fewer bang flops than the nosler pt/ab.

I provided a comparison in the following thread:
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=187762

k
Click to expand...


According to your report, you shot 2 moose in the neck tissue, but didn't hit neck bone. The TSX is a monometal expanding bullet. If you are going to rely on bullet fragments to take out the spine, your choices of partition or AB are probably a better selection.:)

Also, you mentioned that one TSX "didn't expand at all and lost it's petals" When they lose thier petals, they have certainly expanded. They don't just pop off.:)
 
Gatehouse said:
According to your report, you shot 2 moose in the neck tissue, but didn't hit neck bone. The TSX is a monometal expanding bullet. If you are going to rely on bullet fragments to take out the spine, your choices of partition or AB are probably a better selection.:)
Click to expand...

Exactley. The bang flops that I have experienced with moose and deer shot with nosler pt/ab's are certainly in part due to a more volitile expansion. The tsx does the job but with a less violent expansion you won't see as many bang flops - especially when you are shooting in areas that may require some bullet fragmentaion to take out the CNS.

Gatehouse said:
Also, you mentioned that one TSX "didn't expand at all and lost it's petals" When they lose thier petals, they have certainly expanded. They don't just pop off.:)
Click to expand...

You would think but an examination of the bullet path right up to the bullet shows only a pencil hole all the way through.


I'm not saying that any of this is good or bad, better or worse than any other bullet but rather just pointing out the ways that they are different to other bullets. Hunters need to choose what they want based on the outcomes that they desire. I personaly like to see animals drop in their tracks and from my (your milage may vary) experiences the nosler pt/ab outperforms the tsx in this area.
 
krazy said:
Exactley. The bang flops that I have experienced with moose and deer shot with nosler pt/ab's are certainly in part due to a more volitile expansion. The tsx does the job but with a less violent expansion you won't see as many bang flops - especially when you are shooting in areas that may require some bullet fragmentaion to take out the CNS.

.
Click to expand...

What I am saying is that I am seeing *more* bang flops, (or very short runs) at least in the few examples I've seen.None of these were neck shots.:)

Hits to (and through) the body did tremendous damage, destroying vitals and killing very quickly. :)
 
My daughter shot a WT doe at 320 yds with her 7-08 using TSX's. I was surprised at the complete pass through at that distance. I have loaded 300 gr. TSX's for my .375 but haven't taken an animal yet. The bullets that I have used so far are Speer GS's, Accubonds and Interlocks. All have performed very well. The TSX's have yet to justify their extra cost. The interesting thing though is that the el'cheapo Interlocks have proven themselves as good as anything elses that I've used. My most dramatic bang flop came this year out of 265gr. Interlock in .444 Marlin. Never have I seen an animal literally get flipped over onto it's back with all 4 pointing skyward. Bottom line, I'm not disregarding the TSX, I just need to see it with my own eyes.
 
125 yrs. ago, most game that was hit by bullets went down fast, some walked a small ways and died, some were hit poorly and went a long ways. Today nothing has changed, some drop right away, some go a bit, those not hit well still go a long ways. The only dif. is that in the old days people weren't trying to help companies justify $2 bullets.
 
Some people are so hung up on the price of the projectile for hunting purposes.

Using TSX bullets for hunting over say, Hornady, you may add anywhere from $10-$100 per year to your hunting expenses. I guess that is an incredibly large expense to some people, just not me.:p
 
Bang-flop

1 deer tag = 1 bang flop this year......

185gr TSX, .340 Weatherby @ 25 yards..... Hit high in the spine.....

Results?

18" of missing "vaporized" spine, awful large football shaped hole in the hide, blood shot rib cages (2), blood shot tenderloins (2), :( but 1 very flopped dead deer.........

Next year? 7mm-08 using 140 gr TSXs..... Or, .340 with a much better placed shot.....
 
Gatehouse said:
Some people are so hung up on the price of the projectile for hunting purposes.

Using TSX bullets for hunting over say, Hornady, you may add anywhere from $10-$100 per year to your hunting expenses. I guess that is an incredibly large expense to some people, just not me.:p
Click to expand...

Wrong....I think that what Ben is saying is much the same as what I'm saying...which is we don't feel better equipped simply because we have spent $10 or $100 more on projectiles that are hyped up to be the next best thing since sliced bread. As far as I'm concerned, I don't have a problem spending the extra $100.00, I just want to make sure it's spent wisely. In my case, TSX's haven't proven to be any better "in my situation" than Interlocks have. I like to shoot my rifles a lot, and I include my .338's, .375 and .444 - not just during hunting season, but year 'round. So a more economical bullet that I can use to know my rifles should also be one that I can trust to do the job come September. The Interlock fits that description. The TSX is likely a good performer on game, but doesn't fit into the economical category. Besides, the amount of shooting that I do in the off season, prepares me for a well placed shot which will suffice with the Interlocks. Perhaps the TSX's mighty performance and price tag can make up for "not so well" placed shots??? ;)
 
gitrdun said:
Wrong....I think that what Ben is saying is much the same as what I'm saying...which is we don't feel better equipped simply because we have spent $10 or $100 more on projectiles that are hyped up to be the next best thing since sliced bread
Click to expand...
.

I feel better equiped because I've done testing and made observations, not because of hype. (It should be noted that ALL manufacuters hype thier products, regardless of thier price. Less expensive bullets liek Hornady sure has thier share of advertising);)

As far as I'm concerned, I don't have a problem spending the extra $100.00, I just want to make sure it's spent wisely. In my case, TSX's haven't proven to be any better "in my situation" than Interlocks have.
Click to expand...

Well, hard to come to any conclusions with just one deer being shot with a TSX, anyway. :)


I like to shoot my rifles a lot, and I include my .338's, .375 and .444 - not just during hunting season, but year 'round. So a more economical bullet that I can use to know my rifles should also be one that I can trust to do the job come September. The Interlock fits that description. The TSX is likely a good performer on game, but doesn't fit into the economical category. Besides, the amount of shooting that I do in the off season, prepares me for a well placed shot which will suffice with the Interlocks.
Click to expand...

I work up a hunitng load wiht a TSX, then select a inexpensive bullet with similar characteristics, and duplicate (or come close to) that load. Then I make a large number of low cost ammo that is the same as my hunitng loads, so I can fire hundreds of rounds of quality centerfire ammo at lower cost. Helps for checking zero, or blasting grouse, too.:)

Perhaps the TSX's mighty performance and price tag can make up for "not so well" placed shots???
Click to expand...

I dont' think it will make up for really poor shot placement, but I do think that your shot opportunities open up more. :)
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom