TSX Bang Flops

Wow, I just had another look at this thread and realised I could have slapped alot of peepee's here.

Seeing as how it's taking a turn back to the original subject I'll let it run but I'm gonna watch it a bit closer this time and all it'll take is one more pissing match for me to lock it.
 
I think it's ridiculous to equate a "bullet type" to a "bang flop". If an appropriate caliber and bullet weight is used of any kind with proper bullet placement, the animal will die. To deduce one will die faster or immediately from one bullet type vs. another of the same weight is ludicrous at best... unless big bone is encountered on the way in. There a premium bullet may prove more effective in keeping it together and plowing through.
 
Woodsman said:
I think it's ridiculous to equate a "bullet type" to a "bang flop". If an appropriate caliber and bullet weight is used of any kind with proper bullet placement, the animal will die. To deduce one will die faster or immediately from one bullet type vs. another of the same weight is ludicrous at best... unless big bone is encountered on the way in. There a premium bullet may prove more effective in keeping it together and plowing through.
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It is not ludicrous, fast opening bullets have been flattening things for years. Slower opening, controlled expansion bullets tend to dig deeper and kill less dramatically, though perhaps more reliably. Neither result is absolute but the pattern is there.
Still not convinced? Shoot a few animals with Nosler Ballistic Tips, and a few with solids and get back to me.:rolleyes:
 
Because I like to experiment as much as any other gunnut, I will eventually try the TSX's. To date though, I have had zero problems with other bullets, mostly bang-flops with nothing going further than 30 yards, and have yet the desire to shoot an animal lengthwise, corner to corner.

For added info: how many feel the outcome of their TSX kills would have been significantly different with a non-premium bullet? Not asking about the end to end shots, just the standard vital-area type shot.
 
I think it would be more valuable when discussing the results people have been getting to mention the cartridge you're using. It may be that the tsx is more effective in different cartridges than others.

I've been very happy with it out of my 30-06 (168 grain at about 2830 - 2850 fps). It's done very well - i appreciate how consistent it is on all game animals from small to big. My brother has had less dramatic results with the bullet in his 7mm.

For added info: how many feel the outcome of their TSX kills would have been significantly different with a non-premium bullet? Not asking about the end to end shots, just the standard vital-area type shot.
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For me, you'd have to add one more factor in there - range. At longer ranges, i've been very pleased with the x over more common designs. And also at very close ranges, where it does less damage on some animals than interlocs did but more than enough to be fatal without bloodshooting them. At average ranges - probably no real practical difference in lethality and meat loss compared to partitions or interlocs.
 
joe-nwt said:
Because I like to experiment as much as any other gunnut, I will eventually try the TSX's. To date though, I have had zero problems with other bullets, mostly bang-flops with nothing going further than 30 yards, and have yet the desire to shoot an animal lengthwise, corner to corner.

For added info: how many feel the outcome of their TSX kills would have been significantly different with a non-premium bullet? Not asking about the end to end shots, just the standard vital-area type shot.
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I would say that on average the results of using standard, non premium bullets on broad-side animals have been faster kills. Far more animals that I have shot have crumpled like they didn't know what hit them when hit with the "soft" bullets. To get the same instant result with the TSX usually takes a shoulder hit. CNS hits are the same with everything. I've come to the conclusion that for small animals up to the size of caribou I'd be better off with a softer bullet than the TSX. It works, doesn't make a mess, but is better suited to large animals, hyper velocities and trying to make a big gun out of a small one. (Or a bigger gun out of already big one) I've only shot about 40 big-game animals with these bullets and witnesssed about half again as many. That may not be enough to prove anything, but is more than enough to form an opinion.
 
I can load pretty much any bullet backwards, shoot the spine of a deer and have it drop on the spot. Then go on the interweeb and brag about my "bang flop" and how great my new bullet is. All the interwood suckers will read it start forming an opinion and soon it becomes interwank knowledge.


I have learned not to trust others judgement especially on bullets. The best thing to do is to test, test, try, test, try ,try and learn. Then come up with my own ideas on what is good.
 
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I agree with you dogleg that non premium bullets giving a more dramatic upset than a premium controlled expansion bullets on light game like deer.

My statement wasn't clear. I was referring to premium bullets and all the hype with the TSX specifically when I was referring to "bullet type". I just don't believe animals get plowed over more by a premium bullet more than a standard one...unless the caliber may have been marginal to start off with(i.e. .243) where the better bullet keeps the little weight that was there together and moving instead of splintering to crap in the first 2" of a hit(i.e varmint type bullet).

My first buck many, many moons ago took a 165 grain regular speer bullet through both lungs from my .30-06. The buck didn't even flinch and kept walking 50 yards before piling up. There was a huge 2" exit hole and on opening him both lungs were a soupy mush. Yet he travelled 50 yards. So my point is, some will walk and other will collapse on a heart/lung chest shot. And little of it has it to do with it being a TSX or not.

A regular 180 grain pointed soft point out of a .30-06 or .308 and the like, will kill any darn animal up to moose just as fast as any of the premium bullets out there. Why? Because it has heft and weight which will keep it moving. They were used long before any of these "premium" bullets.
 
I think, no one is wrong and no one is 100% right.
Its funny to think but maybe uts just not the bullet at all a nosler vs Hdy, vs a TSX maybe we are all looking at it the same but different. Maybe its more animal reaction one vs the other?? the way the animals stance it the heart beat did you hit it expanding or contacting the nervous sysytems could be different or act different animal to animal!
I guess place total credit to bullet construction is not 100% right.
However I would rather use a bullet at certian velocities that i know will do both, hold together for decent penetration,, breaking bone if needed and making a good wound channel!
 
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It seems here that no one argues the tsx's penetrating potential and some think that's to its deficit, as it can pencil through smaller deer etc. I don't have any experience with tsx's on animals but it stands to reason that they'll perform (on big game especially) a little better than other bullets of similar weight - even if big bone is encountered.

It works, doesn't make a mess, but is better suited to large animals, hyper velocities and trying to make a big gun out of a small one.
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That's what interests me about these bullets. I worked up a load for 165 tsx's for my 308 last year that shot pretty good and I could make about 2700 ft/s. I've got a box of 150s that I'll try this winter for kicks. If they shoot well at the theoretical couple hundred plus more ft/s I was thinking this would be a good moose load for a young hunter just starting out, or otherwise recoil sensative shooter..:cool:
 
joe-nwt said:
For added info: how many feel the outcome of their TSX kills would have been significantly different with a non-premium bullet? Not asking about the end to end shots, just the standard vital-area type shot.
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Who knows? I just know people have been reporting quite a few very quick kills using TSX's, in animals from deer to moose or cape buffalo in size.:)
 
Foxer said:
I doubt it. I think it's more like 'marketing hype problems'. :)
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It could be "hollowpoint getting battered shut in mag problems" too. It could be that "they got called on their published BCs again, so are trying to address that" problems. It could be "Marketing hype". It could actually be that they open faster. It could be that selling one more box to every last fan will help them make payroll. Hell, it could be anything.:D
 
I'm going to buy some tipped tsx bullets when they come out. hell I would probably buy the same ones in a different colour tip if they came out with that.
I dont think they have problems with the regular TSX, its just that people like shiny new things
 
I dont think they have problems with the regular TSX, its just that people like shiny new things
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That's what i'm thinking... x-bullet front, 'ballistic tip', bismuth core in a partitioned bullet... is there any technology from the last 20 years they DIDN'T shovel in there? :D I swear, if they could have gotten an i-pod in it they would have.
 
Spitzer said:
If the TSX is the perfect bullet then why is Barnes releasing a "plastic tipped" version? Could it be expansion problems?

I'd like to try those out.
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No, the plastic tip has to be for better long range ballistics. I've checked out the TSX extensively and it's one drawback seems to be that it is generally a poor long range performer. After 300 yards it drops off significantly compared to more aerodynamic bullets. At 500 yards the TSX is totally outclassed by a traditional boat tail like the Gameking in terms of bullet drop and energy. Because of this the new, more aerodynamic, MRX may actually be the "perfect bullet" that the TSX is not.
 
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