They don't expand as quickly as ballistic tips,but they do expand adequately when driven at higher velocities.However many people shoot the tsx in weights that they would normally shoot a conventional cup and core bullet.The tsx works best in lighter weights and at higher velocities.
Barnes triple shock bullets, anyone use?
- Thread starter jonnyrc
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They don't expand as quickly as ballistic tips,but they do expand adequately when driven at higher velocities.However many people shoot the tsx in weights that they would normally shoot a conventional cup and core bullet.The tsx works best in lighter weights and at higher velocities.
Boxhead
CGN Regular
Here's a 185 gr TSX from my 338-06 (MV of 2970 fps) recovered after dropping a large bull elk at 270 yards. The bullet entered just behind the quarternig away near shoulder, centered the off shoulder and was found under the hide there. Recovered weight is 122 grs. I was surprised to find the bullet so "beat up" but the bull dopped immediately.
Next Saturday I head out for moose, elk, etc., in NE BC with a 35 Whelen and the 225 gr TSX launched at 2700 fps. I have full confidence in the choice of caliber and bulllet.
Next Saturday I head out for moose, elk, etc., in NE BC with a 35 Whelen and the 225 gr TSX launched at 2700 fps. I have full confidence in the choice of caliber and bulllet.
Keep in mind I was after a big black bear in the area. I would have taken a shoulder shot on him. The buck presented itself so I took the shot. It wasn't a lung shot, it was a heart shot. It passed through them on the way to and from the main target. (half joking). The consensus I am seeing here is that you would use the TSX at high velocity on large game for adequate expansion. Fair enough. On the other hand on the buck I shot one lung was relatively intact but the other one was mush. The heart was totalled. Maybe it's just an all around good bullet? Or maybe it was just luck. The bottom line is the wife is happy and her only comment was, "OK, now go and get that bear!"
Out of curiosity, where would you shoot a deer with any bullet that wouldn't damage meat if it wasn't in the heart/lung area?
I have used TSX since they were introduced and I think it is very good bullet but this is not substitute for bullet placement.
Some claim that every animal they shoot drops dead on spot every time... they lie or have very limited experience shooting game. IMO.
Recently introduced Tipped TSX was my bullet of choice for this year hunting in 338 Win Mag 225 gr. I've choose this one due to very high BC .514 as compared with TSX of the same weight of .386 only.
This load took 2 elk cows 500 and 400 y one shot boiler room they walked about 75-100 yards. Similar small entry and Lonnie size exit. Not a lot of meat damage.
Moose bull at 251 y. frontal shot. Bullet lost petals as they exited cutting ribs 3 cm apart bullets body did not exit most likely stopped in rumen.
Mule deer doe 200 y dropped in tracks bullet placed through both shoulders small entry fist size exit...both shoulders had meat loss.
Mule doe 60 yards heart shot run...100+ yards
WT buck 50 y piled up after neck shot.
Shot placement was more important than energy.
I like TTSX but for deer I would use 140 gr in my 7 STW or 85 gr in243Win.
Some claim that every animal they shoot drops dead on spot every time... they lie or have very limited experience shooting game. IMO.
Recently introduced Tipped TSX was my bullet of choice for this year hunting in 338 Win Mag 225 gr. I've choose this one due to very high BC .514 as compared with TSX of the same weight of .386 only.
This load took 2 elk cows 500 and 400 y one shot boiler room they walked about 75-100 yards. Similar small entry and Lonnie size exit. Not a lot of meat damage.
Moose bull at 251 y. frontal shot. Bullet lost petals as they exited cutting ribs 3 cm apart bullets body did not exit most likely stopped in rumen.
Mule deer doe 200 y dropped in tracks bullet placed through both shoulders small entry fist size exit...both shoulders had meat loss.
Mule doe 60 yards heart shot run...100+ yards
WT buck 50 y piled up after neck shot.
Shot placement was more important than energy.
I like TTSX but for deer I would use 140 gr in my 7 STW or 85 gr in243Win.
My experince with the TSX is good as well...
130 grain TSX out of a .270 Winchester complete pass thru on a bull elk at under 100 yards for me. It worked like a charm and put the bull down hard on the spot. Mind you it was good shot placement as well...
A week later I shot a whitetail buck at just under 200 yards same results. It was good shot placement as well...
I have shot about five bears with the TSX's out of various calibers and it worked well on all of them as well. If I recall correctly complete pass thru on all of them as well. I shoulder shoot my bears as well...
130 grain TSX out of a .270 Winchester complete pass thru on a bull elk at under 100 yards for me. It worked like a charm and put the bull down hard on the spot. Mind you it was good shot placement as well...
A week later I shot a whitetail buck at just under 200 yards same results. It was good shot placement as well...
I have shot about five bears with the TSX's out of various calibers and it worked well on all of them as well. If I recall correctly complete pass thru on all of them as well. I shoulder shoot my bears as well...
I'm around the 4 dozen animal mark for TSX bullets.I've had 5 bullets stay in, of which I recovered 3. Nothing that I've used short of solids will out penetrate them, and usually they shoot very well. Downsides? Well it is difficult to hear bullet impacts, and animals often don't even look like they got hit. I will routinely shoot animals through the shoulder with these bullets, which takes care of both of those issues. Solid rib hits have a far higher percentage of runners than I'm used to.
I think the TSXs are at their best for taking on big animals with small guns, the biggest of animals with big guns and tiny critters with big guns. You can kill deer a lot faster with conventional bullets.
I think the TSXs are at their best for taking on big animals with small guns, the biggest of animals with big guns and tiny critters with big guns. You can kill deer a lot faster with conventional bullets.
I would say a TSX or other premium bullet is a must with white tail after the experience I just had loosing a Doe I shot. I ended up seeing the Doe today and finished the job!.
The orig bullet entered behind the shoulder to high to hit the lungs and just touched the spine but the deer bounded off and was not seen again till tonight when I gave her the double tap.......
Point is if I were using a TSX, Partition, Nosler ballistic tip the bullet would have expanded and caused more trauma and could have also taken out the spine but I was using Remingtion core-lokt's pointed soft points and the bullet when right on through .30cal entry and exit holes no expansion. I think on soft hide game like deer a faster expanding bullet or a bullet that expands on soft tissues like the TSX and nosler ballistic tip is a must. Anything that can tip the scales further in my favor is a good thing.
Its no replacement for good shot placement but it does have more pro's then con's. I just picked up a box of 168gr Nosler ballistic tips to try out in my .300wm.
The orig bullet entered behind the shoulder to high to hit the lungs and just touched the spine but the deer bounded off and was not seen again till tonight when I gave her the double tap.......
Point is if I were using a TSX, Partition, Nosler ballistic tip the bullet would have expanded and caused more trauma and could have also taken out the spine but I was using Remingtion core-lokt's pointed soft points and the bullet when right on through .30cal entry and exit holes no expansion. I think on soft hide game like deer a faster expanding bullet or a bullet that expands on soft tissues like the TSX and nosler ballistic tip is a must. Anything that can tip the scales further in my favor is a good thing.
Its no replacement for good shot placement but it does have more pro's then con's. I just picked up a box of 168gr Nosler ballistic tips to try out in my .300wm.
The 3 deer I have shot with 130gr Barnes TSX bullets out of my .270 Winchester have dropped on the spot! Call me a liar
if you wish, but them's the facts!I have to respectfully disagree with you about the energy part of the equation. The 130gr TSX bullet out of my .270 was chrono'ed @ 3150 fps. Impact shock is definitely part of the reason for the bang flops. Would a Nosler partition have done the same job? Possibly/probably but I prefer NOT to have lead blasted into what I plan to eat. Personal choice guys, please don't flame me
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I loaded up some 140gr TSXs for moose hunting with my .270. Never saw a moose though
I did shoot a coyote with one (~175 yards), and I was less than impressed as the bullet entered the shoulder and exited out the coyote's eye. It was apparently dead so I left it there and went to check my deer stand and the plan was to pick it up on the way back. When I came back 45 minutes later, the coyote had moved about 20 yards.
It took a second shot through the shoulders which killed it. The only thing I can figure is that the coyote was not thick enough for the bullet to open completely before exiting.
Last weekend, I shot a nice buck (weighed 195lbs dressed) at 10 yards in the high shoulder and it put the animal down in his tracks - good thing since this was in the thick swamp and it was raining...
The autopsy showed that it would have died soon after, but since I was right there, I shot him again on the ground. The damage was spectacular. the exit wound removed hair and meat about the size of a softball. Our butcher asked if I was using a mini grenade launcher to kill it. Of course this was at 10 yards. I never chronied it, but by the book says it should be moving 3000+ fps at the muzzle.
Short story long, I will be keeping them for a moose bullet, but going back to 130gr SSTs for deer as they are about half the price to shoot.
Dave
I did shoot a coyote with one (~175 yards), and I was less than impressed as the bullet entered the shoulder and exited out the coyote's eye. It was apparently dead so I left it there and went to check my deer stand and the plan was to pick it up on the way back. When I came back 45 minutes later, the coyote had moved about 20 yards.
It took a second shot through the shoulders which killed it. The only thing I can figure is that the coyote was not thick enough for the bullet to open completely before exiting.
Last weekend, I shot a nice buck (weighed 195lbs dressed) at 10 yards in the high shoulder and it put the animal down in his tracks - good thing since this was in the thick swamp and it was raining...
The autopsy showed that it would have died soon after, but since I was right there, I shot him again on the ground. The damage was spectacular. the exit wound removed hair and meat about the size of a softball. Our butcher asked if I was using a mini grenade launcher to kill it
. Of course this was at 10 yards. I never chronied it, but by the book says it should be moving 3000+ fps at the muzzle.Short story long, I will be keeping them for a moose bullet, but going back to 130gr SSTs for deer as they are about half the price to shoot.
Dave
I started using TSX's for the first time this fall. Loaded some 140's in 270wzm, going about 3300. So far have shot 2 of them at animals, the first at a mountain goat at 262 yds, went in the base of the neck and out the center of the far shoulder, killed him dead in his bed, the second one at a moose from about 100 yds, double lung shot, moose ran 60-70 yds and died.
Meat damage was minimal on the moose, small entrance and exit wounds in the ribs, some minor bloodshot in the far shoulder. But pretty much jellied almost the whole off side shoulder on the goat.
So I like them so far and are going to keep using them, hopefully get to try them out on a couple deer and an elk over the next two weeks.
Meat damage was minimal on the moose, small entrance and exit wounds in the ribs, some minor bloodshot in the far shoulder. But pretty much jellied almost the whole off side shoulder on the goat.
So I like them so far and are going to keep using them, hopefully get to try them out on a couple deer and an elk over the next two weeks.
Pathfinder
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Northeast Ontario
I seen first hand what sst's do if you hit bone (shoulder in this case)....The shoulder basically blew up and the deer kept going, Im talking about a small Doe here. What was left of the 150 gr. 270 bullet was lodged somewhere in the other shoulder. Deer kept going for a bit until follow up shot came. Im pretty sure a TSX bullet would of took out both shoulders and would of likely resulted in a bang flop result. The result is the same and she died anyways... just saying each bullet has its application, Im pretty sure what the TSX was meant to do....Im just sorry I didnt' get to test it this year.
I took a quartering towards shot on a buck at 40yds with a 150gr SST from a 300WM. It left a baseball size entrance hole with shrapnel everywhere inside but dropped it quickly. I also took a broadside lung shot at 150yds on a buck w/ a 165gr TSX from a 308 Win. It left a neat hole straight through and I recovered the deer over 100yds away.
Neither of those being ideal applications IMHO and the bullets acted predictably. For deer, I'll be going back to standard cup and core bullets (Power Points or CoreLokts) or maybe a bonded bullet (Interbonds). Just good, general purpose deer bullets; no too fragile, not too tough. YMMV...
The 3 deer I have shot with 130gr Barnes TSX bullets out of my .270 Winchester have dropped on the spot! Call me a liar
I have to respectfully disagree with you about the energy part of the equation. The 130gr TSX bullet out of my .270 was chrono'ed @ 3150 fps. Impact shock is definitely part of the reason for the bang flops. Would a Nosler partition done the same job? Possibly/probably but I prefer NOT to have lead blasted into what I plan to eat. Personal choice guys, please don't flame me
Glang
I trust you that all 3 dropped on the spot .....but I mention limited experience..it falls in this category...perhaps
As to ENERGY being responsible for "bang flops"
Your 270 with 130gr bullet at 3150 ft/sec has 2367 ft/lb at 100y and this is enough energy to cause "bang flop" regardless of shot placement.???
Why than my mule doe hit at 60 yards with heart shot did not stop for more then 100 y when my 338Win Mag 225gr TTSX delivered 3610 ft/lb energyor close to30% more than 270 ???
Neck shot on WT back was bang flop -due to severed spine and not energy.
SHOT PLACEMENT and solid bullet when you hit bone.
Regards Andrew
