30 cal bullet test, cow femurs and lots of newspaper Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part4 added

dead meat said:
Interesting test, the only problem i have is your supposed to shoot for the heart-lung area not the leg. Using a rib cage would be more useful, i suppose in some cases you shoot for the shoulder so it would be a good comparison. Good write up and worth the time and expense you put in to it.
Click to expand...

You are of course absolutely correct. Shooting for a leg isn't good practice. The reason for doing so however, was that it simulates an absolute worst case scenario (animal taking a step while the shot breaks and now a perfect broadside shot has a leg there), as well as maximum impact speed. How a bullet performs under worst case conditions (high speed and big bone) can instill confidence in your bullet choice and may alter your decision to take a less than ideal shot knowing the bullet will do its job. As numerous people have pointed out, pretty much any bullet is going to work on a perfect broad side shot. I would put forth that this test has shown that only some bullets work on shots that aren't ideal.
 
Great job.

The all copper Barnes bullets seem to have what it takes in testing. I'd be interested in hearing how they actually shoot? I do a fair bit of bench testing handloads and I'm around others doing the same. I've yet to see the Barnes all copper bullets shoot decent groups by anyone and have therefore resisted spending the money to try them.

The GMX bullets look promising as well. How do they shoot?
 
deertroy said:
Great job.

The all copper Barnes bullets seem to have what it takes in testing. I'd be interested in hearing how they actually shoot? I do a fair bit of bench testing handloads and I'm around others doing the same. I've yet to see the Barnes all copper bullets shoot decent groups by anyone and have therefore resisted spending the money to try them.

The GMX bullets look promising as well. How do they shoot?
Click to expand...

I have not done any load development with the gmx. I have only used them in factory ammo (139gr 7mm rm) and they are 1/2" at 100 yards all day although the "superformance" loses 100fps in cold temps. That is a different issue though.

I have used tsx/ttsx in lots of cartridges over the years and I have never had a problem getting 1" or less (several 1/2" shooters as well).

243 win 85tsx and 80ttsx
257 weatherby 100tsx/ttsx and 80ttsx
260 rem 120tsx
270 wsm 130 ttsx
7mm rm 120tsx
30/06 150tsx
300 wby 180tsx
300 rum 180tsx
338 wm 210ttsx
375 H&H 270tsx

They've worked for me. Can't complain. The old X bullets are another story however!
 
The all copper Barnes bullets seem to have what it takes in testing. I'd be interested in hearing how they actually shoot? I do a fair bit of bench testing handloads and I'm around others doing the same. I've yet to see the Barnes all copper bullets shoot decent groups by anyone and have therefore resisted spending the money to try them.
Click to expand...

I have had no problems at all getting the TSX/TTSX/MRX to group sub 1/2 moa in my rifles. My Coopers in 280AI averaged under 1" at 200 yards, and my Cooper in 7mmstw is averaging around .85" at 200 yards, with very little time spent in load development before it was to be taken on a hunting trip. My custom 7mmstw rifles averaged sub 1/2" at 200 yards as well. I used the 140gr TTSX in all of those rifles. My 300RUM rifles averaged around 5/8 moa with the 180gr TSX.
 
stubblejumper said:
I have had no problems at all getting the TSX/TTSX/MRX to group sub 1/2 moa in my rifles. My Coopers in 280AI averaged under 1" at 200 yards, and my Cooper in 7mmstw is averaging around .85" at 200 yards, with very little time spent in load development before it was to be taken on a hunting trip. My custom 7mmstw rifles averaged sub 1/2" at 200 yards as well. I used the 140gr TTSX in all of those rifles. My 300RUM rifles averaged around 5/8 moa with the 180gr TSX.
Click to expand...

Have you shot them at 400 yards or further? I have great luck with these bullets out to 200 yards but can't hit anything by 4 or 500. It isn't the gun Accubonds are sub MOA at these ranges.
 
Have you shot them at 400 yards or further? I have great luck with these bullets out to 200 yards but can't hit anything by 4 or 500. It isn't the gun Accubonds are sub MOA at these ranges.
Click to expand...

I have shot clay targets at 500 meters, and they seem to do fine at that distance.
 
i've had 1/2" accuracy with the 168 gr TTSX out of my 300 Rum. i've found the COAL to be very important.
i was getting 1.5" at the first try with 3.600" and different powder charge.
when i tried 3.650" i got .25" to .75" with just about any powder charge. and in 3 different rifles.
 
Well considering that bullet is going 2000-1800fps at 400-500 yards and barnes states a minimum of 2000fps for expansion, I personally would not use it. I do not know what animals you are hunting with it but unless you hit something in the shoulder I wouldn't expect to much expansion on a broadside double lung shot. I would personally use a 168gr nosler ballistic tip at those ranges. It is a stout bullet and will expand at those speeds. There are also several bonded bullets available (accubond for example), if you don't feel comfortable with a cup and core bullet.
 
huh I didn't know that, so your saying that it would be alright between 100-200y and I would need a bonded bullet like the partition and accubond which is softer to expand at 4-5-6-700 yards,right
I hunt white tails and moose by the way, sorry for not mentioning this before
 
huh I didn't know that, so your saying that it would be alright between 100-200y and I would need a bonded bullet like the partition and accubond which is softer to expand at 4-5-6-700 yards,right
I hunt white tails and moose by the way, sorry for not mentioning this before
Click to expand...

Use the 165gr or 168gr TTSX instead of the 180gr, to increase the impact velocity. You certainly don't need a 180gr TTSX to kill moose or deer.
 
at the time I bought this ammo, it was the only premium bullets that the gun shop had in my area of the world. So I thought I would try them.
I wish I found this sight before now because there is alot of info in here. GREAT SITE
 
deertroy said:
Great job.

The all copper Barnes bullets seem to have what it takes in testing. I'd be interested in hearing how they actually shoot? I do a fair bit of bench testing handloads and I'm around others doing the same. I've yet to see the Barnes all copper bullets shoot decent groups by anyone and have therefore resisted spending the money to try them.

The GMX bullets look promising as well. How do they shoot?
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info guy's.
 
Just a quick update everyone. I just finished loading up the projectiles for round 3. Femurs are on order at my butcher so this will happen as soon as they are ready.

These are all .308 again, from my 300WSM.

200gr Speer Spire Point
200gr Sierra BTSP
190gr Hornady BTSP
180gr Sierra Deep Curl
180gr Nosler Partition
180gr Nosler Partition Protected Point
180gr Speer Grand Slam
175gr Barnes LRX
168gr Barnes TSX
165gr Speer Grand Slam
155gr Lapua Scenar
130gr Barnes TTSX

Also testing the .375 250gr Barnes TTSX
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom