banded bullets for long range?

[boatdoc]

Can any body tell me about the effects the bands on bullets like Barnes TSX for long range shooting. I have heard the bands ruin the bc, at what velocities does this happen?

 

[slaym]

I would think any bullet with a band on it would have awful BC and
would not really be suited to long range. Might pay to check websites
for BC but the only way to tell on you own would be to target shoot
a target bullet versus the TSX at the range.

 

[c4pyro]

From what I can see in exbal it reduces the BC quite a bit. Not horrible but not great either. A 168 TSX has a bc of .404 which is the same as a sierra 165 game king. The sierra 168 match king is .462, the 175 SMK is .505, speer has a 168 at .480. I used the 168 for comparison, but for long range shooting, I can't tell you at what velocity or range the bands are gonna mess with you cause I honestly don't know. Try some loads and see what happens out at 500 yards.

 

[Blackcloud]

I shot some TSX 200Gr flat base bullets from my 300WM. They exceeded my expectations. Certainly not a Berger, Matchking, or A-max but they did better that I thought they would.

 

[Mystic Precision]

That's an awfully expensive bullet to LR plink with and a lousy choice for LR hunting. I also really doubt they will satisfy the accuracy minded shooter.

The bullets are designed for short range high velocity impacts on game. No more no less. They have also made them stubbier to aid in reloading for mag fed rifles.

The bands are their solution to reducing bore drag/friction and fouling - not improve aerodynamics.

Jerry

 

[p-17]

I've questioned the long-range hunting potential of Tripleshocks myself. That's why I decided to go with the 180-grain Nosler Accubond as a long range hunting round in my .300 Winchester Magnum.

It's possible that the TSX would work well, too, but the Accubond (or any similar bonded, plastic-tipped boattail) is probably a safer bet for real long range hunting options.

 

[Mystic Precision]

The safest bet for a LR hunting bullet would be the AMax.

Once impact velocity drops around/below 2000fps, common softpoint bullets can get pretty tough too.

Jerry

 

[p-17]

Actually, I've found that Accubond is every bit as accurate as the AMAX, plus it has a higher BC. (If it wasn't so expensive, it would probably be amazing in competitive shooting out to 1,000.) In addition, its plastic tip helps to initiate expansion once the velocity drops, and the front half is built quite soft, just like a Partition. Apparently, the Accubond blows off more weight upon impact than any other bonded bullet. For this reason, it penetrates further than other bonded bullets that hold together but flatten like a pancake. I've read that the rear core of the Accubond tends to hold together and penetrate much like a classic Partition. For all of these reasons, I generally think of the Accubond as the ideal long range hunting bullet, though the AMAX would also be pretty good, I'm sure.

 

[ben hunchak]

The "bands" on bullets are actually lube grooves and should be filled with lubricant for their trip down your barrel. Bands for any other purpose are an answer to a non existing problem or to make up for some other shortcoming.

 

[p-17]

In a solid copper bullet, these bands have a demonstrated ability to reduce friction and drag, reduce coppering and increase accuracy by allowing the bullet to conform more easily to a variety of different bore sizes and degrees of roughness.

The bands on the Tripleshocks are one of the few hyped bullet developments of the last few years that actually work and make a difference. That's why many people consider them to be among the most accurate and versatile hunting rifle bullets available.

 

[sniper767]

I would think that the bands on the bullet body would not reduce BC tremendously. The base drag is the largest factor affecting BC so if you want to compare with and without bands you should try to find a bullet that has a similar shaped ogive and base. The body drag is the lowest of the 3 drag components of a projectile.

 

[Gatehouse]

I have killed with TSX bullets at close range and further out- to 400 yards. I only practice to 500 yards, and they are plenty accurate and expand well at that distance. Not the best choie for 800 yard or more killing shots, but they sure do kill quickly at 400 yards.

The grooves int he TSX are there to reduce fouling- The copper gets dragged into the groove instead of getting left on the barrel. They are not for lubricant. They have also helped accuracy over the regular X bullets.

The more I use them, the more I am impressed by them. They open fast, retain weight, kill rapidly and are very accurate.