Barnes TSX and TTSX questions

icehunter121

icehunter121

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So trying to figure something out here. I have never shot a TSX or TTSX before. My question is how do they perform on critters? Do you get a long penetrating smaller wound channel? A larger initial blood shot meat area followed by a channel? I have mostly shot partitions on critters and smacking a deer with a 300 win mag and closer ranges,say under 200 yards always produced some massive destruction with a lot of wasted meat if the shot wasn't right or the animal moved I.E. thru a shoulder.

I am thinking about using my 300 wby with a 180gr or so ttsx on deer. I have hit deer with my 340 wby with hornady interlocks and that flattens anything on the spot but leaves a lot of waste also.

In short I have no experience with the TSX or its kin so please school me!!
 
I started using the TTSX a couple years ago. Even on a direct shoulder shot there has been much less wasted meat. On bigger animals they are incredibly effective. The couple deer I have taken do tend to travel a little bit more than when hit with a partition, however you will have no trouble finding them. In my experience I would go down one weight from what you think. I am running the 150 TTSX in 300 SAUM and they are amazing. I would try a 165 in your bee. I have witnessed 180 grain in 300 win mag on extended range deer, and wasn’t super happy with the results, although the hit wasn’t the best. I do think you need to keep the speed up for them to be most effective.
 
As with all mono's they leave a narrow wound channel but do have great penetration and good accuracy.

IMHO you will do more tracking if using them unless you hit major bone. :)
 
You may be inclined to look at Accubonds or Swift Scirocco's , I feel those may give you the balance of what you are looking for.A lot less lead in the the Swift offerings also and I lean towards using the Swift line.I believe the A Frame is bonded to the jacket as well.

Partition vs A Frame...





Accubonds vs Scirooco...



 
I have been using monometals for many years, if the impact velocity is high, they expand well and penetrate deep, but obviously not the expansion of a Ballistic Tip. Barnes recommends a minimum of around 2000fps impact velocity, but I prefer 2500fps. I have shot elk, moose, deer and pronghorn with them, and I haven't had to do much tracking , most animals have dropped at the shot, or within a few steps. The mistake some people make is using a heavy monometal at lower velocity, or at very long range, and the impact velocity isn't adequate for proper expansion.
 
TTSX's will lose about 1 gr just the polymer tip and penetrate 40" of moose.Partitions same penetration 60-70% retention.Accu-Bonds much the same with 50-60% remaining.
 
I like the ttsx and the TSX in my weatherby calibers..
My 280ai loves the 145 lxr.

Great for fur on the bigger coyotes, texas hard shot is effective with a monolithic bullet.
There a done breaking bullet, not a rib to rib " if you ask me"

I like to take one shoulder , to slow the game down. Monolithic bullets dont create the trauma on the vitals, my deer bleed out alot , which is fine, at distance.. game inside 250 yards gets a little messy,, more meat for the sausage pile...
No lead in the meat , is my deciding factor..

Icehunter121, you could always wait for a good neck / base of the head shot.
 
Considering the TSX and TTSX generally retain all their weight yet expand fully there will be less meat destruction and better penetration. We use them for deer and black bear, results have been outstanding. Always full penetration and exit wounds and internal examination has always indicated proper and total expansion. Never any bits of lead showing up in meat. Shoulders become less of an issue when the bullet stays together.
 
Please OP , disregard this post , this is A very irresponsible Way of taking shots at game.

Regardless of bullet choice.


Big bore dinosaur said:
I like the ttsx and the TSX in my weatherby calibers..
My 280ai loves the 145 lxr.

Great for fur on the bigger coyotes, texas hard shot is effective with a monolithic bullet.
There a done breaking bullet, not a rib to rib " if you ask me"

I like to take one shoulder , to slow the game down. Monolithic bullets dont create the trauma on the vitals, my deer bleed out alot , which is fine, at distance.. game inside 250 yards gets a little messy,, more meat for the sausage pile...
No lead in the meat , is my deciding factor..

Icehunter121, you could always wait for a good neck / base of the head shot.
Click to expand...

Especially a “Texas heart shot” , regardless of the game.

Now a boiler room shot will kill an animal while a shoulder shot to slow them down isn’t a guarantee.You want to try the moving vital shot after a shoulder shot or a shoulder shot after the vitals are hit?
 
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TSXs are very good for shooting through both shoulders if thats your idea of a meat saving shot.;)

They are pretty good at shooting through animals lengthwise.

You can say the same thing about Grampa’s Lee Enfield with green FMJs you found in the washing machine.
 
Dogleg said:
TSXs are very good for shooting through both shoulders if thats your idea of a meat saving shot.;)

They are pretty good at shooting through animals lengthwise.

You can say the same thing about Grampa’s Lee Enfield with green FMJs you found in the washing machine.
Click to expand...

I knew it was just a matter of time before Dogleg showed up on a TSX post! :)
 
I have used lots of TSX and TTSX. They kill well and penetrate well too. Maybe the nicest thing about them is that you don't end with shrapnel in the animal. I only recall "tracking" two animals I had hit with Barnes bullets and they both gushed so much blood it was like tracking someone walking with a red paint can that had a hole in it. Most animals have dropped on the spot or gone a few steps.
 
I like Barnes. See my avatar? Discovered them while I was handloading for my 30-06 using 180 grain Partitions. The Barnes had an accuracy edge with my set up. Dropped down to 165 grains for flatter shooting and better terminal performance. The Hornady solid Copper line is what I bought off the shelf most recently and a range visit will determine which will hunt this year.
 
Do you want to put that energy into the dirt behind the animal or the animal itself?

Also remember , guy are dropping weights to keep velocities up so these bullet "work"

Lead always works. ;)
 
Dropping bullet weights shoots flatter, a recovered 150gr TTSX still weighs more than a 180gr partition does after the shot, and you don't have to ingest lead shrapnel.
 
Bang flopped a large cow elk with a 168gr TTSX from my 308 16" barreled rifle. Full pass through the boiler. They are my hunting bullet of choice. Basically 100% weight retention which alone beats any lead bullet like accubond.
 
Kelly Timoffee said:
Please OP , disregard this post , this is A very irresponsible Way of taking shots at game.

Regardless of bullet choice.




Especially a “Texas heart shot” , regardless of the game.

Now a boiler room shot will kill an animal while a shoulder shot to slow them down isn’t a guarantee.You want to try the moving vital shot after a shoulder shot or a shoulder shot after the vitals are hit?
Click to expand...

A TTSX will do 3 1/2 to 4ft of flesh so yes a "Texas Heart Shot " drops them where they are stand regardless of angle.High spine lengthways.On cape buffalo the second rd is always a solid for that very reason coming or going.Jumped many deer from beds and none hit lived or needed tracking.
 
I think when the tsx acts like a solid is when you can run into issues. Low velocity rounds can cause pencil through shots. If they expand well the results are great.

IMG_20200611_204001.jpg
 

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