Barnes TSX or Accubond for Grizzly

I have shot several grizzlies with Nosler Partitions. They worked well....deep penetration, smashed shoulders, bears down for the count. (calibres .277, .308, .338 and .375)

The TSX are very good bullets..........deep penetration, hang together.

However, I do not limit myself to one bullet selection as any given rifle is going to like or dislike some bullets. I have rifles that shoot the TSX like a house on fire and others where I just gave up due to time restraints and because other bullets suitable for the purpose shot well in them......so why beat your head against the wall.
 
ryanb said:
I don't doubt that partitions are a great bullet. The problem is I've heard from a lot of sources that they may have inferior penetration because they shed too much weight. I'm sure that they work great, but I'd immagine putting a bullet through a large grizz, including two shoulder blades, might put a bullet to the test.

As far as the bear claws, I heard they are OK, but not really superior to the TSX's, except in price.

It would be neat if federal had a HE 250 TSX, but I think the bullet would probably be too long? Anyone know?
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TRhat is essentilaly what a partiton is designed to do: Give some rapid expansion, and then the shank plows on through and keeps penetrating.

I've shot lots of bears with partitions, and they are never a poor choice, and will penetrate both shoulder blades of a big bear.

But, you shoudl get adequate performance foirm the X bullets you have, so no need to look any further.:)
 
I have been hunting with Nosler Partitions for years now, and have never had one fail to perform very, very well.

These are closer in comparison to the Barnes X aren't they?

Jeff/1911.
 
The Partition and the Accubond give close to the same terminal performance.

The Accubond will shoot better groups on average out of most rifles.
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todbartell said:


its true the Accubond will most likely expand to a wider 'mushroom', but a grizzly bear is not a deer. ​
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Also, a 338WinMag is no 260Rem, and a mountain grizzly is no Alaskan brown bear.

The .338, 225gr.Accubond @2850fps has plenty enough penetration to blow through both shoulders, and expansion to deliver more energy to the vitals producing a bigger/wider permanent wound channel/exit wound than the BarnesX and their "deflowered pencil exit wounds" that I've seen.


todbartell said:

I would stick with the deep penetration of the X
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If it was all about penetration we'd all be using solids and shooting all texas heart shots. Fortunately most hunters prefer to shoot broadside either through the shoulders or just behind, taking out the vitals and possibly some bone too.

Most "non-premium" bullets in the 225gr,.338 cal have no problem achieving this "feat" on a grizzly. I've seen smaller cals .270's, 300's, and 7mm's do this no problem, so it shouldn't be a big surprise that the .338 225gr. Accubond will too.;)

Just for comparison here's some recovered bullets from two bull moose, both were shoulder/hump shots. It only took one from the 225gr. Accubond to put the one bull down but 4 Barnes X 160gr. 7mmRM to put the other bull down. Bullets were recovered from the offside in the hide, both shot were within 50m.

Barnes X 160gr. 7mmRM @3100fps, =81%WR
BarnesX7mm160grBullmoose.jpg


Nolser Accubond 225gr. 338WinMag @2850fps,=62%WR
DSCN0802.jpg

DSCN0801.jpg




On another note, I've noticed the 210 barnesX is the same length as the 250gr.Nosler Partition, so the 225gr BarnesX is going to be REALLY long and will seat deep into the case, hopefully your rifle/mag can handle longer OAL.

The 225gr.Accubond is long and seats into the case enough to reduce the velocity by 50fps. So I'd like to see the 225gr. BarnesX (which is longer) seated to the factory 3.340"COL, how far it goes into the case, and how that effects velocity. Accuracy is another concern with such a long bullet as most .338 barrels are 1:10" suiting regular length 225gr. bullets. Maybe a faster twist is required for the 225gr. BarnesX? Or perhaps the 210gr.TSX would be a better Barnes choice in the 338 Winchester?

RyanB, just use whatever shoots good cause they both kill. Splitting hairs really. I shot alot of animals with the "regular" 338 bullets and many store boughts too. I never had an animal walk away yet. Most drop like a sack of hammers, that's the beauty of the 338 Winchester, it puts a smile on your face.:cool:
 
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While I love both bullets.... I believe the TSX is the right tool for the job.

Below are a few 225 35 Cal TSX's from my 35 Whelen (2725fps) I was lucky enough to recover. The others I've shot may still be orbiting (grin).

Left to right:

1. Bullet went busted the pelvis of a running whitetail buck (150yds) and busted a huge distance of spine before coming to rest. Weighs 225gr (100%)

2. Bullet punched through both lungs of a 6' blackie and exited (found in bank behind him with a little luck), and he went a few yds.... pouring out both sides. Weighs 225gr (100%)

3. Bullet shot into a log at point blank out of curiousity... 100% retention.

225TSX005.jpg


225TSX004.jpg


280_ACKLEY
 
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It really depends on what you want the bullet to do. Are you going to hunt a grizzly and probably shoot it at 50+ meters or are you looking for something that will work close up and personal? I've seen several grizzlies shot by natives in northern BC with 30-30s under both conditions, usually just one shot. I saw a female cook in a guide camp shoot one at 3 meters with a Marlin lever action in 44 rem magnum, one shot, one dead bear. There is no compromise for lots of practice and putting the bullet where it needs to be the first shot. Accubonds work well if they're loaded to the specs they're designed for. On the other hand so do the Barnes offerings. Its a tossup, use whichever bullet is the most accurate in your rifle. If it's a personal safety issue get a rifle that can be brought on target as quick as possible, preferrably one with large, easy to aquire open sights. A guide gun by Marlin comes to mind.
 
I have had complete pass throughs on black bear ,and shot lengthwise through a bull moose with the accubonds.Out of a 375 H&H .I do not see the need for trying something new the way I have seen these perform!!
 
stubblejumper said:
The tsx is the barnes bullet in question not the standard x.They are not the same bullet.
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After some digging on the net I found that Barnes had problems with the "X" bullet and changed alloy blends a few different times and redesigned nose cavity for the TSX. Looks like I'll have to try out some of those TSX's, they seem to perform alot better than the old Barnes X.

I still stand by the performance of the .338 225gr. Accubond.;)

Here's some pics .338 225gr. TSX's from Africa.

http://www.scilowcountry.org/as_good_as_it_gets!.htm
 
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Well I finally got the rifle out to the range for the first time today. Both loads shot about the same size groups, about 1 MOB (minute of bear, around 1.5"). Too bad they didn't have the same POI. I decided on the barnes X, so that what its all set up for now.
 
Both bullets will undoubtedly do the job, but if given a choice, the Barnes is definitely the way to go on Grizzly - provided you rifle shoots them.

Rifles seem to either love or hate Barnes X bullets, however, the Triple Shock does definitely seem to be better in this regard. Of the 4 rifles I've tried both Barnes X and Triple X in, 3 shoot the Triple X better, and the one dislikes them as much as the original X's.

The Triple X's do seem to foul less as well, going by my very unscientific comparison.

Whichever you eventually settle on will do the job admirably, but I'd give the edge to the Triple X.

jc
 
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