Barnes TSX - Performance on deer

stubblejumper said:
HIT could mean a gut shot,or another non fatal area.

I have witnessed the same results with hits close to the spine that knocked deer down,only to regain their feet and run away before being shot again.
Click to expand...

I disagree with this. At short ranges, on these animals I disagree that I would miss that badly. The readings I've done indicate that with a frontstuffer, you usually get a knockout, with regained consciousness when you hit a shoulder bone or similiar, and no penetration. Usually in the front quarter, quartering toward shot. Which can happen with any muzzleloader bullet. But anything can happen. I know, that I hit no where near the spine.

stubblejumper said:
If he bled so much and the blood sprayed so much,the bullet obviously did a lot of damage.
Click to expand...

I disagree here. I think it made a small lung hole. Lots of blood in the air passages "aerates". Causing lots of coverage, with little "paint". And would explain the distance he traveled.

In the end, we are going to disagree here. I'm not saying it's a bad bullet, I still use 100 grn TSX's in my .257, and I pack 165 grn TSX's in my .308 for moose and elk. But do a google search, lots of people believe the same as I do. If even 25% of time it doesn't expand, that's too much chance for me. I'm back to SST's for deer.

And Pilsner for beer. :D
 
I disagree with this. At short ranges, on these animals I disagree that I would miss that badly.
Click to expand...

I have tracked several game animals after the shooter told me that he was sure that he made a good hit.When the animals were recovered,the shot placement was not as the shooter had claimed.

I know, that I hit no where near the spine.
Click to expand...

You think that you hit nowhere near the spine.Without the carcass,you really don't know where the bullet struck.

I think it made a small lung hole.
Click to expand...

Again you THINK that you know what happened,but without opening up the carcass and checking the lung damage,you can't know for sure.
 
stubblejumper said:
I have tracked several game animals after the shooter told me that he was sure that he made a good hit.When the animals were recovered,the shot placement was not as the shooter had claimed.



You think that you hit nowhere near the spine.Without the carcass,you really don't know where the bullet struck.



Again you THINK that you know what happened,but without opening up the carcass and checking the lung damage,you can't know for sure.
Click to expand...

Stub
Have you ever lost an animal? If so please tell us all about it so WE can all tell where YOU screwed up, and then we can do it over and over again just incase you don't agree. FS
 
Have you ever lost an animal? If so please tell us all about it so WE can all tell where YOU screwed up, and then we can do it over and over again just incase you don't agree. FS
Click to expand...

I have lost one animal that was not recovered,however,I don't blame poor bullet performance for losing that animal.I accept the fact that since I didn't recover that animal,I really don't know for sure where the bullet struck.Reflecting on the shot,I believe that I may have misjudged the shot angle and the bullet missed the vitals as a result,but with no recovered carcass,I will never know for sure.

However,many people find it far easier to blame their equipment than to accept the fact that it may have been shooter error.I am not happy with myself that my mistake resulted in a wounded and lost animal,but I do admit that it very well could have been improper bullet placement.Instead of making excuses,and blaming my equipment,I admit my mistake,then take extra care so not as to repeat that mistake.
 
Arctic Blaser said:
I disagree with this. At short ranges, on these animals I disagree that I would miss that badly. The readings I've done indicate that with a frontstuffer, you usually get a knockout, with regained consciousness when you hit a shoulder bone or similiar, and no penetration. Usually in the front quarter, quartering toward shot. Which can happen with any muzzleloader bullet. But anything can happen. I know, that I hit no where near the spine.



I disagree here. I think it made a small lung hole. Lots of blood in the air passages "aerates". Causing lots of coverage, with little "paint". And would explain the distance he traveled.

In the end, we are going to disagree here. I'm not saying it's a bad bullet, I still use 100 grn TSX's in my .257, and I pack 165 grn TSX's in my .308 for moose and elk. But do a google search, lots of people believe the same as I do. If even 25% of time it doesn't expand, that's too much chance for me. I'm back to SST's for deer.

And Pilsner for beer. :D
Click to expand...

I'm with Stubble, here. Without the recovered animal, you can't be sure of bullet placement or performance. Perhaps your scopes got bumped and the zero got knocked off? You never know unless you have an animal to examine.

Even if the lungs bleed profusely, the blood is going to stay within the chest cavity and pool up, unless there's a fairly large hole for the blood to "spray" out of the chest through.

I would say that 25% non-expansion rate is about 24% too high.
 
270wsm wow what a great caliber....... I have dropped a deer with a 130grain TSX from my 270wsm at 540 yards. I have shot many deer and bear with this combo as well as my wife has 4 or 5 deer with her 270wsm as well. I love my 130grain TSX's in my 270wsm. That being said I have made shots that the deer hits the ground right away and others when it walks and I have to track it. All depends on where I shoot it. But if I do my job any deer or bear from 5 to 500 yards is not safe.
 
i will shoot barnes bullets untill they make some thing better than the tsx/ttsx out there now. the last big game animal i shot was in 06 with outa barnes. ive used them in my muzzleloader 338, 257wby, and i load them for my dads 30-06.

i recomend them to any one who hunts, i got a couple of buddys to shoot them this spring and they were impressed with the results.

i did have one 245gr spitfire muzzleloader bullet fail to expand but it penetrated from the last rib through the off side front shoulder and stop at the hide.
 
ricochet said:
I bought 100 bullets of each - after load work and sighting-in, the rest will probably last my lifetime.
Click to expand...

To the OP, there is no doubt that the tsx (and x bullet predecessor) has been one of the most successful, and controversial, bullet introductions .... well, ever.

They are a well designed, good performing bullet. However, they are expensive. They will run you over $1 each. If you are willing to spend the money and shoot a lot, then they are an excellent choice. However, if you are a "I only shoot 3 shots a year; 2 to sight in and 1 for my *deer/elk/moose/etc.*" then I guess they are also a good idea, as you will likely need the penetration performance of the tsx sooner or later. If you are getting into reloading to save money AND shoot more, then there are many other good choices out there that will also perform admirably on game and not break the bank in a days shooting.

Seriously, I shoot a lot less then many people I know, and I still manage to shoot through a few hundred rounds out of my hunting rifles in a year. FWIW, I am not willing to spend $1.25+ per round for practice, and I only practice with my hunting rounds. Do not believe for 1 second that you need the "premium" bullets to kill a deer (or whatever). The tsx is great for those who are willing to pay for it, and is an excellent choice for a number of hunting applications (big bears, hyper-velocity cartridges and close range shots) but they are not necessary.
 
stubblejumper said:
I have tracked several game animals after the shooter told me that he was sure that he made a good hit.When the animals were recovered,the shot placement was not as the shooter had claimed.



You think that you hit nowhere near the spine.Without the carcass,you really don't know where the bullet struck.



Again you THINK that you know what happened,but without opening up the carcass and checking the lung damage,you can't know for sure.
Click to expand...

Actually, if you read, I did recover one animal. Like I said, perfect hit. What I said was I didn't open it up, because my rack was stolen, I called the DNR. That's why I thought it must have been a through shot with no damage.

In the end you I can picture the shots. I know from using my guns that they were on, and my shot was on. Maybe it wasn't the bullet, I guess I can't say 100%. Maybe it's because I use .308, and not a rocket gun like others use. But I've shot a lot of animals, I've never lost one before I started with Barnes TSX's. And since going back to SST's, I haven't lost one since. I still use Barnes on larger game, because it is a tough bullet. It's all I use with my .257 'bee, and I shoot elk at very long ranges with it.

And because of what I've seen I'll keep saying what I am. There is no other bullet with so many "rumors" and controversy over it's performance. (maybe the 5.56 in military use...) Those rumors wouldn't be out there for no reason. It works for you, keep using it.

And good for you Stubble. I'm happy for you.... I'm glad you got your point across. :rolleyes:
 
Ive shot a few deer with TSX, and a few more with the original X bullet in the mid to late 90s. All died, quite rapidly, if not in their tracks. Calibers and bullet weights ranged from 45gr 224" to 165gr 30 cal. Put them in the right spot and I have found them to be very reliable (not only on deer)

elk_2009_006.jpg
 
They are a well designed, good performing bullet. However, they are expensive. They will run you over $1 each. If you are willing to spend the money and shoot a lot, then they are an excellent choice. However, if you are a "I only shoot 3 shots a year; 2 to sight in and 1 for my *deer/elk/moose/etc.*" then I guess they are also a good idea, as you will likely need the penetration performance of the tsx sooner or later.
Click to expand...

Work up a good load with something cheap like hornady interlocs, practice like crazy with those, sight in with the barnes x's, and still only shoot 2 or 3 a year :)
 
This is the smallest exit wound I have seen with a TSX on a deer

11047_212073920515_526315515_4589136_1952279_n.jpg


It was at about 20 feet, so don't know if it expanded violently and peeled the petals back along the shank quickly, so the exit was small, or if it didn't expand much because the .270gr bullet was really designed to kill cape buffalo. Regardless, the deer expired quickly.

Most exit wounds from X, TSX and TTSX are pretty damn decent, I've found.:p
 
Foxer said:
Work up a good load with something cheap like hornady interlocs, practice like crazy with those, sight in with the barnes x's, and still only shoot 2 or 3 a year :)
Click to expand...

if you only shoot 2-3 a year, how confident are you knowing where your bullet will land at 200 or 300 yards? 400 yards? 50 yards? Barnes bullets aren't that expensive :onCrack:
 
if you only shoot 2-3 a year, how confident are you knowing where your bullet will land at 200 or 300 yards? 400 yards? 50 yards? Barnes bullets aren't that expensive
Click to expand...

I'd generally know that after working up a load on it. Once i know how a load performs, other than perhaps to test new batches i don't need to shoot fifty or anything to figure out how they're hitting a few months later :)

Mind you - 2 or 3 is probably not realistic, you'd likey shoot a few more than that sighting in, and maybe take a poke at 50 and 200 just to make sure they were doing what you expected.

But the point is - if you're just practicing with your gun you don't need to be using your expensive bullets. If you want to rack off 200 rounds in the summer to keep proficient, there's no need for them all to be barnes that's for sure. So the 'i'd use them but they're too expensive to practice with' argument doesn't hold a lot of water.
 
All of the modern barnes,swift & etc bullets were developed after the Partition, which was/is, the standard they were and are trying to compete with.
They're wannabes in fancy packaging. Buy the real thing.
 
209jones said:
All of the modern barnes,swift & etc bullets were developed after the Partition, which was/is, the standard they were and are trying to compete with.
They're wannabes in fancy packaging. Buy the real thing.
Click to expand...

The Partition was developed after the round-ball, to which it has been compared at some point or another. It must be a wannabe.

Ridiculous.

R&D is a good thing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom