Barnes TTSX 150gr 308 and moose

[blasted_saber]

Just acquired a box of these and will use them for deer. Also wondering their performance on moose if anyone has any experience in that regard. Or performance in general, this is my first experience with Barnes bullets.

 

[Home3]

Same here. I am using them on deer this session. I will be using it in the bush, so I am concerned about their short range performance (40-50 yards). Both soft tissue and bone impact.

 

[marty06]

I am also using them for moose hunting this year in a 30-06 at 3000 fps. I have never shot a moose with one but I have shot 2 moose with 165 TTSX. We have done a lot of testing shooting various bullets in logs and phone books. 150 grain TTSX out performs and expands more than other 180 grain premium bullets.
I think you will be fine at any normal hunting distance (400 yards or under) with a 150 grain TTSX. Good luck.

 

[stubblejumper]

Same here. I am using them on deer this session. I will be using it in the bush, so I am concerned about their short range performance (40-50 yards). Both soft tissue and bone impact.

Why would you be concerned about their short range performance? The shorter the range, the higher the impact velocity, the better they will perform.

 

[sheephunter]

I am also using them for moose hunting this year in a 30-06 at 3000 fps. I have never shot a moose with one but I have shot 2 moose with 165 TTSX. We have done a lot of testing shooting various bullets in logs and phone books. 150 grain TTSX out performs and expands more than other 180 grain premium bullets.
I think you will be fine at any normal hunting distance (400 yards or under) with a 150 grain TTSX. Good luck.

Velocity is a friend to the mono metals...I'd be more concerned when impact velocities start to dip to around 2,000fps. At close range they are devastating! Personally I'd pick a TSX over a TTSX for larger game but no doubt a TTSX will do the job.

 

[rojogrande]

I have to agree with the people at Barnes......The TSX performs bigger than its size......I shot a large bodied whitetail buck last fall with the 85 grain TSX bullet fired from my .243.....at a distance of just over 100 yards.....The little bullet entered the left side of the brisket and exited behind the ribs on the right side......He made one jump and dropped dead.......Internal damage was more extensive than I would get from a standard lead core bullet....

 

[marty06]

I agree the TSX might be a better choice for larger game, that is why I loaded 150 grain TSX in my buddies 7mm WBY mag instead of the TTSX for moose and elk.

 

[stubblejumper]

I agree the TSX might be a better choice for larger game, that is why I loaded 150 grain TSX in my buddies 7mm WBY mag instead of the TTSX for moose and elk.

Myself and my hunting partners have had great success with the TTSX on elk and moose. Prior to using the TTSX, we used the TSX, so we have seen both used under similar circumstances.

 

[sheephunter]

Stubble, I haven't seen many recent hunting pictures from you...I'm just curious how many animals you've shot with the TTSX? I know my own experience with them has shown that they shed petals much easier than the TSX on large game, especially with high velocity hits. It's no surprise due to their construction. While petal shedding isn't the end of the world, with a mono metal I much prefer a bullet that holds together. The TTSX was designed with smaller game like deer in mind and there's no question that it expands much easier than the TSX due to design...desirable in smaller game but perhaps not so much in larger game. At the end of the day it kills but I'm curious what you mean by great success. Is success measured by a dead animal or a high weight retention recovered bullet?

 

[Home3]

Why would you be concerned about their short range performance? The shorter the range, the higher the impact velocity, the better they will perform.

My limited understanding from some previous threads was that; premium bullets are design for optimum effect (mushrooming) within a certain range. longer than intended range, they may not mushroom properly (or mushroom at all) due to lower velocity. Likewise, Very short range, some bullets tend fragment up on impact due to high velocity...and so on and so fort. That's why I asked.

 

[stubblejumper]

Stubble, I haven't seen many recent hunting pictures from you...I'm just curious how many animals you've shot with the TTSX?

So since I haven't posted many recent hunting pictures, you ASSume that I haven't killed any animals lately? It's not like I have ever posted many of my hunting pictures online. In fact, it's quite common for me not to even carry a camera in the field, because recording kills has never been a high priority with me. The simple truth is that I haven't been killing the same volume of animals that I used to kill some years, because I have been concentrating on assisting new hunters, more than hunting for myself recently. However, those hunters that I have been hunting with have been quite successful in taking big game, many of which were taken with the TTSX. I would estimate a dozen or so big game animals taken with various TTSX bullets so far.

As for success, I measure that by dead animals, and wound channels, since I rarely recover either the TSX or the TTSX, since both are usually pass throughs.

As to what the TSX and TSX were designed for, and what animals they are suitable to use on, here is what Barnes has to say.

Thank you for your email. The TSX and TTSX are suitable for any large game animals or small animals depending on the size of course. The TTSX has a polymer tip which cuts through the air better to hold velocities a little better. The TSX and TTSX will both expand to double the diameter and expel 95% of it’s energy inside the animal with almost all weight retention.



So whether it be a 150gr TSX or 150gr TTSX they are both suitable for the same animal.



Thanks



Ryan Banks | Consumer Service
Barnes Bullets, LLC

38 North Frontage Road, PO Box 620, Mona, UT 84645
Phone 435-856-1000 | Fax 435-856-1040 ryanb@barnesbullets.com

When I specifically asked if the TSX was designed to be tougher than the TTSX, I received the following reply.

We have not seen that to be the case. I’d suggest that all things being equal, both bullets are equally tough.



Thanks, Ty

Ty Herring | Consumer Service - Lead Tech
Barnes Bullets, LLC

But then what would the lead tech from Barnes know about the TSX, and TTSX anyways, given that they just market them after designing and testing them?

 

[sheephunter]

My limited understanding from some previous threads was that; premium bullets are design for optimum effect (mushrooming) within a certain range. longer than intended range, they may not mushroom properly (or mushroom at all) due to lower velocity. Likewise, Very short range, some bullets tend fragment up on impact due to high velocity...and so on and so fort. That's why I asked.

Most premium bullets and especially mono metals are poor long range performers...velocity is their friend. It's their very tough nature that allows them to hold together at high velocity impacts. If you are going to recover a mono metal it will likely be at very close range just due to the violent nature of the expansion. I shot a kudu with a 225 grain TSX out of a 338 at 16 yards and the bullet doubled in size and retained basically 100% of weight but did not exit. Conversely, the first shot at 400 yards was a pass through.

 

[sheephunter]

Stubble, I find it comical that you won't look at the design of the TTSX and how it was designed to perform but you will rely on the word of a bullet salesman. Common sense says that with a bigger hole in the nose that its less durable and more prone to shedding petals. Experience says the same. Go back and look at the original advertising for the TTSX, they marketed it as the faster expanding brother of the TSX that was better suited to whitetails. If you ever recover a TTSX, I suspect you'll see what I'm talking about. BTW, I didn't assume anything...I simply asked a question. Are you going to start preaching the salesman's energy expelling theory too....lol That letter makes it sound like the only difference in the two bullets is the polymer tip but we both know that's not remotely true....don't we?

 

[stubblejumper]

Stubble, I find it comical that you won't look at the design of the TTSX and how it was designed to perform but you will rely on the word of a bullet salesman.

I rely on the results that I see in the field. However, if my options were to believe either the lead tech from Barnes, who designed and manufactured the TSX and the TSX, or believe someone with no involvement in the design or manufacture of the TSX/TTSX, but who also promotes bullets and other products in the media. I am going with the lead tech from Barnes. Based on the fact that he is a lead tech at Barnes, at least that salesman has some qualifications in the design and testing of the actual product.

 

[sheephunter]

So you believe they are the same bullet with the only difference being the polymer tip and that it expels 95% of its energy?

 

[stubblejumper]

So you believe they are the same bullet with the only difference being the polymer tip and that it expels 95% of its energy?

After seeing it for myself, I believe that both the TSX and TTSX kill elk and moose just fine.

I also believe that just because someone writes in a magazine or has a television show, that doesn't make that person more of an expert on a particular product than the techs that designed and tested that particular product. You might convince yourself that you are more qualified to speak as to the design of the TSX and TTSX than the tech from Barnes, but you won't convince me.

 

[sheephunter]

After seeing it for myself, I believe that both the TSX and TTSX kill elk and moose just fine.

LOL...so back to my question regarding that letter you keep pulling out .....Do you believe they are the same bullet with the only difference being the polymer tip and that it expels 95% of its energy like the lead tech from Barnes says? Or does common sense and a quick look at a bisected bullet say it's not so.

 

[blargon]

When the ttsx came out, all the hype was about the plastic tip aiding expansion with the larger hole under it, as the tsx sometimes just pencilled through...

 

[norskie]

I have used Original X, XLC, TSX and TTSX in 7 and 30 cal magnums. I have killed a Bull Elk with each (and more than one with some), as well as Bull Moose with Original X, XLC and TTSX.

There may very well be some insignificant performance differences - but the actual results (a very dead animal) have been the same.

The discussion around the actual performance is purely conversational.

To the original poster - I think you will be highly impressed by the performance.

Norskie

 

[sheephunter]

I agree that both will do the job....certainly much lesser bullets do. My only point being that based on design, stubble's letter aside, the TSX is likely a better choice just because of its heavier construction. I just hate getting mono metals back that are missing petals.