I picked up the latest Hodgdon magazine in the last week or two and there was an interesting article on monolithic bullets. Some good reasons to use them and in some instances not to. IE, lower velocity and not very good expansion compared to cup and core bullets. Worth a read if you buy the magazine.
Monolithic bullets
- Thread starter KDX
- Start date
I don't read mags much anymore, I get all my good advice from here on CGN, wait...which is worse? 
I've done extensive field testing with monolithic and traditional.
If my family and I are eating it, then TTSX's are all I take game with these days.
Varmints don't enjoy that luxury.
If a hunting rifle won't shoot a TSX, it won't have a home in my safe.
Haven't used a GMX or E-TIP yet but I plan on trying them.
One disadvantage I could name would be the cost of a box of fifty Barnes.
I like to practice at distance with my hunting load and it can be pricey.
Word has it the 139gr .284 GMX and the 139 interlock bullets share the same load data and characteristics and are quite interchangeable. Could be an advantage for practice.
I've done extensive field testing with monolithic and traditional.
If my family and I are eating it, then TTSX's are all I take game with these days.
Varmints don't enjoy that luxury.
If a hunting rifle won't shoot a TSX, it won't have a home in my safe.
Haven't used a GMX or E-TIP yet but I plan on trying them.
One disadvantage I could name would be the cost of a box of fifty Barnes.
I like to practice at distance with my hunting load and it can be pricey.
Word has it the 139gr .284 GMX and the 139 interlock bullets share the same load data and characteristics and are quite interchangeable. Could be an advantage for practice.
Sun_and_Steel_ One disadvantage I could name would be the cost of a box of fifty Barnes. I like to practice at distance with my hunting load and it can be pricey. Word has it the 139gr .284 GMX and the 139 interlock bullets share the same load data and characteristics and are quite interchangeable. Could be an advantage for practice.[/QUOTE said:
I can get the same velocity with the TTSX, as with cup and core bullets, and if you have enough impact velocity , they expand very well. A common mistake that people make, is using them in too heavy weights, resulting in low impact velocities.
I see you have bought into the "lead fragments" all over in the meat scare.
I wonder how the previous generations survived, eating all that game shot with lead core bullets.
I hunt with whatever premium bullet shoots well in my rifle; Partition, TTSX, TSX, Accubond, Interbond, GMX, TBBC, Swift Scirocco, A-Frames, etc.
Definitely gives one options.
Eagleye.
I see you have bought into the "lead fragments" all over in the meat scare.
I wonder how the previous generations survived, eating all that game shot with lead core bullets.
I hunt with whatever premium bullet shoots well in my rifle; Partition, TTSX, TSX, Accubond, Interbond, GMX, TBBC, Swift Scirocco, A-Frames, etc.
Definitely gives one options.
Eagleye.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
One of the smartest things some bullet companies had done in their product catalog is show their bullets at various impact speeds.
the debate will rage on and on and on BUT the animal dies due to destruction of vital organs. expansion and penetration matter.
how impact velocity affects that is something hunters don't always get. these catalogs (nosler and hrn for sure) show what each type of bullet does in, I assume, test media.
Want lots of expansion at low impact velocity? use this bullet.
Want the same thing at over 3000fps? use the other.
the bullets all look the same and likely work the same - the effective velocities can vary by almost 800fps
Food for thought.
Jerry
the debate will rage on and on and on BUT the animal dies due to destruction of vital organs. expansion and penetration matter.
how impact velocity affects that is something hunters don't always get. these catalogs (nosler and hrn for sure) show what each type of bullet does in, I assume, test media.
Want lots of expansion at low impact velocity? use this bullet.
Want the same thing at over 3000fps? use the other.
the bullets all look the same and likely work the same - the effective velocities can vary by almost 800fps
Food for thought.
Jerry
Another good example. Not everyone is aware of the velocities of their chosen calibers and at what distances the bullets are still effective at, with the velocities they need to work properly. I'm not talking the majority of people here on CGN, more like the uninformed out there.
Gatehouse:
Happy New year to you sir, I hope 2012 will be a good one for you.
We've pretty much converted over to monolithic bullets at our house and have been very pleased with the results from the Barnes TSX/TTSX line as well as the Hornady GMX that we've tried.
As you noted, one nice benefit has been that there is a bit different type of tissue damage with them and in general we've found there tends to be less meat that is rendered inedible.
I'd have to look at our hunting notes to get a firm count on the exact number of animals, but it's been enough to get a good idea of what will happen when they hit deer sized animals.
We've only been able to stop 3 thus far though.
They are from the left an 80gr. TTSX fired out of a .250AI into a 2nd rack mulie, a 130gr GMX fired out of a .270 into a 3rd rack mulie and on the right a 168gr. TSX fired from a .308Norma into a 3rd rack whitetail.
Anyway our results have been very positive on game and as mentioned by other posters the accuracy in a variety of rifles has been very good as well.
Hopefully that was some use to someone. All the best to you again in 2012 Gatehouse.
Regards,
Dwayne
Happy New year to you sir, I hope 2012 will be a good one for you.
We've pretty much converted over to monolithic bullets at our house and have been very pleased with the results from the Barnes TSX/TTSX line as well as the Hornady GMX that we've tried.
As you noted, one nice benefit has been that there is a bit different type of tissue damage with them and in general we've found there tends to be less meat that is rendered inedible.
I'd have to look at our hunting notes to get a firm count on the exact number of animals, but it's been enough to get a good idea of what will happen when they hit deer sized animals.
We've only been able to stop 3 thus far though.
They are from the left an 80gr. TTSX fired out of a .250AI into a 2nd rack mulie, a 130gr GMX fired out of a .270 into a 3rd rack mulie and on the right a 168gr. TSX fired from a .308Norma into a 3rd rack whitetail.
Anyway our results have been very positive on game and as mentioned by other posters the accuracy in a variety of rifles has been very good as well.
Hopefully that was some use to someone. All the best to you again in 2012 Gatehouse.
Regards,
Dwayne
I certainly would not want to be misinterpreted in my previous post.
I like the Monolithic bullets. They definitely have their place.
I have shot several head of game with them to date, and the only disappointing
thing about it is I have yet to recover a bullet, since all have exited.
As Stubble has pointed out, [more than once, lol] if you are using them,
You need to be aware of the impact velocity to ensure expansion.
Anything much below 2000 fps or so could conceivably "pencil" through without
expanding. This may result in a long, difficult tracking job, with the possibility of a lost animal.
Some lead cored bullets, [the Nosler Partition for example] will expand reliably at much slower speeds, thus are better suited for situations where velocity is less.
That is why I like to have options.
I certainly will not "diss" the monolithic bullets. They are decent projectiles, and kill well
if used within their parameters.
Regards, Eagleye.
I like the Monolithic bullets. They definitely have their place.
I have shot several head of game with them to date, and the only disappointing
thing about it is I have yet to recover a bullet, since all have exited.
As Stubble has pointed out, [more than once, lol] if you are using them,
You need to be aware of the impact velocity to ensure expansion.
Anything much below 2000 fps or so could conceivably "pencil" through without
expanding. This may result in a long, difficult tracking job, with the possibility of a lost animal.
Some lead cored bullets, [the Nosler Partition for example] will expand reliably at much slower speeds, thus are better suited for situations where velocity is less.
That is why I like to have options.
I certainly will not "diss" the monolithic bullets. They are decent projectiles, and kill well
if used within their parameters.
Regards, Eagleye.
