Barnes TTSX at slower speed

[Dannyd]

I recently purchased Barnes TTSX bullets. They are 140g for a 7mm Rem Mag.
They will be used for WT deer at ranges from 30 to 150 yards

When working up a load for this bullet i found i am getting groups of just under .6 @ 100 fairly consistently.

I am using federal cases, 66.5g of RL22, Win Mag primers. I am only getting 2957 FPS avg. (24" barrel)

I like the accuracy but i realize that the FPS on for 140g out of a 7MM Rem Mag is slow.

My question is this... How will this bullet perform at this speed? Will it open up as advertised? is it adequate?

Like i said, its plenty accurate and quite frankly at the cost of these bullets i'd like to stop testing for now.

I's appreciate any feedback and thoughts.

 

[Varminator 911]

I'd say you're ready for a real test, on deer. Out to 150 yds if they don't open up or perform, it won't be because you started them too slow. My experience says they'll do fine. They sure work out of my 7-08AI on hogs and Aoudad sheep. Mine are currently loaded to around 3050 fps.

 

[Dannyd]

Thanks for the reply.

Like i said it's a new bullet for me.
I'd like to work up a load that gets it closer to around 3150 or so but i just don't have the time. Gun season starts in 2 weeks. and i really only have 1 range day left

 

[davewilson]

Danny, i recently did a survey with deer here in the northeast and the west virginia deer couldn't tell the difference between 2800 and 3000! sorry, just making a little joke. load em up and go hunting. you're good to go. that extra 200 fps might impress someone at the gun store but the deer won't know the difference.

 

[Dannyd]

Dave,
Thanks. I like to try new bullets for deer hunting each year. Been through several different brands and types. This is my first foray into the "non-lead" area.

It seems each new one i try, i'm always a bit skeptical until I actually see results

 

[Derek M.]

Hit the shoulder, you'll be fine. Considering we are getting the same speed with 150 VLD from a 270, you are certainly shooting a reduced load, AND, you are burning 12-14 more grains of powder doing it.

Honestly if 150 yards is a max shot for you, I'd load up that bullet over as much powder as the rifle will take and call it a day so long as you group 5" or less at max distance. In those situations, especially with the Barnes bullets, I want as much speed as the rifle will do safely. I get most concerned about groups if I know I'm going to have a potential shot beyond 300.

As to being skeptical with the TTSX, this is understandable. Seems like Barnes bullets are getting a reputation that parallels the nosler btip. Love them or hate them.

I've never had either fail or come close to it. They are 2 of my favorite bullets.

 

[Dannyd]

Just to give an update on my first experience with this bullet

Shot a deer at 70 yards. Perfectly broadside.

Impact was right behind the shoulder.
Quarter size entrance wound.

Exit was slightly lower (shot from elevated position) but right behind opposite shoulder
Exit wound was about the size of a raquetball.

At the shot the deer rose up on its hind legs and fell over dead

When i got to the animal, there was a large (3' x 6') area behind the deer where its lungs were splattered all over the ground.

When i gutted the deer i found barely any whole lung pieces and the top of the heart was missing

All i can say is so far so good. I could not have asked for any more from a bullet

 

[Shortmagman]

As already stated in another thread I have been very impressed with the Barnes TTSX bullets. My first deer shot with a 160 TSX bullet out of my 7mm Rem Mag. was less than impressive. However, my shooting and hunting buddy shot a nice whitetail buck this year in Nebraska with a Barnes 168TTSX bullet out of his 30-06 at about 70 yards just as you did and this bullet did a number on the buck. Small entrance hole and large exit hole with much blood and distruction. The deer went about 30 yards. According to my chronograph this bullet was only traveling about 2850 ft/sec., 10 ft from the muzzle yet it did all that you would want from a bullet

 

[BigSkyGP]

Barnes TSX baby!

'09 season took a mulie and a WT with 110gr .277s out of my 6.8SPC about 2600fps, less than 200yds for both shots. DRT x 2.

I used the 168gr .308 out of my 300WM on a doe ant. 300yds. There was neither lung in the chest cavity. They were spread out for 6' on the other side of her. Virtually no entrance hole, and and exit maybe an 1"

 

[MSLRHunter]

I have a TTSX bullet story to tell as well. A good friend that I have a deer lease with went out last week to shoot a doe. He is shooting a Rem 700 in 7mm STW, with a 26" Hart barrel. His TTSX bullets had a MV of 3150. The doe was at 125 yards, quartering to the shot. He said when the bullet hit her, that she took off running and he could see that her front shoulder was broken from the way her leg was flopping. She ran about 75 to 100 yds with no blood trail. He was able to find her, and made some interesting discoveries while skinning the deer. The entry hole was where he was aiming...the point of the shoulder...the bullet went through the shoulder, through the abdominal cavity and lodged under the skin on the opposite hind quarter. The bullet was revovered and to our surprise it had not expanded!!! The polymer tip was gone, and the end of the bullet was slightly rounded, but there was no expansion at all. That bullet hit shoulder bone at about 3000 fps, went through the entire abdominal cavity and still did not expand. He is going to send the bullet and an account of the story to Barnes.

 

[BigSkyGP]

I have a TTSX bullet story to tell as well. A good friend that I have a deer lease with went out last week to shoot a doe. He is shooting a Rem 700 in 7mm STW, with a 26" Hart barrel. His TTSX bullets had a MV of 3150. The doe was at 125 yards, quartering to the shot. He said when the bullet hit her, that she took off running and he could see that her front shoulder was broken from the way her leg was flopping. She ran about 75 to 100 yds with no blood trail. He was able to find her, and made some interesting discoveries while skinning the deer. The entry hole was where he was aiming...the point of the shoulder...the bullet went through the shoulder, through the abdominal cavity and lodged under the skin on the opposite hind quarter. The bullet was revovered and to our surprise it had not expanded!!! The polymer tip was gone, and the end of the bullet was slightly rounded, but there was no expansion at all. That bullet hit shoulder bone at about 3000 fps, went through the entire abdominal cavity and still did not expand. He is going to send the bullet and an account of the story to Barnes.

> I think it was the '05 season. Similar, quartering away shot I pulled a little entered trough the femur just missing the front shoulder on the far side. DRT, out of the 300WM 100-150yds, doe mulie. I'm using TSX, not TTSX.