Barnes TSX bullets

I am in California and have to shoot lead free bullets for hunting. I shoot a 308 with a 20" barrel. Was doing some load development this morning and using up some IMR 4320 44.0 grains I got a decent hunting load at about 7/8" group at 100 yds with the Barnes 168 tsxbt match bullet. Velo was 2520 avg and I was feeling good to go so I shot a few 200 and 300 yds to confirm my drops. I was planning on shooting out to the 400 yd mark on deer hogs and bear and stopping due to my concern with lack of expansion under 1900 fps. I checked my group at 200 yds and found this bullet of mine in the dirt embankment. Do Barnes only open under hydraulic pressure? Impact velocity is 2170 fps. They should open at this velocity right? Any feedback is appreciated

I don't have any experience with the match bullets from Barnes, but I do use their 168 grain TTSX out of a 16" barreled 308 on hogs and they are deadly. About 200 to 250 is as far as I've killed anything with them.

Dirt is not flesh. Try some ballistic gel
Barnes makes a lot of hunting bullets so ----- why are you using a match bullet ?

Stiltsville said:

Dirt is not flesh. Try some ballistic gel
Barnes makes a lot of hunting bullets so ----- why are you using a match bullet ?

Click to expand...

It's a hunting bullet. They only designated it match due to it's shape and the fact it's 168 grains like a marketing thing. I will try it on some gel this week. And water jugs too.

I have used various Barnes TSX/TTSX/LRX bullets on game of all sizes in several calibers and I really like em. I have seen one bullet that may have hit brush just prior to the animal and I think the hollow point can be bent and closed or perhaps immediate impact on a bone may bend the tip like yours. I shot a very large crippled bull moose at 380 yards with my 9.3x62 and the bullet opened well and was against the hide on the far side.

I'll try to shoot a coyote or varmint of some sort this week too and see what type of performance I get. I have shot the 140 grain tsx out of my 270 wsm with great results but those are cookin along at 3200 fps. Same for the 115 tsx out of my 25-06. I could drop down to 130's or 150's and get my velocities up but I like 168's. Thanks for the feedback.

Double digits on deer, black bear, moose, & caribou using 140 gn Barnes TSXBT (earlier just BT) out of 270 WCF (24") since 1965. I'm happy with them.

The TSX line opens with hydraulic pressure. The tipped version uses the tip to initiate expansion. As velocity drops, expansion diminishes. With Barnes bullets, speed is your friend. Even at 2170 fps, this bullet will probably not "fully" open. I would likely run a lighter bullet at a higher velocity. You will get 100% weight retention and probably better terminal performance on game with a muzzle velocity nearer 3000 fps. Just my opinion. YMMV

We have tested them down to 1700 on ballistic gel. they work fine.

Stiltsville said:

Dirt is not flesh. Try some ballistic gel
Barnes makes a lot of hunting bullets so ----- why are you using a match bullet ?

Click to expand...

These are hunting bullets. https://www.barnesbullets.com/bullets/ttsx/

Actually I started using Barnes X bullets about 30 years ago. They make a nice X peel back when shot into dirt and sand embankments.

The problem for the poster is not enough velocity. I have 308 AR-10 24 inch and they are the most excellent weapon of choice for helicopter/stand and feeder pig hunting. In 308 win I used to use TAC powder. That is good for Speer TNT 125 gr. The poster is lead free and 168. For 150 -168 gr my go to powder is CFE-223.

Barnes TSX bullets because of no lead have a lot of surface baring to barrel drag. That is why pressure is higher with less powder in the reloading manuals.

Try CFE 223 and bump it up to where you are comfortable with pressure. I've chronoed some 168 at just under 2900. Gas guns bleed off some pressure.

I also feel that above 150 grain in a 308 at shorter ranges is self defeating especially out of a short 20 inch barrel. Just not enough velocity. You should look into lighter TTSX like the 130 and 150's

Bud

I have Rldr 16, IMR 4064 and IMR 3031 available. Finding powder in my area is very difficult. Hornady eld-m 168 match factory ammo is getting 2640 fps avg according to my Magneto. If I could get the Barnes 168's up to 2600+ that would help I think. I am gonna pick up some 150 grain ttsx today and try them out too.

TAC or CFE 223 and try and get 130 grain

Looks to me like the way the whole bullet is bent that when it went into the dirt it started to tumble and hit a rock.

I found some 130 grain ttsx but no TAC or CFE powder. I'll try the 130s at 2900 fps and see how they print.