Barnes Ammo for Elk?

[Frank in the Laurels]

That triple shock will pass through any elk shoulders like a hot knife through butter..I busted both shoulder blades and everything in-between last fall on a 500lber..in like a dime & out like a nickel, just watch what's standing behind your target...

 

[scopeye]

I shoot the 150 ttsx out of a 7mm mag and have had great success. Just put the bullet where it needs to be and you will have a quick/clean kill.

 

[Winfwt338-06]

Could you summarize for those of us late to the Barnes-game? Maybe just Top 5 or Top 10?

Thank you!
-mox

Mox, sorry for the delay in response. Best tips are, play with seating depth, and push them hard. Always found the X works best at upper limits. What are you shooting, or wanting to shoot them in?

 

[rellison312]

After looking at some reviews and answers, what about Barnes VOR-TX Ammunition 140 Grain TTSX Polymer Tipped Spitzer Boat Tail for elk? Does it have a enough knock down power? Thanks again!

I will hopefully know more in a few weeks. I'm taking a 300 WBy with 180 Barnes on an elk hunt. From what I am reading it sounds like Barnes should do very well as long as I do my job. We shall see!

 

[moxford]

After looking at some reviews and answers, what about Barnes VOR-TX Ammunition 140 Grain TTSX Polymer Tipped Spitzer Boat Tail for elk? Does it have a enough knock down power? Thanks again!

I will hopefully know more in a few weeks. I'm taking a 300 WBy with 180 Barnes on an elk hunt. From what I am reading it sounds like Barnes should do very well as long as I do my job. We shall see!

Look at it this way - what was the "standard" 270 bullet that been used successfully on elk for almost 100 years? 130-140 grains. And that is an old-school lead or cup-and-core which is going to fragment and shed weight.

You push 140gr of mono that stays together at the same velocity you should be completely fine, just keep your impact velocity up around 1800 fps for a TTSX, 1600 for LRX (IIRC) for expansion.

300Wby @180gr is definitely enough for elk, same impact velocity constraints as above, just with perhaps a longer range and more room for error on a marginal shot (due to more momentum from mass.)

Just remember: 1/2mv^2 is great and all with exponential velocity, but the instant it contacts something and starts slowing down as it pushes through it's also bleeding off your KE exponentially. That's where the "bigger but slower" comes into play a little on the marginals/mis-hits, and the larger meplat (.308 vs .284 vs .264, etc) has a little more impact-transfer/hydraulics.

But honestly, boiler-room, hit where you're aiming, and just about anything will penetrate perfectly fine, especially anything mono.

I've run TTSX 130s in my '06 (1:9.5) quite well, never could get 150s to group but I have an idea why, and will be using 168s in either the '06 or the new 300PRC (1:8) if I can get it running and a load worked up for it before I leave for the hunt. Also have 175 LRX and 208 LRX, again, if I have time. The 130s are flat-base and don't have the BC I'm looking for this time around. The 168s in a 300prc will be screaming if I can find the right powder, and the 1:8 twist will allow me to run the super-long-for-weight heavier monos out of it, as I'm in California and we're a non-lead-non-free state. I might try the 198 Hammer Hunters at some point, we'll have to see.

Honestly, I'm a fan of copper over lead for a number of reasons, and the little bit of density you lose is -more- than offset by the advantages. I think you will be happy running quality monos.

Cheers, and g'luck out there...
-mox

 

[rellison312]

Look at it this way - what was the "standard" 270 bullet that been used successfully on elk for almost 100 years? 130-140 grains. And that is an old-school lead or cup-and-core which is going to fragment and shed weight.

You push 140gr of mono that stays together at the same velocity you should be completely fine, just keep your impact velocity up around 1800 fps for a TTSX, 1600 for LRX (IIRC) for expansion.

300Wby @180gr is definitely enough for elk, same impact velocity constraints as above, just with perhaps a longer range and more room for error on a marginal shot (due to more momentum from mass.)

Just remember: 1/2mv^2 is great and all with exponential velocity, but the instant it contacts something and starts slowing down as it pushes through it's also bleeding off your KE exponentially. That's where the "bigger but slower" comes into play a little on the marginals/mis-hits, and the larger meplat (.308 vs .284 vs .264, etc) has a little more impact-transfer/hydraulics.

But honestly, boiler-room, hit where you're aiming, and just about anything will penetrate perfectly fine, especially anything mono.

I've run TTSX 130s in my '06 (1:9.5) quite well, never could get 150s to group but I have an idea why, and will be using 168s in either the '06 or the new 300PRC (1:8) if I can get it running and a load worked up for it before I leave for the hunt. Also have 175 LRX and 208 LRX, again, if I have time. The 130s are flat-base and don't have the BC I'm looking for this time around. The 168s in a 300prc will be screaming if I can find the right powder, and the 1:8 twist will allow me to run the super-long-for-weight heavier monos out of it, as I'm in California and we're a non-lead-non-free state. I might try the 198 Hammer Hunters at some point, we'll have to see.

Honestly, I'm a fan of copper over lead for a number of reasons, and the little bit of density you lose is -more- than offset by the advantages. I think you will be happy running quality monos.

Cheers, and g'luck out there...
-mox

Good info thanks! Im pushing the 180 TTSX at 3,193 fps at the muzzle which gets me out to 650 yards with 2,000 fps. I will, however (if fortunate enough) hike in a few hundred yards to close the gap, unless it is impossible.

 

[Winfwt338-06]

Good info thanks! Im pushing the 180 TTSX at 3,193 fps at the muzzle which gets me out to 650 yards with 2,000 fps. I will, however (if fortunate enough) hike in a few hundred yards to close the gap, unless it is impossible.

Depending on your twist the 168TTSX will do very well in 300 Wby with RL-22 or 25. Good luck and send pics.

 

[Marine sniper]

I think Barnes bullets are the most reliable / best killing bullet on the market.

 

[Winfwt338-06]

No doubt!

 

[Hoss50]

After looking at some reviews and answers, what about Barnes VOR-TX Ammunition 140 Grain TTSX Polymer Tipped Spitzer Boat Tail for elk? Does it have a enough knock down power? Thanks again!

We hammered a couple cow elk with 165 grain TTSX this year. 1 was a 308, 1 was a 300 weatherby. They hammered those elk. They were close at about 80 yards. 1 didn't take a step, and the other went about 40 yards.

I love my Bergers, but these barnes brought the hammer down. I would have no problem using those 140gr out of a 7mm mag on elk. Bull or cow.