Barnes TTSX Performance on Elk (photos)

[memtb]

Lighter than normal conventional bullet weight recommendation is their way of saying that an all copper lead free bullet of the same weight as a lead jacketed may not stabilize because it will be too long for the weight. That is why all of our bullets have a recommended min twist rate posted with each one.

Steve

No disrespect intended Steve.....but Barnes makes a notation on Bullets requiring a "faster than recognized standard" twist rates on their bullet spec. page. memtb

 

[RockyMtnMT]

None taken. If I am wrong then what people are saying is true and they just need higher impact vel to perform correctly.

Steve

 

[HARPERC]

......I'll only comment on what I do know. We went through literally thousands of pounds of copper looking for the alloy and hardness that gave us the terminal performance that we were looking for. Just the other day we hauled several thousand pounds of copper in to have it recycled at a rate that was a fraction of what we paid for it. For the most part this copper was not bad copper, just not as good as we wanted, and we simply could not compromise our principle of making the best bullet possible by using it when we know we have a better copper. We will always be open to finding a better copper than we have now, but we are very happy with the consistency of the current alloy we have now. The key for us has been the proper softness and malleability...........Steve......

I believe this is the key to consistent mono-metal function. For me-I swore off the mono's due to inconsistent performance. As has been expressed so far, some experience great results, some not so much. I've seen both, and the inconsistency is what turned me off.

 

[HARPERC]

...Also, of note, things seem to die faster with a bigger bullet.......

They do!

 

[waltercrouse]

They do!

Dead is Dead , unfortunately I live in a tree-hugger state that requires non-lead bullets. The former prez Obummer was trying to make the country that way. But I have had very good results with copper and will have to live with it. Utah was also requesting the use of copper in their condor area. The buzzard eats dead animals ,no matter how they died.

 

[memtb]

They do!

And, a bigger, faster bullet....works pretty good also. A 250 grain, .375, starting at 3130 fps....seems to be pretty effective! memtb

 

[Wild Bill G]

I have been following the comments here and find humor in some of them. Like the ones where the animals ran 150yds and died no blood trail. That 150yds is only maybe 3 seconds of time and if the shot is high lungs blood will probably not be found. A lot of guys here like Berger bullets well I saw them leave no blood last fall too. With them there was no exit wound either and bullet size entrance. What I am trying to say is we will all have a bad bullet experience the more we hunt. If we quit using every bullet we have a bad experience with we soon will have no bullets to hunt with. In fact our grandfathers would have not believed the good bullets we have now. Most of our problem with bullets is brain washed into us by the anti hunting groups but they are not even happy if the animal falls dead in its tracks. If it runs 10 feet it is pure cruelty. They know nothing but we are so busy trying to make them happy we are ruining our hunting experience. Most of the animals were found here so we did our part and most of the animals it sounds like died quickly thus humanely. If you don't like brand X bullet move on to another just as we do with our trucks we are not all dodge drivers. This is how we can have so many products to choose from and enjoy.

 

[Song Dogger]

I have been following the comments here and find humor in some of them. Like the ones where the animals ran 150yds and died no blood trail. That 150yds is only maybe 3 seconds of time and if the shot is high lungs blood will probably not be found. A lot of guys here like Berger bullets well I saw them leave no blood last fall too. With them there was no exit wound either and bullet size entrance. What I am trying to say is we will all have a bad bullet experience the more we hunt. If we quit using every bullet we have a bad experience with we soon will have no bullets to hunt with. In fact our grandfathers would have not believed the good bullets we have now. Most of our problem with bullets is brain washed into us by the anti hunting groups but they are not even happy if the animal falls dead in its tracks. If it runs 10 feet it is pure cruelty. They know nothing but we are so busy trying to make them happy we are ruining our hunting experience. Most of the animals were found here so we did our part and most of the animals it sounds like died quickly thus humanely. If you don't like brand X bullet move on to another just as we do with our trucks we are not all dodge drivers. This is how we can have so many products to choose from and enjoy.

Gotta admit, I've never been accused of catering to anti-hunting groups before! But, I will agree that I tend to overthink, over research, and nitpick - especially this past week wallowing in an early spring, off-season, cabin fever funk. As the snow melts, it'll reign me in. Until then, onward with the quest for a bullet that increases chances of a recovery on those occasional imperfect hits!

 

[scdogman]

Waltercroise

Im pretty sure used a bullet designed for deer(thin skin) on elk. The bullet exploded on the outside rather than the inside.


Accubonds, etips and partitions are Nosler's elk offerings.

I have been using Barnes for years. Barnes suggest to use a lighter bullet than would use for lead. I have had a bad experience with Noslers green tip bullets. They had just came out on the market and I tried them on a hunt. This was a 270 win. and had no problems in the past with Barnes. I hit a Elk and it just kept run like it had not been hit. Took the rest of the day to find her and finish her off. Went back to Barnes and had no issues.

 

[Kimber7man]

Schidt happens if you shoot enough animals. These are just antelope and not a big bull elk, but examples of bullet/animal interactions nonetheless.

Entrance of an all powerful 130 grain Accubond out of a 270, no exit:



Exit of a 130 Berger VLD hunting out of a 260; as you can see they do in fact exit sometimes:



Here was the entrance of the Berger:

 

[memtb]

Even a Barnes can make a "nasty" exit would....with poor placement. Approx. 300 yards, 250 Barnes TTSX @ 3130 fps muzzle velocity from a .375 AI. Bullet too tough for antelope, and caliber too large? Evidence suggests otherwise! Tracking was "not" required!

 

[scdogman]

What range and impact speed on the Nosler?


QUOTE="Kimber7man, post: 1425848, member: 11938"]Schidt happens if you shoot enough animals. These are just antelope and not a big bull elk, but examples of bullet/animal interactions nonetheless.

Entrance of an all powerful 130 grain Accubond out of a 270, no exit:



Exit of a 130 Berger VLD hunting out of a 260; as you can see they do in fact exit sometimes:



Here was the entrance of the Berger:

[/QUOTE]

 

[Engineering101]

Got a buddy who shot a couple bull moose (this past season and the one before that) with a 30-06 running the 125 grain TTSX. Both one shot kills. The 210 TTSX out of another buddies 338 RUM hammered a nice 6X6 bull elk from 348 yards - it went 20 yards and piled up. Same thing happened with a small Montana whitetail I shot with the 210 TTSX out of my 338 RUM. If you haven't picked up the theme here let me point it out - if you are using Barnes bullets, you need to use light weight for caliber bullets and drive them fast - like over 3,100 fps. As was mentioned, you also don't want to be shooting far enough that they slow down. The guy who shot the moose is now working up loads with Hammers for his next moose season. While the 30-06 worked great, he was a little nervous that the crappy BC of the 125 TTSX would leave him wanting if he happened to be faced with a longer shot. I myself prefer Barnes (for minimal meat loss) out to 400 yards or so - if shots are going to be past that I'd switch to ELD-Xs.

 

[Kimber7man]

What range and impact speed on the Nosler?

He used factory Nosler Trophy Grade ammo, and did not chronograph it. It's listed at 3075 fps muzzle velocity. Range was 175 yards.

The antelope was slightly quartering away from him and as you might see, he hit high on the buck and the bullet or bone must have deflected. Normally accubonds are #1 on the hunting bullet list. It just shows that every once in a while, crazy stuff happens.