Barnes Bullets Expansion

[choprzrul]

[NaClAddict]

My 130 gr .270 TSX shredded the hog it hit at 65 yds. Still enough mass that I saw it kick sand and thought I may have missed. No petals found while butchering. Wish I had recovered the slug but had to trail my partners poor shooting.

[JackEllis]

I wonder if the variations in minimum fps from bullet to bullet is where monolithics get a bad reputation for 'penciling through'? People do not understand a particular projectile's characteristics and end up getting poor bullet performance? Gotta use the right tool and within its designed parameters I suppose..

I agree. It's like the difference between using expanding bullets and plinking ammo for hunting. Expanding ammo is designed to cause massive wounds that kill quickly. Plinking ammo, not so much.

[choprzrul]

I agree. It's like the difference between using expanding bullets and plinking ammo for hunting. Expanding ammo is designed to cause massive wounds that kill quickly. Plinking ammo, not so much.

I started down this path of trying to find a projectile for my new 308. Something that would still open up reliably at 500 yards max....but would not 'explode' and create a lot of bloodshot meat at say 50 yards. Those parameters are not easy for the same projectile.

Usually, something that will hold together at 50 yards will not open up reliably as velocities drop at longer distances....or vice versa....if they open at lower velocity, they will go to pieces at higher velocities.

Plus....if a bullet is built to open at 308 velocity at 500 yards, they typically don't perform well when encountering an elk's shoulder bones.....leaving me with few choices except the Barnes TTSX. I think I will try the 168gr TTSX for the extra bullet weight should I get the opportunity for an elk hunt.

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[JackEllis]

I have yet to shoot a critter with a monolithic bullet (in my case, 150 grain GMX) so what I know is based on what others have written.

Where copper seems to havve an advantage over lead is it's toughness, which is defined as "... a fundamental material property measuring the ability of a material to absorb energy and withstand shock up to fracture; that is, the ability to absorb energy in the plastic range. Copper doesn't have the same tendency to disintegrate on impact as lead does. That seems to be why there's less bloodshot meat when using monolithics, why there are fewer lead particles scattered in meat (in part as shown by tests with ballistics gel), and why petals tend to stay attached.

I happen to prefer the terminal performance of copper bullets. The fact that Hornady GMX bullets have an effective range of only 400 or so yards doesn't bother me because for the present, I prefer to be within 200 yards of the critter I'm shooting at.

If I ever become a decent shot past 200 yards, then maybe I'll switch to Barnes.

[XVIga_Rob]

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1612159

[choprzrul]

I have yet to shoot a critter with a monolithic bullet (in my case, 150 grain GMX) so what I know is based on what others have written.

Where copper seems to havve an advantage over lead is it's toughness, which is defined as "... a fundamental material property measuring the ability of a material to absorb energy and withstand shock up to fracture; that is, the ability to absorb energy in the plastic range. Copper doesn't have the same tendency to disintegrate on impact as lead does. That seems to be why there's less bloodshot meat when using monolithics, why there are fewer lead particles scattered in meat (in part as shown by tests with ballistics gel), and why petals tend to stay attached.

I happen to prefer the terminal performance of copper bullets. The fact that Hornady GMX bullets have an effective range of only 400 or so yards doesn't bother me because for the present, I prefer to be within 200 yards of the critter I'm shooting at.

If I ever become a decent shot past 200 yards, then maybe I'll switch to Barnes.

I agree with you JackEllis.

However, we have a hunting lease on 2300 acres in the sandhills of Nebraska....and sometimes those big bodied mule deer are out there quite a ways. I shoot at the steel at SLOSA pretty regular out to 400 yards, so I'm ok with the distance when a steady rest is available.

Even at 400 yards, that GMX is at the edge of its ability to open up with 308 velocities. The TTSX will give me a much greater margin for opening velocity at the outside edge of my personal shooting distance limits IMHO....

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[choprzrul]

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s....php?t=1612159

Have you talked to the Barnes techs regarding that .243 8gr? If so, let me know and I'll post their minimum velocity in the OP.

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