Boll Weevil
Well-Known Member
Does anyone know what Barnes advertises as the minimum velocity for expansion of the copper HPs?
Barnes TSX/TTSX expansion velocity?
- Thread starter Boll Weevil
- Start date
i would venture a guess 1800 fps
What grain bullet?
Boll Weevil
Well-Known Member
22-250. 50, 53, 55gr. Leaving the barrel somewhere between about 3860 - 3675 fps.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
Not to hijack, but to add,
what be your thoughts on a .45 cal, 290gr
Barnes TSX/TTSX expansion velocity?
1,800 fps is what a lot folks use as the standard, but numerous shooters who have done a good bit of testing suggest 2,000 -2,200 fps to guarantee expansion. At least one email from Barnes CS suggested 2,000+ fps as well.
Boll Weevil
Well-Known Member
Thanks much sir.
No clue honestly
458 bullet don't need much expansion to kill
My 458 socom pushes 300 ttsx under 1700
It kills fine
I have killed deer with 53 grain Barnes @ 3180 FPS It works great
DC219
Well-Known Member
It depends on what bullet you're using. The expansion velocities differ for different calibers. I've been using Barnes bullets almost exclusively for over a decade and have been very happy with them. They make smaller rounds perform and penetrate better than you'd think. I've put a 95 grain bullet through both shoulders of a 190lb hog on several occasions.
Boll Weevil
Well-Known Member
This has been really interesting to discover. There are cult-like followings of hunters who now use the 22-250 for deer and antelope. Apparently when bullet technology introduced bonded SPs, copper/alloy HPs, and plastic tipped solids that are grooved to initiate expansion and make petals the game was forever changed at those velocities.
Apparently at those speeds just behind the shoulder it turns vital organs to jello. Had no idea.
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ewc turned me on to the 53 grain barnes it is a stone cold killer
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
All I know is that you can often go with a much lighter bullet with the 100% copper bullets,
and get terminal performance similar to a heavier bullet.
For example, in a .270 where you might normally use 130 gr plated lead bullets for deer,
you can go down to 110 gr 100% copper bullets, with maybe even better killing ability, plus the advantage of higher velocities (flatter trajectory).
With .30 cal, where might normally be using 150 gr to 180 gr plated lead,
you may be able to go down to 130 to 150 gr 100% copper with overall improved performance.
About the only downside I've seen/heard to using 100% copper is they cost more, and you may not be able to achieve as much accuracy. You may find your sub-MOA rifle will only achieve 1.25 MOA with copper, but then you may find copper accuracy as good or better with certain loads. All I know is it can by costly and time consumptive to experiment with different loads.
With one rifle in particular I have, I can achieve sub-3/4" MOA with a certain lead bullet setup I did hunt with. Going to 100% copper, about the best I've been able to achieve is 1 1/2" MOA. Never mind this is counter to what some are finding (increased accuracy) with certain guns and certain copper loads.
For me, the advantages of copper bullets are trumping the disadvantages, and I will be doing 100% of my rifle big-game hunting with copper bullets this year. Another aspect to this is that in some states, ONLY 100% copper bullets are legal for hunting, and this may be the future "trend" with rifle projectiles, just as it has been with shotgun pellets (going from lead to other metals).
and get terminal performance similar to a heavier bullet.
For example, in a .270 where you might normally use 130 gr plated lead bullets for deer,
you can go down to 110 gr 100% copper bullets, with maybe even better killing ability, plus the advantage of higher velocities (flatter trajectory).
With .30 cal, where might normally be using 150 gr to 180 gr plated lead,
you may be able to go down to 130 to 150 gr 100% copper with overall improved performance.
About the only downside I've seen/heard to using 100% copper is they cost more, and you may not be able to achieve as much accuracy. You may find your sub-MOA rifle will only achieve 1.25 MOA with copper, but then you may find copper accuracy as good or better with certain loads. All I know is it can by costly and time consumptive to experiment with different loads.
With one rifle in particular I have, I can achieve sub-3/4" MOA with a certain lead bullet setup I did hunt with. Going to 100% copper, about the best I've been able to achieve is 1 1/2" MOA. Never mind this is counter to what some are finding (increased accuracy) with certain guns and certain copper loads.
For me, the advantages of copper bullets are trumping the disadvantages, and I will be doing 100% of my rifle big-game hunting with copper bullets this year. Another aspect to this is that in some states, ONLY 100% copper bullets are legal for hunting, and this may be the future "trend" with rifle projectiles, just as it has been with shotgun pellets (going from lead to other metals).
i pushed a 7mm 110 ttsx to almost 3700 fps killed 2 less than 50 yard held up great
i like the nosler e tip i can usually get more accuracy out of them vs barnes
i like the nosler e tip i can usually get more accuracy out of them vs barnes
Omega
Well-Known Member
The only copper bullet I have used, though purchased a few, is the Barnes 115 gr TAC-TX Blacktips for my 300BLK. Barnes loaded those to 2350 fps and they expanded well in their gelatin test.
They perform real well on pigs up to at least 100 yards, haven't shot over that. I do have some of the bluetips and a a few offerings by LeHigh, but have yet to reload those yet.
They perform real well on pigs up to at least 100 yards, haven't shot over that. I do have some of the bluetips and a a few offerings by LeHigh, but have yet to reload those yet.
Loaded up some 130 grain Barnes TTSX over Ramshot TAC for my boys .308. I'm getting 3000 FPS with light recoil and enough energy to still be lethal on deer out to 500. I'm excited for this load.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
I've heard many are using the 130 gr Barnes in .30 caliber for elk and swearing it works very well.
I'v beeh shooting 168TTSX (3118fps) & 165TSX (3173fps) in my elk load.. 300wsm
love it and so far, knock on wood, has not let me down on elk, mule deer, or the occasional whitetail
For the better part of 15 years, I've shot Barnes 130 grain TSX in my .270 WSM Browning A-bolt. 3250 fps, accurate, and of course deadly. I've always said the Barnes TSX shoot through the deer and two to three small trees behind the deer before they start slowing down. They literally penetrate to no end. Basically never find a bullet to see how it performs, but you always have two holes. I have started mixing in 140 grain Accubonds at 3,100 fps and have been just as impressed with their accuracy and performance on whitetail deer......and small trees in the background. 
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We use the tsx 168 in our 308's, we have not been able to get quite the accuracy from the ttsx but every gun is different. They do plenty of damage
