300 Blackout, 110 TAC-TX, and deer pass through

[d31tc]

I'm curious if anyone has direct experience on projectile velocity to achieve an exit wound on a typical behind the shoulder, boiler room shot on a medium sized deer with 300 Blackout with 110 gr TAC-TX.

I'm getting ready to load some 300 Blackout rounds with H110 and 110 Grain TAC-TX. With a 10.5" barrel, I'm expecting about 2,100 fps at the muzzle but will verify with the chrono.

Expected minimum velocity will be about 1,900 fps at 75 yards max distance.

On another forum, there was a post that the guy hunted with 300 Blackout, and of the 21 deer he shot with it at ranges from 20 to 197 yards, he stated 20 had exit wounds. He was using a 16" barrel, so velocities would be higher. This post was archived, so I can't PM them directly.

 

[mcb]

I only have one experience with it. My brother shot a large doe with that bullet and we got a partial pass through. The bullet lost two petals that we found in the far side ribs/shoulder but the base of the bullet and remaining petals did pass clear through. It was a quartering away shot so the bullet passed through the back of the near lung, through the top of the heart and the front of the far lung and into the shoulder. This was from a 16-inch gun going a bit over 2300 fps at the muzzle IIRC.

 

[d31tc]

I only have one experience with it. My brother shot a large doe with that bullet and we got a partial pass through. The bullet lost two petals that we found in the far side ribs/shoulder but the base of the bullet and remaining petals did pass clear through. It was a quartering away shot so the bullet passed through the back of the near lung, through the top of the heart and the front of the far lung and into the shoulder. This was from a 16-inch gun going a bit over 2300 fps at the muzzle IIRC.

Any estimate on distance of the shot? Thanks

 

[mcb]

Any estimate on distance of the shot? Thanks

Only about 50-60 yards

 

[FL-NC]

That's the all copper Barnes round, right?

 

[d31tc]

That's the all copper Barnes round, right?

Yes. This.

 

[FL-NC]

Yes, Mrs. Fl-NC shot her first deer with that round last year, with factory loaded Barnes ammo . It was through a 16" barrel Ruger American ranch, the shot was at 20-25 yards (typical on the smaller plots where I hunt). Shot placement was fine. The deer (small basket rack) ran about 50 yards into some pretty thick vegetation (Florida) and crashed. Fortunately we heard it crash, because that is the reason he was found quickly as it was getting dark. The reason the noise of it crashing was helpful is because there was no blood trail leading to it- the only blood that came out was on the exit side at the spot he was standing when he was hit. Internal damage was good, and obviously it worked- but a good blood trail is obviously desirable, especially in areas with thick brush and possibly in the dark. I had similar results with a deer I shot using the Hornady sub-x. I have no problem using that gun at closer ranges on deer because I can hit them in the neck, but I'm not a fan of it for the wife (her skills are not up to par for neck shots). While 1 use of the round Barnes round in question is only 1 example, I have numerous examples of the 243 SP (my preferred caliber) putting deer down with authority and a ginormous blood trail if they happen to run- every time I used it. So, in the future, Mrs. Fl-NC will be using the 243 if she wants to get another deer.

 

[d31tc]

Always amazes me how far they can go with no lungs and no heart. Sometimes I wonder why I should expect there to be a blood trail if the heart isn’t pumping.

That said, I want to keep shots to a distance with a high chance for an exit wound.

 

[Masonlaw1]

Just one experience. Barnes factory load at 12 yards from a 7.5 inch AR. Boiler room hit, ran 30 yards, fell over dead. Full pass through, no blood for 20 yards then a patch the size of a large porch matt, big oval area of leaves fully covered, about 10 steps from his expiration point.

 

[The_Quartermaster]

Always amazes me how far they can go with no lungs and no heart. Sometimes I wonder why I should expect there to be a blood trail if the heart isn’t pumping.

That said, I want to keep shots to a distance with a high chance for an exit wound.

My buddy wanted to see what his issued 168 AMAX TAP would do, and made the heart on his buck almost disappear entirely, and that thing of delicious meat ran off for another 30 or so yards before realizing it was already dead.

 

[jmorris]

I emailed them the other day looking for a 7mm equivalent to that very bullet. Looks like they view 1400fps as the floor.

That 139 LRX has a low impact velocity of 1400 fps the same as the 30 cal 110 gr TAC-TX.

I haven’t gone down that low but the 110gn TAC TX have worked 100% at 1900fps @ 50 yards.

 

[beeenbag]

no experience with the barnes, but my daughter hunts with the 300 exclusively. I load the 110g hornady GMX, which is also an all copper bullet. She has now taken 4 deer with it, all have had pass throughs and good exit wounds. This is from a 16" barrel using near max load of hodgdon lil gun. longest shot has been about 90 yards, not sure this helps but it may give a ballpark idea.

 

[d31tc]

I emailed them the other day looking for a 7mm equivalent to that very bullet. Looks like they view 1400fps as the floor.



I haven’t gone down that low but the 110gn TAC TX have worked 100% at 1900fps @ 50 yards.

Chrono was set up at your target at 50 yards, so velocity at impact on deer were pass throughs going around 1,900 fps at 50 yards? Thanks

 

[d31tc]

no experience with the barnes, but my daughter hunts with the 300 exclusively. I load the 110g hornady GMX, which is also an all copper bullet. She has now taken 4 deer with it, all have had pass throughs and good exit wounds. This is from a 16" barrel using near max load of hodgdon lil gun. longest shot has been about 90 yards, not sure this helps but it may give a ballpark idea.

So, an estimated velocity at 90 yards around 2,150 fps resulting in pass through. Thanks

 

[jmorris]

Chrono was set up at your target at 50 yards, so velocity at impact on deer were pass throughs going around 1,900 fps at 50 yards? Thanks

The first shot (high left), no chronograph. Made corrections put two more, they were acceptable, I then put the chrono out there to get a velocity. It’s not as good as an average but I’m currently not a member of the chronograph killers club and would like to keep it that way.

If you just want pass throughs, there are a number of bullets that will poke right through both sides, they just don’t kill as well. I was about to give up on the caliber before mcb suggested the TAC Tx, tried it and it works. Lots of the bullets I was not happy with would still poke two holes, the animals just would be some distance away from the spot where they were shot, before coming to final rest.

 

[d31tc]

The first shot (high left), no chronograph. Made corrections put two more, they were acceptable, I then put the chrono to get a velocity. It’s not as good as an average but I’m currently not a member of the chronograph killers club and would like to keep it that way.

If you just want pass throughs, there are a number of bullets that will poke right through both sides, they just don’t kill as well. I was about to give up on the caliber before mcb suggested it, tried it and it works. Lots of the bullets I was not happy with would still poke two holes, the animals just would be some distance away from the spot where they were shot, before coming to final rest.

I almost spit out my coffee on the "chonograph killers club". When I saw your picture, I was thinking, "Wow, that's brave to shoot at your chronograph on sight in." because I was thinking it was out at 100 yards. Then I read a little closer and figured it was 50 yards. Still brave, but maybe not quite as brave .

I have had good luck with the TSX and TTSX bullets so, I agree, I wouldn't switch just to get pass throughs, but my thought is why not get both? A jelly making expanding bullet with a pass through for extra measure for a better chance for a blood trail in case of an oops. Sure, I could use a larger round, but it will be my 11 year old daughter shooting, and she is skinny as a rail, so lighter recoil is a concern. I'm just trying to see what a reasonable limit on range would be with a 10.5" barreled 300 Blackout to have a reasonable chance for a pass through shot. I think I'm going to use 1,900 fps at point of impact to be safe; probably around 75 yards. I'll verify with my chronograph this weekend. I'm not a member of the chronograph killers club - yet. I hope to keep it that way.

All, thanks for posting. Good info. Cross your fingers for a good hunt.

 

[jmorris]

I can’t say it was without any risk, view of target and sun heated bullet trap through the thermal I was zeroing. Also makes the 3 shot group seem more acceptable, with such poor resolution.



I just made sure I knew reasonably well where the bullets were going to be first. I do the same at the closer ranges chronographs seem to be killed. Most seem to forget the bullet comes out below the scope and is most pronounced at close range.

 

[CraigC]

I killed two does in a sitting a few years with with the Barnes 110gr. I got an exit on at least one of them. It's memorable because the bullet was found hung in the hair of the off side. This was with a handload out of a 16" Ruger Ranch.

 

[d31tc]

I killed two does in a sitting a few years with with the Barnes 110gr. I got an exit on at least one of them. It's memorable because the bullet was found hung in the hair of the off side. This was with a handload out of a 16" Ruger Ranch.

View attachment 1112156

What was your distance and any idea what your estimated muzzle velocity was?

 

[CraigC]

What was your distance and any idea what your estimated muzzle velocity was?

About 70yds. No idea on velocity. It was a max charge of H110 out of a 16" barrel.

 

[d31tc]

Just got back from the range.

110 gr TAC TX with 20.1 gr H110.

2,250 fps at the muzzle with my 10.5” barrel. That would be about 1,973 fps at 100 yards. From what I’m reading, that should work well.

 

[Geldarr]

I have no problem using that gun at closer ranges on deer because I can hit them in the neck...

Agreed. Neck shots with Barnes bullets in .300blk are great - the last one I shot was with the now-discontinued Remington Hog Hammer 130gr Barnes bullet, and it dropped her immediately with a neck shot at ~20 yards. Recovered the bullet from 2 inches into the clay at her feet (I was shooting from a tree stand up a hill).