Zak Smith
Member
What kind of terminal ballistics should I expect using a 120gr Barnes "X" bullet in .277" caliber with a muzzle velocity of about 2700 fps?
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Barnes "X" 120gr: What can it take?
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Preacherman
Member
I'm not sure that I understand the question. What sort of animal are you going to shoot? If a lighter animal, it should perform very well: if a heavier one, I'm not sure that this bullet weight would be appropriate. What sort of range will you be shooting over?
With answers to these questions, we could try to be more specific.
With answers to these questions, we could try to be more specific.
labgrade
Member In Memoriam
Zak,
The Wife shot straight through an antelope with her 7-08 using 120 Nosler BTs at about 325 yards. MV of 2600 fps.
I'd betcha the X would do a bit better.
Her elk load is a Barnes 140 XBT at 2500 & have no sweat thinking it'll do the job just fine.
The Wife shot straight through an antelope with her 7-08 using 120 Nosler BTs at about 325 yards. MV of 2600 fps.
I'd betcha the X would do a bit better.
Her elk load is a Barnes 140 XBT at 2500 & have no sweat thinking it'll do the job just fine.
I don't understand the question, either. If you're just looking for a downrange energy calculation, you can look it up in a reloading manual table if you know the ballistic coefficient of the bullet and the muzzle velocity. I think that Barnes recommends about 2000 fps as a minimum for expansion. I tried to look up the BC of a 120 gr. .277 cal. X bullet, and couldn't find anything in that caliber in 120 grains. It looks like they make a 7mm (.284) 120 grain X bullet.
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Zak Smith
Member
The question is, given I've got a 120gr .277" Barnes X launched at 2700fps, what is the largest animal it can cleanly kill with one shot in the boiler room. A comparison to .257 Roberts and .270 is natural (light bullets are commonly used) but those are travelling 300-500fps faster.
labgrade,
Thanks for the data points. That 140 XBT was from the 7-08?
WYO,
I am interested in the terminal ballistics, not downrange energy.
labgrade,
Thanks for the data points. That 140 XBT was from the 7-08?
WYO,
I am interested in the terminal ballistics, not downrange energy.
labgrade
Member In Memoriam
I'd have zero problems using that 120 X on antelope/mulies, Zak. & yes, from the Wife's 7-08, but she's yet to shoot anything with the 140 X bullet - just the 120 Nosler BT. Her antelope was all but a perfect broadside & the bullet didn't hit any major bones.
Likely your 120 X would also work fine within reasonable ranges & a clean broadside shot on elk. Seems a bit light to my thinking for anything as massive as an elk's shoulder, although a high shoulder shot/scapula isn't a killing shot, but does drop 'em right there usually.
I'd rather sacrifice some velocity for a heavier bullet when dealing with elk though.
I've personal experience only with the .30 cal 165 XBT at 2400 FPS MV & it's shot right through 3 elk so far - & one lengthwise - seems to live up to their claims of excellent pentration. Expansion, through following bullet path looked on par with the 30-06 180 GameKing I use in the weightier rifle. Never recovered an X, so can't comment there.
Likely your 120 X would also work fine within reasonable ranges & a clean broadside shot on elk. Seems a bit light to my thinking for anything as massive as an elk's shoulder, although a high shoulder shot/scapula isn't a killing shot, but does drop 'em right there usually.
I'd rather sacrifice some velocity for a heavier bullet when dealing with elk though.
I've personal experience only with the .30 cal 165 XBT at 2400 FPS MV & it's shot right through 3 elk so far - & one lengthwise - seems to live up to their claims of excellent pentration. Expansion, through following bullet path looked on par with the 30-06 180 GameKing I use in the weightier rifle. Never recovered an X, so can't comment there.
Chainsaw
Member
We have used the Barnes XBT bullet in 130 grain out of a single shot 30-30 rifle and have shot thru every whitetail we tried it on. The result is a dead animal. The Barnes X is truly remarkable, and like labgrade, we haven't recovered one yet.........Chainsaw
lycanthrope
Member
The Barnes X line will penetrate much further than a comparable copper jacketed bullet of the same weight. 140gr bullets in the .284 have went through moose when shot through a 7STW.
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I fully give my endorsment to the Barnes X products they penetrate like a diamond tipped well auger.
My question to Zak is this, if you're worried about penetration why not just go with a 140gr x and get the job done right the first time?
My question to Zak is this, if you're worried about penetration why not just go with a 140gr x and get the job done right the first time?
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Zak Smith
Member
Because it won't fit the magazine OAL.
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lycanthrope
Member
Zak,
The Barnes X is darn near armor piercing as long as it has speed left.
Go forth and fear not.
The Barnes X is darn near armor piercing as long as it has speed left.
Go forth and fear not.
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Zak Smith
Member
H&Hhunter,
The answer lies here:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=73379
Light, accurate, fits different size shooters, versatile for optics/sights (switch to Aimpoint, ACOG, conventional Leupold). For HP or 3Gun shooters (myself the latter), it has the most familiar rifle manual of arms and all that practice applies.
Finding 5-round mags for those uptight stages might be a challenge...
-z
The answer lies here:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=73379
Light, accurate, fits different size shooters, versatile for optics/sights (switch to Aimpoint, ACOG, conventional Leupold). For HP or 3Gun shooters (myself the latter), it has the most familiar rifle manual of arms and all that practice applies.
Finding 5-round mags for those uptight stages might be a challenge...
-z
labgrade
Member In Memoriam
I was just going to post about Zak's 6.8-project when he replied & the mystery's over.
A 120 Barnes should do everything you'd want it to - except that it's a way pricey bullet for just shooting paper, Zak.
Terminally though, Young Man, I would have zero problem with using this against anything "thin-skinned," & a bit bit beyond.
The XBT has one of the best BCs I've ever seen - one reason I choose that bullet for my Contender load - a way sweet & slick bullet that seems to perform better than it should and it tracks way flat to 300 yards.
Maybe we should talk privately about what you need this bullet to do, huh?
A 120 Barnes should do everything you'd want it to - except that it's a way pricey bullet for just shooting paper, Zak.
Terminally though, Young Man, I would have zero problem with using this against anything "thin-skinned," & a bit bit beyond.
The XBT has one of the best BCs I've ever seen - one reason I choose that bullet for my Contender load - a way sweet & slick bullet that seems to perform better than it should and it tracks way flat to 300 yards.
Maybe we should talk privately about what you need this bullet to do, huh?
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Zak Smith
Member
I'm going to use the 110gr VMAX's for paper. I might have to use the X's not the XBT's depending on bullet length. The X is already protruding into the case pretty far.
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I was going to comment that 2700fps seemed mighty slow for a bullet that light.
I wouldn't try it on elk, but you could certainly kill an antelope with it.
I wouldn't try it on elk, but you could certainly kill an antelope with it.
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