TSX or TTSX for Elk ?

[ZeroJunk]

284 diameter at about 3000 FPS muzzle velocity in 150 grain weight.

Just curious what people think. Thanks

 

[H&Hhunter]

If you are married to the 150 gr weight that is about as solid a choice for elk in a .284 diameter as you can get. I prefer something a bit heavier especially in a small caliber like the .284. I like something in the 160 or up weight in a 7MM. the 50 or 80 FPS lost in inconsequential if you can hit it range with a 150 you can do it with a 160 or better yet a 175. The difference in hold over is mere inches. The difference in penetration (read hitting heavy bone) might save to day.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I wouldn't think it would matter as far as bullet performance. They both seem to expand well and retain nearly 100% of their weight. The deciding factor I guess would be the range you plan on shooting them at. The tipped bullet should be better at longer ranges. I think that's the point anyway.

 

[ZeroJunk]

If you are married to the 150 gr weight

Not really married to it. I killed an elk with a 160 grain Nosler Partition last trip in there. But, they only chronograph 2800 or so out of my 280 Ackley being straight out of the book.

I have worked up loads up to 3100 FPS using 150 grain bullets.

I was thinking with all the hype over the performance of the TSX I could just go back to 150's and get a little better trajectory.

I suspect I could work up to 3000 FPS or so with the 160's and it would work better. I have just been too lazy to do it.

 

[jmr40]

With conventional bullets I'd agree that 160 gr bullets would be my choice. I've not yet shot any game with the Barnes bullets but have been working on load development. Also in conversing with others who have used them the word I'm getting is that the TTSX is definately the bullet you want in .30 cal and smaller. The larger the diameter, the better choice the TSX looks.

As to bullet weight. All of the Barnes bullets are going to expand and give penetration as long as you hit the game at around 2000 fps or faster. The general rule is to drop down 1 or 2 bullet weights and get impact speeds up as high as possible. You just don't need the heavier bullets in a TSX. A 150 or even 140 will outpenetrate heavier bullets as long as impact velocity is fast enough. Much slower and you are better off with conventional bullets.

This is why the Barnes bullets may not be the best choice for longer range shooting. Conventional bullets will still expand at longer ranges where the solid copper bullets are too slow to be effective. Spend some time looking at load data and figure out how far out you can keep speed up to 2000 fps, and that is the limit for these bullets

 

[hardluk1]

Zero go to a lighter weight barnes, 140gr is great out 400 yards and you should be able to push them over 3150. I have only shot one mule deer and it weighted 202lb gutted and this was not a great shot but last hour to hunt on the last day. Mully was shoot from behind, Angled up hill and the bullet went in midway in the right hip, broke the ball in the hip joint, blowed up the right backstrap, broke 5 inch of back bone, deflect down a bit hit and broke out 3 ribs and moved inside to pass thru the outter side of right lung, went thru the front shoulder blade and stopped under the skin 51" later. That bullet was chrony's at 3240fps and the mully was shot at 110 yards. Yes I know , not a good shot but I took it . 5 day and no game down with 1 hour left. Needless to say the deer dropped straight down. Butcher we were set up with asked what the blank had I used.

I have change to hornady SST for all thin skined hunting.

 

[H&Hhunter]

Gentlemen,

Lighter and faster is the wrong recipe for big bull elk especially at long range. Any 7mm is a minimal elk round to start with. Add long range and light bullets and you are begging for a wounded critter.

I've seen WAY to many elk wounded at long range with a 7MM. keep your shots reasonable say 300 yards and under and a 7MM/.280 whatever is just fine for elk, people get into trouble when they start stretching the range on these small bores on elk.

 

[GJgo]

I think which ever shoots better in your gun is fine, in my testing one usually does. Just remember to keep them at least .050" off the lands. I usually end up at either .050" or .075" jump. I only meat hunt with a Barnes when I can help it.

Hunting buddy of mine annually puts elk in the freezer with a 7mm-08 pushing a 140gr TSX at ~2700 FPS, keeps the shots under 250 yds or so & has anchored bulls & cows w/o tracking. The key is to put 'em in the boiler room.

I've also started doing this to my TSX & it has resulted in more consistent expansion on game.

Side note, 3200+ fps I've had TSX shed petals so I try to keep them in the 2700-3100 fps range. Pick a weight that gets you in there.

 

[Pit4Brains]

The key is to put 'em in the boiler room. /QUOTE]

Amen.

Mully was shoot from behind, Angled up hill and the bullet went in midway in the right hip, broke the ball in the hip joint, blowed up the right backstrap, broke 5 inch of back bone, deflect down a bit hit and broke out 3 ribs and moved inside to pass thru the outter side of right lung, went thru the front shoulder blade and stopped under the skin 51" later.

Sounds like you just missed the ol' Texas gut shot!

 

[Andrew Leigh]

Personally I prefer slower and heavier. The faster the bullet generally the more meat damage, unless we are doing head shots here which I would doubt.

A positive with the Barnes is that it allows one to take more marginal shots, like when the animals is quartering away as it will break bone and penetrate.

 

[interlock]

Personally I prefer slower and heavier. The faster the bullet generally the more meat damage, unless we are doing head shots here which I would doubt.

A positive with the Barnes is that it allows one to take more marginal shots, like when the animals is quartering away as it will break bone and penetrate.

dont take marginal shots, whatever bullet you are using dont do it.

heavier bullets are longer... longer bullets have higher sectional density... they penetrate deeply and are less prone to deflection on bone. bonded or locked type stong bullets are best if you want it to keep together.

I regularly shoot big lowland red deer. They are as big as your elk. shoot within about 200 yards. take your time and put the bullet though the pocket.

 

[One_Jackal]

The thing I don't like about small bullets and large game is all lead bullets fragment some. At some point you don't have enough bullet to keep penetrating after hitting a bone. For me having a large enough bullet to break both shoulder blades is the most important factor. I don't care if the bullet is going 3100 FPS or 2700 FPS. Other than antelope, I have always been able to get close to the game before shooting.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

The thing I don't like about small bullets and large game is all lead bullets fragment some. At some point you don't have enough bullet to keep penetrating after hitting a bone. For me having a large enough bullet to break both shoulder blades is the most important factor.

The bullets in questions are all copper. There is no lead to shed. They retain almost 100% of their weight.

 

[Kachok]

TSX is a great bullet in either form, both expand fast and drive deep, but I would still opt for the heaviest TSX my barrel would stabalize. Heavier bullets just do more damage deeper in the wound tract, and that is the name of the game on large animals.
Partitions, A-Frames, Weldcores, Trophy bonded bear claws, and Accubonds are really good choices as well if you don't live in a "lead free" zone.