I will probably be taking a winchester model 70 featherweight in 6.5x55 on an antelope hunt this fall. Most of the outfitters say to expect shots out to 400 yards. If i had enough, i would use the 140 gr berger hunting vld because of the ballistics and the terminal performance. I have some 100 grain nosler ballistic tips, and some 100 grain TTSX's, i would like to know if anyone had used the TTSX's on antelope and how they had performed. Thanks
TTSX for antelope
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SwaneeSR
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I have been loading TTSX's in my .30-06 for a couple years. My new deer rifle is a Tikka T3 in 6.5X55SE.
I have heard that a common mistake is to use too heavy of a bullet with the Barnes TTSX.
I plan on loading the 130gr TTSX for white tail next Fall.
Should someone be concerned about over-penetration on Antelope?
I have heard that a common mistake is to use too heavy of a bullet with the Barnes TTSX.
I plan on loading the 130gr TTSX for white tail next Fall.
Should someone be concerned about over-penetration on Antelope?
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Corn-Picker
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Velocity at 400 yards should be well over 2000 fps correct? IIRC you're going to want at least 2000 fps for proper expansion of the ttsx.
I've been very happy with the ttsx in my 308 -- in terms of both accuracy and terminal performance.
I've been very happy with the ttsx in my 308 -- in terms of both accuracy and terminal performance.
Right around 2000 fps at impact is what you need for adequate expansion. Loaded at 3100 fps at the muzzle that will get you to 400-450 yards before the speed is too slow. I think they will work, if you can get the MV that fast. If you're closer to 3000 fps at the muzzle I think 400 yards is too far for that bullet.
The 100 gr BT will still expand at slower speeds and might be a better long range option. The TTSX's greatest advantage is much better penetration on game normally considered borderline to large for the cartridge.
The 100 gr BT will still expand at slower speeds and might be a better long range option. The TTSX's greatest advantage is much better penetration on game normally considered borderline to large for the cartridge.
I use Barnes TTSX bullets in .375 H&H Mag, .338LM, .300 WM, .308 Win, .270 Win, 7mm-08 Rem, 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5x47 Lapua. I've yet to recover a TTSX bullet from mule deer that I've shot. A friend of mine uses a Kimber Mountain Ascent in .270 Win shooting a handload that I worked up for her. That load uses a 130gr TTSX and she's shot a bunch of deer without recovering a single bullet. My experince and her experience has been the same i.e. DRT and no bullet to show with 100% penetration. The only other bullet I've tried that compares is the Federal Trophy Copper factory load. The TSX bullets are more velocity sensitive than the TTSX bullets and a 120gr TTSX would be my choice for any 6.5 cal, but if you only have 100gr bullets you should be fine. The biggest challenge in killing an antelope is hitting it, so as long as your bullet isn't being blown around too much you should be fine. Antelope hunting out here in MT can be a challenge due to the wind, and the fact that it's hard to get close to them as the season progresses.
Corn-Picker and jmr40, did Barnes tell you that 2,000 fps was the minimal velocity for the TTSX? The 300 BLK 130gr VOR-TX load has a muzzle velocity of 2,100 fps and yet it's effective out past 200 yards on whitetail and similar.
Being light for caliber due to the lower density of copper, that's not a problem for most Barnes bullets.
Corn-Picker and jmr40, did Barnes tell you that 2,000 fps was the minimal velocity for the TTSX? The 300 BLK 130gr VOR-TX load has a muzzle velocity of 2,100 fps and yet it's effective out past 200 yards on whitetail and similar.
Being light for caliber due to the lower density of copper, that's not a problem for most Barnes bullets.
Tentwing
Member
I must confess that I know next to nothing about antelope, but Barnes TXS 100 gr out of my 25-06 will put down a whitetail with no problems.
Tentwing
Tentwing
Coal Dragger
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I filled my last antelope tag in South Dakota using my Cooper M52 in .280AI running 140gr TTSX bullets over a charge of 60.0gr of IMR4831. I did not chronograph this koad, but according to the manual should have been in the neighborhood of 3150-3200fps at the muzzle.
Once I finally got a good shot at a buck, the terminal performance was excellent. In fact it made quite a mess, not much meat on an antelope, and since my shot was at only about 200 yards the bullet still had a lot of velocity. Good expansion, lots of internal damage, large exit wound, no recovered bullet. I did not hold for a perfect shot, as I had missed a few opportunities earlier that day not holding high enough so I hedged towards a higher hold on the animal. Shot entered more to the top of the chest and behind the shoulder, hit upper ribs, top of lungs had damage, and the bullet pretty much destroyed a few vertebrae and spinal cord. He had been wounded by another hunter at some point, so I'm glad I was able to help him on his way. If he'd been healthy I never would have gotten a clean shot at him within 500 yards. Once season starts they get educated pretty quickly, and it's very tough to get close. At least for me it is, because I suck at hunting.
Once I finally got a good shot at a buck, the terminal performance was excellent. In fact it made quite a mess, not much meat on an antelope, and since my shot was at only about 200 yards the bullet still had a lot of velocity. Good expansion, lots of internal damage, large exit wound, no recovered bullet. I did not hold for a perfect shot, as I had missed a few opportunities earlier that day not holding high enough so I hedged towards a higher hold on the animal. Shot entered more to the top of the chest and behind the shoulder, hit upper ribs, top of lungs had damage, and the bullet pretty much destroyed a few vertebrae and spinal cord. He had been wounded by another hunter at some point, so I'm glad I was able to help him on his way. If he'd been healthy I never would have gotten a clean shot at him within 500 yards. Once season starts they get educated pretty quickly, and it's very tough to get close. At least for me it is, because I suck at hunting.
ExAgoradzo
Member
I use the 120gr and have no problems whatsoever reaching 300yards. I have not hunted antelope, and I agree with the post above re: not 'going too big' with the TTSX. So, 100gr ought to do just fine to keep the speed up. But, my insides tell be 120... Just because of the added BC and the heavier bullet to get the job done once it arrives. That's why I always only use those bullets out of this rifle, if I need something larger I go larger caliber. I don't own anything smaller (.223... but that doesn't count in this discussion).
Greg
Greg
Patocazador
Member
What's wrong with a plain old cup and core bullet? They've been killing antelope for over 70 years with them or however long cup and core bullets have been in existence.
I never had problems killing them with core-lokts.
I never had problems killing them with core-lokts.
SwaneeSR
Member
Well the OP has some Nossler BT's and TTSX's and is just wondering if anyone has any experience with them on antelope.
No lead-free conspiracy here.
Swanee
Kingcreek
Member
I'm with Patocazador. They aren't hard to kill. The Nosler ballistic tips work fine but I've killed quite a few with .243 winchester 100gr soft points. My longest shot with the .243 was 286 yards. Others I shot with a .270 and Nosler ballistic tips.
SwaneeSR
Member
It is more fun to handload with super fancy bullets.
Coal Dragger
member
To answer the OP's question more directly, yes the Barnes TTSX will work very well on antelope in my experience. However, unless you are dead set on using them, they are totally unnecessary for an animal as small as an antelope.
I used that load because I had already worked it up for deer season, and it shot really well in my rifle. Knowing I was going on vacation at the end of the season, and would be busy at work until deer season I had no desire to have to work up a different load and zero the rifle for antelope and then re-zero my deer load.
With that in mind, if you have time just use a Nosler BT or similar bullet on antelope. While a good load using the TTSX can make a rifle a one load for every purpose gun, they sure are expensive to utilize for that purpose.
I used that load because I had already worked it up for deer season, and it shot really well in my rifle. Knowing I was going on vacation at the end of the season, and would be busy at work until deer season I had no desire to have to work up a different load and zero the rifle for antelope and then re-zero my deer load.
With that in mind, if you have time just use a Nosler BT or similar bullet on antelope. While a good load using the TTSX can make a rifle a one load for every purpose gun, they sure are expensive to utilize for that purpose.
I'd go with the BT's myself. You don't need to worry much about penetration on antelope. They are an animal built to go fast and are lightly built to achieve that goal. You should use whatever bullet you are confident in, but they require no more bullet than a small white tail does.
Lloyd Smale
Member
Ill give that an amen!! good old cup and core bullets ARE THE PREMIUM bullets for deer and antelope sized animals.
25cschaefer
Member
My family has been killing speed goats for years with Nosler BTs, never seen one do anything but flop.
Captcurt
Member
Your Barnes will work , but isn't really necessary. I shot a Swede for several years as well as the 260 Rem. 120gr Speer HotCors worked great with both calibers. Even used a 130gr HotCor in 270 to take 2 pronghorn and 2 mulies out to 400yards. Worked swell.
A cup and core, or bonded bullet that shoots well in your rifle will get the job done.
A cup and core, or bonded bullet that shoots well in your rifle will get the job done.
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