Author Topic: Barnes MRX bullets - accuracy?  (Read 1157 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Coyote Hunter

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2534
Barnes MRX bullets - accuracy?
« on: March 05, 2007, 02:41:31 PM »
Has anyone here tried Barnes' new MRX bullets and, if so, how was the accuracy compared to TSX?

My own experience has been that accuracy suffers somewhat but that they are still plenty good enough for hunting purposes.

Not deterred, though.  Bought a box of .308/165g MRX bullets specifically to try in the 1984 Ruger .30-06 I picked up a couple months ago.  Will run some through the Remington .308 Win and will probably try them in the .300 Win, too.
Coyote Hunter
NRA, GOA, DAD - and I VOTE!

Offline Coyote Hunter

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2534
Re: Barnes MRX bullets - accuracy?
« Reply #1 on: March 07, 2007, 07:05:11 AM »

32 reads and no responses.

Is no one here is using MRX's?  I'll give you my thoughts on them. 

The 'X' bullets had a lot of promise and worked very well for some.  Others had difficulty getting good groups, some had problems with ciopper fouling, some had problems with apparent failures to expand. 

Then came the blue coated XLC bullets.  These were the first I tried.  Fouling did not seem to be a problem and accuracy was very good – a three shot group would usually print under 1”, often with two of the holes touching.  My one experience on big game, a buck antelope at 297 yards, was disappointing even though I was shooting 7mm 160g XLC’s at Rem Mag speeds.  The first shot was through the lungs and resulted in a very sick antelope, but he stayed on his feet, head down, coughing up blood.  A second shot through the lungs caused him to lay down but he kept his head up as if sunning himself.  A third to the heart some 20 minutes later (after I had worked my way around the hill for a 100 yard shot) finally put him out of his misery.  I had just purchased some cheap ($12/box) cannelured XLC’s from Midway (a return from a manufacturer) and decided they would all be practice bullets.

The TSX’s ended concerns (minor as they were) about build-up of the blue coating in the barrel, reduced copper fouling due to the grooves (which also allowed enhanced velocity), provided great accuracy for a larger percentage of people, and had a redesigned cavity to enhance the reliability of expansion.  In my rifles they proved extremely accurate.  (.257 Roberts, 7mm Mag, .308 win, .300 win Mag – didn’t have the .30-06 until recently).  Expansion was still a concern in my case, however, due to the performance of the XLC’s.

Now we have the MRX which is basically a TSX with a Delrin tip and a tungsten rear core. The tip assures reliable expansion and the heavier-than-lead tungsten core helps keep bullet weight up and length down.  In my tests accuracy has been very good but not as good as the TSX’s.  A 180g MRX launched at 3100fps into water jugs expanded well but one petal broke off.  The bullet penetrated 7 water jugs.   I consider that pretty good performance.  I suspect further load development will enhance the accuracy somewhat.   As to suitability for game, I have no reservations like I do even with the TSX.  Near or far, this bullet should hold together and get the job done.

At least that’s my opinion, and it ain’t likely to change.
Coyote Hunter
NRA, GOA, DAD - and I VOTE!

Offline quickdtoo

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (149)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 43301
  • Gender: Male
Re: Barnes MRX bullets - accuracy?
« Reply #2 on: March 07, 2007, 07:11:11 AM »
I have no opinion on the MRX, but I do appreciate your taking the time to share yours on all of the Barnes bullets, I shoot the TSX in a couple rifles, they're very accurate, but I have no on game experience with them yet.

Thanks, ;)

Tim
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline Redhawk1

  • Life time NRA Supporter.
  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (78)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10748
  • Gender: Male
Re: Barnes MRX bullets - accuracy?
« Reply #3 on: March 07, 2007, 08:37:09 AM »
Coyote Hunter , I have not tried them yet, I am still shooting my supply of  Barnes X, XLC and TSX Bullets. Some of the bullets I will not switch, I get great accuracy and don't think I could improve on them. Also the performance of the bullets I already use is very good on game. I will try the MRX on a new round I get or if one is not giving me good accuracy.
If  you're going to make a hole, make it a big one.
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you,
Jesus Christ and the American G. I.
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom

Endowment Life Member of the NRA
Life Member NA

Offline Coyote Hunter

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2534
Re: Barnes MRX bullets - accuracy?
« Reply #4 on: March 10, 2007, 04:36:14 AM »
Grumulkin  -

Your post was more about cost than MRX accuracy so I've split it off to its own thread titles "Premium Bullets - too expensive?"

You will find it here:

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,113975.0.html

The thread title was chosen to be more inclusive - as the question of cost is pertinent to all premium bullets rather than just the MRX (which are less than 1/3 as expensive as some bullets I have shot).
 
 
Coyote Hunter
NRA, GOA, DAD - and I VOTE!