Barnes TSX, Tipped

[buckfever 1]

I have a good opportunity to work up the new tipped TSX from Barnes in my 30-06.  I will compare it to the regular TSX which the gun likes in a 180grn.  Then I will hunt the bullet for Deer this fall in Canada.  I should be able to garner some credibile information being that I have taken deer with the regular TSX both in MN and Canada.  I will post information as I get it, hopefully range testing this coming week.  Load will use H4350, Fed. 210 primer and Win. brass.  Loaded for accuracy not velocity, shooting from a treestand usually under 150 yards.  More to follow.      Buckfever

[buckfever 1]

Noticed while reloading this weekend that the shape of the tipped bullet is fatter up front than the non-tipped hollow point TSX.  I expect they needed room to get it to expand faster.  I think it may also expand a bit wider along with being earlier to expand and this will probably change the amount of penetration.  These facts may only present themselves after being used in the field.  If my speculation is correct it could be better for game the size of deer and may not be as good as the regular TSX for elk.  First things first I hope to shoot early this week to cross the first bridge accuracy.  No accuracy NO GO.

Buckfever

[Daniel]

I bought a box of 150 gr. TTSX's to use in my .300 Win Mag on southern whitetails. Hope they perform as well as the 168 gr. TSX. Like you, if they're not accurate I won't use 'em. I have a feeling they'll shoot just fine, based on my experience with the TSX in 4 different rifles.

Good luck to you.

[corbanzo]

Well, one of the reasons they made the tipped TSX is because of long range expansion issues with the TSX, that is why it is designed to expand better, at lower speeds at long ranges.  Since it still has all the weight retention properties of the TSX I doubt the tipped will have any penetration issues.  I found that the Tipped TSX showed better groups than the regular TSX's did, though both did have very good accuracy.  I am loading the tipped TSX in 168 grains for my -06 right now, and they are very accurate, current best group at .75"  And that is off of the ground using a bipod, not even with a rest. 

I am currently doing some test loads with the 7mm version in a 7RUM, even my first groups, without cleaning the gun weren't above 1.75"  After I get some real loads developed and the rifle broken in, I'm sure then will just get tighter.

Noticed while reloading this weekend that the shape of the tipped bullet is fatter up front than the non-tipped hollow point TSX.  I expect they needed room to get it to expand faster.  I think it may also expand a bit wider along with being earlier to expand and this will probably change the amount of penetration.  These facts may only present themselves after being used in the field.  If my speculation is correct it could be better for game the size of deer and may not be as good as the regular TSX for elk.  First things first I hope to shoot early this week to cross the first bridge accuracy.  No accuracy NO GO.

Buckfever

[buckfever 1]

Well went to the range today and the following information is what they did with my T3 Tikka.  The Tipped TSX shot exactly the same size of groups as the regular TSX.  My gun really liked the regular TSX so it is not a bad thing.  I am going back to the range and try some 165 grn. and some more tipped TSX.  I am fine with the accuracy for this rifle is a over 1" grouping gun.  I brought the T3 Tikka 6.5x55 along and with 120 grn Barnes TSX @ 200yds it shot a 3/4" group with 3 shots.  Everything comes easy for the 6.5x55 it is one wicked accurate firearm.  However it makes the 30-06 look bad even though a 1 1/4" group is not that bad for a hunting rifle.   More to follow.      Buckfever

[corbanzo]

But I guess I did switch powders when switching from the regular to the tipped, which is most likely what improved my accuracy.  I was using H414 and RL22 before, and now am mostly using IMR4007SSC.

[buckfever 1]

Back to the range today after copper cleaning with shooter's and then solvent.  Had some discolor on 3 patches then it was clean.  Finished with Hoppe's Elite.  Today the gun shot both tipped TSX, TSX in 180 just fine. Sub-Moa at 100 yds.  Also shot 165 grn TSX and it was also sub-moa but to a higher impact area.  The only thing I can get out of this is it doesn't take more than 30 shots to have enough Copper in the Barrel to affect accuracy.
Same great weather today almost no wind at all.  I took the 30-06 and put it beddy bye in the gun safe, next stop tree stand during hunting season. 
 
There still remains something for me to learn from using these bullets.  What do they do on a deer as to opening and damage.  After I see that I will be able to decide which ones to use for my deer hunting in Canada.