Author Topic: Barnes bullets-what's the deal either way? (Read 491 times)

bluebayou · « **on:** October 21, 2005, 07:53:06 PM »

I keep reading all of these cryptic posts about the performance of Barnes X and TSX bullets. Reading the advertisements I gather that they are supposed to have lower chamber pressures but better weight retention. But what is all of the controversy or disagreement about? (I mean other than the premium vs regular bullet stuff)

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 22, 2005, 01:37:35 AM »

bluebayou, some of us shoot a lot of Barnes Bullets and we have great success, and we post our results. There are some that have not had very good accuracy with them. Then there are some guys that seem to think it is a waste of money to shoot premium bullets such as Barnes bullets. They think it is OK to prase standard bullets but not premium bullets.

I could care less what anyone shoots, I just know what works for me. All of this is suppose to be informative and some choose to turn it into a my bullet is better than yours. :?

Barnes bullets do work at lower pressures and retain almost 100 % of there weight. That is what I expect from them.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #2 on:** October 22, 2005, 03:00:17 AM »

Some of us have more money than we know what to do with........Some of us don't..........

ricciardelli · « **Reply #3 on:** October 22, 2005, 04:07:23 AM »

I could never justify spending 4 times as much for Barnes bullets (or any of the other "premium" stuff out there).

You hit the animal correctly with a round lead ball and it is going to die instantly.

Besides that, I have not found Barnes bullets worth all that $$$ when shooting groups, and the people I have talked to at Barnes have been arrogant.

Buckfever · « **Reply #4 on:** October 22, 2005, 05:21:16 AM »

Steve, I have watched your posts for sometime and you are the last guy I would ever take the other side of an argument on these matters. In fact I wish you wrote for Handloader ...... I just wanted to say I use different bullets in different guns and my Tikka T3 30-06 just loves 180gr Barnes triple shock almost match bullet like accuracy. Is a flike, I don't know but for that on gun I will use them and pay the price? I have never had a problem bullet with TBBC, Speer, Interlock and Nosler Partitions Core Lokt. For some strange reason this gun has a sweet spot for Barnes.
Buckfever

ricciardelli · « **Reply #5 on:** October 22, 2005, 07:44:40 AM »

Each gun is an individual unto itself.

I do not generally use "premium" bullets to work-up loads, unless the person I am doing them for tells me he ONLY wants to use such-and-such a bullet.

When I have used Barnes, I have always loaded Sierra bullets at the same time, just for my own interest. And quite honestly, the Sierras group tighter than any Barnes I have worked with.

Again, the combination of your rifle, loading technique, and loading components may indicate the Barnes bullet is for you.

If it works...GREAT!

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 23, 2005, 03:29:18 AM »

ricciardelli, I don't sit at the range and shoot Barnes bullets all day. I shot a lot of Hornady bullets for trigger time. I use my Barnes bullets for hunting. Once my gun is sighted in for the barnes bullets, I don't make any changes for the Hornady's. The guns I shoot Barnes bullets in are my Browning A-Bolt 243, Browning A-Bolt 338, Tikka 300 Win Mag, Encore 416 Rigby, CZ 550 416 Rigby and Ruger #1 in 45-70. Most of my hand guns I use hard cast bullets. In some of my rifles I use Nosler ballistic tips, like my 22-250 and my Shiloh Sharps I use lead bullets with black powder.

I just get better accuracy with the Barnes bullets, I don't see anything wrong with standard bullets,I just choose not to hunt with them in my big game rifles.