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Barnes TSX/TTSX expansion velocity?

Boll Weevil said:
22-250. 50, 53, 55gr. Leaving the barrel somewhere between about 3860 - 3675 fps.
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1,800 fps is what a lot folks use as the standard, but numerous shooters who have done a good bit of testing suggest 2,000 -2,200 fps to guarantee expansion. At least one email from Barnes CS suggested 2,000+ fps as well.
 
It depends on what bullet you're using. The expansion velocities differ for different calibers. I've been using Barnes bullets almost exclusively for over a decade and have been very happy with them. They make smaller rounds perform and penetrate better than you'd think. I've put a 95 grain bullet through both shoulders of a 190lb hog on several occasions.
 
Deer Assassin said:
I have killed deer with 53 grain Barnes @ 3180 FPS It works great
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This has been really interesting to discover. There are cult-like followings of hunters who now use the 22-250 for deer and antelope. Apparently when bullet technology introduced bonded SPs, copper/alloy HPs, and plastic tipped solids that are grooved to initiate expansion and make petals the game was forever changed at those velocities.

Apparently at those speeds just behind the shoulder it turns vital organs to jello. Had no idea.
 
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All I know is that you can often go with a much lighter bullet with the 100% copper bullets,
and get terminal performance similar to a heavier bullet.

For example, in a .270 where you might normally use 130 gr plated lead bullets for deer,
you can go down to 110 gr 100% copper bullets, with maybe even better killing ability, plus the advantage of higher velocities (flatter trajectory).

With .30 cal, where might normally be using 150 gr to 180 gr plated lead,
you may be able to go down to 130 to 150 gr 100% copper with overall improved performance.

About the only downside I've seen/heard to using 100% copper is they cost more, and you may not be able to achieve as much accuracy. You may find your sub-MOA rifle will only achieve 1.25 MOA with copper, but then you may find copper accuracy as good or better with certain loads. All I know is it can by costly and time consumptive to experiment with different loads.

With one rifle in particular I have, I can achieve sub-3/4" MOA with a certain lead bullet setup I did hunt with. Going to 100% copper, about the best I've been able to achieve is 1 1/2" MOA. Never mind this is counter to what some are finding (increased accuracy) with certain guns and certain copper loads.

For me, the advantages of copper bullets are trumping the disadvantages, and I will be doing 100% of my rifle big-game hunting with copper bullets this year. Another aspect to this is that in some states, ONLY 100% copper bullets are legal for hunting, and this may be the future "trend" with rifle projectiles, just as it has been with shotgun pellets (going from lead to other metals).
 
The only copper bullet I have used, though purchased a few, is the Barnes 115 gr TAC-TX Blacktips for my 300BLK. Barnes loaded those to 2350 fps and they expanded well in their gelatin test.
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They perform real well on pigs up to at least 100 yards, haven't shot over that. I do have some of the bluetips and a a few offerings by LeHigh, but have yet to reload those yet.
 
For the better part of 15 years, I've shot Barnes 130 grain TSX in my .270 WSM Browning A-bolt. 3250 fps, accurate, and of course deadly. I've always said the Barnes TSX shoot through the deer and two to three small trees behind the deer before they start slowing down. They literally penetrate to no end. Basically never find a bullet to see how it performs, but you always have two holes. I have started mixing in 140 grain Accubonds at 3,100 fps and have been just as impressed with their accuracy and performance on whitetail deer......and small trees in the background. :)
 
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