Anyone running this out of a 6mm variant? I've got some I'm planning to test in my 26' .243Win barrel - interested in results. Cheers, BP
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Hunting & Fishing 80gr Barnes ttsx
- Thread starter BallisticPrimate
- Start date
Run them out of an 18” 243 WIN with a very mild charge of varget. They’re right at 2850 FPS at the muzzle so it’s like shooting a 22 with a can. They can definitely be pushed faster out of that gun but I found a real accurate node so I stuck with it.
As the Barnes bullets are pretty binary in performance, either they open (1800 FPS+) or they don’t (<1800 FPS), I was intrigued for their usage in a shorter barreled 243 where I’d be losing some velocity.
Ive found that shot placement is really really important with that bullet. I’ve had a lot of pass thrus on central Texas whitetails. In fact, I shot a cull buck at 120 yards a few years back who ran off like nothing happened. He stopped 65 yards away and got a follow up on the neck/skull junction for his trouble which put him down.
When I cracked him open, he had four of the prettiest holes in his lungs about the diameter of my thumb. One tiny ice pick entrance hole in the hide, the four perfect holes in his lungs, and a similar sized exit hole.
I got kind of lukewarm on the TTSX in sub 30 cal bullets after that. I keep them loaded for pigs now but my whitetail load is back at the 90 gr Nosler ballistic tip I started hunting with way back when.
TL;DR - it’s capable of great accuracy loaded .050” off the lands and it opens like they claim. It punches through and through which leads to sub par wounding in thin skinned central Texas whitetail compared to a more expansion centric bullet like the ballistic tip. I still use it for pigs because I know it will keep driving through muscle, bone, and fat. If I’m hunting whitetail with it, my shots are aimed at the head.
As the Barnes bullets are pretty binary in performance, either they open (1800 FPS+) or they don’t (<1800 FPS), I was intrigued for their usage in a shorter barreled 243 where I’d be losing some velocity.
Ive found that shot placement is really really important with that bullet. I’ve had a lot of pass thrus on central Texas whitetails. In fact, I shot a cull buck at 120 yards a few years back who ran off like nothing happened. He stopped 65 yards away and got a follow up on the neck/skull junction for his trouble which put him down.
When I cracked him open, he had four of the prettiest holes in his lungs about the diameter of my thumb. One tiny ice pick entrance hole in the hide, the four perfect holes in his lungs, and a similar sized exit hole.
I got kind of lukewarm on the TTSX in sub 30 cal bullets after that. I keep them loaded for pigs now but my whitetail load is back at the 90 gr Nosler ballistic tip I started hunting with way back when.
TL;DR - it’s capable of great accuracy loaded .050” off the lands and it opens like they claim. It punches through and through which leads to sub par wounding in thin skinned central Texas whitetail compared to a more expansion centric bullet like the ballistic tip. I still use it for pigs because I know it will keep driving through muscle, bone, and fat. If I’m hunting whitetail with it, my shots are aimed at the head.
I had a different experience with the 80 grain ttsx in a 25-06. 3660 fps. Shot three bucks in one year right behind the shoulder. Blood trail was not good and they ran a long way. 2 of the 3 were recovered days later. 3rd never was found. Shots were all good. Just no blood. I have since switched to Sierra Gamekings and all deer die within sight. I would never go back to Barnes.
Interesting that there is so much varied opinion/performance re the 80gr TTSX. I've used 130gr TTSX's from my .308 and they have performed extremely well.
Had very good results with expansion and pass through on lots of deer with TTSX out of a .243. This year I tried 77 gr Cutting Edge, also a copper bullet, with similar results on a mule deer doe. BC is significantly better though a bit more expensive.
