Hunting & Fishing Barnes TSX vs. Hornady GMX

[jayd4wg]

posting this in the hunting forum b/c i'm only interested in the difference between the two as it applies to downrange terminal ballistics on deer sized animals.

I'm preparing for a hunt in south dakota next fall and i have little opportunity to shoot in steady wind so practicing my "dope" is difficult at best. most of my shooting places have variable swirling wind and that's just not real world enough for me.

I currently have a couple boxes of hornady 150gr interbonds (3031) loaded up and they are consistent 1/2 moa sitting on 44.2gr RL15 @ 2670 fps and 44.5gr varget at 2700 fps average. I want a heavier slug and was toying with either the TSX or the GMX in the 165gr weight. I'm worried that the GMX may not be going fast enough out of my .308 at it's accuracy node to properly expand at 400+ yards.

Am I just chasing my tail here? SHould I stick with the 150gr interbond and be done with it? Anyone have a results story for the interbond at further distance where impact velocity will be sub-2500fps?

 

[Grand]

Re: Barnes TSX vs. Hornady GMX

I shoot all copper because that's what condors like. The all copper bullets need to be driver faster to expand reliably at distance. For that reason, I usually drop down a weight when running copper.
I prefer lead for accuracy, but occasionally get all copper to shoot well. On the Barnes front, I get consistently better accuracy from the Tipped TSX over the TSX, plus the TTSX has a higher B.C. Tried the 7mm 139g GMX and found no joy.

You might run ballistics on the 130g TTSX for comparison. Should be able to push a 130g to 3100 fps with no trouble.

If you a stuck on heavies, run lead core for reliable expansion.

http://www.barnesbullets.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/308WinWeb.pdf

 

[stickboy]

Re: Barnes TSX vs. Hornady GMX

I shoot copper in my 264 and 300 wby. Tried to get a load in my 22-250 to shoot, but no luck. I shoot both tipped and non-tipped TSX's. They have performed very well to date for me. I do like Hndy but have not tried a hunting bullet from them in some time.

Where in SD? I hunt the west half from time to time.

Good luck.

 

[cracker4418]

Re: Barnes TSX vs. Hornady GMX

Between the two I would choose the TSX, its softer then the GMX. At 300+ yards a softer round would be more adequate. I Like NP, NBT or SST.

 

[ChadTRG42]

Re: Barnes TSX vs. Hornady GMX

The new Hornady GMX bullet is made from guilding metal, not solid copper like the TSX. I have noticed much less fouling with the GMX than the Barnes bullets. If you run the Barnes in a fast caliber (magnum), then you will have copper fouling in as little as 15-20 rounds. I have had good accuracy with the GMX, as well as the Barnes. I now prefer the GMX over the Barnes. But there are more options in the Barnes currently. Also, the GMX has 5 or 6 petals once the bullet expands, vs 4 petals on the TSX.

 

[Topgun823]

Re: Barnes TSX vs. Hornady GMX

For the rest of the guys that don't handload, like myself, how has the accuracy been with the factory Hornady 165gr GMW's been with your rifles? My Surgeon .308, that normally shoots 1/4-1/2moa with 168 Federal SMK, shoots 2-2 1/2moa with the GMX's.

 

[Topgun823]

Re: Barnes TSX vs. Hornady GMX

Sorry! 165gr GMX not GMW

 

[ChadTRG42]

Re: Barnes TSX vs. Hornady GMX

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: D Constance</div><div class="ubbcode-body">For the rest of the guys that don't handload, like myself, how has the accuracy been with the factory Hornady 165gr GMW's been with your rifles? My Surgeon .308, that normally shoots 1/4-1/2moa with 168 Federal SMK, shoots 2-2 1/2moa with the GMX's. </div></div>
The accuracy has to do with the load used in the factory ammunition, not the bullet itself. The bullet is very accurate, once a good load is found with <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">your</span></span> rifle.

 

[kurt]

Re: Barnes TSX vs. Hornady GMX

Roll with the 150 interbonds. I shot 3 sd whitetails and 2 muleys last year and i just used the ct silver tip 150 grain and not a step out of any of them.

 

[jeffbird]

Re: Barnes TSX vs. Hornady GMX

fwiw-
I just picked up a lightly used R700 30-06 and some factory ammo for a trip I'm taking to Canada, where I did not want to take my regular rifles or handloads.

This afternoon, I tested 5 different factory loads in it.

Federal 165 Partitions, which yielded 6" groups at 200;

Federal 165 Barnes TSX, which were just under 1" at 100, and 2" at 200 yards;

Federal 180 Barnes, which are 1 moa at 100 and well under 1 MOA at 200.

Hornady SuperPerformance 165 GMX which were 3/4" at 100, but then 5" at 200; and,

Hornady SuperPerformance 150 GMX of which I only fired 2 rounds because they showed very clear signs of excessive pressure - very stiff bolt lift, smeared bases, primer cratering, and stretched brass.

Bottom line, the Federal 165 & 180 Barnes. The 180's showed the best results at 100 and 200 yards, which is as far as I tested or will be shooting on this hunt.

I cleaned between changes of ammo with Barnes copper solvent which is very strong and fast. None of them left much fouling except for the 150 GMX which left heavy fouling. The 165 GMX's (2940 fps advertised) did not leave the fouling like the 150's (3080 fps advertised).

 

[jayd4wg]

Re: Barnes TSX vs. Hornady GMX

I'll always keep the interbonds in the lineup...the tinkering side of me wants to play around a bit. Will probably try a slightly lower weight GMX then. Rifle seems to favor lighter bullets anyway...it simply won't stabilize a 180gr...i have tried a bunch of different factory loads and it never grouped better than 2" at 50 yards. I"m not willing to play with that at all, not when the 150's will do half inch or better.

Stickboy, my family from mom's side lives up there. One of them ranches near Hermosa and has access to alot of land in the reservation. He "married into the family" so to speak. Him squaw very pretty, squaw's father approved of uncle and they now ranch cattle on reservation land. I think he's doing pretty good

 

[Modoc]

Re: Barnes TSX vs. Hornady GMX

Grand and Stick,

How is your down range performance <200 yds? SWMBO just won a guided pig hunt in Monterey County and I need to load up for her. I will be loading for a '50's vintage Savage 99 in 300 Savage. Leaning towards the Barnes right now, but not finding much (any) data for tbe bullets in this cartridge. My other manuals say that it is a bit milder than 308 Win with the same bullet/powder combos.

Thank You,

 

[0481]

Re: Barnes TSX vs. Hornady GMX

I am shooting the ttsx 130gr In .308 pushing them to 3178 fps.
Win brass
52 gr varget
Fed 210m
Moa at distance.

 

[dogmessiah]

Re: Barnes TSX vs. Hornady GMX

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JasonB</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Am I just chasing my tail here? SHould I stick with the 150gr interbond and be done with it? Anyone have a results story for the interbond at further distance where impact velocity will be sub-2500fps? </div></div>
If it were me I would stick with the 150's. I haven't used them at that distance, but have used 6mm 100gr interlocks out of a 243 at a little over 300 yards on some fairly large Missouri whitetail. You don't need one of the "premium" bullets for deer. They just aren't that tough by comparison to the larger species like elk. Your 308 already a bigger gun than you need. No need for a premium bullet. Really any big game hunting bullet will work on deer out of a 308 as long as you have halfway decent shot placement. I would spend more time practicing with your interbond load rather than working up a new one.

 

[DirtyDave]

Re: Barnes TSX vs. Hornady GMX

Dont waste your time/money on copper bullets unless you HAVE TO like us guys in Ca that cant use lead in a large portion of the state. There is nothing wrong with Lead bullets. Those Interbonds will knock the crap out of deer and if they already shoot well and you have your dope figured out, go with it. If it aint broke, dont fix it.
But if you must tinker with it, I would stick with lead, but go with something that will buck the wind a bit better. If you like Hornady (I do), then try the 165gr SST Boat tail or the 180gr SST Boat tail.

 

[JDB]

Re: Barnes TSX vs. Hornady GMX

How does the Nosler eTIP stack up?