Barnes 45gr. TSX in .223 Rem.

H

Hidenseekpro

Member
Does anyone have experience with the TSX bullets in this caliber/weight range? I'm currently shooting a bonded 64gr. at an estimated 2700 that is an absolute hammer (and pretty fur friendly), but the trajectory is not very forgiving at longer ranges.
The Ramshot published velocity for this bullet at their max load of x-terminator shows about 3,200 fps from a 16" barrel like my AR. I'm thinking the lighter bullet going much faster will extend my "point and click" range by a good margin.
Everything I've heard about the Barnes bullets suggests they should not splash and fail to penetrate. That's the only thing that makes me wary of going to a lighter bullet. I've seen some very fast, lightly constructed bullets do ugly things when encountering bone.
If I'm off-track or expecting too much of the little bullet, chime in and let me know before I spend nearly .50 cents apiece on these things.
Thanks
 
This past season I saw one coyote shot with a Barnes 55 gr TSX out of a 223 Rem. It was hit just behind the shoulder and it ran about 75 yards before it fell over. The exit hole was very small. You may get Full Metal Jacket performance with any 22 cal bullet that is designed to not come apart.

I have five rifles that shoot four different cartridges and none of them shoot TSX bullets as accurately as they shoot lead bullets.
 
I use the old Barnes 45gr XLC (the blue coated ones) in my 22Hornet for coyotes, and have used them in my 222mag. They will not splash and they will penetrate, usually leaving a small exit.

The TSX has been very accurate in every rifle/caliber I've tried them in, currently 4 .243's, 2 .270's, 30-06, 300wsm, 300win, 300 weatherby.

Give them a try, I think you'll be impressed.
 
A 55g Winchester loaded with 26.0-26.5g of Win 748 at 3100 fos is a hammer on yotes in a 223, and the vast majority of the time does not penetrate the yote with DRT results.

My 788 shot 5/8" groups with this load, killed a lot of yotes with that rifle and load, in fact two does also, DRT.
 
Thanks for the responses, gentlemen.
I think these might do the trick. The stuff I've got now does penetrate very well (always exits, even on frontal shots) and generally leaves a small exit. It behaves like a miniature big game bullet.
By switching to the much lighter Barnes, I'm hoping to get comparable terminal performance with more of a no-brainer trajectory out closer to 300.
 
My experience accuracy wise with barnes bullets has been nothing but great. I've used them in everything from a 55gr in my .220 Swift bullet to a 165 gr bullet in my .300 Wby. Have shot much better groups than most other bullets. Though they are on the expensive side...

john
 
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