Barnes X Bullet

I've tried them on both and they seem to preform very well.I shot one deer with a 150 x bullet at about 100yds and it put it down with one shot to the vitals.What was weird is that it acted like a ballistic tip because it turned the chest cavity into one big bowl of jelly.I've only seen a ballictic tip do that.I was impressed that it hit a rib and didnt come apart. The bullets are made not to far from where I live and I went and toured the factory its a pretty neat little operation. I also shoot the 85XLC bullets in my 6-284 I use it for deer and antelope. I haven't taken anything with taht yet but the accuracy is pretty good.I also have several friend who swear by the Barnes X bullet.
 
Got the hunting jones & checkin' up on some past posts ....

I use the Barnes XBT .30 cal, 165 gr in .308 Win & .309 JDJ. Both right at (only) 2400 fps.

Shot one spike elk (about 350+ lbs) that a member of my hunting party wounded. After a lengthy trailing, I jumped him at about 15 yds & since he was about to drop over into a canyon (& already lung-shot too boot) I took the only shot I had - right through the right ham. Broke throught the pelvis, richo'd off of & broke two ribs & exited through the sternum - complete penetration. He dropped on the spot.

Three-by mulie (about 130 lbs) broadside at about 35 yds. Just a tad high through both lungs. Complete penetration. Deer hunched up & ran. Tracked immediately (after a smoke) - found dead about 100 yds away.

The deer would've been DOA with anything .243 on up w/most any bullet. Just didn't matter for that shot, but the penetration on the elk was amazing. 15 yards, sure, but 5 FEET of elk & that after breaking through the pelvis ... I'm sold.

BTW, no bullet particles, etc. along wound channel which indicated any bullet separation whatsoever ...

I only use the Barnes for these two shooters (oh, & The Wife's 7-08) soley because of the somewhat "lower than standard velocity." Pricey bullets.
 
I haven't used them in several years but I think they're great - I'm shooting a .35 now and last time I looked they don't offer much in that caliber.
One detail that most people overlook is that since they're lighter than a traditional lead core bullet, they are long for their weight. In effect, you get a longer bearing surface and better aerodynamics - it's almost like you get to shoot a heavier bullet without any loss of velocity.
Sometimes there really is a free lunch!
 
Recenlty purchased a box of 120's for a long range deer round in my 7mag. I have read they have a tendency to foul a barrel, so my plan is to moly coat.
 
Chris - check the reloading book for the optimum seating depth. These bullets like a big (0.10) jump into the rifiling. Some of the sub .338 rifles like them, some don't. I had one that hated them (.30-06) and two that loved them.

Giz
 
Part of that "free lunch" is a better BC (as mentioned) but a downside is since they are longer for any given weight (relative to lead-core bullets), for the heavier bullets, you may require a faster twist to stabilize 'em properly.

100 yds is fine for most load devlopment but it's always a good idea to shoot a few at longer ranges to make sure things are staying put ....
 
I shoot a 338/06 and reload useing only barnes bullets . it and they perform well on paper, I finally shot a whitetail with it last season and expansion was ideal .the buck walked 9 yards then folded up in a heap, heart lung shot at approx 95 yds
 
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