My New Hunting Load! Barnes 100gr X

[JFettig]

I'm looking at the sierra software trying to make a decision whether to use these or speer TNT.

At 200 yards, they will have similar drop but the TNT will retain its energy quite a bit better, 680ft-lbs vs 500ft-lbs. At 300 yards the TNT should retain 530ft-lbs of energy.

Anyone have any wisdom to shed? Should I just keep it under 200 yards? From prone or a bench I can keep these in 1-1.5" @100 without much problem.

Jon

[320pf]

Originally Posted by JFettig

I'm looking at the sierra software trying to make a decision whether to use these or speer TNT.

At 200 yards, they will have similar drop but the TNT will retain its energy quite a bit better, 680ft-lbs vs 500ft-lbs. At 300 yards the TNT should retain 530ft-lbs of energy.

Anyone have any wisdom to shed? Should I just keep it under 200 yards? From prone or a bench I can keep these in 1-1.5" @100 without much problem.

Jon

JFetting:

I would go with the Speer 125 TNT. I has more energy to do work on the target than the 100 gr bullet and also have a higher sectional density so should penetrate better than the 100 gr bullet. The lighter jacket of the Speer will also expand at lower velocities. Also I think the Speer are quite a bit less expensive so you can practice at the range with them more.

Another option would be the Nosler Ballistic Tips. They are supposed to expand at velocities down to 1600 fps. You loads will be just be at about 1600 fps at 200 yrds.

You can check this here:


http://www.eskimo.com/~jbm/calculations/traj/traj.html

Good Luck and Good Hunting

320pf

[JFettig]

I'll be hunting friday through sunday. no more time to do any more load development. I have 30 rounds of Barnes X bullet and 30 of Speer TNT. I'll hopefully only be shooting 1 round though. Hopefully I'll be able to hit the range tomorrow or wed morning to make sure these two bullets have the same zero as sierra software seems to show.


Jon

[Bigfoot]

Barnes is coming out with a 110 TSX and a 110 TEC-X soon, probably the same bullet. The pressure relief from the grooves should help with velocity a bit and they might shoot better too. They probably won't open as well as your 100s with the tips so it should penetrate further. Midway has them listed as coming soon.

[Pitt300]

J
Not sure what you're hunting but that energy level is getting below recommended amounts for deer.
You run a greater risk of wounded/lost animals & we do not need that in today's enviroment.
If you want to hunt 300 yards get something designed for that; otherwise, do what the round was designed for & keep the distances shorter so your energy is there.
These comments don't refer to subsonic loads since you are killing by blood loss rather than kinetic energy w/supersonic loads.
Just my $0.02.
P

[JFettig]

I'm limiting myself to under 200 yards. I'm hunting deer in pistol/shotgun zones.

Jon

[JFettig]

Well, no deers to be found anywhere... saw two does, one at 150yds running and a yearling about 10ft darting all over. Didn't matter either way, I don't have a doe tag.

Jon

[kurtz]

Jon,

was wondering if you have made any of the tips for sale?.....I am interested in some if they are available....

Midway had the barnes on close-out special so I picked up a few boxes to try....really liked how they opened up in your tests, looked like they held together really well also....I wonder how much the tip helps the BC....should help extend the energy a good bit.....

I have shot some of the Sierra 110HP varminter at around 2,700fps, they kinda have the BC of a cinder-block but inside 100yds they are explosive on small game....the tips would probably help them out as well....

good luck with the deer hunt,

kurtz

[JFettig]

Kurz, if you'd like some, I can order some material with my next material order and make up some. not sure what I'd have to charge for them, I'd be out a few weeks though.

Kurz, for what its worth, I sighted in at 100 with my 125gr TNT @2000fps and they had the exact same point of impact at 100. I did not take the out to 200 yards but did take the 125 TNTs out to 200 and they had about an 8-9" drop.

The MV of the barnes was ~2100-2150fps.

Jon