Long range aoudad

[LJH]

I've had bad results with some bullets but never the Barnes TSX. Really curious on the load, conditions etc. Always had great expansion and weight retention.

When I get home I will post up the load data as well as a link to some exit wounds. I have had great results with the TSX as well as the TTSX, but on occasion I have had them do really weird things.

 

[LJH]

I have had very mixed results with Barnes TSX as well asTTSX. Long story short, got a batch of TSX and had a few fail to expand. Theshots were good, velocity was good, even when smashing bones a few just flat outfailed to expand. I called Barnes and they suggested I try the TTSX instead. Idid, same thing happens sometimes. Then again, sometimes the opposite happens.On occasion they violently expand, as in blow up. Weird huh?

Ok here is my load data, Barnes TTSX 150 grain, H414 60.2 grain, Velocity 3045.

Due to the nastiness of some of the photos, I will just use links, clickity atyour own risk.

This one was the past weekend, bullet shattered the entrance shoulder, butstill no expansion. The exit wound is about the size of the bullet. Pretty longrange, but should have still expanded some. http://infosmash.com/Ranch/Hunting/Barnes/9.22.2012exit.jpg

This exit was about .40" taken at 75yards. Shot went in at left ear andexited the right side behind shoulder. Its hard to make out but a secondaryexit wound about 2" from the bullet exit is from vertebrae. One again moreexpansion was expected. http://infosmash.com/Ranch/Hunting/Barnes/pigdud.jpg

This was a 140 yard shot. Exit wound is very obvious. Shot entered about5" from exit wound on other side. (warning graphic) http://infosmash.com/Ranch/Hunting/Barnes/pigbomb2.jpg

This shot was right at 100 yards. Shot entered left eye and well, not so muchas an exit wound as an exit explosion at the other end. (Warning, exceptionallygraphic) http://infosmash.com/Ranch/Hunting/Barnes/Pigbomb.jpg

 

[Vaquero]

The only people that complain about long range kill shots are people that can't make a long range kill shot!

Nice shot.

Wrong.

To OP. Congrats.

sent from my tactical assault phone

 

[alexrex20]

How far did you have to trail that last pig?

 

[alexrex20]

Wrong.

Gonna cry about it?

 

[Vaquero]

Gonna cry about it?

Nope

sent from my tactical assault phone

 

[LJH]

How far did you have to trail that last pig?

About none. However half of him got away.

 

[Dawico]

I am surprised you are having issues with Barne's bullets. I thought they were one of the best out there. The price seems to reflect that.

 

[txgunner00]

Nice shooting!

 

[458Lott]

I have had very mixed results with Barnes TSX as well asTTSX. Long story short, got a batch of TSX and had a few fail to expand. Theshots were good, velocity was good, even when smashing bones a few just flat outfailed to expand. I called Barnes and they suggested I try the TTSX instead. Idid, same thing happens sometimes. Then again, sometimes the opposite happens.On occasion they violently expand, as in blow up. Weird huh?

Ok here is my load data, Barnes TTSX 150 grain, H414 60.2 grain, Velocity 3045.

Due to the nastiness of some of the photos, I will just use links, clickity atyour own risk.

This one was the past weekend, bullet shattered the entrance shoulder, butstill no expansion. The exit wound is about the size of the bullet. Pretty longrange, but should have still expanded some. http://infosmash.com/Ranch/Hunting/Barnes/9.22.2012exit.jpg

This exit was about .40" taken at 75yards. Shot went in at left ear andexited the right side behind shoulder. Its hard to make out but a secondaryexit wound about 2" from the bullet exit is from vertebrae. One again moreexpansion was expected. http://infosmash.com/Ranch/Hunting/Barnes/pigdud.jpg

This was a 140 yard shot. Exit wound is very obvious. Shot entered about5" from exit wound on other side. (warning graphic) http://infosmash.com/Ranch/Hunting/Barnes/pigbomb2.jpg

This shot was right at 100 yards. Shot entered left eye and well, not so muchas an exit wound as an exit explosion at the other end. (Warning, exceptionallygraphic) http://infosmash.com/Ranch/Hunting/Barnes/Pigbomb.jpg

LJH, again, nice shooting. Just out of curiousity, what are your expectations with expansion? I for one think its doing its job. I personally don't wan't a huge exit hole because that usually equates to bone and messed up meat. Exit holes can be misleading too as it is the wound canal that is important. I have noticed as well that under 100 yards, the TSX I've loaded behave more similar to my Banded solids (depending on where the animal gets shot). Under 100, velocity could cause more damage to the bullet but even then I've had good results.
I prefer the exit hole to be not too much bigger than the entry, I also take into consideration that in contact with bone like skull plates and vertebrae it explodes like hitting tannerite. I've popped bunches of hogs in the noggin with a TSX that pretty much takes off their head exactly like you pictured. The other pic with the exploded vertebrae... same type of results I've had. Those bullets introduce plenty of shock value to kill.
I know I'm using the TSX as a comparison but it is essentially the same bullet, just tipped.
Have you been lucky enough to recover any of the bullets? I recovered a .375 TSX 270g from a cape buffalo. Hit it in the brisket and recovered it in its pelvic area. It expanded fully, heck even had a petal sheared but the wound channel was still roughly 1". Dropped it where it stood. I can send you a pic of that bullet if you'd like.
Are you having to go after any of these animals? If not, I think its working out. Again, great shot LJH. Its been a while since I've gotten to shoot an Aoudad, you're gonna make me check the scene LOL

 

[LJH]

Thanks 458Lott, to answer the questions, I expect (would like controlled expansion in the order of 25% to 50% with at least 75% retention.
As to tracking the animals, about 1 in 25 have to be tracked, this is more of a product of the cedar than the animal actually going more than 100 yards.

As to recovered bullets I have found 3 in the last year. 1 looked like the ad, perfect four petal at 100% expansion. Another had minimal expansion, and the last looked like copper confetti.

But you have a point in the bullet does bring them down. Perhaps I should focus on that not the exit wound. Thanks for making me check my thinking.

 

[RstyShcklfrd]

Awesome. Awesome to the max.

 

[Glockster69]

This shot was right at 100 yards. Shot entered left eye and well, not so muchas an exit wound as an exit explosion at the other end. (Warning, exceptionallygraphic) http://infosmash.com/Ranch/Hunting/Barnes/Pigbomb.jpg

It slices, it dices ....
What are the chances that happens again?

 

[TexasVine]

Congrats. Nice Aoudad! Where did you hunt for it?

 

[LJH]

It slices, it dices ....
What are the chances that happens again?

It has happened before, and it will happen again. On pigs about 1 in 30 go boom/splat.

Congrats. Nice Aoudad! Where did you hunt for it?

We have a little ranch in eastern Edwards county, a bit west of Leakey.