Bullet Performance Database

[Ridgewalker]

There was a noticeable difference between the NF and the other two, on impact performance and penetration

Sadly NF is folding. They have an excellent design, expensive, but “you get what you pay for!”

 

[Mike Van Horn]

Sadly NF is folding. They have an excellent design, expensive, but “you get what you pay for!”

I have been using Barnes bullets for years, was shooting the originals before the X bullet.
After this testing and what l have read here on AH and the advice from a friend in SA I stocked up with the NF bullets for this gun and a hunt to Africa. Yes it is to bad they are going out of business

 

[meigsbucks]

400 gr Barnes TSX and Banded Solid from a .416 Ruger. Taken from the buffalo in my avatar. I took this bull in Zimbabwe in 2013. The TSX was a frontal shot at about 90 yds. It passed thru the heart and ended up deep in the intestines. The bull went about 30 yds and was down on his side. Recovered weight was 399.6 gr. The solid was from an insurance shot that past thru his spine, out his brisket and lodged in his leg.

 

[Hunting Hitman]

I’m curious if anyone has used Hornady factory load ELD-X ammo on a PG safari and how it performed. I’m planning to use my Tikka .308 and Hornady ELD-X 178gr. Largest animal I intend to hunt is a waterbuck. It shoots incredibly accurate out of my rifle but I’m wondering how the bullet will hold up. Alternative I’m looking at is Nosler AB or PT. If this has already been discussed please let me know. Thanks!

My family and I shot 18 Plains game last year using a suppressed 300 win mag using 200 grain ELDX bullets. All animals except a poorly hit golden wildebeest we're 1 shot kills. I used that same set up to kill a 10 foot Brown Bear with 2 shots. ELDX bullets are my go to bullet for hunting everything smaller than Cape Buffalo.

 

[Ridgewalker]

I used that same set up to kill a 10 foot Brown Bear with 2 shots.

I’m amazed! But my confidence level needs a bigger bullet for brown bear. You obviously new right where to put that 200 gr ELDX! Good job!

 

[Hunting Hitman]

I’m amazed! But my confidence level needs a bigger bullet for brown bear. You obviously new right where to put that 200 gr ELDX! Good job!

 

[Ridgewalker]

One fine specimen! I’ve tried a couple of times for a Kodiak bear with only bad luck. Man I’m envious!

 

[JnB06]

My family and I shot 18 Plains game last year using a suppressed 300 win mag using 200 grain ELDX bullets. All animals except a poorly hit golden wildebeest we're 1 shot kills. I used that same set up to kill a 10 foot Brown Bear with 2 shots. ELDX bullets are my go to bullet for hunting everything smaller than Cape Buffalo.

Thanks for sharing your experience with ELD-X.

 

[Shootist43]

Ridgewalker I agree with you on the need for more rifle and bullet for brown bear. I've never hunted them. However a buddy of mine, an experienced hunter (a really good shot BTW) emptied a Sako 300 Win Mag into a Brown bear and never found it. His guide told him prior to the shot(s) that he didn't have enough gun. When he got back home, I bought that rifle with a Leupold Gold Ring scope on it for $700.00. He had zero confidence in that rifle and scope combination.

 

[WAB]

Have used .30 and .375 caliber rifles on brown bear. I prefer the larger caliber but don’t feel the need for a lot of speed. Just a big slug in the right spot. Many of my friends use .338’s and the newer .325 WSM to good effect. Now that I have one, I will probably use the 9.3x62 the next time I mess with Brown bear. Much nicer to carry than my .375 and packs plenty of punch.

 

[Gater]

Between my dad and I in SA last year, we recovered 2 bullets. Both were Barnes TTSX, 1 from my 35 Whelen and the other from his 375 H&H. We put 7, 175gr Barnes LRX from my 300WM @ 3,200 fps MV through 6 animals and never recovered any.

35 Whelen
200gr Barnes TTSX
2810 muzzle velocity
150 yards
Waterbuck
Straight into the chest
Bullet was found near scrotum with 1 pedal broken off.
Never weighed it, but I can tonight.

 

[Gater]

Here’s the bullet we recovered from my Dad’s rifle.

375 H&H
250gr Barnes TTSX
2763 MV
~60 yard shot
Head on Kudu
Bullet was recovered from the grass in its stomach

 

[Gater]

Since a lot of guys shoot .308 Barnes bullets, I thought some of you may be interested in some information I got from Barnes. They don’t publish this, and it was several emails back/forth to compile it all.

Note, these speed ranges represent reliable expansion, without blowing all the pedals off on the high end of the speed range. My 300WM pushes the 175 LRX at 3,200 and I think close range impacts likely blows the pedals off. I shot my Kudu quartering away from about 60 yards and it blew both shoulders apart as the close one was back when I shot and went through both shoulders. He immediately went down, but had a LOT of life left in him so he got another one through the chest from about 10 yards. He still fought for about 2 minutes, which shocked me. I know some animals just have more fight than others, but I’m guessing that by blowing the pedals off, the bullet didn’t dump much energy to create a large permanent wound channel.

I’m now setting up a new 300 WSM I just picked up and I was either going to run the 175 LRX or 165 TTSX, but I’d been toying with the idea of the Federal 180gr Trophy Bonded Tips. So after reading this entire thread, I ordered 4 boxes of them today. Hopefully they come off back order soon!

 

[ack]

A-Frame performed perfectly in Africa..No need for me to look further..Very accurate also..Wife took a giraffe with one shot...30/06 Tika 180 gr. A-Frame..Wild,not fenced game..

 

[Longwalker]

Type of bullet: North Fork cup point solid
Bullet speed: MV 2100 FPS
Distance of shot: 80M
Original weight: 400 gr.
Recovered weight: 400 gr.
Calibre: 450-400 3"
Species: Cape buffalo
Shot placement: this was a follow up shot from rear, buffalo was already mortally wounded and had spun away and starting to run. Bullet hit inside surface of right "ham", penetrated hindquarter ( missing the femur), through guts, rumen, and part of the right lung, lodged in ribcage on right side, after at least a meter and a half of penetration. There was a very noticeable "whomp' when the bullet hit, and visible reaction to the shot. buffalo ran only about five more steps. I was very impressed. Of course they quit making them!

 

[Ridgewalker]

North Fork cup point solid

Impressive! I should have bought some! Hopefully someone bought them out and will manufacture them again.

 

[Longwalker]

Type of bullet: Norma Oryx
Bullet speed: 2400 fps
Distance of shot: 180M
Original weight: 286 gr.
Recovered weight: 275gr.
Calibre: 9.3x62
Species: Giraffe
Shot placement: through chest, from right shoulder to the opposite shoulder blade, through both lungs and lodged against left shoulder blade. NO heavy bone was hit. Giraffe walked only about 20 steps after shot. Very pleased with results.

 

[Longwalker]

Type of bullet: Norma Oryx
Bullet speed: 2400 fps
Distance of shot: 160M
Original weight: 286 gr.
Recovered weight: 172gr.
Calibre: 9.3x62
Species: Kudu

Kudu was quartering towards me. Bullet hit near shoulder, broke humerus, continued straight on though both lungs and lodged under skin at back of rib cage. Bull ran only about 15-20 steps and dropped. Considering heavy bone was hit, I am satisfied with weight retained. Similar shot on a Gemsbok was placed about half a hands width farther back, from about 90M away. Bullet performed the same quick kill and exited.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Excellent comparison between the same bullet hitting all soft tissue (giraffe) and bone (kudu). Very interesting! Thanks.

 

[Mike Van Horn]

That's impressive bullet performance in all cases Longwalker