Barnes 115 grain Tac-TX

[Bobby Tomek]

I've taken a handful of animals with this bullet using my 6.5 BRM but decided I wanted to give it a whirl in my 24" 6.5 Bullberry. A few months ago I put together some test loads, and today -- in between periods of light drizzle -- I finally got around to trying them.

Loaded in reformed .375 Win brass and propelled by a compressed charge of SW Precision powder, the accuracy node occurred at 2615 fps (uncorrected at 15 feet), though none of the test rounds could be called inaccurate and none exceeded 0.75 MOA. The first 3-shot, 100 yard group with the 2615 fps load went 0.45 inch c-t-c, and the second was even better at 0.39. I normally do the groups at 200 yards, but with fine mist occasionally in the air, I kept it to 100. Everything looked good from a perspective of pressure, etc., but with those numbers I, would not pursue anything more in the Contender format.

Anyway, I went into my shop and proceeded to put together a few more on that particular load.

I then put three of them into test medium at 200 yards. An estimated 10 feet from impact (to keep water off of the chronograph), the velocities read 2209, 2213 and 2205 fps. The media was kept simple: a single gallon jug of water followed by wet newsprint. Measured at their widest points, the three averaged .521 in width -- pretty decent in my books. The 100 grain TTSX at similar impact speeds does not open as widely, but the 115 grain Tac-TX was designed around the speeds of the Grendel. I'd prefer they would give full depth-of-cavity expansion like the Tac-TX bullets in .30 caliber do because an even wider mushroom would certainly increase their effectiveness on game, but that's just wishful thinking.

Unless it's a hard quartering presentation, I doubt I'll recover one from an average-sized hog. I didn't recover any from game with the 24" BRM and its similar MV (2585 fps). In the BRM, I didn't even experiment with loads. I took my recipe for the 123 grain SST that I was shooting at the time and simply substituted the 115 grain Tac-TX. I don't recall the exact numbers, but group size in that barrel was impressive as well.

I still can take a spike/unbranched buck this season, and maybe that new Bullberry load will get used.

[sunnysmarine]

Bobby, Why the Bullberry over the BRM

[Bobby Tomek]

Sunny-

I just happened to have more brass that was empty for the Bullberry. Most of my BRM is loaded up.

They are peas in a pod from a ballistics standpoint.

[sunnysmarine]

You know now I have to get that damn bullet too... need to quit reading your posts my collection is getting a bit much

[Bobby Tomek]

Today they are still on sale for 29.99 at Midway. :)

[sunnysmarine]

yes they are

[BT]

Beautiful bullet performance. Hopefully you get an opportunity for another deer.

[Gary T]

I always enjoy your bullets reviews and real world experiences, Bobby. I like to try different deer hunting bullets every year. This year I've been hunting w/ the Banes TTSX bullets, 100 gr in 260 Rem and 110 gr in 7-08. I killed a small doe w/ the 260, but haven't had a shot w/ the 7-08. I was pleased w/ the 100 gr. on a shoulder shot at 40 yards. Deer only ran 30 yds, leaving an easy to follow blood trail Entrance and exit holes were large. I'd prob get a little more velocity in my 260 than what you get in your carbine. Sounds like it should work in my XP. I'll pul the 115 gr TAC-TX on my list of "new bullets to try out."