Sigarms, Skypup, Eddie or other Gun Guru...

gsganzer · May 25, 2006

Eddie,
I believe the original Barnes had problems. I've been using them for the last 5 years and I haven't had a problem. I took 7 african plains game with a 300 win mag shooting Barnes 180gr. XFB and a 257 WBY shooting 100 gr. TSX. Every one made a good sized exit hole and I only recovered one bullet, from a gemsbuck. It expanded just like the pictures show.

The TSX is a grooved bullet, supposedly to reduce fouling. My opinion is that fouling ishouldn't be an issue unless your doing a bunch of shooting, without the ability to clean your barrel when needed. Certainly any big game hunting trip isn't going to entail more then shooting 10 rounds or so before you have the chance to scrub your bore.

I haven't shot many of the coated bullets. They probably work to some degree, but it seems like more bullet hype to me. Again, probably something to consider for guys that plunk down and shoot 50 rounds at prairie dogs in an afternoon.

gsganzer · May 25, 2006

Eddie,
I believe the original Barnes had problems. I've been using them for the last 5 years and I haven't had a problem. I took 7 african plains game with a 300 win mag shooting Barnes 180gr. XFB and a 257 WBY shooting 100 gr. TSX. Every one made a good sized exit hole and I only recovered one bullet, from a gemsbuck. It expanded just like the pictures show.

The TSX is a grooved bullet, supposedly to reduce fouling. My opinion is that fouling ishouldn't be an issue unless your doing a bunch of shooting, without the ability to clean your barrel when needed. Certainly any big game hunting trip isn't going to entail more then shooting 10 rounds or so before you have the chance to scrub your bore.

I haven't shot many of the coated bullets. They probably work to some degree, but it seems like more bullet hype to me. Again, probably something to consider for guys that plunk down and shoot 50 rounds at prairie dogs in an afternoon.

EddieWalker · May 25, 2006

Gsganzer,

From what I understand, copper fouling builds up with every shot and it tends to bond with the barrel. This makes it very, very hard to clean. Also, the copper used in the Barnes bullets is different than what you find in the jackets of other bullets. I don't know my metals to qualify any details, but the end result is massive fouling from the Barnes as compared to just about any other brand with normal shooting.

They have special cleaners to break it down that help, but don't get it all. You can't see it and you can even get a clean cloth out of your barrel with the copper still in there.

A guy I know who is about as fanatical as they come with cleanning and sompetive shooting seals the ends of his barrel and fills them up with an acid. He lets it sit 24 hours, drains it, and they puts an electoric tube down the barrel with some more chemicals.

This was ten years ago, so I'm sorry for not having all the details.

He did this with my barrel, which I thought was clean, and pulled more copper out of it than I thought was possible and still be able to fire it.

I'd already quit using the bullets and was working on some other loads with poor results. The reason was the copper fouling. Once it was clean, I was able to get one inch groups with my .338 mag!!! For me, that's impressive with that big of a caliber.

I've never heard of the bullets you use, so have no knowledge of them first hand. They sound interesting from your experience and recomendation. How are they at the range? Can you get good groups? Do you know others who shoot the same bullets, and how well do the shoot for them?

I shot a gemsbok in Namibia at about 30 yards with the Barnes bullets in my .338 mag. It was a standing broadside shot in the shoulder. I hit a little high because of the short range. He turned around, nice a calm and walked into the brush like nothing had happened. He went about 50 yards before dying. The strength of those animals compared to our deer is just unbeleavable!!!!

I recovered my bullets from that animal, my zebra and wildebeest. The others were pass through shots with tiny exit holes. Fortunately I took out the heart on those shots.

Eddie

EddieWalker · May 25, 2006

Gsganzer,

From what I understand, copper fouling builds up with every shot and it tends to bond with the barrel. This makes it very, very hard to clean. Also, the copper used in the Barnes bullets is different than what you find in the jackets of other bullets. I don't know my metals to qualify any details, but the end result is massive fouling from the Barnes as compared to just about any other brand with normal shooting.

They have special cleaners to break it down that help, but don't get it all. You can't see it and you can even get a clean cloth out of your barrel with the copper still in there.

A guy I know who is about as fanatical as they come with cleanning and sompetive shooting seals the ends of his barrel and fills them up with an acid. He lets it sit 24 hours, drains it, and they puts an electoric tube down the barrel with some more chemicals.

This was ten years ago, so I'm sorry for not having all the details.

He did this with my barrel, which I thought was clean, and pulled more copper out of it than I thought was possible and still be able to fire it.

I'd already quit using the bullets and was working on some other loads with poor results. The reason was the copper fouling. Once it was clean, I was able to get one inch groups with my .338 mag!!! For me, that's impressive with that big of a caliber.

I've never heard of the bullets you use, so have no knowledge of them first hand. They sound interesting from your experience and recomendation. How are they at the range? Can you get good groups? Do you know others who shoot the same bullets, and how well do the shoot for them?

I shot a gemsbok in Namibia at about 30 yards with the Barnes bullets in my .338 mag. It was a standing broadside shot in the shoulder. I hit a little high because of the short range. He turned around, nice a calm and walked into the brush like nothing had happened. He went about 50 yards before dying. The strength of those animals compared to our deer is just unbeleavable!!!!

I recovered my bullets from that animal, my zebra and wildebeest. The others were pass through shots with tiny exit holes. Fortunately I took out the heart on those shots.

Eddie

cp1969 · May 25, 2006

( I'm not an expert, in fact I rarely shoot anymore, but, I think a Nosler Partition in 60G must be a marketing ploy. )
Not really a marketing ploy; I think it is a game bullet for use where .22 caliber bullets are legal for taking game, not varmints.
( I don't think that is quite nessessary for most varmints. )Correct. Not only unnecessary, it would actually be undesirable to use on varmints. The Partition is designed to penetrate as best it can--not what you want in a varmint bullet.

cp1969 · May 25, 2006

( I'm not an expert, in fact I rarely shoot anymore, but, I think a Nosler Partition in 60G must be a marketing ploy. )
Not really a marketing ploy; I think it is a game bullet for use where .22 caliber bullets are legal for taking game, not varmints.
( I don't think that is quite nessessary for most varmints. )Correct. Not only unnecessary, it would actually be undesirable to use on varmints. The Partition is designed to penetrate as best it can--not what you want in a varmint bullet.

ToadHill · May 25, 2006

The best varment gun I own came to me from my dad. I still use it today and can cover 5 shots with a quarter at 250 yards. Its a .222 Sako with a 10 power Weaver scope.
It has been so effective that I haven't seen a woodchuck on my place in the last 2 years, and the only time I see any coyote is when I'm deer hunting with the black powder rifle.

ToadHill · May 25, 2006

The best varment gun I own came to me from my dad. I still use it today and can cover 5 shots with a quarter at 250 yards. Its a .222 Sako with a 10 power Weaver scope.
It has been so effective that I haven't seen a woodchuck on my place in the last 2 years, and the only time I see any coyote is when I'm deer hunting with the black powder rifle.

scott_vt · May 26, 2006

Mornin Woodlot & Toadhill,
Thanks for the tip on the Nikon, I will take a look at those. I believe my Uncle Dave has them in his catologe. Ive conviced myself after reading the posts of all the knowledgable gun people on this thread that its going to cost me some money for something descent /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

scott_vt · May 26, 2006

Mornin Woodlot & Toadhill,
Thanks for the tip on the Nikon, I will take a look at those. I believe my Uncle Dave has them in his catologe. Ive conviced myself after reading the posts of all the knowledgable gun people on this thread that its going to cost me some money for something descent /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif