I shot a 1.5 year old spike with a 30/30 loaded with 150 gr Barnes TSX. I was amazed that the bullet did not expand at all and acted as a fmj. Small entrance and exit wounds as well. I hit him behind the shoulder, 2/3 of the way down. That should have taken out the heart and both lungs but the deer still made 150 yards without leaving a blood trail. In fairness, I have heard of this happening with the Barnes TSX and they have done away with the problem of non expansion with the introduction of the TTSX, which contains the polymer tip that aids expansion. Aside from the TTSX, which I believe to be one of the best bullets out there, my primary deer bullet is a Berger H-VLD. That thing virtually detonates just under the skin and penetrates thru the ribs on the off side without exiting . Result = Bang-Flop! The wound channel through both side rib cages is big enough to put my fist through. I have killed several deer with the Berger and all have gone down as if struck by lightning. Load is a 140 gr in .284 for my 7mm Rem Mag. at 3,065 fps.
I typically use the Berger when strictly deer hunting but switch to the Barnes TTSX if there is a possibility of killing a hog. I will have to find another option for the old 30-30 as I did not care for the performance of the TSX.
I typically use the Berger when strictly deer hunting but switch to the Barnes TTSX if there is a possibility of killing a hog. I will have to find another option for the old 30-30 as I did not care for the performance of the TSX.
