130 X coated 308 bullets?

James B · 06-09-2004, 08:10 PM

Has anyone loaded and used the 130 grain Barnes X coated bullet? They recommend them for deer and pronhorns in the loading data. I am wondering if they would make a good fast and flat shooting load for my Browning A bolt in 308. Thanks!!

furbman · 06-13-2004, 08:03 AM

No ... but it sure sounds interesting. They recomend them for deer? what are the specs on the round??

Gundigest · 06-13-2004, 10:56 AM

Barnes recomends going down one size from what you would normally use because they expand to almost twice their diameter and retain almost 100% of their weight. That load you suggested would make a very good deer or pronghorn round. The coated x bullets I have loaded all shoot better at the max loads.

handloader1 · 06-13-2004, 10:53 PM

Barnes 1st manual recomends the 125 gr., 150 gr., and 165 gr. I would go with the happy medium 150 gr. Good luck.

Carpmaster · 06-14-2004, 04:10 PM

I have been thinking bout trying them too, hopefully someone on here has put them to the test.

James B · 06-15-2004, 08:26 PM

I will be trying them soon. I can't try them for deer for a while but I can work up a load and maybe shoot a couple hogs. I will report on them when I get a chance. Thanks.

Mykey · 06-16-2004, 11:49 AM

James....i can't comment on the Barnes x because i've never used them. I have however been loading and shooting the Hornady 130gr Spire point in my 30.06 for years now and i have killed countless deer with that bullet from 50yds out to 300 and can honestly say i've never lost one with that bullet. It chronographs around 3080fps with 52grns of 4064, is very accurate and it's performance on deer has been excellent. I've only had a couple shots on deer that didn't pass thru and they were lodged in the skin on the far side after going thru both shoulders so i know the 130gr will kill and i'm very confident shooting deer with a 130grn bullet. Most have fallen in their tracks with the couple that did run falling within 25yds. Having said that i'll add that the deer here aren't really big deer with the average weight probably around 130 and if you kill one around 175lbs and up thats considered big around here. I have taken several big bucks that are now on my wall with that 130grn bullet and both weighed over 180 that dropped like a wet sock when i squeezed the trigger. Now if i were going on a paid hunt to Canada where the deer are huge then i would load up a heavier better constructed bullet no doubt but personally i just don't think it's needed in this neck of the woods.
As for the Barnes X, from the reviews i've seen and the feedback i've heard on that bullets construction and it's performance on game i think the 130gr x bullet would give the same if not better results than the Hornady 130grn Spire point and would be an excellent bullet for deer sized game fired from a 308. I wouldn't hesitate one second to load some up for my 30.06 and shoot deer with them any time with complete confidence. I'd be curious to hear your thoughts/results if you do decide to use them on deer/pronghorn. Good luck

Superpig · 06-18-2004, 10:59 AM

My dad reloads the 130 Barnes X for his 300 win mag. He gets a little under 3600 fps out of a 26" barrel. This is his deer and feral hog load. He has yet to recover a bullet. This includes a shoulder shot on a 318 lbs. boar at 60-65 yards. The hog never took another step. I am very impressed with his results and am now working on a 100 gr. TSX load for my 257 Roberts. The 130 X will be more than sufficient out of the 308 you can probably get close or maybe even exceed 3000 fps in a 22" barrel. I'm sure of one thing it will devastate deer. Even when traveling 5-600 fps slower than the 300.

Make sure you load the bullet at least .030 off the lands and sometimes it can be tricky to get the accuracy you desire out of the X. Good luck and good hunting!