Barnes X-bullet
 

I do not reload but I can custom order some bullets loaded for 7mm-08 with either 120 or 130 grain barnes x-bullets. Any experience with these bullets or opinions of them would be appreciated. How effective on whitetails do you think they would be from a 7mm-08. I really like the idea of the way these bullets work.

RE: Barnes X-bullet
 

I've haven't used any 7mm X-bullets of any weight so I can't help you specifically with your 7mm-08. I have tried .338 cal 200gr X-bullets on two Whitetails and one Black Bear. I know this bullet is primarily considered an Elk bullet but I gave it a try anyway. IMO it was too much bullet for the deer and ok on the bear. If you like this type of bullet you may want to check out Winchester Fail Safe ammo. The Fail Safe is very similar to the X-bullet in design and performance.

RE: Barnes X-bullet
 

They are a VERY TOUGH bullet .. I use them in my 25/06 100gr and 150gr .300 weatherby .. For deer .. the 06 punches in and out not much expansion .. the .300 expands well .. speed is the key plus hitting some bone to get the bullet to expand .. I would try the lightest x you can get ..Bill

RE: Barnes X-bullet
 

Todd1700 I sent you a PM.

Darrell

RE: Barnes X-bullet
 

Barnes X bullets are excellent. Good luck.

RE: Barnes X-bullet
 

Thanks for the responces. 01Foreman400 I sent you a PM back.

RE: Barnes X-bullet
 

I cant say about the 120 or 130gr X bullets but I did shoot a buck with a 140gr XLC, entered the near shoulder and exited the off side ham. Not much on expansion. If I were you Id save your money and get some hornaday 139gr BTSP, Ive never had a problem with this bullet of deer.

RE: Barnes X-bullet
 

I've been using Barnes bullets for a long time and have never had a problem with one not expanding . Buckshot there isn't a lot of bone from the near shoulder to the off side ham is there ? Maybe thats why it didn't expand ;)

RE: Barnes X-bullet
 

I figured since it was an all copper bullet and designed for use on elk (thats what I reloaded them for). It pulverized the near shoulder and smashed the offside femur. As far as white tail go thats about as tough as it gets, exit hole was about the size of a quater and the deer didnt leave a blood trail for the first 60 yards.

RE: Barnes X-bullet
 

These bullets are excellent for deer. I shot a buck and a doe this season with my .308 using the 150gr. XLC and the new Triple-Shock. Both had a problem of causing instant death to both deer, if you could call that a problem. Hey if it knocks them off their feet how much expansion do you need? Also those who were concerned about expansion, did the deer die immediately or did you have to track them, and how far?

RE: Barnes X-bullet
 

Ive only shot one deer with this load and it went a total of 75 yards, the first 60 without a drop of blood, after that the blood was spotty at best. I found the deer bedded down looking at me, so I shot it in the neck. Now Im not saying that barnes bullets wont kill deer, however I am saying that the 7mm 140gr XLC isnt disigned to expand on whitetail deer. HAd the conditions been different (no snow) I may have had a very tough time finding this deer.

RE: Barnes X-bullet
 

The x bullet works great on deer. Yes they expand perfectly on deer.
No they will not blow a 4" hole in the off side of a deer.

Generally a more explosive bullet like a ballistic tip will drop a deer faster than a controlled expansion bullet like an x bullet.

It is not considered abnormal for a deer shot with an x bullet to travel 20 or 30 yards before falling.

The benefits are if you hit bone, if you have to shoot from a less than perfect angle, if your shot is not perfectly placed. In all these conditions you are better off with the x bullet.

Try the Triple Shocks version of the X. I think you will find them to be accurate and to have excellent terminal performance on deer.

Expecially in your caliber you can also use a lighter bullet because the x loses little bullet weight upon impact. Flatter trajectory and still maximum penetration.

RE: Barnes X-bullet
 

This was my exact line of thinking. A 120 grain bullet out of a 7mm-08 shell would be a very flat shooting puppy.

RE: Barnes X-bullet
 

Todd,
I agree with your thinking.
Try the 120gr x.
Make sure you do not try to load them close to the lands. About .05 back should work for you.
Make sure your barrel is as clean as possible before trying the x bullets.
Start your loads well below max loads in your reload book, x bullets will sometimes not take a full max load of powder that other bullets may take.

If you can't get the 120's to shoot then try the 140gr Triple Shocks. People have been having excellent results with them. I have had my best luck with IMR4831 with the Barnes bullets in several calibers.
Good luck!

RE: Barnes X-bullet
 

I never had much luck shooting deer with a 243 but it sounds like the x bullet may be just the thing for the fragile 95-100 grain bullets. Anybody tried them in a 243?

RE: Barnes X-bullet
 

You could spend a lot of time trying to get the standard "X" bullets to work if you ever get them to work at all. The Triple Shocks seem to be working out for most everyone who has tried them. You might want to just go with the Triple Shocks.

RE: Barnes X-bullet
 

My camp has used X-bullets exclusively for the past 7 years. I'd say we've taken at least 25 deer in that time. Two of them went about 25 yards and the rest dropped in their tracks. They expand perfectly - they're hollow points with four petals pre-cut in the metal. I'm surprised to hear people saying they wouldn't drop a deer flat. I've heard that they can group poorly in some rifles and they foul barrels, but never anything bad about terminal performance.

Scott Meier
White Oak Lodge

RE: Barnes X-bullet
 

I used the x bullets for I don't know, maybe 4 or 5 years after they first came out. I don't have anything bad to say about them really, for what they are designed to do, they do flawlessly, but a few years ago I switched to the trophy-bonded bearclaws because they have just enough lead in them to where they leave a bigger exit hole, not terrible like a bazooka or something, but a whole lot easier to blood trail than the barnes X. Listen, the whole reason i shoot these type bullets in the first place, is because in these thickets where I hunt IF I have to track one it is because I pulled off a little bit or the lungs were my only chance, because 99% of the time I'm going for the slightly high shoulder shot to drop them in their tracks, but If I do have to blood trail I'm pretty much gauranteed an exit hole.

RE: Barnes X-bullet
 

I have only shot 1 deer with my abolt .270 130gr XLC . 5 1/2 y/o buck at about 160 yds. hit him in the upper right part of his shoulder and he never flinched once after i pulled the trigger.

RE: Barnes X-bullet
 

I love Barnes. I think they have thier place. They will certainly kill a deer. And if it didn't you got a bad shot. But for deer I like 165gr gamekings. You get explosive expansion from a 308win. I also like the bullistic tips and partitions. Any of these bullets should get a pass thru up to 200 yards. I like barnes for moose, pig and elk where penetration can be an issue. I have killed deer with 150gr x out of my 308 but I found I like the gamekings a tad better.

RE: Barnes X-bullet
 

Try the triple shocks, they are your best chance to get accuracy with the x bullet. They are very accurate.

Very good deer bullet for your use. Use the 120 or 130. Whichever shoots better in your rifle.

RE: Barnes X-bullet
 

X-bullets will kill like NO OTHER. I use them in 6MM, 300win, and they are fantastic.

RE: Barnes X-bullet
 

One side note though, they are not the MOST accurate out there in SOME rifles(mine all like X's fine), but they are good enough for hunting purposes.They are hands down the best in terminal performance out there. My experience has been that a max load usually isn't the most accurate, I usually get best results 1/2 - 1 1/2grains below max.

RE: Barnes X-bullet
 

I shoot the 160 gr XLC out of my 7mm REM Mag and I have never had any of the 33 deer shot with that combo even take a step... they have all been bang...FLOP!I did recover one of the bullets after it had passed through a fine 9 piont and gone 8 inches into an old hickory tree. I cut down the tree the following spring ( it was dying anyway) to find It has lost its petals after going about 3 inches into the tree but the remaining "core" continued to drive another 5 inches. going back through my reloading records I see that I have harvested a total of 61 deer with the X in .223, .243, .270, 7mm REM Mag, and .308. Never once have I had on fail to expand. All had very impressive wound channels.