Ok, I'm not interested in starting a bullet arguement here, but I'd like to here from some experienced shooters who have done some playing with these bullets in gun such as my 7mmSTW.

Without getting into any specific about powders and loads, which would take all day, I just wanted to ask how do these bullets group for you guys at 300 yds ? I only have access to that long of a range, and I can honesly say, I cannot get 140 TSX's to group under 4-5" at 300 yds. in my Sendero. I have tried 3 different powders, and what gets me is that I can get these loads to literally shoot 5 shots in one ragged hole at 100 yds consistently. But out at 300, it just goes to hel. My velocites are anywhere from 3350-3520 depending on what powder and charge I try. The velocites that average in the 3400 range are giving me the best groups at 100yds.

I shot them right next to my 140 gr Accubonds, and I got some nice 1.5"-1.75" groups with those at 300 yds. So I honeslty don't think I can blame myself as far as technique goes. I was consistenly inconsistent with the TSX's, as opposed to the Accubonds,which performed well for me...and consistently.

Another thing that made me wonder is that with both bullets at a 3400 fps velocity,and sighted in at 2.5" high at 100, the TSX's shot nearly 3" lower than the Accubonds. I know they have a lower BC than the Accubonds, but can it be that much slower than the Noslers ? Or is that just a POI difference ?

I'm considering a 160 TSX, but with the season 6 weeks away or so, I may just stick with the accubonds.

I'm by no means knocking the Barnes bullets. I've seen what they do on deer, and liked the results, so I decided to try them.But so far, I can't say I'm impressed with the accuracy they offer at longer ranges.

Anybody have any similar/different experiences ?

I've played some with 6mm, .257 and 30 cal....nuthin' 7mm tho'.

Regardless, with my stuff,I've seen sub moa out to 300 with a good barrel, tuned charge, refined seating depth and good glass.

I've heard the 7STW is finicky with X's, a Pard in Canada is currently having fits over one.

The 120 and the 140 ROCK in the 7-08 tho'..................

I have had great 100 yard accuracy out of my .280 AI with the 160gr TSX, but I haven't tried them at longer ranges. I certainly will, after hearing your experiences.

A couple of things I have read concerning the Barnes TSX bullets (of which I am a fan) suggest that the boat-tail varieties aren't as accurate as the flat-base varieties. These statements weren't made with specific target ranges, though, and I have no personal experience with direct comparison of flat-base/boat-tail designs of the same caliber and weight. The 160 flat-base bullets out of my .280 AI shoot better than the 210gr boat-tail bullets out of my .338-06, but that is a LOUSY comparison. There are way too many variables to draw any conclusions.

I have also heard complaints of the low BC of the TSX bullets, when compared to the several polymer-tipped bullets on the market. Barnes has developed a new Tipped-TSX (not the MRX, which a whole 'nuther animal), which is supposed to offer TSX performance with higher BC's for better long range performance. I don't know how readily available these new bullets are, nor do I know if they are available yet in a wide variety of calibers and weights, but it does sound like Barnes is taking steps to improve the BC of their bullets.

By the way, I shoot several varieties of Nosler's Accubond bullets too. They are no slouch in either accuracy or performance on game. I wouldn't hesitate to use them.

I've had no experience with the TSX in 7mm. But out of my Browning 325WSM I shot them side by side with the Nosler Accubonds in 200 gr. Starting at a reduced load and working up, both shot similar except for POI. But as velocities increased approaching max loads the TSX groups started opening up while the Accubonds continued to get tighter. I decided on the accubonds to get the full potential out of my 325WSM.
On the other hand, in .308 cal, 180 gr, the TSX shoots just as well out of my 30-06 as the Sierra Game Kings I was using. I have some loaded to take as my back-up elk rifle.
I guess it all boils down to what your own particular rifle prefers. If you're just going to use your rifle for deer, there is no need for the TSX or any premium bullet for that matter. If the old standby Hornady Interlocks shoot well, they are all you need.

Well thanks for the replies guys. Certainly some good info that helps me feel a little better about my situation. I've looked at the BC's of the TSX's, definitely not impressive. I also read on another site that Barnes either altered the BC's of their bullets, or changed the bullets or something. I can't honeslty remember. But I when I opened the new box of TSX's a couple weeks ago to beging seating the bullets, I realized after a few shells were complete that the oal's weren't matching my older set of rounds leftover from the first box of bullets. They were shorter by a considerable margin, enough to make me reset the seating die to get them where I wanted them.

I'm definitely not hesitent to use the Accubonds. And Bronko, your results of shooting the bullets side by side are jiving with what I'm experiencing also. It seems the more I push the Barnes, the worse they get at 200-300 yard ranges. I could shoot lower velocities, but I have a .280 Rem. for that.

Thanks fellas!

I load Barnes Triple Shocks for a 7mm Rem Mag (140 & 150gr) two 308Wins, a 30-06, a 300 Win Mag and a 300 Weatherby Mag. I'm getting 1" to 1.25" groups at 100 yards. I use RL22s for all the magnums, IMR4350 for the 30-06 and IMR4895 for the 308Win.

I haven't used the tsx in my 7mmstw rifles,but the 140gr mrx averages 5/8" at 100 yards and around 3" at 400 yards.Even with the poly tip,the mrx does drop a couple of inches more at 400 yards with the same sight in.The grooves do lower the BC enough to notice at longer distances.

I've been waiting for you to chime in here . You said the MRX drops a couple more inches at 400. What other bullet are you comparing that too ....if any ?

I just looked on Barnes's website, and saw that for '08, they are making "tipped" TSX's. That should be interesting. I havent' given up on them yet.

Just out of curiosity, what kind of velocity were you getting with the MRX's in your gun ? I bumped 3500-3530 with the 140 gr. tsx's afew times. But I'd get a ejec. pin mark every couple shots in my factory barreled rifle.

Barnes has always used models to determine BC's (according to thier competitors), and have always been very optimistic with their BC's. I believe as stubble says, the grooves will affect thier BC, and BC changes over velocity range.

I was comparing the 140gr mrx to the 140gr ballistic tip.Both produce 3500fps in my rifles,with no pressure signs at all.Looking at my notes,the difference in point of impact at 400 yards was actually about 1-1/2".In my 300ultramags,the 180gr tsx averaged the same accuracy at 400 yards as the 180gr ballistic tip,but the difference in point of impact was around 2".The poly point of the mrx helps over the hollow point of the tsx,but the grooves still result in a lower BC.