Barnes TTSX vs. Hornady GMX
08-07-2017, 05:54 AM
#3
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,605
GMX is made from guilding metal and Barnes are pure swaged copper...How would the GMX be softer when it has roughly 5% zinc added to the copper?
Ive only used the Barnes 458SOCOM 300gr TTSX on deer. It went through the doe like butter destroying everything in its path.
Ive only used the Barnes 458SOCOM 300gr TTSX on deer. It went through the doe like butter destroying everything in its path.
Last edited by Gm54-120; 08-07-2017 at 05:58 AM.
08-07-2017, 06:56 AM
#4
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: ****ifornia
Posts: 5,052
I would personally save the non-lead bullets for tough animals where penetration is key or for rifles shooting above 3400fps where a regular bullet will go to pieces.
08-08-2017, 07:26 AM
#5
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,605
In the 452 and 458 GMX/Monoflex the hollow point is relatively large even compared to some of the tipped Barnes of a similar weight/caliber.
My best guess is they used a larger HP to help with the harder alloy. This is just speculation without having a hardness test done...obviously. The GMX/Monoflex might be a machined bullet and soft copper machines VERY poorly. Machine copper is much harder than pure but can be annealed to soften it. Hornady even claims they are tougher than pure copper.
I do know this, my buddy LOVEs the 243 80gr GMX for deer.
EDIT:
Just got off the phone with Hornady. The GMX/Monoflex is swaged. They had to buy special equipment to handle them. The tech also said they are harder than pure copper Barnes but not a whole lot.
My best guess is they used a larger HP to help with the harder alloy. This is just speculation without having a hardness test done...obviously. The GMX/Monoflex might be a machined bullet and soft copper machines VERY poorly. Machine copper is much harder than pure but can be annealed to soften it. Hornady even claims they are tougher than pure copper.
I do know this, my buddy LOVEs the 243 80gr GMX for deer.
EDIT:
Just got off the phone with Hornady. The GMX/Monoflex is swaged. They had to buy special equipment to handle them. The tech also said they are harder than pure copper Barnes but not a whole lot.
Last edited by Gm54-120; 08-08-2017 at 07:35 AM.
08-19-2017, 05:37 PM
#8
Spike
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 1
I don't have any experience with the Barnes since I have never found factory seconds in them, but I love the GMX for my 6mm. Since I switched to them the kids I take hunting have never lost a deer because of no blood trail or because a shot wasn't perfect. Personally, I think if you hunt with a small caliber like a 6mm, .243, or .223 then a tough non-lead bullet is a must. If you are shooting a larger caliber I think they are overkill for deer unless you are taking really long shots.
08-19-2017, 07:54 PM
#9
Typical Buck
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 995
I've tried them both in the 6.8 of mine in 130 grain. It really didn't like either one of them much. Tried all kinds of loads and powders. Best group I got with either was with the GMX being right at 1.5" 5 shot group at 100 yards. I tried that load out on a hog and it did perform well. Blew through a hog at 98 yards like it wasn't even there. Judging from the exit, it opened up fully leaving around a 3 inch diameter hole on exit. Never hit an animal with the TTSX but I've never been able to get them to shoot worth a damn from either the 6.8 or my .243. I may try to get them to shoot out of my WC .223 AR since I do like to take that one on sounder hunts.
