Need some opinions. Who here has tried this round? If you have what do you think of it? Is it a good home defense round. I know its little but its fast and will spread out in the perfect X. I guess my biggest question is if you can get the 125gr or the 155gr in the same bullet do you have a favorite. I know everybody has a favorite carry load. Just curious putting price aside how everyone like the Barnes bullets.
I have tested some of the TAC-XP 140 grain bullets as handloaded by me and they open up as advertised... :D They hold together well and penetrate to acceptable depths.
I have seen some reports form others with the 125's and 155's they do work also. I think I would prefer the 155's for self defensive protection because it is a little heavier, but I would not hesitate to trust my life with any of them in 10mm. 8)
hey Shadow, i read your posts on your Barnes 140gr tests... i am getting ready to test out some Barnes 155 XTP, I was thinking of using 8.0 grains of Longshot in a Glock 20C with a Storm Lake 5.3" barrel... any suggestions on this? I would like to get 1200 fps with this round... thanks!
I think I would use IMR800X but LongShot may be right about the same and very near or above the 1200 fps mark!
I know these all copper bullets are longer and having a longer bearing surface but the main limitation is the bullet's length that takes up powder space...
Please post your results if you can! 8)
^^^ will do this weekend, gonna test out the 155gr Barnes with Power Pistol, Unique, 800X, and Longshot... i'll also report on some homemade snake shot that i tested out last week using 4.0gr of power pistol, cci magnum LP, 30 bbs of #7-1/2 shot, with a hot glue plug on top... also plan to test 200gr Nosler JHP with several powders, and the Parabellum 200gr... this will be the maiden voyage for my Glock 20C :)
I don't think I would recommend this bullet in any weight or velocity for any "home defense" use, if your intent may be to maximize damage on target, and minimize damage off target. They do exceptionally well in gel and clay, and do OK on small to medium game, but...... If any of these strike a hard surface prior to the target, they don't expand, at all. A couple weeks ago, my son took a very large hog (350#+) with his Mech Tec .40 S&W (similar ballistics to 10mm handgun), and it worked well. Skull shots however, may as well have been wad cutters. They punched through, but didn't expand, and caused very little wound channel. Neck shots were only slightly less unimpressive. It took 4 shots to take down the animal, 2 skull, 2 neck (20-40 yds. on the run, he's a pretty good shot). A shoulder shot would likely have done less. Not recommended for any armored target. Coyotes and smaller game are no problem, though.
Anyway, I live and hunt in California, unleaded bullets are required here. I've tested the Barnes pistol and rifle bullets in more than a dozen calibers. Barnes are the best (less bad) for handgun (and .50 MZ) rounds for hunting, but Hornady gets the game with rifles (GMX and MFX bullets). For home/self defense, I recommend traditional bullets, if at all possible. There's a much greater selection of design and performance levels. I carry traditional bullets when not hunting. If you're looking for a one-wall bullet, choose one designed for that purpose.
i too live in the CA Buzzard zone and have to carry lead free ammo when hunting, and that is why i have to develop this Barnes 155gr load... i don't hunt with a pistol but the 10mm is my sidearm when rifle hunting or hiking, but the CA game wardens don't care, they require you carry lead free or they will fine you... i really like the Barnes TSX rifle bullets... hoping for the best
I have to disagree with the 40 is the same as a 10mm. A fully loaded 10mm in the 155 X is close to 1500 fps where a 40 might be 70% of that. I have used Barnes X on animals from Alaska to Africa and never not one time have they failed to make the X on impact. Now I do use fast calibers,Weatherby in rifles and Buffalo Bore and Underwood in my 10mm. I only shoot the lite 10's when playing. My personal carry mag in my Glock 20 is 5 Buffalo Bore 155X and 10 Buffalo Bore 220 HC. Here is the reason. If after 5 rounds I have not completed my mission I expect the target to be hunting cover and the HC will shoot thru the cover. With 16 to start and 15 more to follow yes it is over kill but better to much than not enough. I personally will never say a bad thing about the all copper bullets as I have seen them in action on small animals to very large animals and most of the time you do not revover the bullet. Sometimes you get lucky and it is under the skin on the oposite side. I have a few I have saved to show people. Out of a handgun I have only the evidence on a 405lb hog and it was 4 shots in the chest area at about 15 yards. Recovered all the bullets and they were the perfect X. I like the idea of shooting a 155 to 300gr bullet and when you recover it it is all still there just a lot larger in diameter.
Quote from: RRMan03 on February 27 2013 11:43:43 PM MST
I have to disagree with the 40 is the same as a 10mm.
Of course, the .40 is not comparable to a 10mm, weapon to weapon. My son's weapon is a Mech Tec .40SW, which is a 16" carbine. Comparable to a 10mm handgun, with the right load. I also use the Barnes bullets with my magnum handguns, and they are worlds apart from the comparably small-ish autos. The 10mm is the breaking point, as far as effectiveness goes, but full power magnums are possible. If you are shooting store-bought ammo, you have no idea of their potential. And to say the Barnes high energy rifle rounds are good, says you haven't used the real "good" unleaded bullets. Nosler and Hornady are generations ahead. Once again, store-bought ammo says nothing to their potential. For example, my favorite brush gun round is a .30-30, with a Hornady 140 gr. MFX bullet at 2600+ FPS, and flat shooting, game killing accuracy to 300 yds. I loaded it faster, but accuracy began to suffer. The best OTC round with this bullet is offered around 2200 FPS (in the same rifle, NOT what they advertise), and I haven't been able to consistently group that round. Load your own, or settle for what they feel will work for everybody. I choose to not settle.
Like DM1906 says, 40 S&W from a 16" barrel is apples to apples external ballistics wise to 10mm auto from a handgun. You can check out velocities at http://ballisticsbytheinch.com
I prefer better expansion than the Barnes pistol .400 cal bullets offer and therefore choose Gold Dots. Otherwise no doubt, the Barnes offerings are a perfectly good design.
I can't believe I missed this thread. Good posts, guys. This is definitely an area in which I'm interested, especially the barrier performance. OP, keep an eye on my thread about the 155 gr TAC-XP. There have been a lot of good posts in there.
I'm definitely curious to see how it does in your testing directly compared to your other tests thus far.