Barnes (xlc) Coating

[razmuz]

I know Barnes bullets are a little much for deer, but I'll use anything to cut back on cleaning time. Does the XLC coating really work? Will it gum up your barrel? Will the Triple-X shoot just as clean?

[Rocky Raab]

Some guys like the XLC bullets and some don't. Same for some guns - some won't shoot them for beans, others do.

Personally, I'd go with the uncoated ones, and I'd get the Triple-X kind first.

Reports of the Triple-X bullets are almost all good.

[Varmint Hunter]

Over the years I've experimented with a lot of X bullets. They all gave me plenty of reason to complain. That is until the TSX bullets arrived. The TSX has been relatively easy to get to shoot well in several of my rifles and definately leaves less copper in the bore.

They still get copper fouled but not as heavily. If you plan on shooting X bullets I'd suggest buying a bottle of Barnes CR-10. They go hand in hand.

By the way, I have shot many whitetails with the X bullets. I get total penetration but don't consider them to be "too much for deer". Some guys like them because you can eat right up to the bullet hole - so to speak.

VH

[fabsroman]

I use the XLC's in my .300 Win Mag because it likes them and it does pretty well with them on deer. I have had some exit holes that have been pretty sizeable, and others that have been rather small, but the damage inside the deer is incredible.

As far as accuracy is concerned, Rocky is right. The .300 Win Mag Ruger MKII loves them, but the older .270 Win Remington 700 (probably over 30 years old) and the Savage Model 110 .30-06 (definitely over 35 years old don't like them at all. The .270 was horrible.

As far as cleanup is concerned, really haven't noticed too much of a difference.

[Cossack]

The TSX shoots as accurately, is less fussy (no coating to rub off) penetrates the same and takes less powder to reach the same velocity. As for "too much for deer," what constitutes enough? The point at which you stop losing wounded deer but may have to shoot more than once? Id say 17 one-shot kills, not one lost animal - not even the need to trail one more than 50 yards - using Barnes X and TSX, in multiple calibers, speaks for itself.

[Cossack]

If you don't like to clean, use 'em for hunting not general shooting. How much does it take to clean up after one shot?