Barnes or good old lead

[snochuk]

I was doing some shooting with Barnes factory load in 270 Win. and decided to take a few shots at a 1" thick steel plate at 100yds.
The penitration into steel was maybe half as deep as the previous divots from Core-lockt. Both were 130g leads.

I thought that Barnes were better for penitration?????
Any one else have experience with barnes- both were factory loads.

At about $25 more a box I was expecting a bit more from the barnes.
Maybe no breakup but penitration seemed less than stellar.

 

[dogsmack]

Can't explain it technically but the barnes will drive deeper into animals because of the longer bullet design being solid copper and hold together better retaining energy as it creates a wound channel. Lead will drive deeper initially because of the weight retention and only traveling 1/2" into the steel. Something to do with the lead being more malleable and it reacting on the steel surface at speed bla bla physics bs. True or not I don't know but I asked the similar question to someone who I think is rather knowledgable of energy and kenetics. I've shot barnes as well as a number of my friends and we come up with the same reasoning. Shooting barnes you want to hit bone. A through n through on the lungs does not drop them in their tracks like a Nosler partition or core-lokt. The barnes doesn't hit enough substance for full expansion. The Barnes sure are nice if you can get them to work reloading. TTSX out of the 25-06 front shoulder on any whitetail mule deer size animal is instantanious chin plant in the dirt. True store, I watched my brother put two barnes 308 168gr bullets in the chest of whitetail buck at around 130ish yards and keep running. The third was a bit forward and hit shoulders and folded like a cheap tent. Any one shot was a kill shot. Still can't believe it or explain it. If you get good groups with the Core-Lokt stick with those out of peace of mind if nothing else. My $0.02. Hope it helps.

 

[S.W.A.T.]

There isnt much that will penetrate a 1" steel plate. The way flesh opens up is far different scenario then the way steel is. For more accurate comparison try phone books or a large ham

 

[adamg]

Copper bullets are poor at penetrating steel, I think mostly because of their low weight.

 

[snochuk]

Copper bullets are poor at penetrating steel, I think mostly because of their low weight.

It was a fair comparison. 130g copper clad lead bullet against a 130g solid copper bullet so weights were equal.

 

[S.W.A.T.]

Or maybe because it's copper vs steel

 

[snochuk]

Or maybe because it's copper vs steel

Maybe because lead is denser than copper by weight - beats me!
Just a universe ending delema that I needed help on. lol

My daughter will be keeping her shots under 250yds so it likely does not matter that much.

 

[09 arctic cat m8]

i use barnes been using them now for few years the ttsx will stop anything in its tracks i shoot a 300wsm or a 7mm rem mag and whatever i hit looks like its been nuked and leaves a blood trail stevie wonder could find, i swear by them

 

[oler1234]

My 7RM takes Barnes as well. TTSX and TSX.

My 30-30 takes Barnes for as well. FN-TSX is devastating!

why it doesn't point steel as well. Well it is 100% weight retention, lead will splat out on impact. Plus it will be much broader on impact vs lead. So there is more surface area to push against the steel.

 

[adamg]

oler, I expect a copper bullet splats on impact with steel as well.