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This same bullet was discussed over on AR. I am a proponent of the TSX for almost all expanding bullet needs. Many refuse to shoot the TSX in double rifles because of opinions of mono-metal bullets and the effects on double rifle barrels. I have always suggested this is more of an issue with the old Barnes X bullet without the grooves but not an issue with the TSX and the pressure relief grooves that act in the same manner as the bore rider design. The TSX is undersized by .0005 to .001 to aid in pressure reduction as well.

There is a long running bullet performance thread on AR, (over 200 pages now) that encompasses a staggering amount of data. One of the subjects on this thread is barrel strain of the different types of bullets and loads. Until recently, the TSX bullet had only been tested in a 350gr .458. This data showed the TSX to have lower barrel strain than many of the universally considered "SAFE" bullets for double rifles. But without testing a full sized TSX, speculation abounded.

A couple of weeks ago, the gentleman running the thread finally got around to testing the 450gr and 500gr TSX in comparison to the "SAFE" bullets. I'm happy to report that even though the TSX was a bit higher in barrel strain than the benchmark bullet (Woodleigh Soft), it was significantly lower in barrel strain than the Hornady DGS. The point being that the TSX produces LESS barrel strain than the bullet the manufacturer is using to regulate the double rifle with. If that is the case, and it is, then the TSX has to be "MORE SAFE" than the bullet being used to regulate the rifle with in the first place.

Many PH's will tell you that the DGX bullet is disappointing (some say dangerous) in DG situations. Some will put their name to that statement in public and many others will only say it in private as sponsorships are at stake. I've heard it from enough of them that I'll never use the DGX on any DG hunt. The TSX is a much superior bullet anyway and is safe to shoot in modern doubles.

There are some other, newer bullets on the market as well that can be considered reliable, such as the CEB Non-Cons, Northforks, and GSC's. Too many to choose from than to take a chance with an iffy bullet.

This business of "It killed the animal so it worked" is fine on Whitetails and the like but doesn't quite work in all instances on something like a Cape Buffalo. Sort of like "A 22LR will kill someone" is true but when talking about the case of a criminal, jacked up on adrenalin and meth, that weighs 300 lbs, has a knife in his hand, and is intent on hurting you or a family member, I'll just bet that 22LR will not be your weapon of choice at that moment. DG hunting is a different game altogether and you need that bullet to give exceptional, reliable, predictable performance every time. There are enough questions about the DGX bullet that I'll spend the extra $1.50 per bullet to get the job done right. One of the very popular DVD's on the market right now, show an industry insider who shoots a "Big Bull" with the DGX only to have it run off and charge the party later, knocking the PH down. I heard from one of the PH's I hunt with that the PH in question told the hunter, after they finally got the buff down, to "test these bullets elsewhere, this is for real out here".

Edited by HogPilot (18/12/11 08:49 AM)

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