|
|
|
Discussion Forums
Forum Index
> Medium and large game hunting
> 165gr BTSP vs 150gr TTSX
165gr BTSP vs 150gr TTSX
@ 01:03 pm (GMT) |
Jared ThibodauxSo I am normally a Sierra Game King or SST guy, they have served me well in many rifles on many head of game, but my 30-06 has me looking elsewhere, the SSTs gave me so so accuracy (aprox 1.5 MOA) and the SGKs were so destructive that I ended up throwing out entire front shoulders on several smaller deer, so I have been playing with Speer and Barnes bullets both of which have given me impressive speed and accuracy, both shooting 3/4 MOA or better with 2956fps for the 165gr using H414 and 3054fps for the 150gr with RL19.The game in question is what makes this tricky, medium sized whitetail deer out to 400 yards, and hogs to 200kg up close. They both retain 2600fps right to the 200 yard mark, as I read it the TTSX should penetrate better on the close up shots despite being lighter and the BTSP should expand better at the longer ranges but fragment more up close given it's "soft" design. What are your thoughts? |
Replies
@ 04:55 pm (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: 165gr BTSP vs 150gr TTSXHi Jared, yes that is correct. The Speer BTSP has a much softer jacket than the GK and tends to be very uniform regarding fragmentation out to extended ranges. |
@ 06:35 pm (GMT) |
Bob MavinRe: 165gr BTSP vs 150gr TTSXHi JaredI'm a meat hunter. I use 165gn Game Kings & SST's in my 30-06, mussel velocity 2900fps on our small Fallow & big Red Deer I find them good. 150g G/Kings were too destructive. Cheers Bob |
|
@ 06:38 pm (GMT) |
Jared ThibodauxRe: 165gr BTSP vs 150gr TTSXGiven my criteria which do you think would be the more versatile performer? The heaver softer BTSP or the advanced mono metal TTSX? I have never shot game with either but they were both impressive on paper and through the chrono. Is the BTSP tough enough for 200kg hogs up close, would the rather "hard" TTSX produce enough shock through the vitals of a deer at 400yd (about 2200fps) Or do I need to quit with the all in one idea and just bring two guns? |
|
@ 06:46 pm (GMT) |
Jared ThibodauxRe: 165gr BTSP vs 150gr TTSXQuote: Hi Jared
I'm a meat hunter. I use 165gn Game Kings & SST's in my 30-06, mussel velocity 2900fps on our small Fallow & big Red Deer I find them good. 150g G/Kings were too destructive. Cheers Bob I am starting to think I got a defective batch of SGKs, everyone else has told me the meat damage is not that bad but in my rifle they have been the nastiest thing I have ever seen, the only other thing I can think of is the rather rough grooves in the Savage barrel might be compromising the jacket in some way, I do regularly brush out lots of lead flakes when cleaning it, and no I don't shoot cast bullets through it. I load SGKs in most of my rifles and never had any such issue out of my 6.5, 270s, or 7mms. I would try them in the 308 to see if they did the same thing but my 308 REFUSES to group with anything 165gr yet loves 150 and 180gr......go figure. |
|
@ 09:05 pm (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: 165gr BTSP vs 150gr TTSXYou could just change shot placement with your existing load when hunting light framed game.We have to be very careful about complaining of meat damage Jared. What you are saying in effect- is that the cartridge is performing extremely well (wide wound equals fast humane kill) but that you are not happy with this. This is a trap many hunters fall into. I think a mind shift would be more helpful. A set of realistic expectations. These include: If the bullet produces a wide wound, killing will be fast and clean. I can use shot placement to manipulate results- but I may on occasion lose a quarter. If the bullet produces a narrow wound, kills may be delayed or plain slow killing. If I break major bone broad side- the front quarters may still be ruined. If I take extended range shots and miss the shoulder, game may escape and I will end up with no front shoulder roasts if I can't find the animal. Observation is the key. Put your attention into the consequences of each action. I really don't see that there is anything wrong- the load you have is performing exceptionally well for you. It is a humane killer. If you can look at this from different angles, you may find that there really is no problem which will be quite liberating. Most 165 grain bullets will serve a dual purpose role to one degree or another. It is a handy bullet weight. The 165gr Speer is particularly useful as it will tackle a wide range of body weights. But it will produce wide wounding, especially on pigs. Do yourself a favor. Run the 165gr Speer BTSP for a bit and see how you get on. If you still cannot get your head around meat damage or are unhappy with the lack of penetration, you can change to the TTSX later. The 165gr Speer will penetrate the vitals of a large boar, but it may not exit at close ranges. Large boars are generally un-edible due to the smell of urine through the meat so any extra meat damage from full fragmentation should not be a problem. The Speer will struggle to exit due to offside cartilage in the hide. I hope that helps. |
|
@ 03:16 am (GMT) |
Jared ThibodauxRe: 165gr BTSP vs 150gr TTSXOh don't get me wrong, I don't loose any sleep over loosing a few pounds shoulder every once in a while, but loosing both shoulder every time is excessive I don't need to hit one that hard to put him down clean, and I am not worried about meat damage on a large boar hog, just killing him quickly, though 30-50kg sows are FANTASTIC on the smoker with some cajun seasoning, best pork you will ever eat by far! But with them meat damage is not as big a deal, given the location of the heart and lungs on a hog (low and forward compared to a deer) you would have to be well off target to hit any of the prime meat. |
Please wait
ABOUT USWe are a small, family run business, based out of Taranaki, New Zealand, who specialize in cartridge research and testing, and rifle accurizing.
|
KNOWLEDGEBASE |
KNOWLEDGEBASE |