Hello
I was checking in to ask if anyone here has any experience using the copper black tip Barnes TAC-TX developed for the 300 whisper in the 30-30 Winchester? I'm trying to work up some 30-30 all copper deer loads for use in a contender pistol with a 14" barrel (1 in 10 twist rate). While I've had decent results with the TSX-FN (150 grain flat nose, getting speeds of ~2100-2200 fps with 3 shot groups just under an inch at 100 yards) that combination doesn't give me much comfort at 200 yards. I loaded some 110gn black tip TAC-TX loads on top of RL7 and have speeds around 2500 fps with groups slightly better then 1 inch. Based on the 1300-1500 fps terminal velocity needed for expansion, the max range is well over 250 yards (still 1848 fps)and right around 200 yards based on the ~1000 ft-lbs of energy school of thought. I haven't shot any more then paper with this load yet, but it shows promise. My only concern is point blank shots. From what I understand, they test the black tip TAC-TX 110gn bullet up to 2200 fps and require that it retains all it's mass and petals but don't test them at faster speeds.

Also, FYI I tried the Hornady 140 gn Monoflex factory loads and got ~2150 fps (not much velocity margin with a minimum recommended terminal velocity of 1800 fps) and 4" strings at 100 yards.

Karl,

No help with the Tac in the 30-30, but I do load these in my carbine length 300 BLK Ar15. These bullets are stunningly accurate.

I have not doinked anything with one of these bullets, but from my carbine barrel (16 inches) they are over 2400 fps at the muzzle. I have not seen nor read anything about not running them over 2200 fps in/on any 300 BLK ar discussion boards.

Historically my experience with Barnes X bullets is that the petals will peel and not separate. If running slower than recommended, less mushrooming. On the fast side, the petals push back to the shank.

Perhaps stack up some wet news print, or even dry news print, as dry newsprint can be very hard on bullets.

Craig

Karl,

Like Bearbait, I have no experience in the 30-30, but have had good success in the 300 BLK/Whisper with the 110 Tac-TX bullets out of a 10.5" SBR.

It has led to a full freezer (or 2 or 3) of sausage, as I run those bullets at night...suppressed, with thermal guidance.

I have yet to capture one of the Barnes blacktip bullets, with pass throughs on swine up to 225 pounds. Perhaps GlennS will weigh in - he has run the bullets faster out of an MOA in 30 Herrett with good results.

Thanks for the info Bearbait and SCHunter! It is much appreciated.
SChunter do you have any idea what velocities you are shooting when you are getting full penetration on pigs?

I am shooting the 125 Hornady SST in my 300BO loaded at super sonic speeds. If it did not shoot so well in my gun the Barnes bullet would be my next choice.

I am using that bullet as well in my .30-30 AI Contender w/ 13" barrel. Results have been exceptional.

Karl
I'll update when I'm sitting at the desk with a few pics and load data from what I've tried. But my gun will easily keep less than an inch with muzzle velocity of 2420 fps in the 10" Herrett MOA. I've caught a few bullets in water traps and recovered the majority of one from a large Fallow doe this winter. It traversed the deer lengthwise and retained about 70% of its weight. Lost maybe two petals. Can't remember but the damage was amazing. Went through the front edge of shoulder blade, destroyed the bones it contacted and was found in hide of rear hindquarter area opposite side. Traveled straight and the wound channel was substantial. Shot was about 75-80 yards I I remember correctly. She took two steps backwards and crumbled to the ground. Great bullet! I pick up a couple boxes every now and then just to have a small stash and last for the gun over the future. I know my luck, they will change them or quit making them because I really like them

Thanks for all the feedback everybody! I'm excited that they seem to be working well with all the positive positive experiences folks are having. Google wasn't very helpful when searching for pistol based 30-30 experiences or loads with the bullet. I've got another trip to the range or two and I'll post some general load suggestions and results.
Anybody on this forum have connections at Barnes? With the impressive low velocity performance of the bullet, it would be nice if they published some load data for it in some of the common pistol calibers/barrels.

I don't have any experience with that bullet. I can tell you 125 gr Ballistic tips work extremely well out of a 14" contender and are exceptionly accurate for me. { this is a 1970's contender] I use a load of H4895 that is a little over max. I also shot 150 gr in a couple different makes with less than my desired results on whitetail.

Karl,

Not likely to see any data from barnes, as the pointy tip would be a no-go for lever action 30-30's, for which the data might be erroneously used.

It will be hard to know exactly where to stop on your reloading, as the pressures that can be tolerated by the contender are well below "normal" pressure signs. If it were me, I would place a high value on where the base of the bullet hits the neck, as compared to other 30-30 recipies(oal). This should at least get your case volume on par. The tricky part will be the bearing surface of the bullet, and all copper construction.

And thanks for posting the question to bring out the other user's of this bullet, with critter experience. Good stuff above, from everyone.

Craig

The beauty of that bullet is it basically has VERY little bearing surface. It can be run like a normal bullet charge wise according to Barnes engineers I've spoken with. I would honestly find a load that puts it in the 2350-2400 fps range that groups well and truck on. More and it may come apart up close but will gain very little in downrange performance in my opinion with that light of a slug. You aren't really talking a lot of velocity increase but to get it could push your pressure on up there to squeeze it out. If you are wanting to go further, go with the heavier 125 Ballisic tip. I have used those as well and they always get great reviews from guys shooting the 30-30 and AI version. The Barnes works so well down in that 2300-2400 range, I've never pushed it for everything I can get and I'm not as limited with the MOA to the lower pressures as the contender is. I just didn't see an advantage to it personally.

I thought I would post an update on the TAC-TX 300 black out bullet in 30-30 in the contender for others who might be interested.
I talked to Ty at Barnes and he thought the TAC-TX bullet would be a great option for 30-30 shooters and filed a request for load data development. Apparently the company currently doesn't have a budget for load development, so don't hold your breath.

I ended up with 31gn of RL 7 in a variety of cases using Federal or Remington primers. This gave me ~2500 fps in a 14" factory contender barrel. I fount that Hornady cases gave me ~3-4 shots before the heads started to separate. None of the other cases that I have shot at least 2-3 times more then the Hornady showed any signs of problems. I am moving on to try different cases as they become available. This load wasn't optimized for accuracy (1-2" groups at 100 yards). This is a project for later (Hornady 110 gn V-max will shoot 1" groups with the same recipe).

On opening morning I got a chance to use the load on two deer @115 yards, a button buck and it's mother. The button buck was DRT as the shot was a bit high and just nicked the bottom of the spine as it passed through the lungs. Lung tissue and hair was sprayed across the hill behind it for a good 15 feet. both proximal and distal ribs were broken with ~1.5" holes in both. The skin on the exit wound had a ~ 1" hole in it. Total tissue penetration was ~8 inches+ 2 ribs + a bit of spine. Very happy with bullet performance. The doe was ~ 2x the size and the bullet entered immediately behind the right shoulder broke a rib, obliterated a lung before passing through the diaphram, stomach and exiting mid way back on the left side(~24 inches of tissue penetration). She ran ~30 yards and rolled over kicking. For the shot placement I was very pleased with bullet performance. Ballistic calculators say the velocity was between 2100 and 2200 fps with ~1200 ft-lb of energy.

I didn't recover either bullet but did recover some of the polymer tip from the skin on the entry wound of the button buck. I was very happy with performance and thought it worked as well or better then 12 or 20g slugs (faster drop then I would expect with similar shot and a slug). Definitely a lot more fun then slugs.

These were my first deer with a pistol and I think I'm hooked. I need to spend a lot of time on field shooting positions but that will come. I'm going to spend the winter loading a pile of 110 gn V-max loads to use on p-dogs next spring. I'm working on getting one of my hunting buddies to put a 30-30 barrel on his contender

This thread really intrigues me. I have a BFR in 30-30 with a 10" barrel. The cylinder gap is tight but have gotten 2100 FPS with the Seirra 125 Grain FP Gameking loaded over 29.3 grains of IMR-4198. So based on the Information here that bullet may do well if I can get 2200-2300 from my gun.

From Ty Herring at Barnes "The .308 cal TAC-TX # 30321 with the black tip (for the 300 Black out cartridge requires 1350fps for expansion."

With my load above, it is calculated to drop below 1350 fps well past 400 yards. Far beyond my ability to deliver it precisely at this point, but lots of opportunity to improve my shooting and comfort range.

"Also, FYI I tried the Hornady 140 gn Monoflex factory loads and got ~2150 fps (not much velocity margin with a minimum recommended terminal velocity of 1800 fps) and 4" strings at 100 yards."
Not that it makes any difference for Karl's desired direction but several years back I was testing the 140 grain MonoFlex and had noted a minimum recommended velocity of 1600 fps for expansion. I called Hornady today and spoke with Seth, he looked it up and said from their testing it was 1590 something, so I guess that is how I just rounded to 1600 fps, which from my measured velocity of 2085 from my 14" barrel would put me right at 150 yards.
Sorry for the long, somewhat off subject post.

Thanks for the clarification and added info CharlieSA. I went back and found my emails from Hornady and they recommended velocities between 1700 and 2500 fps for the monoflex. Sounds like the person I emailed was a little more conservative with the numbers. The Monoflex bullet would be my choice if I was shooting with tubular magazine.

just recieved two boxes of these loaded them over 34.0 grains of AA2200 with Federal large rifle. I am shooting these in my 10" BFR I will chronograph tomorrow. ran out time to really wring it out but shot two strings of 5 ran about 2" at 75 yards. I have a Red Dot on my gun.

2200 not so good loaded more shot more and chronographed the load it was under 1700 FPS and the accuracy just opened up so I cleaned the gun and shot another 10 rounds using 41.0 grains of HLREV. speed went up to 1850 FPS bit accuracy was horrible 6" at 80 yards.

I was wondering if the scope or red dot sight was bad. So went back to my go to load a 170 grain cast WFN over 34.0 grains of LEVREV. GROUP tightened right up.

The rate of twist in the BFR is 1:10" so I would have thought the accuracy might be ok. with the lighter bullets. Not the case this gun loves 150 grain and heavier. I also ran my 150 grain over LEVREV and was running 1950 FPS and good. accuracy 2-3" at 80 yards. well sometimes thing do not always work the way I want so back to the heavier cast bullets.