Barnes 110 TTSX for elk

[400bull]

My 12 year old boy will be going on his first elk (cow) hunt this fall and I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am to take him out with me for the first time. He will be using my Win 270 that my dad bought for me when I was 16. I have had him out shooting it a couple times over the summer but I think that the recoil is a little on the harsh side for him. I have noticed that he starts to flinch after the 4-5 shot. So I am looking at putting a couple reduced loads together for him to see if that will help out. I have some Nosler 130 gr. partitions at the house that I could use but was thinking about trying the Barnes 110 gr. TTSX to drop the recoil a little more. Shots would be limited to 200-250 yards regardless of what bullet I end up using. What are your thoughts on using the Barnes 110 gr. TTSX?

400bull

 

[deadibob]

I wouldn't be scared to use either of those bullets on a cow. As much a fan as I am with Barnes bullets though, I'd probably feel more comfortable with the 130 partition. Barnes bullets like velocity and the partition will probably be better if you are using lower velocity.

 

[mtmuley]

I honestly doubt he would notice any decrease in recoil with a 110 grain bullet. I'd work on using the Partition. mtmuley

 

[Goldberg]

Although I rarely chime in on this site, cuz I mostly just learn from others, I thought I would offer up my nickels worth. I am 6-3,230, and in fair shape. But I am a super wimp. I will not shoot at a bench without a jell pack between the butt and my shoulder. I realized quite a number of years ago that the flinch you acquire at the bench, follows you into the field. Really messes you up. I started all three of my sons at a fairly early age, all with a 270 coincidently, with a thick jell pack, and they are much better marksmen than I am. I think it really takes the fun out for a kid to be beat up at the bench. I really think that even the smallest caliber beats a youngster up pretty good.
Only my two cents worth, but give it some thought!!

 

[quest]

I wouldn't use 110 for Elk to small. 270 Winchester 130 grain bullet at 3140 8.0 lb rifle 16.5 recoil energy in foot pounds. If you reload you could use a reduce load to lower the kick.


Cartridge (Wb@MV)* Rifle Weight Recoil energy in foot pounds
.223 Rem. (55 at 3200) 8.0 3.2
.22-250 Rem. (55 at 3600) 8.5 4.7
.243 Win. (100 at 2960) 7.5 8.8
.243 WSSM (100 at 3100) 7.5 10.1
.25-06 Rem. (120 at 3000) 8.0 12.5
.257 Wby. Mag. (120 at 3300) 9.25 15.1
.270 Win. (150 at 2900) 8.0 17.0
.280 Rem. (140 at 3000) 8.0 17.2
7mm Rem. Mag. (150 at 3100) 8.5 19.2
7mm Wby. Mag. (140 at 3300) 9.25 19.5
7mm Ultra Mag. (160 at 3200) 8.5 29.4
.30-30 Win. (170 at 2200) 7.5 11.0
.308 Win. (150 at 2800) 7.5 15.8
.300 WSM (180 at 2970) 8.25 23.8
.300 Win. Mag. (180 at 2960) 8.5 25.9
.300 Wby. Mag. (150 at 3400) 9.25 24.6
.300 Ultra Mag. (180 at 3230) 8.5 32.8
.325 WSM (180 at 3060) 7.5 33.1
.338 Federal (210 at 2630) 8.0 21.9
.338 Win. Mag. (250 at 2700) 9.0 33.1
.340 Wby. Mag. (200 at 3100) 10.0 29.6
.338 Ultra Mag (250 at 2860) 8.5 43.1
.416 Rem. Mag. (400 at 2400) 10.0 52.9
.416 Rigby (400 at 2400) 10.0 58.1
.470 N.E. (500 at 2150) 11.0 69.3
.50 BMG (647 at 2710) 30.0 70.0

 

[RELH]

I also woulde stick with the 130 gr. Nosler Partition. The front half of the partition is designed to open up even at reduced velocity and the back half will stay together for the deep pentration.

Reduce the Partition to about 2500 fps and see if that combo will help him on recoil. Also do not have him shooting from the bench, worse position for harsh recoil. Have him practice from a kneeing or sitting position with shooting bipod sticks or bipod attached to the rifle. A very good position for his practice and to also use in the field. Keep the practice sessions short so he does not develope a sore shoulder and a flinch. He can also practice shooting the sitting position using a bi-pod with a 22 rimfire rifle at 50 yards if he needs to improve his ability to shoot small groups.

When you go hunting, you can up the velocity to about 2700-2800 fps and you resight the rifle in for that velocity and he will not notice the extra kick in the field while shooting at a game animal.

RELH

 

[marley]

My son is 12 but the size of the average 9 year old. I took my old .280 and spent $200 to have a muzzle brake put on it. He shoots 150 grain partitions at 2950 GPS and it honestly feels less than a .243. He pounds the milk jugs at 500 yards all day long.

 

[MaineFlatlander]

At this point it is time to stop! He will never stop flinching by continuing to do it. It doesn't matter what the caliber.its time to find a different rifle/caliber that he can shoot. In the mean time lots of practice with a 22.

I'm 50 and have been shooting since 5. I HATE recoil. I spend my time shooting a few hundred rounds every year with all of my "kid" calibers Heck the biggest ones I have are 270. I've shot moose, caribou, sheep, mtn goats, and elk all with nothing more than a 7mm-08 with quality bullets...one shot each

I underatand there is a larger margin of error with larger calibers but if you are a marginal shot with one to begin with you are no better off.For this Fall I've been focusing on finding the "perfect" load for my 25-06 for antelope and mule deer. More than enough...even for elk at the distances you mentioned.

 

[400bull]

Thanks for the reply's. It looks like I will stick with a light load using the Partition for this year and maybe next year he will be ready for a little more.

When I have had him out shooting the 270 we have mainly been shooting melons and water jugs from the sitting or kneeling positions. We have never went more then 5 rounds before taking a break. He has never complained about the recoil I have just noticed that he starts to flinch after the 3-4 shot. The flinch that I am noticing may even be caused by him wanting to see the melon/water jug explode.

After doing a little more research on the Barnes 110 TTSX I must say that I am considering using them on some yotes and mule deer this year.

400bull

 

[REDDOG]

Light Barnes driven fast are killing bastids.. But at low velocity use the PT

 

[elkantlers]

LAST EDITED ON Aug-24-13 AT 10:01AM (MST)[p]Another thing that makes kids flinch is the noise of the rifle firing. Make sure he is wearing a good pair of muffs. Even better is a pair of muffs over some ear plugs. I also bought a Limbsaver pad that you wear over your shoulder. It is probably only 1/4" thick and you don't even know your wearing it. it helps quite a bit and can be worn while hunting.

I would use the Partition, especially for Elk.

 

[400bull]

Good point. I always have my kids wear hearing protection, most of them time they are doubled up (ear plugs and ear muffs). After my oldest boy broke his collarbone I purchased him one of the recoil pads that you wear over the shoulder. I will need to see if I can find that for my younger boy to use the next time we go out shooting.

400bull

 

[tex270]

Last year I loaded some 110 ttsx Barnes for my wife's 270. I can tell you, they kick as hard as a 130 gr., I couldn't tell the difference in recoil. However, they are very accurate and I shot two whitetail and a boar about 200 lbs. The bullet performed flawlessly. All one shot kills, and complete penetration. I am using the same combination this year, here in Texas. Don't think I would use it on elk though, they are much tougher than the small Tx deer.

 

[LIK2HNT]

I did not read all the replies, so I hope I am not repeating what someone else said. Go to the Hodgdon web site and look under their reduced recoil loads for H4895 powder. I would find a load that shoots the 110 Sierra or 100 gr Hornadays as accurate as possible and as close to point of impact for the 130 gr partitions you will hunt with. These reduced recoil loads will be used for target practice out to 100 yards. Do not tell him that you switch bullets for hunting. It allows the kids to target practice with their hunting rifle with out the recoil. Because they are so excited, they will not notice the increased recoil when shooting game with the stouter hunting loads.

Hope this helps
Bill