The purpose of the outing was to evaluate the performance of a new product--the Tipped Triple-Shock X-Bullet.

The TTSX is a solid-copper bullet with a polymer tip--something new for Barnes in a solid. The tip improves upon the capabilities of the original TSX bullet at longer ranges, and it provides even faster expansion than its predecessor. Even though the all-copper bullet is relatively lighter than traditional bullets for any given caliber, Barnes wanted to ensure that the handloader could achieve the maximum terminal ballistic performance with its solid.

"The tip ensures the bullet will open and expand over a broader range of impact velocities," said Brooks. "That and the boattail base maximize the effective ballistic coefficient, so the point-blank range is extended."

Speaking of ballistic coefficients, the .270-caliber TTSX that I would end up taking on the antelope hunt has a BC of .377--as measured with an Oehler Model 43 PBL. The TTSX retains the familiar rings cut into its shank to provide lower pressures.

In addition to being offered as a new component, the new bullet was also planned to be loaded in Federal Premium factory ammunition. Since 110-grain .270-caliber and 130-grain .30-caliber bullets were in production, I had a choice of either Federal test samples, or I could develop my own handloads. Knowing all that, I immediately thought of using my latest acquisition, a .270 WSM rifle that shoots like a house afire.

We had a rather short time to prepare for the hunt, so I requested a couple boxes of bullets and then called Federal to secure samples of its new factory load. I planned to develop at least one good handload and use it if it performed on par with the factory ammo. Up until this hunt, I'd never had the opportunity to hunt with my handloads.

BARNES TIPPED RIPLE-SHOCK X-BULLET
Model	Tipped Triple Shock X-Bullet
Purpose	Big Game
Manufacturer	Barnes Bullets P.O. Box 215 American Fork, UT 84003 800-574-9200 www.barnesbullets.com
Contruction	Solid-copper body with poly tip
Calibers/weights	.277/110 grs., 130 grs.; .284/120 grs., 140 grs.; .308/130 grs., 150 grs.; 168 grs., 180 grs.; .338/160grs., 210 grs., 225grs.

In my haste, I forgot to ask Brooks for load data. Instead, I reviewed my .270 WSM records and selected four propellants that had performed satisfactorily for me before. By comparing various recipes for similar-weight bullets in several reloading manuals, I arrived at conservative starting loads for the 110-grain TTSX. Federal Large Rifle Magnum primers had worked well in the past, so I simply stuck with their proven performance.

Although the maximum overall length for the .270 WSM is specified as 2.860 inches, the rifle's short throat limited my TTSX handloads to 2.835 inches OAL (max). Barnes recommends backing the solid-copper X-Bullets off a bit from the lands, so I arbitrarily seated them to 2.800 inches.

Fortunately, by the time I had assembled 40 rounds of test ammo, two boxes of factory samples had arrived. The bullets in the factory loads were seated even deeper, at 2.765 inches, with the case mouths firmly crimped into the uppermost grooves in the TTSX bullets.

Three range sessions later, I had fired in excess of 80 rounds. I was pleased to note that 68.0 grains of Reloder 19 and 65.0 grains of IMR-4350 performed as well or even a bit better in my rifle than the Federal test ammo. And my best handloads' muzzle velocities almost matched the factory load's average velocity.