[Bindernut]

I still prefer the original (ungrooved) Barnes X design over the newer grooved bullets.
My 25-06's favorite bullet was their 100gr flatbase X, but it was discontinued a few years back.

I would go ahead and use them. Those weights in the .277 size are great bullets for deer/elk sized game.
Make sure you are using Barnes data for the original X bullets though, not the new grooved TSX ones. I can probably dig up some data for you from an older Barnes manual too in the next day or two.

Also, be aware that if these are discontinued as well (like my 100gr FB .257") you will have to work up the load again if you switch to the new TSX design.

Pressures aren't any worse than with any other bullet...but they do react differently and that's why Barnes load data is usually quite a bit different than a traditional jacketed bullet design.

Some rifles like Barnes, some just plain don't regardless how long you spend tuning a load. I still think they are worth a try though, their terminal performance is superb.


I've got a 120gr TSX load worked up for my dad's Rem700 .270 that we use on whitetails. Never tried the original X in that rifle though,