A while ago Paul asked me for some pics of the 200gr Barnes XFB that I recovered from the elk that I shot last year. And finally here they are. The velocity at the muzzle was 2900fps. The elk was 305 yards and it was an almost head on shot. Velocity at impact was 2282fps with 2312 foot pounds of energy. The bullet penetrated almost completely through the animal and I found it just under the hide of the off side flank. It had actually cut a hole in the hide it just didn't have enough power to fall on to the ground.

HB,
 
Pretty impressive expansion for the distance from muzzle to animal......Thanks for the pic.
 
Ol' John

I have a barnes XLC that when I was developing a load for went through a partially rotted 12" barn beam I had in from of the dirt berm where my target set up is located. It was just poking out the other side. I weighed it and it retained over 95 % of it's weight. Excellent expansion and weight retention, I was impressed with that after going through that hard 100 year old barn beam. I really gotta get a digital camera so I can start posting pics too...

What a pretty sight! A 'trophy' as much as any other part as far as I'm concerned.
 
Thanks HB.
 
Paul

I was very pleased with the performance and to recover the bullet, this is only the second bullet that I have ever recovered. I was most distressed at Barnes' decision to discontinue this bullet.

I know I'm not alone in this, but seems like every time I find a product that really "works", the manufacturer quits making it. Here's a picture of a 175 grain Barnes X Bullet in .338 that I recovered. To me it's a "beautiful thing". Barnes quit making X Bullets in 175 for the .338. Imagine that. I think they've quit making all flat-based X Bullets for .338. Brilliant. (I since checked, and the 160 and 250 are still flat-based.)
 
Another bullet I use extensively is the flat-based and large meplatted, Speer 115 grain HP in 7mm (.284"). No doubt it too will "fail to perform" sales-wise sooner or later. I've started to stockpile them.
 
Now I use the 210 Nosler Partition in my .338 WinMag. I just noticed that Nosler has quit making it in the original configuration with the cannelure. No big deal, except that it suggests that Nosler is fiddling with something that isn't broken. That's not a good sign.
 
Paul

gitano, thoes are some great pics. What was the estimated impact velocity? They seem to be a bit more deformed than the bullet that I recovered. Also, what can you tell us about the resistance that it met? Did it hit bone or anything like that? Also, what animal was it recovered from?

I was afraid someone would ask that. :} I can't remember at the moment, which means I did not get it out of an animal. I'll get my notes and supply the details, but I'm quit certain (99%) it wasn't recovered from an animal.
 
Paul

How are you guys determining impact velocity?

kombi, in my case I took the known velocity at the muzzle, 2900fps, and the known distance, 305 yards. I then looked in the Barnes reloading book and they told me what my speed was and the energy. I've found that that's easier than setting up a chronograph at 300 yards and praying that you don't shoot it while trying to shoot over it.

The 160 and 250 Barnes "X" bullets are still flat-based.
 
Paul

You might want to grab some of thoes 160s to try in your 338 MAI. Just a thought.

Yeah, the thought crossed my mind too.
 
Paul