.png)
Rifle: BRNO ZKK 601 .308W.
Bullet: 150 gr Hornady Interbond.
Muzz.Velocity: 2,800 ft/sec.
Distance: 262 metres (290 yards).
Impact Vel.: +- 2,250 ft/sec.
The bullet demolished the first shoulder, passed through a rib, passed through an opposite rib and stopped in the opposite shoulder. The bull flung itself around in a tight circle and fell down dead close to where it was shot.
83% Weight retention.
Perfect impact velocity for best penetration. A successful one shot kill as the lungs around the heart were severely damaged and the top of the heart was cut.
Critical Review: The low impact velocity ensured that the released kinetic energy into the carrier of the KE (the bullet) was low enough to not allow catastrophic deformation of the 150 gr mass. Had the bull been 160 yards closer, impact velocity would have been 2,580 ft/sec, expansion would have been considerably more, weight loss would have been more and penetration measurably less - still a high probability of going into the heart but not through an opposite rib and into the opposite shoulder as one would like to have.
This was good performance but shows the limit of a 150 gr. bullet on big game - higher impact velocity would have resulted in more weight loss and less penetration. The hunter knows the trajectory of his rifle and these bullets very well - which was the reason for his choice. I would develop the same confidence with a 168-180 gr bullet.
Good day Andries. So nice to talk to you. I would say that I personally have never notice the Barnes TSX that tumbled. Doesn't mean it never happened to me but for sure never noticed. About the closest shot I can recall on an elk was about 75 to 80 yds. Both the elk & me surprised each other. I froze & he froze. He froze a few seconds to long. Since I have never recovered a TSX from an elk I can't comment if the petals fused back. They have just always worked. The ones I have recovered from the dirt bank behind my 100td range show a nicely rounded mushroom. When dug out of the dirt they still weigh 99 to 100% of their original weight. My primary reason for hunting big game like you
is the meat first so if I noticed excess meat damage I would be concerned.
You will see here a buck we harvested this last November along with a picture of the bullet entrance hole. The range was about 185yds. The shot was taken with a Ruger 243 I bought new back in 1967, the first year of production. Still has a beautiful bore & still a tack driver. The bullet used was a common C&C 100gr style. No need for expensive copper bullets here. If you notice I listed a picture of him in full velvet this last summer. He had vanished for three or so months & then at very first light one morning he showed. I guess he had gone nocturnal. We call him the the "Salad Tong" buck.