TTSX Black Bear Ammo

[JS3]

I am hunting black bears in SE Alaska for the first time this spring and would like to hear from those that use the Barnes TTSX bullets. I plan to shoot a 165 gr TTSX out of a 300 WSM. I have searched for related threads and found several that mention black bear calipers and bullets, , but none specifically addressing my caliper and round. I would really be interested to hear opinions from much more experienced hunters regarding my ammo selection. Thanks in advance, and I would appreciate any feedback you might offer.

 

[BuckSmasher]

I am hunting black bears in SE Alaska for the first time this spring and would like to hear from those that use the Barnes TTSX bullets. I plan to shoot a 165 gr TTSX out of a 300 WSM. I have searched for related threads and found several that mention black bear calipers and bullets, , but none specifically addressing my caliper and round. I would really be interested to hear opinions from much more experienced hunters regarding my ammo selection. Thanks in advance, and I would appreciate any feedback you might offer.

Last couple of elk I’ve shot have been with 168 ttsx. Flawless performance.

Planning on going bear hunting later this week or next weekend. Will be loaded with ttsx.

 

[Tmac]

We’ve taken small WT does, mature WT bucks, mature MD bucks, cow elk, mature bull elk and Canadian moose with the 130 TTSX out of a 270 Win. You will be fine as long as you keep impact velocity up. 2k or more is my minimum, I prefer 2.2k.

The 168 was a better choice than the 165, at least it used to be, for better low velocity performance. The 168 was designed for lower velocity impacts, last I looked some years back, for 308\30~06 and the like. You really can’t push them too fast.

 

[againes85]

I used 165 TTSX out of a 300 win mag, last year and took a black bear here in NC. If you put it in the right spot, the bullet will do what it is designed to do!

 

[Big_wals]

I am hunting black bears in SE Alaska for the first time this spring and would like to hear from those that use the Barnes TTSX bullets. I plan to shoot a 165 gr TTSX out of a 300 WSM. I have searched for related threads and found several that mention black bear calipers and bullets, , but none specifically addressing my caliper and round. I would really be interested to hear opinions from much more experienced hunters regarding my ammo selection. Thanks in advance, and I would appreciate any feedback you might offer.

I shot Barnes bullets out of my 30-06 for several years and ended up settling on the 130 to get a little more velocity. Speed is key with monos. Just spend a couple minutes with a ballistics app, find out where your velocity drops to 2100ish fps, and don’t shoot anything beyond that. You’ll have no problem killing a bear with that combo. Good luck!

 

[BRWNBR]

I’ve used ttsx in a 243
For a lot of black bears here in Alaska. Black bears die easy. Your load/gun is more than perfect for any game in Alaska or North America including moose and brown bear.
Full send!

 

[TXHunt]

IMO black bears are the same as a deer, thin skinned medium sized game. Any decent bullet will do ok if in the vitals.
Unpopular opinion....I actually don't care for monolithic bullets for thin skinned medium sized game as my experience has been they go through so fast the animal runs a good ways before falling leaving you to a tracking job. I prefer a cup and core bullet or at most a bonded lead bullet for this sized game.

 

[rope]

That will work just fine. I shot mine with 300WM and 180 TTSX. Cinnamon was broad side, zipped right through. The black was frontal shot zipped right through. Both went between 15-25 yards. Watched both die and it was fast, one death moan.

 

[7RemMag]

That will work just fine. I shot mine with 300WM and 180 TTSX. Cinnamon was broad side, zipped right through. The black was frontal shot zipped right through. Both went between 15-25 yards. Watched both die and it was fast, one death moan.

While it’s hard to argue with those results, you might try dropping your grain weight a little. You may get a little more performance.

To the OP, your chosen cartridge/grain weight will do great if you do your part. Your choice of caliber ( .30) is a good one as well. Black bears are not generally difficult to kill, but a little bigger hole for it to bleed out of in the event you have to blood trail is never a bad thing.

 

[rope]

While it’s hard to argue with those results, you might try dropping your grain weight a little. You may get a little more performance.

To the OP, your chosen cartridge/grain weight will do great if you do your part. Your choice of caliber ( .30) is a good one as well. Black bears are not generally difficult to kill, but a little bigger hole for it to bleed out of in the event you have to blood trail is never a bad thing.

Got this 8.5 foot brown bear at the other end of the beach from where we were having a cookout, when taking a break from fishing. I will keep my 180’s he soaked up 3.