Barnes LRX performance

[DLSJR]

I’m curious if any of you have experience with Barnes LRX bullets at extended range of 350-500 yards. If so, did you have any issue with them not opening well at long ranges? I’m taking my .264 to Zambia in November on a Sitatunga hunt and I shoot 127 grain LRX’s at 3,200 in that rifle. It’s very accurate as I get 0.35” 3-shot groups with that load and of course it’s pretty flat. We’ve shot a number of deer, desert sheep and elk with that load and it’s worked great but the farthest shot I’ve made with that particular bullet was maybe 300-325 yards. Johnny DuPlooy wants me to bring a flat shooting rifle so my .264 is an easy choice. I’m just curious if anyone has much experience with the smaller caliber LRX’s performance at extended ranges, especially in regard to their expansion.

 

[dchum]

I wouldn't sweat it. Sounds like you have the perfect setup to me. I've seen aoudad, nilgai, and Hartanns zebra at distances beyond 350 yards using the standard TTSX, and every one opened up well. The LRX will only be softer. So you should be set.

With your 3,200 fps muzzle velocity, I think you're going to be impressed with the LRX's wounding abilities. What is a Southern/EA sittunga bull? Got to be close to 220-250 lbs? Should be a great match of accuracy and projectile to its intended game.

 

[roklok]

My buddy used a 7x57 and 168 LRXs on a zebra at approximately 80 yards and a wildebeest around 200 yards. Bullet performance on both was excellent with pass throughs, major tissue damage, and fast death. I believe muzzle velocity was around 2650, so that should equate to the impact velocity at longer ranges with your .264.

 

[DLSJR]

I wouldn't sweat it. Sounds like you have the perfect setup to me. I've seen aoudad, nilgai, and Hartanns zebra at distances beyond 350 yards using the standard TTSX, and every one opened up well. The LRX will only be softer. So you should be set.

With your 3,200 fps muzzle velocity, I think you're going to be impressed with the LRX's wounding abilities. What is a Southern/EA sittunga bull? Got to be close to 220-250 lbs? Should be a great match of accuracy and projectile to its intended game.

A Zambezi Sitatunga is about 175-200 or so lbs and honestly they’re not the toughest animals. I’m just pondering how that bullet will do out past 400 yards, though I do tend to think you’re right about them probably being a big softer than a typical TTSX. I’ve been over- thinking bullets for this hunt but finally decided to just stick with my pet load as described. My son and I shot a couple bucks with that bullet 2 seasons ago, both a bit less than 100 yards, and the trauma was pretty massive. More than a regular TSX I thought.

Part of it is that the trophy fee for the block I’m hunting is stupid expensive after a 32”+ bull was shot there last year, so I’m thinking about an LRX going through like a solid on a long shot. I won’t want to pay for a lost bull due to bullet failure (failure being penciling through). I guess I need other things to focus on.

 

[dchum]

A Zambezi Sitatunga is about 175-200 or so lbs and honestly they’re not the toughest animals. I’m just pondering how that bullet will do out past 400 yards, though I do tend to think you’re right about them probably being a big softer than a typical TTSX. I’ve been over- thinking bullets for this hunt but finally decided to just stick with my pet load as described. My son and I shot a couple bucks with that bullet 2 seasons ago, both a bit less than 100 yards, and the trauma was pretty massive. More than a regular TSX I thought.

Part of it is that the trophy fee for the block I’m hunting is stupid expensive after a 32”+ bull was shot there last year, so I’m thinking about an LRX going through like a solid on a long shot. I won’t want to pay for a lost bull due to bullet failure (failure being penciling through). I guess I need other things to focus on.

I can imagine the want for DRT performance on a longer shot on a a sitatunga. Having them dart off in the papyrus reeds would also make me weary. So you are certainly justified in giving it thought.

 

[MedRiver]

I have been using the LRX in my 6mm-06 at just under 3400 FPS. No complaints at all with the farthest I can remember being a mule deer buck at around 400-425 yards. Was quartering away and went through the onside shoulder and exited the neck. Plenty of trauma.

Have been using the 101 LRX in a .25-06 with equally good results but have not taken any game with it further than about 330 yards (doe antelope). Even with the limited resistance of a doe antelope, it went through both sides of the rib with a good wound path in between.

 

[deewayne2003]

I’m curious if any of you have experience with Barnes LRX bullets at extended range of 350-500 yards. If so, did you have any issue with them not opening well at long ranges? I’m taking my .264 to Zambia in November on a Sitatunga hunt and I shoot 127 grain LRX’s at 3,200 in that rifle. It’s very accurate as I get 0.35” 3-shot groups with that load and of course it’s pretty flat. We’ve shot a number of deer, desert sheep and elk with that load and it’s worked great but the farthest shot I’ve made with that particular bullet was maybe 300-325 yards. Johnny DuPlooy wants me to bring a flat shooting rifle so my .264 is an easy choice. I’m just curious if anyone has much experience with the smaller caliber LRX’s performance at extended ranges, especially in regard to their expansion.

Watching this thread and hoping you will do a post trip follow up on your results.

I recently ordered some .30cal 200gr LRX for my .300win; I decided on the LRX because I believe it will be a great all around bullet for hunting anything shy of Brown bear and I'll have a custom LEUPOLD dial made for the load.

In the research I did the LRX is designed to open at lower velocity for long shots and Barnes states......
"On close shots the LRX petals may detach"

Which is perfectly fine with me, open at long range as advertised and at short range the petals can shed acting like a CEB Raptor with the petals flying through the vitals.

 

[MedRiver]

In the research I did the LRX is designed to open at lower velocity for long shots and Barnes states......
"On close shots the LRX petals may detach"

I can confirm this. My daughter shot a good muley at under 50 yards with the 101 LRX in the 25-06. Was likely still going around 3200 fps. I did not find the shank but found petals on the offside while processing. The buck ran a few yards, laid down and died.

 

[jburton9]

I used 190 grain .308 LRX’s from a 300 win mag @ 2900 fps on a recent trip to Namibia. They performed flawlessly on kudu, wildebeest, oryx, and springbuck from 10-350 yards. Beautiful expansion on all bullets recovered. One Kudu in particular was shot at 300 yards and a finishing shot from 10. Both bullets were recovered with all petals intact and you couldn’t hardly tell them apart…. Was very impressed with their performance.

 

[DLSJR]

I can imagine the want for DRT performance on a longer shot on a a sitatunga. Having them dart off in the papyrus reeds would also make me weary. So you are certainly justified in giving it thought.

That’s a very big part of why I’m asking.

 

[DLSJR]

Watching this thread and hoping you will do a post trip follow up on your results.

I recently ordered some .30cal 200gr LRX for my .300win; I decided on the LRX because I believe it will be a great all around bullet for hunting anything shy of Brown bear and I'll have a custom LEUPOLD dial made for the load.

In the research I did the LRX is designed to open at lower velocity for long shots and Barnes states......
"On close shots the LRX petals may detach"

Which is perfectly fine with me, open at long range as advertised and at short range the petals can shed acting like a CEB Raptor with the petals flying through the vitals.

That’s exactly what I’m hoping for. Thanks for adding perspective.

And yes, I’ll be providing a full report after I return.

 

[Letzhunt]

My trip to SA in April I took a Springbuck at 512 yards....with a 160 LRX out of a 7PRC. It opened on that small framed animal so I'm sure you'll be just fine.

 

[Mike Van Horn]

168 LRX is what l use in 7mm Weatherby. Antelope, Deer, Elk. One elk was 487. One deer was 523. All pass through, excellent performance. Also elk as close as 80 yards, same performance.

 

[MacJenkins]

We’ve been shooting LRX’s for quite a few years along with TSX, TTSX, on close to 200 animals. They work great. Most recent is the 160’s in 7PRC. Use to use the 168’s but since the more slippery 160’s came out we have been using them with great results as well.

 

[Boglor]

When I went to the Caprivi in 2024, I used the 168 gr LRX in my 7x57 at 2640 fps.

I took a Zebra at 90 yards, Full pass through on the hanger (we heard the bullet ricochet off the hill far behind him, so it still had significant velocity after going through). Destroyed his Heart, ran 60 yards and down.

Took a Blu Gnu at 212 yards, 20mph crosswinds. Same story, full pass through heart shot. Ran 60 or so yards and toppled end over end. Good damage and expansion as well.

I would not hesitate to use the LRX out to 500 on most plains game, even with the 7x57, if you can be sure of the shot of course.

The relatively high ballistic coefficient and low expansion velocity monolithic construction make it a pretty good bullet for general use.

I will use them again for plains game.

 

[TMac]

I use LRX’s quite a bit on game up to elk size. They have worked very well. I keep impact velocities at or above 2,000 and prefer 2,200 or more at impact.

With a MV of 3,200, at sea level, you have almost 2,500 fps at 350 yards and over 2,200 at 500. It will be devastating at 350 and will still work well at 500, all assuming your MV is correct.

 

[Bill_D]

I shoot Barnes 175 LRX out of my 300 wsm at 3100 and out of my 30-06 at 2850.

In my option the LRX is preforms a little more like a partition as it’s little softer and opens up more/faster followed by complete penetration and you get a better BC (30 caliber 175 is .508 bc).

I have shot elk at 500 yards with this load and it’s devastating wound channel and pass through.

Took this 30-06 load to Namibia and spring buck to eland, seven plains game animals (all within 200 yards) preformed perfectly and all pass throughs. This load also dropped a big desert mule deer dead in its tracks at 60 yards.

Living is lead free California it’s the best option.

 

[Wyit76]

I've shot a lot of game in the western US with the LRX, specifically the 139 in a 7 rem mag. I've only had one instance where I believe it was not expanding properly, that was a follow up shot on a cow elk at a hair shy of 800 yards.

I put your velocity into Hornadays 4DOF app with their 130 CX bullet, the 127 should be fairly similar, velocity wise you should be good to 700 yards or so.

 

[mdwest]

The only LRX I’ve shot past 300 has been the 208gr from my 300 prc. The only think I’ve shot at that distance is paper… but I’ve got full confidence in the bullet and wouldn’t think twice about engaging game at that range. It’s the most accurate bullet I’ve found in my prc, and I’ve shot more African game animals than I can count with TSX and ttsx… Barnes bullets simply perform.,,

 

[DLSJR]

I use LRX’s quite a bit on game up to elk size. They have worked very well. I keep impact velocities at or above 2,000 and prefer 2,200 or more at impact.

With a MV of 3,200, at sea level, you have almost 2,500 fps at 350 yards and over 2,200 at 500. It will be devastating at 350 and will still work well at 500, all assuming your MV is correct.

My MV is correct. 3,220 measured over a chronograph. Altitude is about 4,000 feet and will match my CDS turret pretty closely. It’ll be warmer than I used for setup but that won’t matter enough to matter as far as I expect to shoot.

While I’m very comfortable shooting paper as fas as 750 yards (farthest I’ve shot it and shot about < 5” group out there) I’ll have to be extremely solid to shoot past 400 on this hunt. Huge trophy fee at Tondwa, so I’ve gotta be 100% sure before touching the trigger. $10k riding on the shot.