Barnes provided me with 100 of their .454" XPB bullets for
use in testing in the FA83 Premiere and Taurus Raging Bull.
My first impression upon seeing the bullets with the huge
gaping cavity was "WOW! this has gotta be one wicked bullet
for use on thin skinned game". I'm was sure hopeful that
first impression would prove to be correct and I hoped to
find out first hand.
Let me get this complaint out of the way up front, Barnes
doesn't provide data for using their XPBs in the Barnes
Reloading Manual nor on their website that I can find. In
fairness to them regarding the Reloading Manual it does claim
only to be for rifle cartridges and so it is. Still Barnes
needs to provide some loading data for this bullet in both
the manual and on their website as conventional loading data
is just not applicable to this bullet.
The first time I loaded them I found that even tho I had
reduced the powder charge from what I used with other 250
grain bullets for use in the .454 Casull it still was
difficult to get the bullets seated in the case. I was only
able to seat them to the cannelure closest to the base of the
bullet which barely allowed them to chamber in the test
revolvers. The crimp grooves/cannelures are rather shallow
and don't allow for a lot of crimp.
When I fired the first loads in the FA83 the bullets began to
jump crimp on the first shot. After the second shot the
cylinder was frozen in place from the bullet jump and it
became necessary to remove the cylinder from the gun and
remove the cartridges. I then had to finish shooting the
groups single loading them. This is totally unacceptable for
a hunting situation. Accuracy of the FA83 scoped at 50 yards
averaged 2.5". Using iron sights at 25 yards groups averaged
3.2" from the FA83 and 3.2" from the iron sighted Taurus
Raging Bull. Looking at best four of five of the iron sight
groups assuming my tired or eyes accounted for a least one
poor shot, the FA83 averaged a bit over 1.5" and the RB
slightly under 2.0" for the best four of five. Further work
with these bullets allowed me to find a load that didn't jump
crimp and stayed in place as needed. If loading data had been
provided by Barnes this would no doubt have been less
trouble.
One thing I have noted in the bullets I've recovered so far.
NO EXPANSION. None at all. Now these bullets have hit a clay
bank, a cross tie and a telephone pole as well as an
occasional small stone in the bank and not a one of them has
opened up. I did some water bottle expansion tests and wasn't
able to recover the bullets but based on the damage done I
don't believe they opened up either. I confess to being a bit
concerned that they don't open at all on clay/ dirt or wood.
I have heard from others that they annealed the nose of these
bullets and got them to expand just fine but I don't consider
that an acceptable fix as they should come from the factory
ready to use.
I'm calling this one a Preliminary and not a Final report but
for the moment the Barnes XPB in .454 Casull gets a mixed
review and not yet an approval. I do plan to continue testing
until the sample I have is exhausted and have not yet had a
chance to use them on game which will be the REAL test.
Advertising copy from the Barnes website:
Borrowing technology from the highly successful X-Bullet,
Barnes introduces the all new Pistol X. Available in 44, 45
and 50 calibers, this new bullet is sure to change the face
of pistol hunting forever.
The Pistol X will deliver more energy than any other bullet
available for handguns. In testing, penetration has been
increased up to 25% over lead core bullets, while remaining
intact to expand like no other bullet in the world.
Visit Barnes Bullets by clicking on the name.
Barnes Bullets
P.O. Box 215
American Fork, Utah 84003
1-888-BARNES-X
Fax: 1-801-756-246
E-mail Barnes