Barnes Load Data & Reloading Guide
Founded in 1932, Barnes Bullets has a rich history of producing high-quality ammunition components that have earned a strong reputation in the handloading community. Known for their innovation and commitment to excellence, Barnes specializes in producing premium bullets, particularly their all-copper designs that provide exceptional terminal performance and weight retention. Their products have become a staple for reloaders who prioritize accuracy and dependability in their handloads.
About Barnes
Barnes offers an extensive range of reloading components, including bullets, as well as powders, brass, and primers, ensuring a comprehensive solution for every reloader's needs. Their stringent quality standards guarantee consistency across all of their products, which is crucial for precise load development. For reloaders seeking data, Barnes provides detailed load recommendations that assist in fine-tuning ammunition performance to match specific needs. Emphasizing the importance of load development, the company stands by its components' performance under various conditions, fostering a culture of reliability and trust among even the most discerning reloaders.
With decades of expertise and a dedication to innovative solutions, Barnes remains a preferred choice for experienced reloaders seeking components that not only meet but exceed expectations. Their commitment to quality and performance continues to solidify their position as a leader in the ammunition industry.
Develop your own Barnes Load Recipes
Use our ballistics calculator to create precise load recipes with products from this manufacturer.
Start CalculatingBarnes Bullet Types
Popular bullet types from this manufacturer – more may be available
Barnes - LRX
The Barnes LRX bullet is a lead-free, long-range projectile designed for optimal performance in hunting scenarios. Featuring a sleek, boat-tail shape ...
Barnes - LRX BT
The Barnes LRX BT bullet is designed for handloaders and hunters seeking superior performance in terminal ballistics. Constructed with a solid copper ...
Barnes - TAC-X
The Barnes TAC-X is a purpose-built tactical bullet featuring all-copper construction designed for military and law enforcement applications. Its uniq...
Barnes - TSX
The Barnes TSX bullet, available for various calibers, features an all-copper, lead-free design, making it an eco-friendly and highly reliable hunting...
Barnes - TSX BT
The Barnes TSX BT (Triple-Shock X Boat Tail) bullet is designed for handloaders and hunters seeking a premium performance projectile. Constructed from...
Barnes - TTSX
The Barnes TTSX bullet is a lead-free, all-copper projectile renowned for its precision and reliability. Featuring a streamlined polymer tip and a boa...
Barnes - TTSX BT
The Barnes TTSX BT (Tipped Triple-Shock X Boat Tail) bullet is designed for handloaders and hunters seeking exceptional terminal performance. Construc...
Standard Load Data — Barnes
Select your desired cartridge and bullet weight below to access the corresponding load table. From there, you can choose any listed load recipe and transfer it directly into the ballistics calculator for further refinement, optimization, and precision tuning.
.277 | 155gr | Barnes LRX BT
6.8 Western
.308 | 150gr | Barnes TTSX BT
.308 Win.
.308 | 130gr | Barnes TTSX BT
.308 Win.
.264 | 127gr | Barnes LRX BT
6.5 PRC
.308 | 150gr | Barnes TTSX BT
.30-06 Spring.
.277 | 110gr | Barnes TAC-X
6.8 mm Rem. SPC
.284 | 145gr | Barnes LRX BT
.280 Ackley Improved
.224 | 55gr | Barnes TTSX BT
.223 Rem.
.264 | 127gr | Barnes LRX BT
6.5 Creedmoor
.257 | 117gr | Barnes LRX BT
.25 Creedmoor
.243 | 80gr | Barnes TTSX BT
.243 Win.
.224 | 36gr | Barnes Varmint Grenade FB
.223 Rem.
.311 | 150gr | Barnes TSX BT
7.62 x 54 R Russian Nagant
.308 | 150gr | Barnes X FN
.30-30 Win.
.224 | 77gr | Barnes Match Burner BT
.223 Rem.
.264 | 120gr | Barnes TTSX BT
6.5 x 57
.284 | 120gr | Barnes TTSX BT
7 x 57 R
.284 | 145gr | Barnes LRX BT
7 x 64 Brenneke
.308 | 110gr | Barnes TSX FB
.30-06 Spring.
.257 | 100gr | Barnes TTSX BT
.257 Weath. Mag.
.284 | 145gr | Barnes LRX BT
7 mm Backcountry
.257 | 100gr | Barnes TTSX BT
.25-06 Rem.
.257 | 100gr | Barnes TTSX BT
.25 Creedmoor
.277 | 130gr | Barnes MRX BT
.270 Win.
Community Loads — Barnes
Sample load data using Barnes bullets or powders from our database.
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We have the following 455 Barnes Bullets in our Database:
.204 | 20gr | Barnes Varminator HP FB
.204 | 26gr | Barnes Varmint Grenade FB
.204 | 50gr | Barnes Varminator HP FB
.224 | 30gr | Barnes Varmint Grenade FB
.224 | 36gr | Barnes Varmint Grenade FB
.224 | 40gr | Barnes Varminator HP FB
.224 | 40gr | Barnes VLC
.224 | 45gr | Barnes BND SPIT-FIRE
.224 | 45gr | Barnes TSX BT
.224 | 45gr | Barnes X BT
.224 | 45gr | Barnes XLC BT
.224 | 50gr | Barnes Solid Spitz
.224 | 50gr | Barnes TSX BT
.224 | 50gr | Barnes TTSX FB
.224 | 50gr | Barnes Varmint Grenade FB
.224 | 50gr | Barnes VLC S
.224 | 50gr | Barnes X S
.224 | 50gr | Barnes XLC S
.224 | 52gr | Barnes Match Burner BT
.224 | 53gr | Barnes TAC-X
.224 | 53gr | Barnes TSX BT
.224 | 53gr | Barnes X S
.224 | 53gr | Barnes XLC S
.224 | 55gr | Barnes MPG FB
Frequently Asked Questions
Barnes occupies a uniquely defined position in the bullet market — they are the company that invented and perfected the modern monolithic copper bullet, and virtually everything in their lineup flows from that foundational innovation. Where other manufacturers offer monolithic bullets as one option among many lead-core designs, Barnes has built their entire identity and product philosophy around copper and copper alloy construction. The result is a portfolio that is narrower in some respects than competitors but deeper and more refined within its chosen territory, with a particular dominance in the premium hunting segment and growing strength in precision target and law enforcement applications.
X Bullet — The Original Monolithic Copper Hunting Bullet The X Bullet is where Barnes's entire modern identity begins, and understanding it is essential to understanding everything else in their lineup. Introduced in 1989, it was the first successful all-copper hunting bullet brought to market, built from a solid copper alloy with a hollow point cavity that peels back into four uniform petals on impact — creating a mushroom profile that is mechanically locked and cannot separate because there is no core to lose. It retains essentially 100% of its weight regardless of impact velocity, bone contact, or range, and penetrates deeper than any equivalent lead-core bullet of the same weight. The X Bullet established the performance benchmark that all subsequent monolithic bullets — from every manufacturer — have been measured against. It is still available today for shooters who want the original design, though it has largely been superseded in most applications by its refined descendants. Its one noted characteristic is higher copper fouling compared to later designs, which led directly to the development of the TSX.
TSX — Triple Shock X The TSX (Triple Shock X) is the direct evolution of the original X Bullet and remains one of Barnes's most important and widely used products. The critical difference is a series of relief grooves — typically three — machined into the bearing surface of the bullet, which reduce the amount of copper in contact with the barrel at any given moment. This dramatically reduces copper fouling compared to the original X Bullet while simultaneously lowering chamber pressure, which allows reloaders to seat the bullet to standard depths without the pressure spikes that sometimes complicated load development with the original design. Terminal performance is identical to the X Bullet — four-petal expansion, near 100% weight retention, and deep straight-line penetration — but the TSX is significantly more practical to shoot in volume and easier to work with in load development. It is available in an exceptionally wide range of calibres from .224 through .500, covering every mainstream hunting cartridge from varmint through dangerous game, and in weights ranging from light, fast varmint configurations through heavy dangerous game solids. The TSX is Barnes's all-around workhorse hunting bullet and the foundation of their hunting lineup.
TTSX — Tipped Triple Shock X The TTSX (Tipped Triple Shock X) takes the TSX platform and adds a polymer tip, addressing the one area where the original hollow point TSX design was occasionally criticised — expansion reliability at reduced long-range impact velocities. The polymer tip drives into the hollow point cavity on impact, initiating petal expansion more consistently and at lower velocities than the open hollow point design, while also improving the ballistic coefficient through a more streamlined nose profile. The relief grooves from the TSX are retained, keeping fouling and pressure characteristics manageable. The result is a bullet that combines the near 100% weight retention and deep penetration of monolithic copper construction with the long-range expansion reliability and higher BC of a tipped design — making it arguably the most complete all-around hunting bullet Barnes produces. The TTSX is available from .224 through .416 in weights covering deer through elk and bear, and has become Barnes's dominant hunting bullet for western big game and long-range hunting applications where both high BC and reliable terminal performance at reduced velocities are required. It is the bullet that most directly competes with Nosler's AccuBond Long Range and Hornady's ELD-X in the premium long-range hunting segment.
LRX — Long Range X The LRX (Long Range X) is Barnes's dedicated extreme long-range hunting bullet, taking the TTSX concept and optimising it specifically for maximum ballistic coefficient and extended distance performance. It features a longer, more streamlined profile than the TTSX with a higher BC polymer tip and a boat tail design that together push the BC significantly higher than equivalent TTSX weights. The relief grooves are retained for fouling and pressure management, and the four-petal expansion system delivers the same near 100% weight retention at whatever velocity the bullet arrives at its target. The LRX is available in 6mm, 6.5mm, 7mm, .30 calibre, and .338, in weights specifically chosen to maximise BC within each calibre's stability parameters. It is designed for hunters pursuing game at 500–1,000+ yards in open western terrain — mule deer, elk, sheep, and antelope — where the flat trajectory and wind resistance of a very high BC bullet are as important as terminal performance. The LRX represents Barnes's answer to the growing ELR hunting market and competes directly with the Nosler ABLR and Hornady ELD-X at the premium end of the long-range hunting bullet category.
Banded Solid — Dangerous Game The Banded Solid is Barnes's dangerous game solid, designed for the deepest penetration applications on the largest and most dangerous species — elephant, buffalo, hippopotamus, and rhinoceros — where an expanding bullet is either inappropriate or legally prohibited for the final follow-up shot. It is machined from a solid brass alloy with a flat or round nose profile and features the same relief groove concept as the TSX — bands machined into the bearing surface that reduce fouling and pressure while maintaining the bearing length needed for straight-line stability in heavy, large-calibre bullets. The Banded Solid is engineered to penetrate in a perfectly straight line without deformation, deviation, or mushrooming regardless of what it encounters — heavy skull bone, spine, or multiple feet of dense muscle. It is available in the classic dangerous game calibres from .375 through .600 Nitro Express, covering both modern bolt action dangerous game rifles and classic double rifles. Professional hunters and dangerous game guides consistently cite the Banded Solid as one of the most reliable dangerous game solids available, valued for its consistent straight-line penetration and the manufacturing precision of its machined construction.
Vor-TX — Factory Ammunition Bullets While primarily known as an ammunition line rather than a component bullet, the Vor-TX deserves mention because it has introduced Barnes's TSX and TTSX bullet technology to a much wider audience through factory-loaded ammunition. The Vor-TX uses genuine Barnes TSX and TTSX bullets loaded to careful specifications, and its success has significantly raised awareness of monolithic copper performance among hunters who do not reload. The Vor-TX LR (Long Range) variant uses LRX bullets for the extended distance hunting market. Understanding Vor-TX matters in the context of Barnes's bullet lineup because it reflects how their component bullets perform in real-world factory ammunition applications across a very wide range of cartridges.
TAC-X — Law Enforcement and Tactical Rifle The TAC-X is Barnes's law enforcement and tactical rifle bullet, applying the monolithic copper TSX technology to the specific performance requirements of law enforcement and military applications. It is designed to deliver reliable, consistent terminal performance after penetrating common law enforcement barriers — automotive glass, sheet metal, and building materials — where conventional lead-core bullets frequently fragment or deflect unpredictably. The copper construction ensures the bullet maintains its integrity and continues on a straight trajectory after barrier penetration, delivering consistent terminal performance in soft tissue regardless of what it passed through to get there. Available primarily in .223/5.56mm and .308/7.62mm — the dominant law enforcement and military rifle calibres — the TAC-X has been adopted by numerous agencies and special operations units that require barrier-blind terminal performance from their rifle ammunition.
TAC-XP — Law Enforcement and Defensive Handgun The TAC-XP extends Barnes's monolithic copper technology into the handgun calibre category for law enforcement and defensive applications. Like the Gold Dot in Speer's lineup, the TAC-XP is engineered to meet the FBI ballistic testing protocol — delivering reliable expansion and adequate penetration through the full range of barrier materials. The copper construction eliminates core-jacket separation entirely, ensuring consistent expansion geometry regardless of barrier type or impact velocity. The TAC-XP expands into a uniform four-petal mushroom — identical in concept to the rifle TSX — and retains essentially 100% of its weight after expansion, delivering deep penetration alongside the expanded diameter. Available in 9mm, .357 Sig, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, and .357 Magnum, the TAC-XP has found favour with law enforcement agencies and defensive shooters who prioritise absolute terminal reliability over the more moderate expansion characteristics of conventional lead-core defensive bullets.
Varmint Grenade — Frangible Varmint The Varmint Grenade is Barnes's dedicated varmint bullet and represents an interesting departure from their monolithic construction philosophy — it is a frangible design specifically engineered for the opposite of deep penetration. It features a copper and tin powder metal matrix core inside a gilding metal jacket, designed to disintegrate completely on impact with varmint-sized targets, producing explosive energy transfer and eliminating ricocheting risk entirely. Available in .224 and .243 calibre in lightweight configurations, it covers the most popular varmint cartridges including .223 Remington, .22-250, and .243 Winchester. The lead-free construction also makes it suitable for use in non-toxic zones, adding a practical environmental compliance benefit to its terminal performance characteristics.
MPG — Multi-Purpose Green The MPG (Multi-Purpose Green) is Barnes's lead-free frangible training and general-purpose bullet, built from a compressed copper and tin matrix that disintegrates on impact with hard surfaces — eliminating lead contamination at indoor ranges and reducing ricocheting risk in training environments. It is used primarily in law enforcement and military training contexts where range cleanliness, lead exposure reduction, and safety are priorities. Available in the core law enforcement handgun calibres, the MPG delivers similar point of impact to Barnes's duty ammunition loads for consistent training-to-duty correlation.
Overall Positioning Barnes's defining characteristic as a brand is an almost singular commitment to copper monolithic construction and the performance philosophy it represents — near 100% weight retention, deep straight-line penetration, reliable expansion across the widest possible velocity range, and complete elimination of core-jacket separation as a failure mode. Every product in their lineup, from the original X Bullet through the LRX and TAC-XP, reflects this foundational principle applied to different applications and performance requirements. The trade-offs — higher cost than lead-core bullets, the need for careful load development, and the requirement to seat bullets to Barnes's recommended specifications — are consistently judged worthwhile by hunters and professionals who have experienced the real-world terminal performance advantages of copper construction in demanding field conditions. Barnes does not try to be everything to every shooter — they have chosen their territory, refined their technology within it to an exceptional degree, and built a reputation that is essentially synonymous with premium monolithic copper bullet performance worldwide.