85gr barnes bullet for deer in a 6mm/.284

[zorak]

I am wondering if a 85gr barnes bullet is heavy enough for a deer in California.Now I am not hunting coastal deer I am hunting black tail/mulies now they aren't of a good out of state deer but average around 150lbs or so.The only reason I ask is because where I hunt we can't use copper over lead bullets we can only use 100% laed free bullets.You ask why its because of the lead is killing the Condors because of lead poisoning.

Doug

[Kurt L]

I have never used Barnes bullets but they advertise to make great mushrooms at a high cost.
I would not be a bit afraid to drop one of them in the lungs of any deer and if by chance you get any shoulder in your shot the the tough Barnes and the power/speed of the6mm-284 should drive it home in good shape. but as I said try to get a double lung shot if you can and your combo will do the job with ease.

[flinter54]

My family has almost exclusively used Barns bullets in their rifles for at least 15 years now from .224 to .375. Anyhow that 85tsx will absolutely be devastating on deer. My personal experience with Barnes came when they offered just a standard X-bullet in .224. I took two deer with a 53gr X-bullet out of a .223. First one was broadside at 40 yards or so and the second was quartering to me just over 100 yards. Both performed flawlessly as there was complete pass through with both shots. I recovered both animals within 30 yards of where they stood when I shot. The Barnes is an extremely tough bullet to beat, IMO it is in a class of its own. The only question is can your rifle group them well, because it is our experience some rifles love them and some don't. Good Luck!

Flinter54

[zorak]

Thank you very much that is th info I was looking for the info . I just wanted to make sure before I loaded some up.

[Val]

I just shot some 85 grain barnes TSX bullets that a buddy gave me, in my .243. The best group was a 1/2" three shot group. I'll be using this round in my deer hunt this fall in D13 which is in the Condor range. I've dropped deer with a 100 grain partition and have enough reports on the hunting forums that state, 85 grains is plenty for deer. Barnes also says that using their copper bullets you can drop in weight. I hope to find out in October.