Barnes VOR-TX 168gr TTSX .308 Win

Barnes VOR-TX 168gr TTSX is the .308 Winchester hunting load of choice anywhere lead bullets are prohibited, and an increasingly common pick even where they are still legal. The Triple-Shock X-Bullet (TTSX) is machined from solid copper with a polymer tip that initiates expansion at impact. The bullet opens into four copper petals that stay attached to the shank through bone and hide, producing a straight, deep wound channel with 100% weight retention. There is no lead core to separate, no jacket to shed, and nothing left in the animal but four copper petals and a solid copper base.

Velocity from a 24-inch .308 barrel runs 2,680 fps with 2,681 ft-lbs of muzzle energy, slightly faster than lead-core 175 or 178gr loads because the copper bullet is longer for the same weight and runs at higher pressure to maintain velocity. The polymer tip brings BC to 0.470 G1, lower than ELD-X or Terminal Ascent but high enough for 500-yard shots on deer-sized game and 400-yard shots on elk. Expansion reliability down to 1,800 fps impact velocity is the practical range limit. Inside that window, TTSX is among the most reliable expanding bullets available in any hunting caliber.

The case for TTSX over lead-core alternatives goes beyond California regulation. Bonded lead bullets retain 85-95% of their weight on game, which is excellent. Barnes TTSX retains 100%, full stop. For heavy-boned game (elk, moose, bear) or for the rare through-and-through shot where the bullet must punch two hides and a rib cage, the all-copper construction provides an extra margin that matters when the shot does not go perfectly. Expect to pay $2.30-3.00 per round. TTSX is the answer when you are hunting where copper is mandated, when the game is heavy, or when penetration matters more than explosive terminal effect.