Barnes Bullets is world-famous for manufacturing some of the most accurate and effective bullets on the market today. Their TSX (Triple Shock-X) bullets have proven themselves to be some of the best game bullets that can be fielded, and the new Tipped TSX (TTSX) bullets appear to be having outstanding results as well.
This year Barnes Bullets has announced the introduction of (2) new VOR-TX TSX bullets for the extremely popular AR-15 rifle. The new bullets are the 62-grain TSX boat tail, and the 70-grain TSX boat tail bullet. These are the first boat tail TSX bullets made in 5.56x45mm. The new TSX BT 5.56mm bullets will have a dual marketing potential – as an impressive law enforcement duty round, and as a highly effective smaller caliber hunting round.
The TSX bullets by Barnes are 100% copper bullets. The addition of 5.56x45mm specific ammunition in the TSX line of bullets is exciting on its own merits, but the addition of a boat tail design is a very nice enhancement. The boat tail design provides a much greater ballistic coefficient, and increased velocity, resulting in noticeable accuracy improvements.
Previously Barnes had offered a 55-grain flat based .223 caliber TSX bullet, and a 55-grain .223 caliber bullet in their TAC-RRLP line. In addition, Barnes provided (2) boat tail options of .223 bullets in their TAC-X line, which, interestingly, were also in 62-grain and 70-grain. My department will train with 55-grain FMJ ammunition that is much cheaper to obtain, but we use a 62-grain hollow point round for our patrol rifle duty ammunition.
Barnes TSX 5.56mm Specifications
- Caliber – 5.56x45mm
- Bullet Diameter – .224 caliber
- Material – 100% copper
- Design – TSX boat tail
- Bullet Weight – 62-grain & 70-grain
- Muzzle Velocity – 3100 fps
- Muzzle Energy – 1323 ft/lbs
- Twist Rate – 1:9 for 62-grain; 1:8 for 70-grain
- Bullets Per Box – 50
- MSRP – $29.99.
The Barnes VOR-TX rounds have already found their way to several high quality ammunition manufacturers. One such manufacturer is Black Hills Ammunition, which offers a 50-round box of the new 62-grain VOR-TX (TSX BT) cartridges for around $75.00.
Additionally, there are a number of AR-15 rifles (particularly in law enforcement with government surplus purchases) that are specifically chambered to MIL-SPEC for the 5.56mm. Though very similar in manufacturing specifications, the mating of a specific chamber to its specific ammunition has always had the best results in my experience.
It is commonly accepted that the 5.56mm chambering is made to tolerance levels that will successfully fire both 5.56mm and .223 caliber ammunition. However, there is a robust debate about whether a .223 chambered rifle will handle the higher pressures of 5.56mm ammunition, especially with extended shooting. For officers or departments that have acquired rifles chambered in .223 caliber this is a genuine concern, and one that may adversely effect adequate ammunition selections.