Overview
The Barnes Tipped TSX (TTSX) is the polymer-tipped evolution of Barnes' original Triple-Shock X bullet, and this box holds 50 pieces in 22 caliber at 50 grains, sized for the .222 Rem, .223 Rem/5.56 and similar small-bore varmint cartridges. Barnes built its reputation on monolithic copper construction at a time when nearly every other maker was still bonding lead cores, and the TTSX remains one of the few bullets that lawmakers in lead-restricted hunting zones actually recommend by name.
What sets the TTSX apart from the plain TSX is the blue polymer tip seated in the hollow cavity. It initiates expansion instantly on contact, even at the lower velocities you get from shorter barrels or longer ranges, then the bullet's four trademark shock petals peel back to roughly double the original diameter. Because the bullet is machined from a single copper rod rather than a jacketed lead core, there is no separation, no jacket-core failure and typically 95-100% weight retention on recovery — a trait handloaders and hunters both repeat when comparing it to cup-and-core designs.
At 50 grains this is one of the lighter offerings in the 22 caliber TTSX line, favoured for varmint and predator work where flat trajectory and rapid, explosive expansion on thin-skinned game matter more than deep penetration. It is a reloading component only — no primer, case or powder included — and comes packaged in Barnes' familiar blue tin-style box of 50.
Key Features
- Polymer tip drives reliable expansion at a wider range of impact velocities than a plain hollow point, so the bullet still opens up on longer pokes where velocity has bled off.
- Solid gilding-metal copper construction removes lead entirely from the bullet, meeting non-lead ammunition requirements in areas that restrict lead projectiles for hunting.
- Barnes' signature grooved shank reduces bearing surface and fouling, which keeps pressures more consistent load to load and helps accuracy stay tight over a hunting trip's worth of shots.
- Four-petal shock-absorbing expansion pattern creates a wound channel wider than the bullet's original diameter, useful for fast, humane kills on varmints and predators.
- Boat-tail base improves the ballistic coefficient over a flat-base bullet of the same weight, so it retains velocity and resists wind drift better downrange.
- Near-total weight retention means the bullet keeps driving rather than shedding fragments, useful when a hunter wants exit-wound blood trails on called-in predators.
Technical Specifications
| Brand |
Barnes Bullets |
| Product Line |
Tipped TSX (TTSX) |
| Caliber |
.224 in (22 caliber) |
| Bullet Weight |
50 grains (3.24 g) |
| Construction |
Monolithic gilding-metal copper, lead-free |
| Tip |
Blue polymer |
| Base Type |
Boat tail |
| Ballistic Coefficient (G1) |
approx. 0.242 (typical) |
| Sectional Density |
approx. 0.142 (typical) |
| Expansion Style |
4-petal shock absorbers, near 2x original diameter |
| Weight Retention |
95-100% typical |
| Recommended Cartridges |
.222 Rem, .223 Rem/5.56x45mm, .22-250 Rem (typical) |
| Pack Quantity |
50 bullets per box |
| Packaging |
Blue Barnes hinged plastic box |
Ballistics
Loaded in a typical .223 Rem varmint recipe, the 50gr TTSX leaves a 24-inch barrel at roughly 990-1030 m/s (3,250-3,380 fps), generating around 1,700-1,850 J of muzzle energy. Because it is lighter than the 55gr and 62gr options in the same line, it carries a flatter trajectory to 200 m but sheds velocity a touch faster past that due to its more modest G1 BC of about 0.242. It remains a strong choice out to 250-300 m on jackal, caracal or fox-sized predators where fast expansion matters more than long-range retained energy. Handloaders report it groups well with medium-burn-rate powders such as Varget or AR2208 style propellants, though individual rifles vary and load development is still needed.
Materials & Construction
The bullet is turned from a solid bar of gilding-metal copper rather than assembled from a jacket and a poured or swaged lead core. Barnes cuts the signature grooves into the bearing surface during manufacture, which reduces the bullet's contact area with the bore, cuts copper fouling and helps keep chamber pressures more uniform from one round to the next. The nose cavity is pre-formed to accept the polymer tip, which both protects the hollow point from deformation in the magazine and initiates expansion at the moment of impact.
Who It's For
This is a component for handloaders rather than a loaded round, so it suits reloaders shooting .222 Rem, .223 Rem or similar small-bore varmint rifles who want an all-copper option for lead-restricted hunting areas, or who simply want a bullet known for reliably dramatic expansion on foxes, jackal, caracal and other varmint-class game without leaving lead fragments in the meat or the field.
FAQ
-
Does this box include primers or cases? No, this is a bullet-only reloading component; brass, powder and primers are bought separately.
-
Will this bullet work in a .22-250 or .223 Rem? Yes, at .224 in diameter it is sized for any standard 22 caliber centerfire chamber; only your load data changes between cartridges.
-
Is 50gr too light for predator hunting? No — at typical .223 Rem velocities it expands violently and is a popular choice specifically for fast kills on thin-skinned varmints and predators rather than for larger game.
-
How does the TTSX differ from the plain TSX? The TTSX adds a polymer tip for more reliable expansion at a wider velocity window and a slightly better ballistic coefficient from the pointed profile; the copper shank and shock-petal design are otherwise the same.
