Ammo Reports Team
| Official Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Barnes |
| Cartridge | 45-70 Government |
| Product Line | VOR-TX Rifle |
| Bullet Name / Bullet Type | TSX FN FB, all-copper expanding |
| Bullet Weight | 300 gr |
| SKU / Part Number / Item Number | 21579 |
| UPC | 716876145737 |
| Rounds per Box | 20 |
| Muzzle Velocity | 1,925 fps |
| Muzzle Energy | 2,469 ft-lb |
| Ballistic Coefficient G1 | 0.163 |
| Ballistic Coefficient G7 | Not found |
| Case Material | Not found |
| Primer | Not found |
| Reloadable | Not found |
| Test Barrel Length | 24 in |
| Zero Distance | 100 yd |
| Sight Height | 0.9 in |
| Intended Use | Big-game hunting – deer, elk, bear and hog |
| Product Status | Current manufacturer listing |
| Closest Competitors | Hornady LEVERevolution .45-70 325 gr FTX; Federal Premium .45-70 300 gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw; Remington Core-Lokt 45-70 Government 405 gr SP, R4570G / 29473; Winchester Super-X 45-70 Government 300 gr JHP; Underwood Ammo .45-70 300 gr Lehigh Xtreme Penetrator; Buffalo Bore .45-70 300 gr JFN |
Data is based on official manufacturer sources. Found an error? Send us the source link.
Ballistics Table – 100-Yard Zero
Calculated reference – not manufacturer data. G1 point-mass reference using BC 0.163, 1,925 fps muzzle velocity, 300 gr bullet, 100-yard zero and 0.9-inch sight height. Atmosphere: sea level, 59 F, 29.92 inHg, dry air, no wind. The 25-yard rows use shape-preserving interpolation between calculated 50-yard outputs.
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Trajectory (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1,925 | 2,468 | -0.9 |
| 25 | 1,810 | 2,184 | +0.5 |
| 50 | 1,701 | 1,928 | +1.1 |
| 75 | 1,597 | 1,699 | +0.8 |
| 100 | 1,499 | 1,496 | 0.0 |
| 125 | 1,407 | 1,318 | -1.9 |
| 150 | 1,322 | 1,164 | -4.9 |
| 175 | 1,246 | 1,034 | -9.2 |
| 200 | 1,179 | 926 | -14.9 |
| 225 | 1,122 | 839 | -22.1 |
| 250 | 1,073 | 768 | -31.1 |
| 275 | 1,032 | 710 | -41.9 |
| 300 | 999 | 664 | -54.8 |
Key takeaway: This table is a trajectory reference under the stated conditions, not a terminal-performance test or a recommended maximum hunting range.
The Barnes TSX Flat Nose Bullet
The TSX is an all-copper expanding bullet with relief grooves in its shank. Groove geometry does not establish firearm compatibility or pressure class. Barnes identifies factory load 21579 as full pressure, not for Trapdoor rifles.
The flat-nose profile is designed for the relevant tubular-magazine application. It does not eliminate every ammunition or magazine risk or establish compatibility with every lever-action rifle.
Barnes describes TSX as a controlled-expansion all-copper design. A guaranteed expanded diameter, weight-retention percentage or minimum expansion velocity for this exact factory load was not independently verified.
VOR-TX is Barnes factory-loaded ammunition. This 300 gr TSX FN FB load is item 21579; primer construction, case material and reloadability were not confirmed in the verified official SKU sources.
Best Uses
Good fit:
- Whitetail deer and mule deer hunting in dense timber or brush where shots rarely exceed 100–150 yards
- Black bear hunting where penetration through heavy muscle and bone is a priority
- Elk hunting in close-cover situations, particularly where a follow-up shot on a moving animal must still perform
- Feral hog control, especially on large boars where shoulder-on shots are common
- The manufacturer identifies an all-copper, lead-free projectile. That material description alone is not a legal certification; check the current approved-ammunition list and rules for the particular location and season.
- Hunters using classic lever-action rifles (Marlin 1895, Winchester 1886 reproductions) who need a tubular-magazine-safe flat-nose design
- Dangerous-game situations where deep straight-line penetration is valued over rapid fragmentation
Not the right tool for:
- Long-range shooting beyond 200 yards, where trajectory drop becomes difficult to compensate for accurately in field conditions
- Varmint or small predator work — the 300 gr projectile and caliber are excessive for animals under 50 lbs and will cause significant pelt damage
- High-volume target shooting or practice — at its premium per-round cost, routine range sessions with this load are cost-prohibitive
- A specific minimum expansion velocity for this exact factory load was not verified
- Hunters seeking maximum hydrostatic shock or rapid energy dump — the TSX is designed for penetration, not fragmentation, and may exit cleanly on lighter game
Reliability Notes
No structured submissions yet.
Barnes identifies this factory load as item 21579, with 1,925 fps, 2,469 ft-lbs and G1 BC 0.163. Its official chart uses a 24-inch barrel, 100-yard zero and 0.9-inch sight height. Barnes marks this as full-pressure ammunition, not for Trapdoor rifles. No structured, load-specific reliability test is presented here. Component details or general reputation should not be treated as proof of feeding, accuracy or absence of defects.
Competitors
| Load | Weight | Bullet | BC G1 | Advertised Velocity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady LEVERevolution .45-70 325 gr FTX | 325 gr | FTX Flex-Tip (lead core, jacketed) | Not verified | Not verified | Exact factory item and these comparison figures were not verified in this audit. |
| Federal Premium .45-70 300 gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw | 300 gr | Trophy Bonded Bear Claw (bonded lead core) | Not verified | Not verified | Exact factory item and these comparison figures were not verified in this audit. |
| Remington Core-Lokt 45-70 Government 405 gr SP, R4570G / 29473 | 405 gr | Core-Lokt soft point | 0.281 | 1,330 fps | Exact published load; compare its own manufacturer conditions. |
| Winchester Super-X 45-70 Government 300 gr JHP | 300 gr | Jacketed hollow point | Not verified | 1,880 fps (web listing; catalog differs) | Exact published load; compare its own manufacturer conditions. Winchester web and 2026 catalog figures differ. |
| Underwood Ammo .45-70 300 gr Lehigh Xtreme Penetrator | 300 gr | Lehigh Xtreme Penetrator (solid copper, non-expanding) | Not verified | Not verified | Exact factory item and these comparison figures were not verified in this audit. |
| Buffalo Bore .45-70 300 gr JFN | 300 gr | Jacketed Flat Nose (lead core) | Not verified | Not verified | Exact factory item and these comparison figures were not verified in this audit. |
FAQ
Does the Barnes TSX flat-nose bullet actually expand reliably at 45-70 velocities?
Barnes describes the TSX as an expanding all-copper bullet. An exact minimum expansion velocity for factory load 21579 was not verified; the former 1,800 fps threshold should not be treated as a specification for this load.
Is this load compliant with lead-free hunting regulations in California and other restricted states?
The manufacturer identifies an all-copper, lead-free projectile. That material description alone is not a legal certification; check the current approved-ammunition list and rules for the particular location and season.
How does the Barnes TSX 300 gr compare to the Hornady LEVERevolution 325 gr FTX in practical hunting situations?
Barnes 21579 uses a 300 gr all-copper TSX FN at 1,925 fps with G1 BC 0.163. Hornady’s 325 gr FTX is a different, lead-core projectile and load. These specifications alone do not establish which penetrates farther or expands more reliably.
Can this ammunition be used in older or lower-pressure 45-70 rifles, such as original Trapdoor Springfield actions?
Barnes explicitly identifies this as full-pressure ammunition and excludes Trapdoor rifles. Follow the exact manufacturer compatibility instructions; do not infer approval from caliber alone.
Why is the bullet weight only 300 grains when the 45-70 is commonly associated with 405 grain and heavier projectiles?
Copper is less dense than lead, so bullets of the same mass can have different dimensions. The 300 gr weight is part of this specific TSX design; weight alone cannot rank terminal performance against a 405 gr load.
