Saluting 25 Years of Big-Game Success-the Barnes X-Bullet

by
posted on June 12, 2014
MG_2853.jpg

This week it was my good fortune to visit Barnes Bullets’ production facility in Mona, Utah, where I met with long-time owners Randy and Coni Brooks about the breakthrough product that put their company on the map and changed the face of hunting ammunition-the all-copper X-Bullet, now celebrating its 25th anniversary. Randy detailed how-after years of tinkering for a solution that would yield an utterly reliable bullet for use on all kinds of big game at every practical range-the answer came to him during an Alaska brown bear hunt. That began a development process that culminated a year later when Randy returned to Alaska with the first batch of prototypes of a unique core-less projectile and killed a big bear. Once we were rolling, and thanks to Randy’s natural candor and friendliness, I got the full story of the X-Bullet-the R&D, testing, problems threatening its acceptance, deviations and imitators in the marketplace and the product’s eventual astounding success that spawned a complete X-Bullet line now extending to tactical and personal protection applications in addition to hunting loads. We’ll share all that and more in an American Rifleman magazine feature this fall, as well as in upcoming web articles, photo galleries and video. Guaranteed, this is one of the best American success stories you’ll see in a long time! Check out this sneak-peek video clip of Randy Brooks with a mount of the brown bear that helped to launch the X-Bullet phenomenon.

Latest

Man author christopher olsen holding in hands outdoors benelli nova 3 tactical pump-action shotgun black gun
Man author christopher olsen holding in hands outdoors benelli nova 3 tactical pump-action shotgun black gun

New For 2025: Benelli USA Nova 3 Tactical

This latest update to Benelli’s pump-action shotgun gives users a few upgrades over previous generations, making the new NOVA 3 the most exciting pump-gun yet to come from the Italian maker.

Mauser: The Rifle That Made Good

Combining inventive genius with shrewd sales ability, the Mauser brothers, Paul and Wilhelm launched one of the world’s most famous small arms dynasties.

Preview: Hornady Backcountry Defense

The company’s new Backcountry Defense line is designed specifically for personal protection in the backcountry.

Military Armament Corporation Introduces New MAC 9 DS Models

Military Armament Corporation expanded its line of M1911-style, double-stack handguns with its new Double-Stack Duty, D-Comp and Comp designs.

Preview: MTM Case-Gard Ruger 10/22 Extended Mag Can

Made in the U.S.A., the O-ring-sealed Mag Can from MTM Case-Gard stows one of the most important parts of the semi-automatic carbine—the magazine—twelve BX-25-pattern extended magazines, to be exact.

Gun Of The Week: EAA Witness2311 Brat

Built on M1911 principles and imported by European American Armory Corp., the EAA Girsan Witnesss2311 Brat is a unique take on the double-stack, 2011-style pistol.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.