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

firearm instruction
firearm instruction

Rifleman Report: Our Diverse Firearm Community

In this issue, we report on two of the latest firearm designs—and highlight one now long forgotten—and we present a heartwarming story involving family-centric defensive firearm training.

Product Preview: THAW Rechargeable Hand Warmers

THAW hand warmers power up in only seconds and can fit easily within most pants or jacket pockets to help make your outdoor winter treks considerably more comfortable while keeping your electronic devices charged.

Springfield Echelon: The Leading Edge Of Self-Defense

A new full-size pistol from a trusted brand brings the latest thinking to bear on the striker-fired, polymer-frame semi-automatic format—whether for duty or everyday carry.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 2, 2023

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

FBI Underreports Armed Citizen Actions, Study Says

A detailed study on lives saved by the actions of armed, law-abiding citizens, issued on Aug. 31 by the Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC), found the number reported annually by the FBI reflects a mere fraction of the real figure.

Product Preview: Cold Steel Heavy Duty Sword Cane

A flat-black exterior finish on its heat-treated aluminum shaft and a black, molded-nylon handle give Cold Steel’s Heavy Duty Sword Cane a discreet appearance.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.