25 Years of X Success

by
posted on February 5, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
sci_ah2015_fs.jpg (3)

undefinedThe Barnes X-Bullet is 25 years old in 2014.

The man who hatched the idea, Randy Brooks, actually discovered the X-design and shot a brown bear with a .375-caliber X-bullet in 1985, but his company did not release the bullet commercially until 1989.

I've shot deer, elk, plains game, Cape buffalo ... heck I've shot a lot stuff with an X-bullet. And I will continue to do so. It's a great design incorporating nearly 100 percent weight retention that drives extreme penetration through flesh and bone. Today it is duplicated quite a bit. But the original all-copper bullet hit shelves 25 years ago.

We visited Jessica Brooks Stevens at SHOT Show a couple of weeks ago, and she told us the full story of how the Barnes X Bullet came to be. Watch it in this video.

Latest

Federal 250 LEDE
Federal 250 LEDE

New for 2026: Federal USA 250th Anniversary Edition

The United States of America celebrates her 250th birthday in 2026, and Federal has come out with some commemorative ammunition for the party. Included in the mix are the American Eagle, Top Gun, and Champion ammunition lines, with choices which represent some of America’s finest cartridges.

Storm Warden Rain Gear System by Leupold

Out of Leupold’s engineering labs in Beaverton, Ore. comes the new Storm Warden Rain Gear System.

Wild Game Recipe: Thai Style Duck Fried Rice

Looking for a way to use the ducks from this season? Check out this recipe for Thai-style duck fried rice from Game Girl Gourmet's Holly Hearn.

Lyman Introduces Affordable Sonicore Suppressor Line

With the reduction of the suppressor tax-stamp to $0 on January 1, 2026, an opening appeared in the suppressor market for an affordable line of cans that could bring hearing protection to all price points. In no time flat, Lyman Products has filled that gap with Sonicore Suppressors.

Elk Hunting at 101

Dick Blossom took a cow elk last fall in his home state of Montana at the age of 101. Calvin Coolidge was in the White House when he was born, and the Great Depression and Dust Bowl were years in the future.

New for 2026: TriStar Upland Hunter Thumbhole

TriStar Arms has introduced the Upland Hunter Thumbhole Stock, a 20-gauge over/under shotgun built for the field.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.