Barnes TTSX 150 or 168 gr in .308 Win?

[Seabeeken]

Starting load development for 308 with 110 TSX very soon to be used for whitetail. Just finished adding the loads in my spreadsheet.

 

[rblum]

I used a Barnes 150gr. TTSX in my .308 on a Blacktail this fall. This is the bullet recovered on the offside neck after quartering away shot at 100 yds. Near shoulder then spine. I loaded to moderate speed, about 2750fps +/_ 50. at muzzle. As you can see the bullet did a fine job.

 

[Seabeeken]

Man that's a pretty sight. Love Barnes for hunting. Perfect performance. Maybe one day I'll recover one.

 

[Longrange1965]

Hello all,

I'm in the process of developing a hunting load for my Remington 700 SPS in .308 Win with the factory 20" 1:10 barrel to be used primarily on blacktail deer, pronghorn, and/or black bear. I've had consistent sub-MOA groups in this rifle when using factory Remington loads with the Barnes 168 gr. TSX, and being a California resident, I'm restricted to lead-free bullets and have thus settled on using Barnes for developing this handload.

In regard to overall accuracy switching from the TSX (1.318") to the TTSX (1.406"), I'm not too concerned about the TTSX being .088" longer because the twist on my rifle should theoretically be more than adequate to stabilize the longer bullet. I've read tons of great things about the TTSX, but I've recently heard about a few other hunters' issues using it in .308 Win for lack of optimal expansion. Given the already reduced case capacity of the .308 Win compared to other .30's, the increased length of the 168 gr. TTSX, and Barnes bullets liking a good jump/deeper seating, I'm wondering if the 168 gr. TTSX limits the charge capacity and simply can't be pushed fast enough out of a .308 Win to get ideal expansion. Has anyone else had any similar issues to this, or are these just some anomalies I've read?

I've considered loading up the 150 gr. TTSX for the same purpose to see if pushing it faster would result in better terminal performance. I don't foresee any problems with my twist being too fast for the 150 gr., it's only .018" shorter than the 168 gr. TSX that shot very well out of my rifle, but in the realm of ballistics that .018" is a world of difference.

For further reference, I'm using Lapua brass with Federal GM210M primers; and have on hand Win 748, Reloader 15, Accurate 2520, and IMR 4064 to try for this load if anyone has any suggestions. Thanks in advance for any input and help!

I'm running barns ttsx over IMR 4064 running 3052 ft per second to the canoe it is my dear and hog load very accurate 5 shot groups @ 100 is 1/2 to 3/8

 

[tineanddandy]

Most guys I know run the 130 in their 308, I personally run the 150 in my 300 for elk. Either 3 weights would be fine in your rifle. But with the shorter barrel I like what the 130 offers. I like the speed for the Barnes. Best wishes

Would a 1:9 twist be in the "overspun" realm for the 130 gr ttsx out of a 20 inch .308?

 

[Dean2]

Would a 1:9 twist be in the "overspun" realm for the 130 gr ttsx out of a 20 inch .308?

Nope, it will be just fine. Mono metals don't suffer the overspun effects like cup and core, plus they tend to be longer than cup and core of the same weight and as you know it is actually the length that matters with twist rate.

 

[7stw]

Would a 1:9 twist be in the "overspun" realm for the 130 gr ttsx out of a 20 inch .308?

Nope, it'll do just fine. Deer won't know the difference, except it speeds up the propeller !

 

[7stw]

Would a 1:9 twist be in the "overspun" realm for the 130 gr ttsx out of a 20 inch .308?

Ps, the 130, is devastating!

 

[tineanddandy]

Nope, it'll do just fine. Deer won't know the difference, except it speeds up the propeller !

I have 4 pounds of Varget. Should do the trick to start building a load for it?

 

[7stw]

I have 4 pounds of Varget. Should do the trick to start building a load for it?

None better, except maybe h4895. Don't forget about cfe223. That stuff is wicked in 308, and the 130.

 

[tineanddandy]

None better, except maybe h4895. Don't forget about cfe223. That stuff is wicked in 308, and the 130.

Thank you for the insight!

 

[7stw]

Only thing better is a Hammer!

Man that's a pretty sight. Love Barnes for hunting. Perfect performance. Maybe one day I'll recover one.

⚒⚒⚒⚒

 

[Dean2]

For the light bullets, 130 and 150 grain, I found 4895 to give great velocity and stellar accuracy out of mmy 21" NULA 308..

 

[Stan Malinky]

I have been using the 168 tsx and switched to ttsx when they came out and I will use nothing else. They retain 90 +/- of there weight meaning all energy goes to shock. I field a 300WSM. I will be working on a 308 this starting and I plan to use the 168s.