130gr. TTSX in 308 Win.

RL338

Handloader
Mar 23, 2017
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Last week I dusted off my Vanguard 308 and put the Barnes to work. I had some odd headstamp Winchester brass a guy at work gave me awhile back. I had some W748 left in a bottle and put it to use. One thing I can tell you Barnes load data is off , it list W748 49.4grs to 54.9grs with Win. brass. 54.9 would be running over the top. I started at 49.5 was at 3060fps went up a 1/2 a grain til I hit 3139fps at 52grs. At 52 I was up the neck a ways , I stopped there. Tried them on paper and I’m set on this.
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Yup - I picked up a box of those 130 gr Barnes TTSX bullets a while back to try in my 308 and 30-06 handloads... :)

Looks like you got some excellent results.

Guy
 
This is the 3rd Barnes load I did with 10 round or less. With the 3 I put on paper equals 10 rounds. Barnes ammo they produce list a muzzle velocity of 3125fps , I’m there in the 3130’s. Seems easy until you realize you used 20% of the box in load workup. 😁
 
This is the 3rd Barnes load I did with 10 round or less. With the 3 I put on paper equals 10 rounds. Barnes ammo they produce list a muzzle velocity of 3125fps , I’m there in the 3130’s. Seems easy until you realize you used 20% of the box in load workup. 😁
'Ya, and then my luck, about the time I get a good load all worked up... I can't find any more of those bullets to try!

Guy
 
My daughter shoots that bullet out of her RAP
at around 2550, it’s a killer for sure
We use IMR 4895
 
It took me awhile to get the 130 TTSX bullets to shoot in a semi-custom .308 rifle but I had the bullets and kept on experimenting. Ultimately, I found a surprisingly accurate load which consistently shoots under .5moa at 400yds.
Lapua case
Fed 210M primer
46.5 Benchmark - 3,130 ft/sec

That load pole-axed an 8 pointer in NC @ just over 200yds IIRC. Buck was shot in the chest while walking towards me.
 
At what minimum impact velocity would be ideal for those polycarbonate tips on solid copper bullets to mushroom fully?
I never tried them on jugs or on game before.
 
I load the 130 gr TTSX for a friend in 308 win.
Accuracy is top and so far he didn't complain about what they did on game
I use Lovex D073.6. No idea if you have it on your side of the pond. But it delivers very good speed at reasonable pressure for multiple bullets.
I am getting close or above several 30-06 factory loads with that combo
 
At what minimum impact velocity would be ideal for those polycarbonate tips on solid copper bullets to mushroom fully?
I never tried them on jugs or on game before.
I believe that Barnes claims that expansion takes place down to 1,800 ft/sec but I know that different TSX bullets do have different minimum thresholds according to info provided by Barnes.

For my .308 launching the 130TTSX at 3,130 ft/sec, that would take me just past the 500yd line. Personally, I have rifles chambered for much more efficient cartridges that I'd be carrying if I planned on shooting farther than 400 yds or so.
 
And the LRX bullets open at 1600FPS. The bullets for the 30-30 open up sooner yet said Barnes as I remember. I have the 30-30 bullets for my 308 pistol and think they will do well.
 
And the LRX bullets open at 1600FPS. The bullets for the 30-30 open up sooner yet said Barnes as I remember. I have the 30-30 bullets for my 308 pistol and think they will do well.

I believe that the lightest .308 LRX bullet is 175gr so the launch speed from a .308Win would be quite a bit slower.
 
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I was speaking of all the different LRX bullets. I would never use a Barnes bullet that was more than 150gr in a 308win. I prefer the 130gr TTSX
 
I liked what I saw with the 130s so I bought 250 each of the 130 and 150 grain TTSXs that were pulled. We’ll see how the stack up to fresh ones.
 
And the LRX bullets open at 1600FPS. The bullets for the 30-30 open up sooner yet said Barnes as I remember. I have the 30-30 bullets for my 308 pistol and think they will do well.
Please tell me more about your 308 pistol. Is the chambering 308 Winchester?
 
Yes it is a T/C Encore pistol with a 15" barrel. I had it drilled for the rifle forearm and can also use a Harris Bipod on it. It has the T/C muzzle brake on it. That make a total length of 16 and 1/8" for the barrel. It shoots well. I have barrels for it in 223/257R(a sweet combo)/308win and 454Casull. I would like to find a 338Fed barrel for it using the normal T/C hanging system
 
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