A less than satisfying trip to the range

[Osprey78]

I went out to the range today, snowshoes in hand.

I took out my Savage 111 in 300 WinMag to determine if the load I have is good or could be better.

Here is the test targets from last year.





I was a little concerned because when I took her out to shoot before she would not group. Sure enough on the trip today, the groups were ridiculous. I shouldn't even say groups...it was a group...a very large group.

I don't know what would have changed. Nothing in the load changed, the length is the same. I though I was going nuts so I shot some factory rounds. They grouped very nice...

I am to the point where I am considering changing from Barnes over to the Partition because of the finickiness (is that a word?) of the bullets in my rifle. I know that some rifles like them and some do not. I realize reloading is about testing testing testing, but at $50 a box, there is only so much testing one can do (on my budget anyways). It is a little disheartening because the loads for my 308 work so nicely.

:roll:

I am using 72 grs H4831SC
Barnes 180 gr TTSX
CCI250 Primer

I will post photos of the results from today soon. I am at work and cannot do so right now.

 

[kraky]

You are correct that some guns don't like some bullets. The 180 ttsx is a really long bullet and for me more finicky than the 168ttsx. The 168 being a mono is all the bullet a 300 win would ever need. If you've got a buddy that reloads maybe you could split a few boxes of ttsx and partitions to work with.

Btw...imnhoping you've played w/seating depth on the ttsx?

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Make sure they are around .050" off the lands...its what Barnes recommends and worked for me with TSX's in 223 and 243.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

 

[DrMike]

Heavy for caliber monolithic bullets can be quite particular. The longer bearing surface introduces a new variable that can be difficult to compensate for and which introduces a tendency to yaw. I allow at least a 0.100 inch jump to the lands in most monolithic bullets. Results can be quite satisfying if you work out the details.

 

[big rifle man]

Don't mean to be negative about Barnes but I've had far better results with Nosler and Sierra in Both my .338RUM and .300WSM. Barnes are very finicky and cleaning a barrel after shooting is not a pleasant task.

 

[OU812]

What is your seating depth, COAL? I have worked with many calibers and lots of tsx and ttsx bullets and knock on wood have never not been able to get them to shoot amazing.

If you are not already there try seating the ttsx to the depth shown in the picture to where the line is pointing to the center of the upper most groove. Starting at this depth and adjust powder has always worked for me.

Bill

 

[Osprey78]

Yes I did play with the seating depth. When I first started reloading them I was initially .159"off the lands. Played with that with the IMR and got less than desired results. I took them to a buddy who worked with it and got it down to .060" of the lands. Still played with IMR. No results to really write home about. These are the results I am working with now.

So here are the factory results. One is actually one I pulled and is under the front end of the caliper.



Here are some reloads on his vis targets. Just to see where I was.



Here are some that I just don't understand.



:evil:

 

[baltz526]

When loading the barnes In my 6.5x55. When I used the LEE collet crimper deep in a groove, Groups tightened right up. I normally do not shoot over priced bullets, but I found the Barnes on clearance so tried them out. A group like the above was then shot open sighted in standard Swedish Military target configuration at 300yrds.

 

[SJB358]

It sounds like you have a great combo, seems like your getting a shot outta the group on your targets, I would start pushing them inwards and shortening the COAL .010 at a time. I wouldn't be surprised to see them tighten up.

Then again, if you wanna shoot PT's, I say drive on. H4831 and some 180's or 200's would be serious power as well. Accuracy seems to come pretty easy with the PT's as well.

 

[tecumseh]

I'm putting the final touches on a load for my 300 WSM with a 168gr TTSX, and I have em seated fairly deep and they're very accurate in my rifle.

 

[nosler06]

It sounds like you have a great combo, seems like your getting a shot outta the group on your targets, I would start pushing them inwards and shortening the COAL .010 at a time. I wouldn't be surprised to see them tighten up.

Then again, if you wanna shoot PT's, I say drive on. H4831 and some 180's or 200's would be serious power as well. Accuracy seems to come pretty easy with the PT's as well.

Yup, perfectly put. One step at a time I will get you over to the PT side. I have also read that the Barnes sometimes just don't shoot worth a darn out of some rifles. I guess really that can be said of any bullet, but I have not heard of a PT that does not shoot well. It is the bullet that all others seem to be compared to. I have been a huge fan of the PT's for over 30 yrs. No fails so far.

I did think that you had that rifle shooting well when we were out to the range with it last time. Curious to know what is different now.

 

[Osprey78]

I did think that you had that rifle shooting well when we were out to the range with it last time. Curious to know what is different now.

Yes, curious...what did you do to it? :lol: :wink:

 

[Oldtrader3]

PT's generally shoot better with some jump between them and the lands. I have also had flyer problems with homogeneous material, long bullets, like the TSX

 

[sask boy]

Osprey, Partitions have been around for a long time & they are a top quality bullet. In your 300win mag they will be a real hammer :wink: !!
You would have no worries taking any game on this continent using them.

Blessings,
Dan

 

[hubcap]

Be sure your action screws are properly torqued. The semi verticle 5 shot group is showing a stringing patern. I recently had a group just like that due to a loose front action screw. :?: :?: