130 grain Barnes TTSX in .308

[40X Guy]

Anyone have a recommendation for a powder or 2 to start with in my .308 with Barnes 130 TTSX bullets, lapua brass, and Fed 210 primers? I have never loaded lighter bullets in .308 and just need an idea where to start. Barrel is 24 inch and rifle will be used for whitetail. Want best combo of speed and accuracy.

Frank

 

[drags]

Frank, I have used varget in the .308 with 125 spt for whitetails, shot one deer and it was drt. The load shot very well, I always try varget first fo .308 size cases.
Joe

 

[M700]

Varget and RL-15 should be good options. Have loaded the 125 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip to 3100 fps with RL-15. The load produced excellent accuracy and low recoil.

I'd think the 130 Barnes bullet might also do well with either Varget or RL-15. Haven't tried that particular bullet from my .308 though. I'd be curious about your results when you do.

Regards, Guy

 

[necchi]

Why not use Barnes data?

Bullet Weight: 130 gr Case Trim Length: 2.005" S.D. 0.196
Bullet Style: TSX BT Primer: Federal 210 B.C. 0.340
COAL: 2.810" Barrel Length: 24"
Case: Winchester Twist Rate: 1:12"
Powder Charge * Velocity,, Charge,,, Velocity Load
(grains) (fps) (grains) (fps) Density (%)
AA 2460 min-45.0 * 2957,, max-51.0 * 3221,,, 95
Varget min-47.5 * 2946,, max-52.0 * 3159,,, 106

http://www.barnesbullets.com/information/load-data/

 

[Romulus]

I've shot 135 smks at 3200 with 8208 XBR out of a 24" tube. I use moly bore prep from KG Industries.

I can't recall the velocity band, but I have a slower load that I got an ES of 4 fps in 5 shots using the XBR with those little bullets. I just don't really have a use for them. Just bought them on a whim to see how those little guys do accuracy wise.

My particular setup shoots 3031 better than any other powder in most instances, and I've tried a lot of them. However I can get the same results with XBR without a lot of fiddling and gaining a reduction in ES. I've tried XBR up to 168s and a maybe 10 rounds behind some 180s and could tell from the chrono that maybe 168 is the limit for XBR in my case. From the chrono and targets I've shot XBR > Varget in my experiences, but that of course will differ tube to tube.

 

[Rustystud]

Light bullets like faster powders. Denser powders give more powder per volume. I like W-748 and the 8208 for this reason. I have pushed 150 grain bullets 3,019 fps in a 20" model 7. I bought some 130 Barnes and the aforementioned powders hoping to acheive 3000+fps and good groups. I too am shooting a 1:12 twist barrel.
Nat Lambeth

 

[40X Guy]

Looks like Varget may be the go to powder for these 130's. Interesting info as well on the 8208 XBR powder of which I have some. Sounds like those 2 will get first crack in my .308. Thanks to everyone for the replies.

Frank

 

[MrMajestic]

I use Varget and 4064 interchangeably with the 150-168 grain bullets. For the lighter ones I switch to 3031 and get velocities unobtainable with the slower powders but be aware this is in 20 and 22" barrels. I have yet to chrono anything from my new 26" tube and that statement may not apply. I plan to try Benchmark to replace 3031 as it has a similar burn rate and should be less temperature sensitive. Hope this helps.

 

[necchi]

FWIW 40Xguy,
My experiance with TTSX in the 7-08 and a friends 243,
,those babies like alot of jump. Be thinking sammi spec oal with'm to start, and then move out if you want.

 

[40X Guy]

FWIW 40Xguy,
My experiance with TTSX in the 7-08 and a friends 243,
,those babies like alot of jump. Be thinking sammi spec oal with'm to start, and then move out if you want.

10-4 Necchi, they say to jump a minimum of .050, but I will seat them at SAAMI length and do a powder test this weekend and chrony also. I will report back results.

Frank

 

[beretta682]

im really intrested in that im waiting to here about your range report im thinking of useing them in a 20 inch tube thanks joe

 

[40X Guy]

Never made it out this past weekend, but I have 15 rounds loaded with 5 different powders after playing around on Quickload. Bullets are seated to SAAMI 2.810 length. Tac, Varget, H4895, RL-15, and 8208 XBR. I'll report back sunday evening.

Frank

 

[2506]

I use 46 gr IMR 4895 with 125 gr ballistic tips in my 21 1/2" Heart barrel 308 for 3000 fps and it just HAMMERS DEER and shoots little bitty one hole groups.

 

[AckleymanII]

The Mack Daddy load I found in my 308 was 51.5-52.0g of Win 748 with a Federal 210. 3150-3200 fps, your barrel may like different, start off at 48.0g and shoot two shot groups, seating the bullets with a bullet jump of .050 to start off with.

Expect groups less than 1/2"!!

 

[kudu61]

hello 40x, I've had good success with R-15, Varget, and H-380.Have used this bullet as a deer load for several years now. Like it very much. I've pretty much settled on H-380 as powder of choice. However all three of these powders work just fine. see ya , Bill

 

[40X Guy]

Took my .308 out to 100 yard range yesterday with the aforementioned 5 powders and shot the 15 rounds over my Oehler 35P.

1. RL-15- 47.2 grains- AVG speed 2903, SD of 13
2. 8208-XBR 46.2 grains-Avg. speed 3067 SD of 2
3. H4895 46.4 grains- avg speed 3012 SD of 7
4. Varget 47.5 grains- avg speed 2903 SD of 4
5. Ramshot TAC 48.0 grains - avg speed 3079 SD of 14

Best all around combo of speed and accuracy was with the XBR with 3 shot group in the 8's.
Best group was with Varget hands down with group measuring in the 6's.
RL-15 was a very close second in group size. H4895 and TAC are not good in my rifle. I came up with these loads by playing on my Quickload program and thats as far as i am going to experiment with this particular deer rifle. I believe I am going to revisit both the XBR and the Varget. I like the XBR powder as it is 150 feet per second faster than the Varget. All shooting was done off of a bipod and rear bag so rifle was jumping around quite a bit.

Frank

 

[GNERGY]

I bought some Barnes 130gr TTSX about a month ago and just got around to testing them today at 300yds. 5 to 8mph winds shifting back and forth across the range. Temp was from 55 to around 65 when I was finished.
My rifle is a Rem.700 SPS Tactical with a 20 inch heavy varmint tube 12 twist. It is devcon bedded in a Bobby Hart LRT laminated stock. It wears a 6x-24x Burris Black Diamond in Burris XTR rings on a EGW 20 moa. base. My pet load is 168gr VLD's with 44gr IMR 8208 with BR2 primers loaded to 3.00in. OAL. 2675fps. It will keep them under 3 inches at 500 meters.
I tested Varget and Imr 8208 with CCI br2 primers, Hornady 308 match brass weighed 150-150.9 gr. bullets weighed to the tenth and equal weights used in each 3 shot group. 2.900 OAL.
Groups measured center to center.
These are with Varget
49.5gr 2 1/4 in.
50.gr 2 1/8 in.
50.5gr 1 7/8 in. 2975 fps. avg.
51.gr 1 3/4 in. 3010 fps. avg.
51.5gr 2 3/8 in. 3020 fps. avg.
These were loaded with Imr 8208, same brass, primers and OAL.
45.5gr 3 1/8 in 2870 fps. avg.
50.gr 3 1/4 in 2900 fps. avg.
50.5gr 1 3/4 in 2930 fps. avg.
51.gr 1 5/8 in 2970 fps. avg.
51.5gr 1 7/8 in 3005 fps. avg.
I loaded some up with H 4895 and I'm going to try to test them in the morning. I will post up results as soon as I can.
Tarey

 

[ChrisNZ]

Good info.
Would be informative to know the vertical in each respective group as no doubt there was wind influence in them.

Chris-NZ

 

[juniorARshooter]

Genery
great report thanks

 

[GNERGY]

I did the testing with H4895 and I seated the bullets a little deeper in the case to try and get them to feed thru my magazine. 2.875 OAL.
Velocity is average for 3 shots at 8ft. from muzzle. Tests were at 300 yds. as before. Temps were 60 to 65 degrees and there was absolutely NO wind, I couldn't believe it.
49.5 gr. 3067 fps. 1 3/4in.
50. gr. 3078 fps. 1 7/8in.
50.5gr. 3128 fps. 2in.
51. gr. 3155 fps. 2 shots touching 3rd 2in high.
These loads were seated to 2.850 OAL.
49.5 gr. 3127 fps. 2 1/4in.
50. gr. 3234 fps. 2 shots touching 3rd 2 1/4 away.
50.5gr. 3173 fps. 2 shots touching 3rd 2 1/4 down.
51. gr. 3171 fps. 2 shots touching 3rd 1 3/4 away.
I noticed the deeper I seated the bullets the velocity was higher.
I was reading where Barnes seated them deeper than I did during their testing so I loaded up some more with H 4895 seating them deeper and will try to test them on monday.
I am not giving up till I can get them to shoot an inch or less.
Tarey