130 grain Barnes TTSX in .308

[40X Guy]

Gnergy, you must have a very compressed load with the amount of powder you are using? I am using Lapua brass and can't get close to 51.5 grains in my cases. I ended up with 8208 powder in mine @ 46.2 grains and my 130 Barnes are scorching at 3,067 fps. You are using 5 grains more and only getting 3,005 fps?

Frank

 

[GNERGY]

Frank, I'm only shooting a 20 inch tube. The loads with 8208 didn't have the bullets seated very deep. I found out after doing some reading that Barnes suggests seating the bullets deeper than I did. If I don't get good results with the H4895 I will try the Varget and the 8208 with seating the bullets deeper. I noticed that the deeper I seated the bullets the velocity was higher. Some of the loads with 4895 were up the case neck half way and ended up compressed.
Frank, what length barrel do you have and what kind of groups did you end up with. What did you use for an over all lenght. Do you test them any farther than 100 yds. I do most of my testing at 300 yds because I want to be able to keep them under 3 inches at 500 yds. I am also using a front bipod with a rear bag for support.
Tarey

 

[40X Guy]

Tarey, my barrel is a 24 inch Brux sporter profile with a .308 match chamber, I loaded up 20 rounds with the 46.2 grain XBR load, 210 Match primers with the Barnes 130's and Lapua brass at an OAL of 2.810 as per barnes manual, and it is about .050 to .055 off the lands in my rifle. Took it out yesterday to final check my zero for deer season coming up and after making an adjustment after i shot 1, shot 3 more and had a nice clover leaf with all 3 shots touching. Probably a group in the .5's. I am liking the 8208 XBR powder as it has spectacular numbers over the chrony and seems to be clean burning. This thread has been a good one and I thank everyone very much for all the knowledge and help!! One of the members here PM'ed me about the 8208 powder and I took his advice and ran with it. He had posted on another forum the same subject that I did here.

Frank

 

[K22]

Varget and IMR 4064 are great powders for the 308 but I've had better luck with IMR 4895 with the lighter bullets (under 150 grain). The Sierra 125 Pro Hunter is an excellent bullet and with IMR 4895 I've shot under a minute out of a sporter weight barrel.

 

[2506]

I like IMR 4895 best up to 150 gr in the 308 also. My go to deer load is 46 gr IMR 4895, WW case, CCI-BR2, 125 gr Nosler ballistic tip. Tack driver and deer hammer. ;D

 

[A_Gamehog]

Hey 40X Guy,

Glad that load worked out. It has great accuracy combined with what I think is the best hunting bullet.
You are a better shot than me, I can't get those clover leafs yet.

 

[40X Guy]

Gamehog, thanks for the tip, this load is awesome, and i am more than ready for deer season here in Pa. in 3 days. Heres the critter getter ready to go replete with a Minox ZA-5 4-20X50 scope.

Frank

 

[A_Gamehog]

Sweet rifle, and look at those HD mounts. Keep us posted on your season?

 

[snert]

I loaded this bullet in a trimmed 308 Fed GM case, with a load of Varget that filled the case, seated the bullet to allow for the recommended taper crimp into the cannular, and then tried it in an old 788 Rem. I was stunned when it repeatedly delivered 1/2 inch or less three shot groups off the bench at 100 yards. Made me wish I owned that 788! It was scary accurate from an old economy budget rifle.

I also shoot the same load in a model 88 Winchester and it performs well within the ability of that rifle, with light recoil, excellent accuracy and penetration/expansion on whitetails. It is a Barnes bullet I like.

The load is from the Barnes manual. As a side note, I did load some with this compressed load without crimping and the bullet walked right back out a little. There is a reason they say to crimp it. Bought a Redding crimp die and settled that issue!

 

[GNERGY]

I loaded and shot some more with 8208 seated to 2.810. Of the four loads I tested 47grs. gave me 3000 fps. and 1 1/4 inch groups at 300 yds.
I still have some loads with H4895 that I am going to test in the morning.
Looking for 1 inch groups at 300 yds.s
Tarey

 

[40X Guy]

Tarey, looks like you are close to your inch group at 300. I will post up any critters I harvest this season.

Frank

 

[GNERGY]

Frank, Good Luck on your hunt.
I did some testing this morning, wind was non existant and it was around 60 degrees. With 50.5 grs. of H4895 loaded to 2.810 OAL produced a 3 shot group of .990 ;Dat 300 yds with a velocity of 3150 fps. ES of 5 fps.
I am going to load some more and make sure the load is repeatable.
Then I want to see what it will group like at 500.
Tarey

 

[40X Guy]

Thanks Tarey, looks like you got the .308 rocking! Post a pic of you rifle.

Frank

 

[GNERGY]

Here are a couple pics. Rem. 700 SPS Tactical with a Bobby Hart LRT stock that I got from Stockys and devcon bedded it. That is an EGW 20MOA base with a 6x-24x 50 Burris Black Diamond. It has a Shilen 2oz trigger.

The brake on it makes it recoil like a 223. I machined the brake and installed it myself but it is a copy of a very effective and popular brake. ( Muscle brake by Jim See @ Centershotrifles).
Tarey

 

[40X Guy]

Tarey, thats one beautiful rifle!! I like it! No luck monday on my end hunting, but my 12 year old son nailed a large doe which is his 2nd deer already.

Frank

 

[madmixerman]

Tell Nick to get that big boy running around. I'm pulling for him.

 

[Ledcke]

I joined this forum specifically because of this thread. Thanks for doing all that legwork Gnergy! I have a Remington 700 LTR that is very similar to your rifle, but Barnes were heartbreakingly inaccurate. I even tried loading to just off the lands which was way too long for the magazine.

Your results give me a cautious optimism. Thanks again!!

 

[snert]

new member because of a thread from 2011....not bad

 

[M21]

I use the TTTSX with a max load of Varget in 308 and crimp with a Lee crimping die per Barnes suggestion, well they didn't say Lee but did say to crimp these projectiles. On two frontal shots on deer that weighed 175 lbs plus I recovered the projectiles in rear ham on one and the other exited about where belly button would be and then broke rear leg above knee joint. Both shots between 100 and 150 yards. No lack of penetration and a dozen plus deer don't like them, most are DRT or walk off like they are drunk and fall within twenty feet.

 

[A_Gamehog]

Youtube video shows the penetration of the .308 with 130TTSX in gel. Amazing performance.