338 210gr "X" Bullet.

[300Ultra]

Anyone here ever load any of the 210gr X bullets in the 338 Win Mag? I just picked up a box of the older non TSX 210 grainers.

 

[wboggs]

Do your bullets have grooves? If not, I have found them difficult to load with increased pressures, poor accuracy, and fouling. Have loaded them since Barnes came out with them. They tried coating them for awhile with a blue coating. The TSX and TTSX are far superior designs. Best game bullet I have ever used by far. Nothing even close.
Bill

 

[300Ultra]

Nope. No grooves. I was afraid I just blew $35.00. I had a couple different boxes of the XLCs in years past in 6mm and .30. They never grouped that great,and I blamed it on the coating. I wasn't thinking when I bought these. I assumed all Barnes bullets now were the grooved ones. Live and learn I guess. I think I'm done with Barnes for good. I've had no luck with the last 3 boxes and don't have the extra $$$ to blow on them. 2 boxes of XLCs and now these .

 

[wboggs]

I've used TSX in a .338 Ultra with outstanding results. Mine do best when seated about .06" from rifling. I also load for my hunting buddy's .300 win mag. We get 3050 with the 180 gr. with close to 1/2" grps. These are also seated long in a R700, OAL about 3.42" and .06 from rifling. When seated to 3.34 OAL they were all over the target.
You may as well throw away the bullets you have.
If you are a hunter, don't give up on Barnes. Once you get the load you, will be shocked at the performance on game. This from one who has been hunting for 65 years and has tried every bullet that has come along. Barnes is the best I have ever used. The tipped version opens a little faster and gives a little less penetration.
Try seating them .07-.05 from rifling and see if your accuracy doesn't improve.
Bill

 

[alf]

Generally, with the old X bullets, your barrel loved 'em or hated 'em, no middle ground.

I had a Shilen barrel in 6-284 that loved the old 85 grain XBT's.

I also had built a 284 with a Lilja barrel, with the sole intent to run the 120 XBT's. I think I tried 9 different powders to try and make that thing shoot. Finally tried some 130 SMK's to test the gun, which shot under 1/2 MOA, and finally settled on 140 Sierra Game Kings at .60" or so.

 

[300Ultra]

I e-mailed Barnes and told them the whole sorted story. That I was quite unhappy with the last 3 boxes of their bullets. I added that I thought the old XBT should have been recalled in light of all the problems associated with the design. Including preasure spikes. I offered that It would be greatly appreciated if they could see their way clear to exchange these old stock XBTs for a box of TSX in the same caliber. I think that's fair. I really like what I've been reading and hearing about the performance on game lately. Lets face it. If lead keeps coming under fire as a pollutant,monolithic bullets will be it for the taking of game. I don't now,nor will I ever be a fan of fragmentation bullets for the taking of game. Just old school I guess. After 30 hrs in a truck seat to elk camp,I'm not going to trust the outcome to a frangable bullet. Muley points,elk points pronghorn points,a moose hunt in the not too distant future,and playing the game in 3 states. Fuel costs. License prices. Right now I'm a Partition man,but I do have an open mind. Maybe we can work it out. Depends how Barnes wants to handle the ball.

 

[barnesuser28]

lets us know how it works out for you

 

[300Ultra]

Well,Barnes dropped the ball. They did offer to let me spend more hard earned cash to remedy the problem. Mighty nice of them I think. For a company that nearly died they sure have a high opinion of their product. Oh well. No offense to those hunter/shooters that love their bullets. My complaint with them at this point is their attitude and crappy customer service. Honestly,are they so big now that customer relations is taking a back seat to a box of bullets? Oh well,good for Hornady I guess. If I ever feel the need to go leadless there is always the GMX.