6br w/ 80grn Barnes TTSX

[Hof]

Barnes does not have any load data for the 6BR so I was wondering if anybody here has done some load development with the tipped triple shock. I have been shooting primarily 87grn v max sitting on 31grns of varget. I was planning to start at 30grns and work up.

Just wondering what kind of results others have seen with this combo...... should be a lethal pill for the antelope this fall.

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

I went as high as 32.5gr Varget with the 80gr TTSX on the lands, but anything above 32gr had a little stiffness on bolt lift even with no ejector (my pronghorn rifle is built on a Stiller PredatorV, Krieger 9tw). I couldn't get the TTSX to shoot groups much under 0.75MOA consistently with any powder charge I tried, so I sold them and went back to the super-accurate 95gr BIB FBs or Berger VLDs for hunting.

I do like using solid copper bullets on big game, though, so a couple of years later I gave the 85gr TSX a chance. They didn't shoot any better for me than the 80gr TTSX, until I tried the recommended 0.050 of jump. Just as advertised, the groups tightened right up to the 0.2-0.3MOA range. I now use 31gr of Varget with the 85gr TSX 0.050 off the lands -- this is not a very hot load in my 6BR. If I were you I would start 0.050 off the lands, and don't bother trying to touch the lands (even though my experience with jacketed bullets is that touching is almost always better than jumping). Starting at 30gr sounds like a good plan.

I've shot several pronghorns with various Barnes bullets (6mm, .30 cal, even a .375!). They are not as explosive as a BIB or Berger, but they do get the job done with minimal meat damage and no concerns about eagles feasting on the leftovers.

 

[Hof]

Thanks for the reply, that is pretty much what I expect.

Have you noticed a significant increase in fouling from the barnes bullets? This is my only real concern with making the switch. I already bought box and more varget so I guess I will find out for myself. Hopefully I can get them to hit the same poi as my 87 grn vmax's so all in need to change is my calculator from one load to the other.

Hof

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

I don't shoot enough of the high-$$ Barnes bullets to know much about the fouling. I reckon a box of 50 will last me at least a decade of speedgoat hunting, so I may never find out. The 85gr TSX do shoot to the same POI as my 95gr jacketed bullets out to 300yd.