Barnes bullets seating depth

[Big Bob]

I bought some Barnes 80gr ttsx bt for my 243 improved.
The fellow at Barnes told me to start loading at 30-70 thousandths of the lands.
Does that sound right ?

 

[trailrider121]

Yep, the copper bullet like jump. I normally load .050" off the lands, but again heard others having great results with .010" off. My last set up with Barnes I tested at .050" off the lands, then found good node and then fine tune col. Don't be afraid to seat the bullet .100" off.

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

It didn't sound right to me, either, but when I moved the 85gr TSX to 0.050 off the lands instead of 0.005 into the lands in my 6BR, my groups shrank from ~0.75MOA to ~0.4MOA. I found it hard to believe, but the targets don't lie. I've never had a jacketed bullet shoot its best with anything like that much jump.

After that experience I started my 180gr TSX (.300WM) at -0.050 and they performed beautifully right off the bat. So the advice from Barnes has worked for me twice.

For hunting rifles I don't do a lot of fiddling with seating depth. If I were you I'd start at -0.050 and then adjust seating depth if you're not satisfied with your groups. I'll bet that you won't have to try any other depths, though.

 

[montana_native]

Same here.

0.080" jump in a 7mm Rem Mag for best results
0.070" jump in a 35 Whelen Improved for best results

 

[Larryh128]

+4, I seat for magazine length & if I have to adjust, the bullet goes deeper in the case. Great bullets and I've been playing with their new VLD design LRX bullets. Fly great and flat.

 

[BrushyHillGuide]

Interesting. Mainly I want something new to tinker with but if I could find a Barnes bullet I really like, I could save a lot of money annually AND have an opportunity to have some input with Barnes on my own experience with them.

I've got mixed feelings on the issue of bullets holding together and exiting VS fragmenting inside and expending all the energy inside. I track so many animals every year, with my dogs, that hardly bleed because of no exit wound. In those cases I, and the hunter, sure wish there was another hole to bleed. On the other hand, I DO like that hydrostatic shock when a shot is well placed.

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

Interesting. Mainly I want something new to tinker with but if I could find a Barnes bullet I really like, I could save a lot of money annually AND have an opportunity to have some input with Barnes on my own experience with them.

I've got mixed feelings on the issue of bullets holding together and exiting VS fragmenting inside and expending all the energy inside. I track so many animals every year, with my dogs, that hardly bleed because of no exit wound. In those cases I, and the hunter, sure wish there was another hole to bleed. On the other hand, I DO like that hydrostatic shock when a shot is well placed.

Some 180gr TSX recovered from big game (kudu, oryx) shot at 80-300 yards with my .300WM (with an unfired bullet for comparison). Hard to complain about the bullet performance. On smaller game, and animals shot through the ribs, bullets weren't recovered.



And here's a seating depth test for 80gr TSXs in my 6BR. All of the smaller groups are well off the lands, but 0.050" was not optimal (though much better than touching the lands -- 0.000). There are a couple of groups with the 95gr Berger VLD shot at the beginning and end of the test as controls.

 

[fourpower]

Interesting. Mainly I want something new to tinker with but if I could find a Barnes bullet I really like, I could save a lot of money annually AND have an opportunity to have some input with Barnes on my own experience with them.

I've got mixed feelings on the issue of bullets holding together and exiting VS fragmenting inside and expending all the energy inside. I track so many animals every year, with my dogs, that hardly bleed because of no exit wound. In those cases I, and the hunter, sure wish there was another hole to bleed. On the other hand, I DO like that hydrostatic shock when a shot is well placed.

I don't see how you could save any money shooting Barnes. in my 7mm mag barnes 175gr cost $60 per 100=berger 180gr cost $45 per 100!! in 30 cal barnes 200gr cost $70 per 100= berger 210gr cost $47 per 100. and any barnes cant hold a candle to a berger @ any range over 600yds!

 

[zolt]

Barnes bullets can be very accurate.

Start testing your loads at.050 off.

My best .243 load with the 80 gr TTSX is .100 off and it just drills them. I went through a whole box of them until I started seating .050 off and I was amazed. Went to .075 off and said, "Holy cow!" At .100 off.......well what can I say except; "Drills them"