Barnes TTSX and 30-06

[pleopard]

Anybody have good recent experience with Barnes TTSX 165g reloading? Looking for a powder selection for a 30-06 with this bullet

Thanks!
P

 

[Sunray]

Barnes says to use IMR4064. The '06 loves both the bullet weight and the powder.
http://www.barnesbullets.com/load-data/

 

[ybuck44]

Imr 4895, my gun likes 48 grains but the starting load is 46 grains on barnes site. '06 and imr 4895 is a good match

 

[dgod]

I'm with Sunray, I've had very good luck with IMR-4064

 

[lonewolf5347]

Great bullet deer just don't walk away from a Tsx
I know you're Cal. 30_06
But in my 243 Cal 85 gr. Tsx has never failed me out to 250 yard one shot kills on deer

 

[pleopard]

I've been trying to buy a new gun before each season, work up a load for it, then hunt with it all season. I settled in on the Barnes 4 or 5 years ago ... I worked up loads for two 243's (80g/85g), a 308 (150g), and a 223 (62g) so far with great success on deer. None of them has failed me. This season I'm working with then new Remington AWR in 30-06 and I'm wanting to try 165g's in it.

I've seen that star by the IMR-4064 and I've got 8 lbs of it sitting in my shop but I respect experience over books so I posted here ...

Anyone else have good experience with 4064 or other powders?

Thanks for the comments guys

 

[Twaddy]

Anybody have good recent experience with Barnes TTSX 165g reloading? Looking for a powder selection for a 30-06 with this bullet

Thanks!
P

Varget was the most accurate in my Rem. 700 w/TTSX 165

 

[dgod]

I have had great luck with IMR-4064. Sub MOA at 200 yards off a Lead Sled (Cause I'm getting on up there in age). 46.5gr got me 2410 fps, 10' from the muzzle, sub MOA at 200 yds. Additionally, 50.5gr of IMR-4064 resulted in a velocity of 2640fps, I don't have the results of the downrange accuracy.

Great Powder, Only one I would look at for potentially faster bullets would be IMR-4350...Haven't tried it yet.

As always, "Work up the loads for your firearm".

Good Luck
Dan

 

[jmr40]

I've used 150 gr TTSX in 30-06 and 308. I've used 130 gr TTSX's in my 308.

I wouldn't use 165 gr copper bullets in a 30-06 unless I were taking it to Alaska or Africa for really big stuff. The 165's are often used at magnum speeds on game much larger than deer. A 130 gr TTSX out of your 30-06 @ 3200 fps will shoot all the way through most anything in the lower 48 and give much better expansion at those speeds than a 165 @ 2800 fps. Most people who use copper report better results with lighter than standard bullets. There are lots of reports of too little expansion when standard weight bullets are used and impact speeds are too slow. They aren't a good option for long range shooting for this reason as well.

For all around use I think the 150's at 2950-3000 fps would be a better choice. ANY of the copper bullets give about the same penetration. You just get more expansion by going lighter and faster.

 

[MCMXI]

For all around use I think the 150's at 2950-3000 fps would be a better choice. ANY of the copper bullets give about the same penetration. You just get more expansion by going lighter and faster.

Barnes lists the minimum velocity ranges for the .30 cal TTSX bullets as follows with the heavier bullets continuing to expand at lower velocities

150gr TTSX - 2,000 fps
165gr TTSX - 1,800 fps
180gr TTSX - 1,500 fps

I use quite a few Barnes TTSX bullets for hunting (6.5mm, .277 cal, 7mm, .308 cal, .375 cal) and the 165gr in your .30-06 Sprg would be very effective out to 400 yards and even 500 yards and that's at sea level, assuming you can keep the MV around 2,800 fps which isn't too hard. I like using the TTSX bullets with as much mass as possible while paying attention to the minimum velocity values for each caliber and weight. I'll be working up a 180gr TTSX load shortly for my Kimber 8400 with a .308 Win barrel. MV should be around 2,550 fps from a 22" barrel and at sea level the bullet is still moving at over 1,700 fps at 500 yards so the BC really helps. It'll make for a great deer/elk load. You might even consider the 180gr TTSX for your .30-06 Sprg since you could drive it at least 100 fps faster than I could with a .308 Win. That would give you an effective bullet out to 600 yards with plenty of mass.

 

[Leatherstocking]

MCMXI, Where did you find the min velocities for good expansion?
Is the velocity independent of calibre, i.e. applies to 7mm and 30 cal, etc?
I would like to know as I shoot 7mm.

 

[MCMXI]

MCMXI, Where did you find the min velocities for good expansion?

I contacted Barnes directly. Expansion is a function of bullet construction, sectional density, velocity and the characteristics of the target material. Minimal expansion velocity for .30 cal bullets with different weights isn't the same so I would imagine that the 7mm cal bullets would be different too.

 

[MSgtEgress]

I use a compressed charge of H414 with the 110g TTSX. For 3500fps. Shoots 1-1.5 inches at 200. With 200 yd zero drops 5 inches @ 300 and 24 inches @450. Took a big doe last year at 300 yd. she ran 20 yards and dropped stone dead. Total pass thru double lung and broke ribs going in.

 

[MCMXI]

MCMXI, Where did you find the min velocities for good expansion?
Is the velocity independent of calibre, i.e. applies to 7mm and 30 cal, etc?
I would like to know as I shoot 7mm.

Here's minimum velocity data from Barnes for the 7mm TTSX bullets.

110gr 2000fps
120gr 2000fps
140gr 1800fps
150gr 1500fps

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Every bullet from 165gr and up I have tried in the 30-06 has shot best with H4350. IMR-4350 is a close second. This holds true for 4 different 30-06 rifles too.

 

[Leatherstocking]

Thanks,MCMXI, for the info.

 

[wankerjake]

I'm with the others, IMR 4895 and 4350 have both been good for me.

 

[Jack B.]

IMR 4064 works the best in my 30-06 Remington 700. With a wide range of bullets Including the Barns TTSX. Good results with Hodgdon Varget also.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I also like 4064 but in the .308 Win much more than in the 30-06. Like I said above, the slower 4350 is more accurate for me in the 30-06.