Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting 150 Barnes TTSX

Since I don't have a 308 now--- THAT looks good to me.
How about a load suggestion ?


Jerry

62grs H4350
Horn Brass
Win LRM primer

Thanks Shag-

I just need some 150 TTSX-es.

I appreciate it.


Jerry

I have been trying to work up a load for my 30'06 with H4350 and 150 gr TTSX's as well, however there is NO WAY I can fit 62 grains in the case and seat a bullet.

I am using Winchester brass as it has more capacity than the Federal or Remington that I have tried, but 58.5 grains is a heavily compressed load when seating the TTSXs to be 50 thousands off the lands.

The throat on my rifle is not that short ether as 180 Partitions are just at max magazine length when jammed.

More case capacity would be nice but I can't believe switching to Hornaday brass would do it.

Thanks.

Below is what happens to a 150 TTSX from a 308 Win when it hits a cow elk in the shoulder at 70 yards and decides not to open. Bullet was launched at 2,820 fps, hit the cow, failed to open and tumbled. Found it in the offside shoulder facing backwards. No, it didn't hit anything like a branch or grass prior to hitting the cow.

This was a far bigger problem with the original X and the TSX, so it surprised me with the bigger cavity of the TTSX. I've seen enough similar problems with various mono's that I've sworn them off for Partition's or Accubonds.

When the mono's work, they work well, I'm just of the opinion they fail more than many think, and definitely fail more than controlled expansion cup/core lead bullets ala Nosler Partition.

That is the exact same velocity that I am getting from my 308 using 150 gr TTSX. I am using Varget and getting nice groups in this velocity range.

tcp -

Have you tried a long drop tube funnel?

A longer drop and less volume of powder at the same time will allow the powder to load closer (denser) or compact. I've used that method w/4831. & 7828 in 270 win cases.

Good luck


Jerry

Brad,

What would you do if "lead free" became law of the land in your hunting grounds? I've had limited experience with the LRX's, but that limited experience was very positive. The LRX's seem to open easier than even the TTSX's.

I've been looking at the Cutting Edge Copper Raptors. I must have been a raccoon in a past life because I'm easily drawn to all things bright and shiny. Despite the painful prices and the extremely good performance I've had with my lead core bullets, I ordered some to try:

https://cuttingedgebullets.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=ER_J120_CU_RAPTOR

If they shoot well, I may try them hunting this year.

David

David, if lead-free became the law of the land, I'd use up the 1000's of Partitions and Accubonds I have first. Then I'd die. Government here in Montana is on the slow side... happily.

Though I'm not kidding about the above, I do understand the seriousness of the question for some. If I lived in CA I'd play around with as many mono's as I could and use the one that shot/expanded best.

In fairness, I could have gotten TTSX's from a bad batch. I can only imagine improvements in mfg are often introduced.

Thanks for all the info. that has come out of my question. Based on all that has been said and a great tip of my hat to Brad, who seems to be a real elk killer, I think I am going to look at the 165's even if they shoot just a bit less than my 150's. I can keep the 165's under 6" at 400 yards, and at 2750 fps I think they will kill elk.

Thanks again to all.

Cliff

That's an amazing picture of a Barnes. All the ones I've shot have resulted in textbook mushrooms. I would definitely call them and let them take a look at it. Maybe you could save someone else a failure?

I've found them to be good to talk to.

I held the same views for a long time. However, then I started thinking about exposing my kids to lead.
I know one thing for for certain when using monos. They simply do not kill as fast as lead and copper slugs and by a wide margin.

I agree 100%, but you do realize you've just blasphemed!

Glad I'm not the only one who noticed that. With all the chatter on the 'fire about how monos kill like a lightning bolt, I was beginning to think I needed a CAT scan.

This is really no mystery and my observation is backed by others like JB who are in the know.

The old XFBs that had few fans were really good expanding bullets - when they expanded, and nothing put stuff down and dead faster than those bullets would - when they found a path that held significant bone. The bullets I recovered when they were around were more typically classic mushrooms than are the more recent versions.

Expecting copper to expand as reliably as much softer lead defies logic.

The reason the don't kill as abruptly is because they expand to a smaller frontal area in many cases and they also don't fragment much if any. The resulting wound channels are narrow and long.
I popped a cow elk in the shoulders last year with a 180 ttsx with a mv of 3400fps and it ran off like nothing happened with no blood trail. The same shot with a 180 nosler BT would have been a bang flop at best and 15 yard death stagger at worst.

I've been saying the same thing on this forum for over 10 years... I really don't need more convincing.

That sounds good to me.

Should be noted*

Barnes are what I use when I have to. Other than that, I like Nosler Partitions and AccuBond bullets.

I'm also thinking about trying CFE-223 in my Kimber 84 .308 looks like some nice velocity.