Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 308 shooters - looking for field reports on 130 TTSX

What's he wanting to hunt, 65BR? Federal PowerShok 150 SPs will push back less than the load that bit him and kill most any deer pretty handily. They shoot .5 in my little LTR and cost $13.69 a box at Wally. So I ain't been loading any .308s lately...

I switched over to 130 TTSX from Federal couple years back for my 300 WM. Something in the 3500 fps range.

So far, one shot at a 6x6 bull elk, 'bout 80 to 100 yds, through top of shoulder and lungs about 6" below top of rib cage. Bullet apparently didn't slow down for anything, nor change course. Hardest reaction I've seen yet from a bullet on an elk, went about 30 yds and dropped stone dead. Lungs were blown to smithereens. Don't know where the bullet ended up, somewhere in the offside shoulder. I wasn't in on the butchering.

I'm sold on 'em! But sure is pricey ammo!!!

If I were using a 30.06 or .308, I'd be using this bullet if at all possible. Definitely would flatten 'em out to 350 yards. I'm no longer a believer in heavy for caliber bullets, having used 200 gr. Sierra Gamekings in Federal in both my 30.06 and 300 WM for some years. Just ain't necessary any more, with premium bullets like this one around. On dangerous game, another story for sure, but not for deer, elk, or even moose.

And it certainly tamed some of the recoil on my 300 WM.

When it happens in the field you never feel it (grin)...

Brad your not a bad looking guy even w/that cut...that LOOKS like a Long action Montana?

On that 150 Fed powershock, no doubt it's all he needs on deer/hogs.

Re: reduced load above, having seen the 125 B tip blow apart at 30-30 10" speeds, I'd suggest a 150 BT, or a 130 Speer mag tip (not sure mfg, has a small flat on tip), or even a 125 gr corelokt. All would do fine at reduced load speeds IMHO.

As to 130s being short/light, yes they are, but when I ran the numbers after this post, they run within 1/2" drop at 400 yds at 3,000 fps, vs my 130 6.5mms (AB) at 2850. Now AFTER 400 yds, my 6.5 really takes over, but only by perhaps 150 lbs at 400 yds.

I think the 130 TTSX is a nice option to have, surely much flatter than a 165/168 in a 308 w/hunting length bbl. Sounds like it kills larger game just fine in a pinch also. Nice to know.

Thegman, '06? A 308 will do 3k, no problem so not far off your 3,100.

Good Stuff - Thanks all.

Just for conversation, this is a 130gr TTSX, beside a 180gr CorLokt.

Yes, these were from an '06, but I've not had a problem getting similar velocity from a 308 with (as I recall) TSX book loads.

Figured that might be the case. Treading 270 ground here.

I had no trouble loading the 130 TTSX (moly'd) to 3100 fps in a 20.5" 308 via AA2230C, and 3400 fps in a 24" 30-06 via RL17.

I would not mess with that 130 TTSX, this is how they shoot from my gun. Not worth a chit.

That's mighty fine shooting, nice rifle.

Here's the results of a 130gr TTSX from a 300Weatherby at 220yards ... pulled the picture from an Australian forum. Almost complete penetration broadside, almost 100% retained weight ... ended up at 129.5gr.
I've decided to run 130gr TSXs through a 308Win next season on the same animals.
Cheers...
Con

65BR, 300 WSM Montana/180 Partition @ 2,970.

Has he thought about throttling back his 150 loads to something like a 300 Savage? Unless, perhaps, he's shooting longer than normal woods ranges.

You sure a right about the 6.5's ruling waaaay out there. If I ever get bored with my 308 I may re-barrel it to 260 Rem... maybe (grin).

I'm pretty sure a 130gr TTSX at 300 Savage velocity can kill stuff.

Can only give accuracy info as of now. However, 50.5gr of W748 shoots consistently good in my .308W.

Brad, essentially he will be doing something like that, as he was offered an AR in 30 Rem AR by Rem to shoot this season, but he is only going to use that around here on closer shots, he hunts KS every year and may have to reach a bit more, a Savage duplicate would do fine for most shots. In KS he will take his 270 WSM MRC custom, proven accurate/flat/deadly but also very heavy, and will see what 'lighter' rifle he would prefer to tote around (alot of fast moving bucks in rut) likely in 308 he takes, currently a T3, but not getting hoped for accuracy w/ammo he has tried ironically.

From the sound of the reports here, not much I would not tackle w/those 130 TTSX out to around 400 yds w/a 308. I would likely choose another round if going further, despite knowing many use them much further, likely w/higher BC bullets that expand well at lower speeds i.e. AMAX.

The 130 performance sure gets my attention, vs the other day when a guy at the range would go boom............clang after a long pause out at 415 yds.....musta been 168s I bet, had a full blown Tac style set up.

Thanks guys.

Just checked the notes- it's 50gr of Varget.

I use this bullet with 55grs of Varget (3100 f.p.s. MV) for my 30-06. Entry hole is as small as the round. Exit hole is big enough to get my pinky finger through.

I took this load to Africa:

.308 Win, 130TTSX, 49.5gr AR2206H, Lapua Brass, Fed 210, .030 "jump", 3050fps From 19" Steyr Barrel & Sub moa.

Used it on one Warthog and seven Impala and would not hesitate to use it on bigger game. Great proj IMHO.

I've edited this to add my experience with Varget. Varget (AR2208 in Australia) is my go to for my 24" barreled .308 however I could not get more than 2830fps with a max load and my 19" barrel.


Rath

Thanks.

My nephew shot a fork with those youth loads I made him using 46gr AA3100, W-W Brass and Fed. 210 primers, and 130 TTSX, we recovered one of the two bullets which hit spine and it weighed 129.6 grs, still it expanded nicely even moving at roughly 2,050-2,000 fps.