Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles .308 130gr Tipped TSX help

I was trying to pick up a box of 150gr Tipped TSX the other day when the cool old guy with all of the stories and advice began talking me at the local gunshop. I got so wrapped up in a story that he was telling me that I didn't check the bullet box to see if it was 150gr like the slot on the shelf suggested it would be. Instead, I have 130gr instead.

Does anyone have any experience with these bullets? A bit on the light side to me, but I have very little experience with Barnes TSX bullets. It would seem that if they really did retain 95% or more of their weight, the 130gr Barnes should actually retain as much weight as a 165 or even 180gr cup and core bullet.

The shank seems pretty short. Am I going to have to put a crimp on it? Also, can I crimp into the grooves on the shank as if they were a cannelure?

I'm reloading for a 30-06 and/or 308.

I shoot them in my 308 and 300 wsm with devastating results. I do not crimp and the barnes seem to shoot better the deeper you seat them. Give them a try and I bet you will be happy with the results.

Are you using the same powders suggested by the Barnes load books? It seems like they use some pretty fast powders compared to what I have been using in the 30-06.

Using W760 or Varget they do quite well out of my brother's XS7 in .308. He smoked a big deer with one this year. Plenty of penetration, a blood trail that could have been left by a fire hose, and the deer only traveled 10 yards...rolling down the hill.

Works for me.

I've got some Varget, IMR 4064 and H4895. I'll play with these first and see what happens. Thanks guys.

I took my deer this year with 130 TTSX and 55grs of Varget, 30-06. Barnes suggests that you apply a crimp, but I didn't. Not a great shot. I just hit the shoulder on the left side and bullet came out the rib cage left side. He didn't take another step, DRT.

I would expect Varget and IMR-4064 to do well with that weight in the .30-06. I always got excellent accuracy with IMR-4064 and 125 gr Sierra or 130 gr Hornady bullets.

pm sent.

I use them exclusively in my 300WM @ 3,500FPS with great results...3 shots and 3 deer.

Quartering to neck shot at 80 yards (This isn't me...I let my buddy borrow my rifle because his 270 would not fire)





Doe at 140 yards shoulder.



Buck at 130 yards through the heart

I've killed from blacktails to 200 pound boars with 130gr TTSX in a 300 Savage, ain't found one yet and have yet to have a critter go more than a 20 yards after the shot.

Congrats to you and your friend Bruzer. Nice deer

Hi Steelhead,

what kind of speed you getting out the Savage? The reason I ask is that I am thinking of running these 130 TTSX in my 308. It has a 20 inch tube and I don't push too hard with powder charges so I would think it would end up in the 300 Savage speed range.

just curious.

Thanks!

2900

Here's some of my load data with the (moly'd) 130 TTSX in 308 and 30-06.

cartridge: 308 Win
Barrel; Rem factory 700 VS barrel, 1/12 twist, 20.5"
Brass: WW brass
Primer: CCI 200

Bullet: 130 TTSX, moly'd
OAL: 2.8"
Powder: AA2230C
50gr - 3000 fps
51gr - 3050 fps
52gr - 3100 fps
53gr - 3180 fps, slightly sticky bolt
.............................................

Cartridge: 30-06
Bullet: Barnes 130 gr TTSX, moly�d
Barrel: 24� Rem Factory sporter
Brass: Win
OAL: 3.28�
Primer: CCI200
Powder: Reloader-17
63.0 gr � 3203 (18� from muzzle)
64.0 gr � 3258
65.0 gr � 3321
66.0 gr � 3357
67.0 gr � 3434

thank you!

I'm pretty excited to see what these will do.

Dan, my 308 shoots them well at 2.805 OAL and 47 grains of Ramshot TAC. Good stuff, I think it burns cleaner than RL15.

What is the felt recoil numbers of this caliber and bullet
weight in the Federal factory loaded ammo?
300 WSM 130-gr TTSX @3500 fps
AMRA

I load both .308 Win and 30-06 with Barnes 130 TTSXs. 46 Varget gets ~2950 in .308 and 51.5 Varget gets 3150 in 30-06. Both calibers extremely accurate in 12-15 guns in those two calibers. Have taken >30 deer with the 130 TTSX. One stopped in a deer, corner to corner in a good sized buck. All but two dropped within a few feet. The corner to corner buck went about fifty yards from what I understand, and a Fawn that was shot in the knee managed a little over 200 before I put one in the back of it's head.

I love them.