Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Reloading Data for 30-06 TSX 165 gr.

Hello, everybody,
I'd like to change my Sauer 30-06 into lead-free with the Barnes TSX 165 grainer.
Cases are Lapua, powder will be H 4831 SC, VV N 160 oder Rottweil R 904.
Are there any ideas about the load data and can you tell me your hunting experiences with the particular combination?

Thank you

Elmer Keith

My 30-06--the one I assembled myself from "extra parts laying around", shoots the 168 grain TSX at around 2900-2950 fps. I am not finished with my load development yet, but is has a big sweet spot between 2900 and 2950 and seems happy to consistently keep them within 3/4" at 100 yds. This rifle has a 24" SS "takeoff" factory barrel. The headpsace in min spec, mainly because I had to lap the lugs about .003" to get it there and that is not an easy chore--almost wore a hole in my palm.

Anyway, I have always had better results from H4350 than I have H4831 in the 30-06, probably because it's hard to get enough H4831 into the case. I do not have access to my notes right now, but my load is around 58 grains of H4350. It might be anywhere between 56 to 60, but I recommend starting at no more than 56, like I know you will. Bullets are close to the lands, somewhere between .010 and .030", but I need to mess with seating depth some more. I am using Win brass and Fed 210 GM primers.

My experience leads me to think that Varget and H4831 will also work about as well as long as you can get the velocity your barrel likes. Of course, the issue is you may get high pressure before you get the required velocity with Varget, and you may not be able to get enough H4831 in the case to reach the required velocity.

EK - welcome to the fire. With the genes associated with your name, you should be aware that the first thing you want to do with that 06 after necking it up to .333 is stick a threaded tube in the flash hole. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Best, John

58.5 gr's H4350 / 168 TSX / Fed 210 / WW Brass / Seated .050" Off Lands / 2,855 fps w/ 21" barrel

IMR-4350 has done a bit better for me than H-4831 (and to a lesser extent than IMR-4831) with 165s regarding velocity, but accuracy with all has tended to be good. I'll often try 55 grains IMR-4350 and a 165 for starting purposes regarding accuracy and don't usually get over 57-58 grains by the time I'm done. IMR-4831 is usually a good comparison try if 4350 seems a close fit for the needs you have in mind.

Over and over again I read of match grade accuracy with the 168gr .308" Barnes TSX bullets, so I've got to try them in my '06. I've also seen other reports where H4350 is the most accurate powder but have not yet tried this personally.

This thread is yet another push to try the Barnes TSX...

The Barnes TSX is an interesting item to me -- lots and lots of good reports on it....

The 4350's are great in the 06 with 165 grain bullets. When I run out of the IMR I have on hand, the next purchase will be Hodgdon unless they make the IMR more temperature insenstive. I haven't actually found it to be a big issue in what I normally do, but...

The 4831s have been very good with 165s as well, actually.

EK - have finally found time to dig into my notebook. Here's what I've done with the 168 TSX:
RL19 60.0 grains averages 2907 - this has varied from 2843 to 2953 - accuracy has been very good no matter the speed (this also involved two different lots of powder, the second of which seems to be slower).
H4350 57.0 grains averages 2827 and is also very accurate with more consistent speed. I believe that there is still room to work with this powder, but I don't really see a great need to do so as I think it will perform well at the speed I am attaining.
Hunter 57.0 grains averages 2814. This is still a work in progress. It appears that I still have room to work with it. Accuracy has not been quite what the other two loads provide, but the sample is smaller.
Naturally, I have worked up to these loads in a manner that I feel shows they are safe in my rifle. Of course, the standard caveat about them having the potential to be excessive in your (or other) rifles apples. I have been very pleased with the accuracy of the TSX. Best, John

I use Winchester case's,federal 210 primer and 59 grains of H-4350 with 165 to 168 grain bullets in the 30-06 and have gotten great results in every rifle that I have tried this load in I am sure that other powder choices will work well also