I'm trying to use a fire-formed, unsized case, with a 130gr TSX bullet to find COAL/CBTO. Since this bullet has rings on it, simply pinching down the top of the neck is not enough to hold the bullet, when it's at those depressed rings.

Should I go ahead and partially resize this case, or ????
I'm using a RCBS Group A F L Die set.

Use a new or full length re-sized case. You are gonna find the TTSX will want about 0.060 to 0.075 jump before it hits the lands.

Oh,, I've been using fire-formed, without resizing, just to find length. Thanks! Also, I see that your jump is greater than the 0.05 that Barne's suggests. Perhaps that's just a starting place? Have you done much work with these bullets?

Yep, been using them several years in .308's and 30.06's . Also load for several friends using them in .270's. We have yet to recover one.

0.050 is just a jumping off point.

Great!.. Thanks!!

So,, help me understand why to use a fresh case/or fully re-sized and not a partially-resized, fire-formed?

Thanks!
Ken

Ken, you just want the case to hold the bullet firmly enough to be pulled out of the action w/o the bullet moving. Seat the bullet long and chamber it and remove the case. The bullet will be engraved by the rifling. This will be your cartridge OAL. Do this several times to make sure you get it right. powdr

Yes, but with using a fire-formed case and just bending in the throat of the case, it wasn't enough to hold the bullet, because of the grooves in the bullet... I didn't know if it would be alright to use a partially resized case to do this procedure, hoping that in the sizing process, the neck would hold the bullet better than just pinching the top of the neck a bit.

I've generally found that the TSX and TTSX just shoot best when seated so the forward most ring is even with the case mouth.

Thanks! I'll have to see where that is, in relation to my COAL. I DID find my max length was 2.93". I took the deprimer out of my die and gently squeezed the neck, so it would hold the bullet better. (I better go look for that deprimer right now!!)...

What rifle are you loading for? It's rare to achieve a kiss with a TTSX/TSX before magazine constraints come into play (most factory rifles).

One other thing, you may have to deal with a compressed load depending on how far in you have to seat the TTSX and what powder you are using. My Sako does well with a COAL of 2.77" and 48.0 grains of TAC and Fed GM210M primers. My son took a nice Black Bear with it this past season.

This is a Savage 110, bolt action. I'll use Fed GM210M primers and either Varget, or H4895, with the 130 grainers. Have to look at the powders listed for the 150 grainers. I found a max length of 2.90" for the 150 gr bullets.

My method has always been to take a sized case, use a drimmel tool to cut a slot in only one side of the neck, then insert the bullet by hand. The bullet will be snug but able to move.

Works great.

Thanks!

I've started .050" off with a few TTSXs and never had to try anything else. It just works. Easiest bullets I've had to get to shoot well.

Does the lip of the bullet sit on the bullet, or in the groove? Barnes says it doesn't matter... I just 'think' that more case/bullet contact would keep bullets from getting jarred.??

Thanks!