You've measured 3000fps on a chrony using a TTSX with sane loads? What's the specifics, wouldn't of thought it would break 2900. Makes it interesting since most loads for even shorter 130gr lead bullets top out just over 3000fps in the books.
No, I'm just guessing, like you are.
Do you have any 130's? How is their length compared to 150's? How is pressure in TTSX's compared to other bullets?
44.5 grs of H4895
Okay.. going off on tangent here.
I don't have any 130's, at least not Barnes. Their specs for it shows the 130's to be 1.173" long, Nosler Partition 150gr bullets are 1.1" long. So it's a bit more than 1/16" longer than the 150gr Partition.
I don't own a Barnes manual and I can't find any load data for the 130gr TTSX online for 300 Savage. So I don't know what they are publishing in their manual.. but looking at the slightly shorter 130gr XBT for the 300 Savage that they do have data for online, it maxes out at 2945 on 44gr of H4895. So at 44.5 you may be over loading the cartridge(?), but if it's velocity is similar to the XBT then you should only be getting 2975'ish according to the book. And I've never seen a 99 that matched published velocities, so I'd guess 2900-2925 fps in reality just off the cuff.
So.. by the "book" data I can find, you are breaking 2900fps but shy of 3000fps. In reality, you might be getting 2850 to 2900, chrony is the only way to tell. The 150's can be pushed to just about 2800, though I won't do it in my 99's. 2700 for sure. So 100fps-150fps difference.
BUT...
The Partition will expand best at 1800fps and above (according to Nosler), and a 150gr fired at 2700fps will drop to that speed at 430 yards. At 400 yards the 150gr Partion drops 34".
The TTSX's will expand best at 2000fps and above (according to Barnes), and a 130gr Barnes TTSX fired at 2950fps will drop to that speed at 375 yards. At 400 yards the Barnes 130gr TTSX drops 29".
So according to the manufacturers guidelines... the 150gr Partition is actually a better long range bullet than the 130gr TTSX.
So with a 6% or so better velocity but a shorter kill zone (according to mfr's recommendations), I stick with my take that the 130gr Barnes is at best a marginally better round than the 150gr Partition.
Either one is gonna kill extremely well at the ranges that 95% of deer are shot at. Is 150fps a huge difference in a bullet velocity? That's up to the shooter to decide. I don't think so because I've never been hung up on the 3000 number (outside of the 250-3000 cartridge).
But the best part of handloading is going with the load YOU like. I like Partitions. I can't see a thing wrong with Scott using the 130gr TTSX. Both are going to work really well out past 350 yards.
Okay, thread hijack over.