Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 150gr or 168gr TTSX in 30-06...any input, preferences, etc.?

The 150gr can be pushed a little faster, although not a whole lot, than the 168gr. The 168 has slightly better BC. Interestingly enough, looking at Hodgdon's reloading data (will be using H4350), they show a max of 2897 fps with the 168gr Hornady BTHP and 3068fps with the 150gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. I know those are much different than the Barnes in construction, but there sure isn't much different velocity-wise between those two.

Barnes VOR-TX load with both bullets is 2970fps vs. 2800fps, so a slightly bigger difference.

Comparing those two loads in my Ballistic app shows 10.4 MOA of drop at 500 and 3.9 MOA of wind (10mph) for the 168 vs. 9.4 MOA of drop and 4.1MOA of wind at 500. The 168gr has approximately 100 fl/lbs more energy at 500 than the 150.

I'm sure I'm just splitting hairs here. Any thoughts from the peanut gallery???

Thanks,

Dan

What are you hunting? I use a 165 BTSP in a 06 going 2680fps and it kills everything just fine. I have shot out too 400 yards on steel targets. Pretty confident in it with mild recoil.

Between both bullets I like the 165/168 class of bullets but whichever your rifle shoots accurately will determine which you should choose. Accuracy beats velocity everytime!

What is your intended target or game?

I load 168 TSX in my 30-06 at 2900 ft/sec. I like the round, and I use it for both moose and deer. On deer, it gives devastating results -- stay out of the meaty parts. Works real well on moose. Have not recovered one yet.

I loaded 150 TSX for my wife at 2840 ft/sec. She killed a nice bull with that one -- one shot dropped in its tracks. Bullet went right through.

My shots are usually between 80 and 300 yards, and I probably wouldn't take a shot longer than that. 500 yard ballistics are just mental masturbation, in these parts, for game animals. YMMV.

Primary use is as a backup rifle in one of those "find ammo anywhere" cartridges. Say everything in North America minus brown bear. I've got a 6XC that I use for deer, antelope, and other stuff in that range. I'd probably use this rifle if I had the opportunity to hunt elk, moose, black bear, etc.

I had been loading the 168 in my previous 30-06 but my new 30-06 loves the 150 tipped TSX with a 24" barrell I am seeing 2975 fps. Looking at the ballistics it is my new favorite load for deer, elk, pigs etc...at 400 yards it is still running 2100+ and 1500ft-lbs.

I load the 150's for deer but blacktail max out at about 150lbs in these parts. No animal is probably going to know the difference but if my rifle shot both with equal accuracy, for your application, I would choose the heavier bullet.

130. Thank me later.

0.470 vs 0.420 is only slighty better? I couldn't get the 168 to shoot worth a bean in my '06. I've used the 150 and it's shot very good in a couple of .30 cal's.

I've been using the 168gr for the past several years and have not recovered one. When I run out of them, I'll try the 150gr.

I use a stiff charge of RE19 under the 168gr TTSX and get right at 2,900fps, with very good accuracy.

150

No need to go bigger the way they penetrate.