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I must admit I have not been a fan of Barnes bullets but I have not shot them in over a decade.
This year I drew a general season Utah Zion deer tag, I was shocked when I got a letter from the Utah Fish&Game along with a coupon saying they would pay up to $50 for bullets or loaded ammo if I would shoot non lead to save the poor California Condor.
I thought that I would take them up on it and try Barnes again, I had a crazy idea and decided to load for one of my AR's. I bought way over the $50 limit that the State would pay for so I could give them a good test. The only bullet they make that I thought would work well is the 62gr TSX anything heavier would be way too long to fit in the magazine. First trip out I took 3 of my AR's one a 16" one a 20" and the other a 22" barrel. I did not find a great load on my first trip but I did find out that my 16" shot a consistent 300fps slower than my other two so I took that one out, I have a great load already for my 22"barrel with another bullet so I decided to concentrate my efforts with my 20" barrel.
Second trip out I tried loads with 5 different powders plus 1 load of factory ammo, Remington makes a factory load with this exact bullet. results were not good the factory load on the box claimed 3100fps and through my Oehler35 they shot 2825fps with 3"groups. My hand loads shot better but not by much as the 5 other powders I tried would not shoot under 2" groups.

Third testing trip I tried another 5 different powders, 4 of the 5 were the same as the last trip around 2" groups but one powder stood out with 3 different loads that all shot 3/4" groups IMR8208XBR. I made one final testing trip using nothing but the XBR powder to confirm and tweak a bit and shot a couple 1/2" groups. I was surprised that this was the powder that was the ONE as I have not had that great of luck with it in other rifles. My final load shoots 2935fps with a SD of 5fps into a consistent 1/2" group can't wait to try them out on a deer !!!!!!

To finish up the Barnes TSX shot better than I thought it would but is VERY finicky, they also shoot slower than similar weight bullets this same rifle will shoot the Sierra 65grBT at more than 100fps faster. Would like to see what rifle Remington was using to claim 3100fps in my 24" bolt rifle they only shot 2910fps.

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You should have got the Barnes 50gr TTSX, there 1/2" @ 100 yards shooters in my 2 hunting ARs which are Colt H-bar and they kill deer without a problem. Never had to have a follow up shot. Both guns are 1-9 twists and I thought I would have stabilization problems with the 62gr bullet, that's why I used the 50gr TTSX flat base bullet.

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I shoot the 62 Barnes in my Rock River Varmint. Shoots really well with Varget. It kills 200 lb pigs with ease. Rips them up.

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Its easy to get them to shoot so long as you seat them deeper....they like a bit of a 'jump'...


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The key to Barnes TSX and most monometal bullets is to get to the velocity you want and then use seating depth to tighten up the groups.

I've used TSX and now TTSX since they came out what 14 years ago. All my rifles like them- one holers.

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I've had great luck with Barnes bullets and accuracy. My .338 fed is a finicky rifle and it does not like all bullets. Both the 160 gr and 185 gr TTSX shoot very well set .05 off. The 120 gr TTSX shoots well in my 7mm-08. Not sure what the jump is but it's significant. Finally I just recently tried the 300 gr TSX in my 450 marlin. Not surprised with the results. All in all I've found Barnes bullets to shoot more accurate than most. Possibly try setting them deeper?

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I have a couple of boxes of 62 gr ttsx bullets, I plan on using these bullets on a California hog hunt in the future, have yet to build up any loads, just put together a new AR with a 24 inch Shaw match barrel, Barnes sent me some data and will be trying out CFE 223, RL 15 and A2520 with these bullets.

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I have tried TSX bullets in a bunch of my rifles, and all shoot them well. As long as you seat them away from the rifling they shoot accurately. I am currently shooting them in a 7mm Weatherby Magnum (140s and 160s) and in a 270. My Model 7 in 7mm-08 shoots them well, too. My 30-06 shoots them accurately, and probably other rifles I can't remember. The are concentric, and the relief grooves fixed the pressure problems the old X bullets had.


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Originally Posted by hanco
I shoot the 62 Barnes in my Rock River Varmint. Shoots really well with Varget. It kills 200 lb pigs with ease. Rips them up.


Varget was the first powder I tried because it is my go to powder with the 65gr SBT, with the Barnes 62gr TSX it is so long you cant come with in 1 1/2 grain of the powder charge and fit in a AR magazine. In my test rifle it was the lowest velocity of any powder tried because you cant get enough in the case

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Originally Posted by Freddy
I have a couple of boxes of 62 gr ttsx bullets, I plan on using these bullets on a California hog hunt in the future, have yet to build up any loads, just put together a new AR with a 24 inch Shaw match barrel, Barnes sent me some data and will be trying out CFE 223, RL 15 and A2520 with these bullets.


I will save you some time, you will have the same problem with RL15 and A2520 that I had with Varget, you cant get enough in the case to make it work properly and fit in a AR mag. CFE223 is worth a try TAC and XBR

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Originally Posted by Jerseyboy
The are concentric, and the relief grooves fixed the pressure problems the old X bullets had.


Not only did the relief grooves fix the pressure problems of the past but made a night and day difference with copper fouling, they still copper foul a barrel more than most bullets but nothing like the original X bullets

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To sum up: go lighter and seat deeper. That's what worked for me in my 20" H-Bar. TAC and/or CFE-223 are your huckleberries too. 50 gr. TSX + CFE-223 is my "default setting" for deer with my 20" AR.


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Bolt gun, 22 1/2" barrel, but still .223.

50 gr TTSX, 26.4 gr TAC, 2.180", 3230 fps, really small groups.






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Originally Posted by boatanchor
Originally Posted by Freddy
I have a couple of boxes of 62 gr ttsx bullets, I plan on using these bullets on a California hog hunt in the future, have yet to build up any loads, just put together a new AR with a 24 inch Shaw match barrel, Barnes sent me some data and will be trying out CFE 223, RL 15 and A2520 with these bullets.


I will save you some time, you will have the same problem with RL15 and A2520 that I had with Varget, you cant get enough in the case to make it work properly and fit in a AR mag. CFE223 is worth a try TAC and XBR

I can see where RL 15 might be an issue because it fills the case rather quickly.

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Every Barnes I've ever shot has been seated to the front of the first driving band and worked like a charm. 6x45, 260, 7-08, 270, 06, 7RM, 338, 375

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Originally Posted by 16bore
Every Barnes I've ever shot has been seated to the front of the first driving band and worked like a charm. 6x45, 260, 7-08, 270, 06, 7RM, 338, 375

That's pretty much where I always start and seldom have to change anything.


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16bore and Blacktailer, I'd sure like to see a picture of your loaded cartridge just to be sure I understand what you are saying. I believe what you are describing is what I've been doing and I'd like confirmation.

Thanks
Jim

Last edited by Rug3; 09/17/17.

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I have shot 180, 165, 150, 130 in two separate 300WSM. They all shot well. In my 30-284 I shot only the 150's and they shot well. Also in two separate 6.5X55 the 120 grain are right on. In my 257 Roberts AI I've only shot the 100 grainers and they all shot well. The 53grain TSX out of my 22-250 are great! I've had good enough success with the TSX and TTSX that they will be my hunting bullets from now on. I now reach for the TTSX first.


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Yep, That's it.
I like mine on the front edge of that ring leaving no valley to collect debris. That's worked for me with hundreds of rounds in various calibers.
Thanks 16bore. Appreciated.
Jim


BE STRONG IN THE LORD, AND IN HIS MIGHTY POWER. ~ Ephesians 6:10

Socialism is a philosophy of failure,
the creed of ignorance,
and the gospel of envy,
its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.
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