Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Any suggestions or advice for loading the 80 gr TTSX for 243?

Havent loaded any Barnes before just wondering what the best loads are in y'alls experience. Thanks in advance.

Here is the link to the Barnes site:

http://www.barnesbullets.com/files/2017/07/243WinchesterWeb.pdf

I use RL-19, they come out of a 22" barrel at 3216 fps

I order some for this year also . Every powder on barnes list for that bullet I never loaded . I have always been a fan of varget or RL19 for my 243. The bullets actually showed up today. Need to figure something out pretty quick since our season opens in 2 week.

I've never seen a .243 that wouldn't put 80 grain TTSX or 85 grain TSX into an inch with 37.5-38.5 grains of Varget. Velocity runs 3150-3200 IIRC. Seating depth is highly variable and very dependent on the rifle. I have one that likes .005 off enough to put five into a one hole group. I have seen as far back as .060 IIRC and just an inch group. I start at .050 off the lands and if that doesn't give me the accuracy i look for I move up to .005 or .010 off and step back in .010 increments. Damn hard to beat Varget in a .308 case for accuracy.

4451 produces as good accuracy and better speed.

45.0 grs of RL-19 will get you into 1/2" or less groups for a quick load, i seat mine to touch. increase powder when you have time to play. never seen a 243 that wouldnt do 1/2" or less with 45grs. all my 243 (i have 17) will shoot that load.
most of them are bug hole shooters

38.5 grains of Varget is a sweetheart.

Lots of powders that will get you to 3400 fps with a long barrel. I spent a year working on a load for a finicky model seven for my daughter.

Finally found a sweet spot with RL-15. 41 grains gives me 1/2" to 3/4" groups at 3170 fps in a 20" barrel. Recoil and muzzle blast are almost non-existent, which is a big deal for a 9 yr old. Hope to try it on a whitetail in the next few days, but I have full confidence in the bullet based on similar. She used factory GMX last season that was supposed to be faster, but in reality was only doing 3000 fps. It worked to perfection and I can't imagine this won't.

Gemby58's load worked for yet another 243. Velocity is not very fast due to this being a 20 inch barrel but it was slightly under 1/2 inch in accuracy Velocity averaged 3065. 46 grains of RL-19 averaged 3100 and around .5-.6 groupwise. The 2 varget loads I tried were both faster but not as accurate. 38.0 went under an inch and averaged 3115 and 39 averaged 3155 but was 1.8 inches. Will try RL-17 tomorrow and see if theres any accuracy there and prob be done.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/bhxxvbiko1hpa0g/20171109_165330.jpg?dl=0
80 gr ttsx worked to perfection yesterday.

48 grains of IMR 7828SSC, with Win LRM primers, seat bullet C.O.A.L 2.610

Gives 3400fps, and sub MOA out to 300 yards in my Ruger American Predator.

This is a compressed load.

RL17 put me squarely in the 3400's with 45 grains. However accuracy was not what I wanted. I may try backing off a grain and trying again but as of now its H4350 at 45.5 at 3250 looking the best.

With TTSX's, I seat the bullets right to the upper edge of the last relief groove (as in the Barnes factory ammo) and have gotten very good accuracy. I don't own a .243, but a 6mm Remington and have found that with the medium range burning rifle powders, like IMR's 4064 and 4166, velocity is all that one could ask for and accuracy well under MOA.

Brings back a lot of good memories. I have my own blond haired sharpshooter who shoots 85gr TSX in her .243. Great picture.

Thanks jdunham. I'm having a lot of fun right now teaching her. She struck again on Saturday morning, killing a what we thought was a spike, but turned out to be a cull 3 point.

Our experience with the 80 grain TTSX and 80 gr GMX has been nothing less than impressive. 5 kills between us.....I had to try it out before I let her start.....

1 neck shot 185 lb buck - bang flop
1 quartering to shot thru the heart 290 lb buck - best blood trail I've ever seen and went maybe 50 yds.
3 behind the shoulder "10 ring" shots - all 30-40 yard good blood trails.

country 20boy, nice doe for that young lady, shes very proud i can see and should be, always nice to see i smile like that on a young hunters face, she will be hooked. also love that muddy girl stock, very nice.