Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles .308 win, 130 Barnes ttsx, and Varget

Anyone have a load for the 130 grain Barnes ttsx in a .308 win using varget. Found the load data for barnes online but just looking for a good starting point without chasing all the load data available. Thanks

No one else has your rifle, which is going to be slightly yet significantly different than any other rifle. Seat bullets .050-.100" off the lands (as Barnes recommends), start at what you think is a safe starting charge, and work up to a safe maximum, and/or until you get the result you want. That is always the way to do it.

Short-cutting during handloading can lead to catastrophic results, particularly if you are working with a new powder, or new bullet, or new-to-you gun. It ain't worth it.

HuntnShoot makes some good points there. I tend to look at someone else's pet load as a good indicator of what to expect, but still prefer to load a few "singles" stepping up to their powder charge in the name of safety. My first foray with a new load is often just a handful of rounds with increasing charges, starting maybe 5% below where I think I need to be and ending maybe 2% beyond where I think I'll need to be. Those all get run over the chronograph, and I might occasionally have to break down that highest charge loaded round. It stinks to find out that your prediction was a bit too light because your rifle has a loose chamber/bore or too long a throat.

That was my plan. Load from 46.5 to 48.0 grains in .5 grain increases. Always just load my ammo to mag length. Just a new bullet as I drew a bonus hunt this year that calls for lead free. My current load is an sst that has worked for over 10 years. So starting over with these new bullets. Couldn't find a box of factory loads for this one hunt

Depending on your brand of brass and primers, you can load them at least to 49 grains per Barnes's data. I'd not stop at 48. You may find best accuracy near the top end.

Start one grain below max and ease up a little. I usually get the best accuracy on about any bullet just below a max load.

I was reloading a 130 gr TTSX in Lapua cases using F210M primers with 49.5 gr of Varget. It was shooting just under an inch for 5 shot groups and velocity was ~3080 fps. I switched to TAC using 50.1 gr getting slightly better accuracy at ~3,180 fps. The rifle is a Winchester Model 70 Stainless Classic Featherweight.

I have been hunting with my WBY Mark V 130T\TSX, Varget and 210M for about 5 years. I started with 47 and worked up to 50 grains in Lapua brass. The Barnes number 4 went up to 52 grains. Accuracy was good at all charges but 49 and 49.5 is excellent. 5 in an inch 4 in 1/2 inch there's always 1 little flier that I've never bothered to track down. Velocity not quite 3100 from my 24 inch. I LIKE The TSX a bit better less damage and its not for 300+ in mine anyway.

Turns my 308 win into a 270 for that range.

Good luck and shoot straight y'all