Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles 223 55gr Barnes TTSX advice

Trying to get this bullet to work in a 1-9 twist kimber Montana. I’ve tried cfe223 at 26,27,28 grains all with lapua brass and br4 primers .... not so good..... 1.5” groups. The gun shoots the factory Barnes 55gr TSX vor-tx ammo pretty good.... figured I’d find something to start on with the cfe223 but I guess I will have to try some different powder. I have h335 and benchmark on the self and can switch to fed 205 primers if needed..... where would you go next? Give up on the cfe? Thanks

Of the other 2 you mentioned I would try Benchmark.

If that doesn't do any good I would suspect the 9 twist isn't stabilizing the longer TTSX as well as the TSX.

Your 9 twist may be a "slow" 9 and be more like 10 twist.

Have you used CFE with other 55 grain bullets in this particular rifle and received good groups?

I’d play with the seating depth. mono bullets like a lot of “jump”. Also, check your concentricity. Have you loaded much .223? Have these dies been used before to load for other rifles and are they known to load good (straight) ammo?

Good Lou know, Ben.

Damn auto correct.... that was good luck....

about anything works in a 223....\

Loading for kids, I've used everything from H322, 4198 ( both), Benchmark, H4895, Varget, BLC2, H380, W 748, IMR's 3031, 4895, 4064, 4320
and a host of others.. they'll always give accurate ammo. simple small rifle primer of any brand.

I've taken several deer with the Barnes, its minute of deer out past 250 yds with about any 223 load.

you put the Barnes where its suppose to go, it will more than do the job it was designed for.

Sounds like you are trying to over think this, by alot. have confidence in your equipment and yourself, and it will get the job done.


Shooters typically blame anything that goes wrong on everything but the shooter... I think looking in the mirror is probably the real answer something went wrong.... Certainly is with me, when something goes wrong...

I was with a young scout I took out hunting with me and my son, and he dropped a blacktail using a bolt 223, with 17.5 grs of SR 4759 and a Barnes 55 TTSX....If it worked for him, you'll be just fine... and if you need more personal confidence then just get some other 55 grain loaded ammo and spend time at the range, getting to know your rifle and its potential quirks...

I didn’t ask if it works…. I’ve killed 7 deer and 20 or so hogs with the bullet…. Just trying to get this combo to work in this specific gun….. I guess I could post pics of little groups and dead animals but didn’t think I needed credentials but thanks I guess.

I would give IMR8208 a try. It's what I use for 53gr. TSX, 55gr. Sierra sp's. I do use Rem 7 1/2 primers in LC brass.

First and foremost with Barnes.

Powder choice is a REAL distant 3rd to Bullet choice then seating depth.

The 55 gr TTSX will stabilize in a 1 in 9.

This.

As long as its actually a 1:9 and not a "slow" 1:9 that may be pushing 1:10.

Try imr 4064. It works wonders with 62 ttsx in my Montana.

Every rifle is different. I got them to shoot extremely well out of my 1 in 12 twist.....at MT altitudes...not so much as sea level......

I loaded up 20 more at different seating depths… we shall see. Thanks.

My Montana shoots the 62 TTSX and Varget but I never tried the 55.

Hardway,

I had the same issues with the 55gr TTSX until I seated it to a COAL of 2.250" and then 27.4gr CFE223 sealed the deal. It is accurate in my 1:9" and 1:8" twist rifles. I'm using CCI-400 primers and LC brass.

Ed

Benchmark, H335 AA2230 and IMR 3031 are good choices.

kwg

OP how long is this bullet? Is it over an inch? If so you might need a 1 in 7 if you want better groups. I never have any problems with bullets
in my 1x9's ifn they are under an inch, over that and they start to spread a little, not to say bad groups just spread out a bit.

Kimber Montana, 1-9 twist, Leupold VX3 2.5-8X VHR scope on Talley lightweights. It shoots my reloads very well: 55 gr Barnes TTSX, max book load of TAC, CCI BR4 primers, Lapua cases. I load the TTSX to 2.25" OAL and never did any further load development...1/2" three shot groups at 100 yds is fine for what it is. Note...same gun shoots Berger 70 gr bullets very well too! Love it, would be the last rifle I'd sell. Good luck with your loads.

Hard way,

Did you ever get it to shoot?

Haven’t had time to shoot…. Been stuck in the hospital for awhile. Hopefully when I get out I can sort it out. Thanks.