Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Question about Barnes Vor-TX Ammo

I am ordering Barnes Vor-TX ammo for my .308 WIN and my .300 WSM. I was planning to get 168 grain ammo for both. However, I was somewhat surprised to learn that the .308 WIN is loaded with 168s while the .300 WSM ammo is loaded with 165s.

Curious. Why would that be - do the 165s have some sort of advantage over 168 grainers in the .300 WSM? thanks.

Bear,
I would personally opt for the 150 TTSX in the 308 and go for the 180 for the 300WSM

Gus

I would say it has more to do with 168's being associated with the .308 Win in match loads (which the TTSX is not). The 168 has the better BC (.470 vs .442) no matter what it is shot out of and has a longer ogive profile to achieve that. They will both expand over the same velocity range similarly for a given velocity.

If you want them the same you can get 165 TSX's for both from Federal Premium, 150's (TTSX)are available in both from Barnes.

As far as the ballistic differences in the two, at typical hunting ranges there isn't any difference worth worrying about.

Can't answer your 165vs 168 question, but I will comment that I am shooting the VorTx 120gr in my 7mm-08 Weatherby and 130gr in my .270 Win Sako M75 and they are by far the best factory loads I have shot in both guns.

I have only used the Vortex ammo in 243 80 gr TTSX and am really impressed with the accuracy(an inch or so out of a Remington 7600 and the game performance.

I agree that they are both extremely accurate in my 270 and 7mm/08 also, however I chronied the 270 load in my Tikka T3 and I was only getting 2930ish fps. That seems way low to me. Maybe my chrony was reading low that day. Have you had a chance to chrony the 270?

The 165's have a different ogive and are meant for short necked rounds as most 300 wsm are.

Not unusual to see those velocities from some factory 270 loads...matter of fact in some 270's that's about all you get from the oft used load of 60-H4831.

The Barnes is a hard bullet, long, too...and that Vortex ammo has to work in a great many 270's so I bet it is not loaded up to full max for that reason. But it'll still kill stuff.

Fastest 270 ammo I have checked recently is the cheap Federal Blue Box with 130 gr bullet; app. 3120 from a 22" barrel. Accurate ,too.

This

Its nasty accurate in both guns Ive tried it in.

The 300 win mag is only offered in 165 grain too the 30-06 is only offered in 168

Maybe it's a magnum/non-mag thing

The BAR with the Boss that I had in .308 loved the Black Hills 168 TSX loading. The deer didn't as it was pure death. Never had to shoot one more than once, and never had to follow one.

I bought some for a 338 win mag with the 225 tsx and it shot so well I didn't even consider hand loading for it. The problem now is there is zip zero nada of that available anywhere for the last six months so I am going to develop a hand load for it.

I am hand loading 168 tsx's in my 300 wsm as I have been for about nine years now. I have taken elk, bear, whitetail, mule deer and pronghorn with that load and wouldn't even consider going to the 180's. I haven't switched to the tipped version just because I have all my dope down pat why change?

I wouldn't worry about the three grains if you plan on shooting the vortx as long as it shoots and performs well roll with it.

I found the same experience for my .338 Win Mag. It didn't like 250 grain CT Partitions, nor the 210 grain Partitions but loved the 225 TTSX Vor TX. Bought a case when they first came out and am down to four boxes. Have shot two elk with the 225 TTSX, and no complaints from me.

I've used it for two trips to RSA and have taken 18 animals with the 168 Barnes factory in my 308 Win. I've also used them for several deer and hogs.

They will penetrate through the animal, but don't leave much of a blood trail.