Other than 3 grains of weight?

I'm going to start reloading again soon, and I'm wondering why I see so many companies offering a 165gr. AND 168gr. version.

Nosler's BT and Barnes TSX bullets in particular. Surely there is more difference between them than just the 3 grains of weight.

ogive of each is slightly different.

In my last 308, it preferred the 168 over the 165 by a wide margin.

The change in ogive improves the ballistic coefficient of the heavier projectile, thus making it the superior choice for shooting at longer range.

Being that i'm gonna start re-loading,i'll ask a stupid question.What is ogive?

Well, there is that...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogive

There's also OAL deferences with the weights and BCs....

Nosler BT 165 .475BC
Nosler BT 168 .490BC

Barnes TSX 165 .398BC
Barnes TSX 168 .404BC

Hornady IB-SST 165 .447BC
Hornady BTHP 168 .450
Hornady AMax 168 .475

O.K. Take the Nosler Ballistic Tip .308 165gr. vs. 168gr.

Is there any difference in the jacket thickness? Is one of them disigned for more controlled expansion?

Or is it simply the difference in the ogive thus giving it a little better BC?

I ask because I'm starting to work up some loads for deer and hogs in my 06'

The 165gr. NBT seems like it would be plum wicked on whitetail.

Same

the 165 has been my go to weight for years. the blt is as you thought just wicketttttt on deer! most drt i ever had.

Buy a box of each. Load both and see what works best in your rifle.
What works best is best !

Ok-I gotta ask but what will you be using them for and to what ranges on a consistent basis?

Bottom line, I'd try em both and see if your righ perked with either of them in a better manner.

Dober

Thank-you Brad

Thanks for the input folks. Much appreciated

I have found that the 168gr Barnes tsx shot smaller groups at 200 yds so I went with it for hunting simply for the confidence factor. 1/2" at 200 is no real difference on game. As suggested try both weights and see what performs better in your rifle. Mine was a Tikka T3 lite, one of those ugly non reliable tight shooting ones. So far I have not been able to find its acual weak spot.

Ditto on the Barnes 168 grain TSX BT. Very accurate in a NULA .308 Win. with H4895. Fine elk load,too.

"The 165gr. NBT seems like it would be plum wicked on whitetail."

It is!

I use the Barnes TSX in 168 in both the 30-06 and 300 WinMag. Accuracy being the deciding factor. And they kill like a heart attack.

The 165's just don't have the SD needed and bounce off game animals. The higher SD 168's are much better and usually exit...

I use both in my .308 Win and .30-06s:

165g North Fork
168g A-MAX
168g TTSX

If there was ever a case of splitting hairs, this is one.

I use 168's mainly because the 168 grain bullet has been the standard for match bullets in 30 cal and I loaded 1000's for x-course matches. That is why most mfg's offer the 168's replicating the match bullet design that has been so successful over the years. The ogive design is very forgiving accuracy wise not requiring a lot of tinkering.

It is probably splitting hairs comparing the two but your rifle could prefer one over the other.

I use the 168 tsx's and have killed deer, elk, bear with them.

3/10's

Damn, I knew I was missing something. I better make a switch to the 168's..

I don't know about the Nosler BT, but in the Barnes TSX line, the 168 is made long because it works well in most .308's and the '06. The 165's are made for cartriages like the .300 WM which reguire the bullet to be seated deeper to allow the loaded rounds to fit in the rifle's magazine. E

3/10's? ???

You mean 3 grains?

just get the AMAX 168. it will work for target and hunting up to deer.

Few things pertaining to boolits,means less than "weight". Now as far as dogschit boolits go,the NBT is always at the top of the list and they are easily trumped in all regards.

When talking .308" bores/boolits and looking to ring the bell,the 155 Scenar is very tough to whoop. It conjoins a nice profile,with modest bearing surface and scant weight given it's BC...coupled with rugged jackets. Them is all good things.


It's pictured here next to a 165XLC,168SMK,175SMK and a few others of the ilk,for conversation. Shoulda tossed some TSX in the fray for the hell of it.





As per always,remember the gals mainly shoot their mouths and Imaginations...but it's funny.

Just sayin'.

How have the Scenars performed on critters for you, Stick?

Any problems up close, or pushing them hard out of something like a Montucky Wizzum?

7-08, 243 & 223 Montuckys have left the 300 pretty lonely, but I may chase some stuff where shots are long and the wind blows a bit this fall.

Thanks,

DJ

This modest 800 lb 6x6 bull succumb to the overpowering 168 Nosler Ballistic Tip from a 300 WSM. Bullet smashed through the opposite shoulder after souping up the vitals. Sorry no pics of bullet, it's on yonder hillside somewhere.



My son killed a nice 4x4 mule deer this past fall using the 155 Scenars that I loaded for him. I wasn't there but by his description of the bullets damage the jury is still out for me. Calvin's pics were encouraging though.

I've shot the 155 Scenars out to a 1000 and I can tell you there is a 4'to 5' difference between it and the Nosler 150 Accubond with the AB shooting that much lower.
The Scenars are the ONLY bullet I've shot on armor plate that will dent it out to 700 yards.


Oh btw, I just bought 500 Nosler 168 BT's from the Pro Shop a few weeks back.

I can't decide between the 165 and 168 myself. So, I've tooled up my lathe to make 168's into 166.5's. That will optimally blend the properties of the two.

As soon as I can get the phooking box open that is.

Scenars dig very nicely for a cup/core,despite the fact that they are not billed in that way. They [bleep] smoke NBT's...but what don't.

The 155 Scenar is often the best favor a guy can toss a .30cal's way,as throat/mag constraints are often not in the 30's favor,when talking greater BC's. The Scenar offers terminal affects and flight characteristics,that are rather tough to whoop and they aren't nearly as zookie as many offerings in regards to reliably handling higher impact velocities.

Literally a great way to fly,if a guy loses a bet and is forced to slum a .30cal.

Good to know.

It's hard not to throw a Barnes at every breathing target (even when paying off a bet...grin), and the 300WSM likes them fine, but the Scenars sure rate some attention - especially on deer/antelope sized stuff.

Thanks,

DJ

Dober was kind enough to send me a few to try. My shooting kind of got derailed for a while, and I'm relocating my reloading bench into my new (big, heated, yay!) shop... but I'm gonna give them a spin here pretty quick. Neat looking bullet.

Looking forward to yet another chart you've concocted of wares you've never shot...it's nearly as [bleep] good as watching you try to open the [bleep] boxes boolits come in.

You are the dumbest sonofabitch tickling a keyboard.

edited