Anyone try the 7mm 110 grain TTSX in a 7-30 Waters 21" contender barrel? I think I should get at least 2700 fps and should work nicely on deer and pigs but I wonder at what fps it will stop expanding?
Thanks
Tracy
Tracy,
I don't have experience with the 110 TTSX but I've been working with the 120TTSX in my factory 7-30 Waters 21" Contender barrel. I hope something from this might help you out a bit. I was just checking my notes so that I can get you the true story. Looks like I loaded up some 120's back in 2014 with AA2460 at 50 thousands from the lands. Five shots went in 3 1/4 inches. I got sidetracked and didn't get back to this project until last fall at which time I played with seating depths, powders, and charge weight. I finally settled on 34.0 gr of AA2460 seated .082 off the lands. I was getting repeated groups of 1 - 1 1/8" at 100 yds. My chronograph shows this load at only 2604 fps (at 45 degrees) but I'm happy with it as a mule deer load in the woods.
By the way, this barrel seems to be very fussy - far more so than any other Contender barrel I've worked with. It shot Sierra 100 gr HP's into about 1 1/2 inches but did not like Hornady 120 SP's, 139 Hornady SST's, or Speer 120 SPBT's. I worked with W748, H4895, IMR 4895, and AA2460. I also tried the Federal 120 gr factory loads and they shot 3 + inch groups.
Please report back. I'd be interested to hear how your load development proceeds. Hope your barrel is less temperamental than mine!
Tracy,
I don't have experience with the 110 TTSX but I've been working with the 120TTSX in my factory 7-30 Waters 21" Contender barrel. I hope something from this might help you out a bit. I was just checking my notes so that I can get you the true story. Looks like I loaded up some 120's back in 2014 with AA2460 at 50 thousands from the lands. Five shots went in 3 1/4 inches. I got sidetracked and didn't get back to this project until last fall at which time I played with seating depths, powders, and charge weight. I finally settled on 34.0 gr of AA2460 seated .082 off the lands. I was getting repeated groups of 1 - 1 1/8" at 100 yds. My chronograph shows this load at only 2604 fps (at 45 degrees) but I'm happy with it as a mule deer load in the woods.
By the way, this barrel seems to be very fussy - far more so than any other Contender barrel I've worked with. It shot Sierra 100 gr HP's into about 1 1/2 inches but did not like Hornady 120 SP's, 139 Hornady SST's, or Speer 120 SPBT's. I worked with W748, H4895, IMR 4895, and AA2460. I also tried the Federal 120 gr factory loads and they shot 3 + inch groups.
Please report back. I'd be interested to hear how your load development proceeds. Hope your barrel is less temperamental than mine!
I had one of those 21" temperamental contender barrels in 7-30 Waters, it shot 5" groups at 100 yards with 120 Sierra/Varget handloads so it went down the road. I found another 21" contender barrel but it was the older single forend screw barrel and it shoots 3/4" @ 100 yards so its a keeper! Also I am going to try Nosler 120 BT, I understand they shoot well and is the go to bullet for the 7-30 but the 110 TTSX should be a light kicker with great knock down power. I will keep you in the loop
I have a few posts in this thread about the 110/120gr 7mm TTSX at 2500-2600fps. Look about halfway through the posts, around Oct 10.
Deer kill results
Thanks, JPro. Good practical info!
Need for speed. Shot a deer at 30 yds with the super 14 7-30 Waters with a Nosler 140 BT. The deer took 15 steps. Never did recover the bullet
Barnes will expand down to 1800 FPS or so. Keep in mind that expansion at 1800 FPS will be minimal.