Help! Pressure problems with Barnes TSX/TTSX 30 cal

thebaron

thebaron

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Hello all,

This is my second attempt at working a load up for .30-06 with Barnes bullets and again I'm having pressure problems. I'm frustrated and I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.

I'm using the load data from the Barnes manuals for 30-06.

Bullet: 130 grain TTSX
Powder H4895
OAL 3.240"
No Crimp

The starting loads are 52.5 @ 3071 FPS.

Right off the bat, at 52.5 grains I'm getting cratering and flattened primers and I'm hitting 3200 FPS.


As for troubleshooting, I'm using this exact powder (same batch) in my 22-250 and the velocities I'm getting are BANG ON within 25fps from the Hornady manual so I don't think the powder is the issue.

I really don't know where to go from here. I really want to load these bullets, I have quite a large inventory of them but I can't seem to even get past a starting load. Is it just Barnes data that is off for this powder, maybe?


Previously I loaded some TSX for a different rifle, same powder and right off the bat I had high velocities, cratering and flat primers. Also from the Barnes manual.


Any ideas?? What am I missing?

Edit: Using this same powder with Nosler or Hornady data/bullets yields results that are very similar to the manuals
 
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track said:
Description of the brass you are using? New, used, military, have you full length resized it?
Click to expand...

Hello,

Brass is once/twice fired UMC and Winchester White that I full length sized with RCBS dies (shot out of my own rifles)
I use the same brass with my Nosler and Hornady loads with no issue.

Primers are CCI 200
 
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Drop the powder, until you no longer get signs of over pressure and see where you are at. That is the exact reason the manuals tell you to start at the minimum charge they have come up with.
 
I had the same issues with the TSX until I started backing off from the lands quite a bit (at least .07). Way more than with jacketed bullets. They just seem to work better with a substantial jump, better velocity, better accuracy, and easier on the brass. I loaded for 6.5x65RWS, and 270 WIN, both had same results.
 
thebaron said:
Hello all,

This is my second attempt at working a load up for .30-06 with Barnes bullets and again I'm having pressure problems. I'm frustrated and I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.

I'm using the load data from the Barnes manuals for 30-06.

Bullet: 130 grain TTSX
Powder H4895
OAL 3.240"
No Crimp

The starting loads are 52.5 @ 3071 FPS.

Right off the bat, at 52.5 grains I'm getting cratering and flattened primers and I'm hitting 3200 FPS.


As for troubleshooting, I'm using this exact powder (same batch) in my 22-250 and the velocities I'm getting are BANG ON within 25fps from the Hornady manual so I don't think the powder is the issue.

I really don't know where to go from here. I really want to load these bullets, I have quite a large inventory of them but I can't seem to even get past a starting load. Is it just Barnes data that is off for this powder, maybe?


Previously I loaded some TSX for a different rifle, same powder and right off the bat I had high velocities, cratering and flat primers. Also from the Barnes manual.


Any ideas?? What am I missing?

Edit: Using this same powder with Nosler or Hornady data/bullets yields results that are very similar to the manuals
Click to expand...

If I understand, your load of 52.5 gr. of H-4895 is your starting load? In reference to the Nosler manual, 48.5 gr. is the starting load for a 125 gr. bullet and 52.5 is maximum load. I'm I correct? Barnes starting load is 52.5, whereas, Nosler maximum is 52.5 with a 125 gr. bullet. I would reduce the powder load and seat bullets further away from the lands.
 
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Have you measured your rifles/chambers OAL to the land with that specific bullet? Perhaps your rifle has a short throat and monos definitely like to have some jump, they usually recommend .050". Also, double check that you're using H4895 data not IMR4895 correct? They are different powders and can be a couple or few grains off from one another.
 
track said:
If I understand, your load of 52.5 gr. of H-4895 is your starting load? In reference to the Nosler manual, 48.5 gr. is the starting load for a 125 gr. bullet and 52.5 is maximum load. I'm I correct?
Click to expand...

https://www.barnesbullets.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/30-06Springfield.pdf

Hes using the Barnes data I would assume, which shows 52.5 as their starting load and 55.5 as a max.

OP, if you're getting 3200fps with 52.5gr then you're getting higher pressures than Barnes was at 52.5gr. This is a perfect example of how book data is based on THEIR RIFLE, not YOUR RIFLE.

The fact that the powder is giving you "correct" velocities in your 22-250 only shows that your 22-250 is pretty similar to whatever gun the load data was developed on. Clearly, your 30-06 is not nearly as close to the gun that the data was developed on, you probably have a tighter chamber or shorter throat.

Do you know how far you are jumping the bullets?
 
yomomma said:
Need pictures. Have heard a lot of guys saying that high pressure was flatening their primers when actually it wasnt.

Flattened primers can be missleading
Click to expand...

IveyjwO.jpg


Primers on the right are the Barnes loads.

Primers on the left are from a Nosler bullet load. They do show a bit of catering as well, but this was expected, unlike the Barnes.
 
3200 fps sounds a little too hot for a starting load, even with a 130 gr bullet?

Hodgdon reloading data website is showing a 30-06 H-4895 starting load of 48.0gr, and max load of 53.1gr. COAL of 3.060"
Bullet they tested they say is SPR HP which is shorter that the Barnes copper, but also seated way back from your 3.204".

The starting powder charge is a large discrepancy between Hodgdon and Barnes. Loading somewhat hot (from Hodgdon's point of view) with bullet that close to lands might account for the excess pressure.

I find that it is common for different reloading manuals/websites to have significant differences, so might want to check at least two different manuals before choosing the starting load.
I have Lyman and Lee manuals, and Lee usually cites Hodgdon's website data. I find these two manuals often list very different min/max loads for the same powders and bullet weights.
 
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