.30-06 tsx

[Goose25]

I`ve had an itch to try the Barnes TSX in my Tikka T3 chambered in .30-06, and hopefully switch to them as my all around hunting load. In the past I`ve stuck with 180gr interbonds & 56.5gr of IMR-4350 and had great success with them, but isn`t shooting/reloading about trying new things

If there is one thing that bothered me with my previous all around hunting load, It was that Im pretty sure I wasn`t getting the velocity thats was listed in the "books" with my 22inch tube. To completely burn a slower powder like IMR 4350 that a 30-06 case holds, it would take about 30-32" of barrel to achieve maximum velocities. I was a victim of excess muzzle flash and always knew I had to be losing (possibly significant) MV and downrange performance. I never chrono`d the load and it was extremely accurate, so I never changed powders.

I`m not hoping to ``magna-mize`` my `06, I just want to get near the listed book velocities. And seeing how I`d be starting from scratch with the TSX, Im contemplating switching for a faster burning powder?

what do you hunt and what ranges? I hunt deer and black bear every year, moose every few years. I usually try to get a shot in the boiler room with the exception of blackies who usually get it through the shoulders. range is usually short <200yards, but could be furthur.


so here are my questions:

Do I go with the 165, 168 or 180 TSX? What bullet weigh would you chose and why?

what powders should I be trying? I was using IMR4350 for both my `06 and .243 with heavier bullets. If I find a powder that is optimal for my tikka and still be used for the .243 thats a plus (but not critical).

 

[mike shickele]

I'm thinking the same thing, only because I'm sure that stupidity is going to get lead banned in hunting bullets eventually in B.C.
I'm thinking the 165gr TSX backed with H4350 powder, and a CCi250 mag cap.
Mike

 

[todbartell]

I wouldnt bother with anything heavier than 168, in fact the 150 gr would be a good option too. H4350 would be my powder of choice, you should be able to get 2800 fps with the 165/168 gr with around 57-58 grs

 

[Mad_Mikee]

In my Ruger 30-06 I was using 58.5gr of H4350 and the 168gr TSX. Think I was seating them .05 off the lans.

 

[H4831]

I wouldnt bother with anything heavier than 168, in fact the 150 gr would be a good option too. H4350 would be my powder of choice, you should be able to get 2800 fps with the 165/168 gr with around 57-58 grs

I don't know how different the TSX bullets would be, as compared to a Nosler or Hornady, say. I am looking at my chronograph notes, and with Norma 204, which is very similar in burning rate to IMR4350, I averaged 2912 with a 165 grain Hornady bullet.
Norma doesn't show 165 grain bullets in the 30-06, so don't know how their charts would compare.
However, an old Norma chart showed 60.5 grains (no min or max, just 60.5 grains) of Norma 205 in a 30-06 with a 200 grain bullet, for a velocity of 2684. A Remington 30 Express I have gave a velocity over the Oehler 33, of 2730 fps with only 59.5 of N205!
There is a big difference in rifles. My Husqvarna required 61 grains of N205 to get 2715 fps. Note that this jibes very close with the Noma chart. It is sure a treat to work with a loading chart that gives honest figures!
Shortly after WW2 Fred Barnes made a bullet for tough game. It was swagged from copper pipe, like you would get from a hardware store, for the jackets, with a bit of lead exposed on the point. An older brother bought them in both 150 and 200 grain weight. These had so much copper, compared to the lead in the centre, that I would suppose they would perform out of the rifle similar to the TSXs.
When I was chronographing my 200 grain Speer bullets, I found one of the old 200 grain Barnes and loaded it along with the Speers. It went in the middle of the group, between the high and the low.

 

[martinbns]

I've been loading the 168 gr for my son with 58grs of H4350 and Fed 210m primers. Very accurate, he's killed up to kudu/elk sized game with no problem and had bangflops on whitetails.

Great combination.

 

[sbtennex]

Cripes, I shoot 150 TSX's in my .300 Mag because it likes them - very accurate at a speed that the bullet will still perform at. A 165 would always be my choice in a conventional bullet for an '06 unless I were bush hunting moose. Anything heavier than the 165 in a TSX can start to infringe on powder volumes and the 168 can possibly demand a heavy crimp due to the length of the bullet, even in a .300 Mag. As far as reaching book velocities goes, don't worry about it. Some barrels are just plain faster than others and you need to check what the test barrel was to attain those book speeds. Speed ain't everything, and the '06 is perfectly capable of handling pretty well anything we run into in this part of the world and a whole bunch of the other parts too without being loaded to the absolute max. Accuracy, m' boy, that's where it's at.
BTW, avoid Norma old data - it can be excessive pressure-wise - and T3's tend to be very well made barrels. They're typically a piece of cake to find sub MOA loads for.

 

[H4831]

Quoted: BTW, avoid Norma old data - it can be excessive pressure-wise


I guess that's why all of us that used it and followed their loading data, back when it was so popular, and widely distributed, all blew our heads off!

 

[Goose25]

So i picked up a box of 165's today. I have the nosler, lyman and speer reloading manual but don't own a barnes. Anyone care to tell me what Barnes lists as their min and max loads for the 165gr TSX w/ IMR4350...


***edit to add*** forget it, found it www .barnesbullets.com/Copper_Manual4/30-06%20Springfield.pdf

 

[Dukeoflawnchair]

The only bear I shot was w/ 168gr TSX in front of 57gr of IMR4350. It did exactly as advertised...small in hole, controlled out hole, sheer destruction in between. Bear dropped fast after one shot and didn't go no further...

 

[Boomer]

I load the 180 gr TSX for my wife's bear load in her '06. The advantage to me is that if the load is needed, it will be needed at close range against a heavy dense target, and to me a heavier bullet loaded to a moderate velocity is a better solution, than a lighter bullet that must go faster to do the same thing. I tried the 240 gr Woodleigh, but it wouldn't stabilize in her barrel. After some testing, I've come to think that the core of the 220 gr Hornady is too hard, as the jackets seemed to shatter on close range impacts, yet the lead core did not flatten. That was a surprise to me, as I thought the 220 gr Hornady would have been a perfect choice. So for now anyway, her rifle gets 180 gr TSX's.

As a general purpose bullet in the '06, I think the 165 gr TSX is a fine, if expensive choice, as the X bullet design optimizes bullets which are light weight for caliber. As a rule though .30/06 velocities can avoid the use of premium bullets and their related costs. General purpose ammo tends to be consumed in vast quantities, so bullet prices that exceed a dollar each are a bit of a hardship. I hope that there is never a lead ban for bullets, but time will tell.