.338 210gr/225gr TSX - *update*
- Thread starter blargon
- Start date
Are you planning on loading them in a 338 Win Mag?
If so I have to say I am less than impressed with the 225 TSX / 338 WM combination and I have not even fired a shot with them yet!
The 338 Winchester has a short little neck that is usually sufficient to hold a normal cup & core bullet in place with plenty of tension. The 225 TSX however when seated to maximum Saami length - the length required for most removable magazine rifles -results in the un-grooved base portion of the bullet seated well into the case, well below the bottom of the neck. This results in very little neck tension as most of the short neck is over the bullet grooves. There is so little tension that even a slightly compressed charge will pop the bullet out of the case. With a non-compressed load the bullet is still loose enough to spin in the case with finger pressure.
I sent an e-mail to Barnes asking if they had a solution to this problem and I was advised a week later to grind down the expander ball on my die to increase neck tension. This was sort of useless help as I had explained to them I had already tried a "small" 338 expander I had on hand. I even tried to seat bullets in cases that had their neck sized down without using an expander ball. With only the base of the TSX acting as an expander the neck was still too loose to grip a bullet. I finally ended up seating the bullet to one of the grooves and crimping the hell out of it. Even then the bullets will spin in the cases. (The grooves are too deep for a solid crimp.)
I am not holding up too much hope for the accuracy on these rounds as velocities may well be inconsistent due to the variable case neck tension.
If so I have to say I am less than impressed with the 225 TSX / 338 WM combination and I have not even fired a shot with them yet!
The 338 Winchester has a short little neck that is usually sufficient to hold a normal cup & core bullet in place with plenty of tension. The 225 TSX however when seated to maximum Saami length - the length required for most removable magazine rifles -results in the un-grooved base portion of the bullet seated well into the case, well below the bottom of the neck. This results in very little neck tension as most of the short neck is over the bullet grooves. There is so little tension that even a slightly compressed charge will pop the bullet out of the case. With a non-compressed load the bullet is still loose enough to spin in the case with finger pressure.
I sent an e-mail to Barnes asking if they had a solution to this problem and I was advised a week later to grind down the expander ball on my die to increase neck tension. This was sort of useless help as I had explained to them I had already tried a "small" 338 expander I had on hand. I even tried to seat bullets in cases that had their neck sized down without using an expander ball. With only the base of the TSX acting as an expander the neck was still too loose to grip a bullet. I finally ended up seating the bullet to one of the grooves and crimping the hell out of it. Even then the bullets will spin in the cases. (The grooves are too deep for a solid crimp.)
I am not holding up too much hope for the accuracy on these rounds as velocities may well be inconsistent due to the variable case neck tension.
Double HMMM. I was planning for the .338WM. What OAL do you have to seat the bullet at to keep the grooves out of the neck? My mag is around 3.475". I assume with the 210gr being shorter it won't be any better.
I may have to stick with the 225gr IB's.
I may have to stick with the 225gr IB's.
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It may have been .......................................
I have a batch loaded now all we have to do is get out and shoot them. Let me know your schedule as best you can.
I'm gonna be loading them in my 338 Federal this spring, at a velocity of around 2650 fps. I suspect they will work quite well inside 250 yards
I'll likely try them, should be around 2900, give or take a bit.
SAAMI OAL = 3.40"
With neck contact consisting of the three "bands", each .07" long, total "grip" area = 0.222 square inches or in other words only 62% of a "normal cup & core bullet which has about 0.357 square inches of contact area.
With neck contact consisting of the three "bands", each .07" long, total "grip" area = 0.222 square inches or in other words only 62% of a "normal cup & core bullet which has about 0.357 square inches of contact area.
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I've done a little more research on the 225gr TSX in a .338WM and the people I've talked to haven't had any problems with neck tension or COL. So I think I'll get some and give them a try, but I'll go with the 225 instead of the 210gr.
FWIW Federal is loading them with a COL of 3.308", well under the SAAMI max length, and with all grooves in the neck. No crimp.
FWIW Federal is loading them with a COL of 3.308", well under the SAAMI max length, and with all grooves in the neck. No crimp.
Wow, that's short. I see they have the velocity listed as 2800fps, I'd like to chrony those loads to see if it matches their claims.
If we can't get the 225s to shoot in Steven's 338 Winchester I will buy the remainder from him and try them in my 338-06 which has a much longer neck than the 338 mag.
I use 185 tsx in the 338-06 ,yes it does have alot longer neck for sure than the 338 win ..but the 7mm mag has a smaller neck than the 338 win mag and still hold the tsx in place, almost the exact same case ???? Never seen any movement in these either,I hope you solve this and will be listening closley also goodluck mclark
