.338 210gr/225gr TSX - *update*

Well, I loaded up some 225gr TSX for the .338WM tonight. The COL I have is at 3.355", due to the short throat in my rifle, (3.39" was hitting the lands).

The base of the bullet is past the neck, with only the 3 bands holding it, but they are damned tight. I cannot move these bullets or spin them in the case.

So next is trying them out and see how they fly.

225grTSX.jpg
 
Although I haven't tried the TSX's in my.338, I do use them in the .375 H&H. I think that a Lee Factory crimp die will likely help out the situation. I use the dies in .375, .338, .444 and .270WSM - all with very good results. It seems that the consistent neck tension also promotes consistent velocities, for me anyways.
 
Why not simply seat the bullet deeper? Factory C.O.L. is 3.340" and that is exactly what I seat my .338 loads at. From looking at the picture if you did that, then the bullet would probably be seated right to the edge of the last grove.
 
Demonical said:
Why not simply seat the bullet deeper? Factory C.O.L. is 3.340" and that is exactly what I seat my .338 loads at. From looking at the picture if you did that, then the bullet would probably be seated right to the edge of the last grove.
Click to expand...

I have not measured one, but was told by another Nut that the Federal Factory loads are at 3.308", not 3.34" Why they are loading it short, I don't know.

Barnes won't give a COL, they just say to start at .050 off the lands and fine tune from there.
 
So, I fired a few loads today, with odd results. Using H4350, I started at 64gr, then up to 65, 65.5, 66, 67, and 68grs.

Barnes recommends "Using the X-bullet data and working up from there, but due to the design of the TSX, you may have to go a grain or 2 higher to achieve max velocities."

Well, the X-bullet data shows 67.5 as a max, but I never got that far, as the 67gr load was on the hot side. So it looks as of now that 66gr is the max.
 
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We did the final field testing in my Sako .338 wm tonite..the winner was Barns TSX ..it put 2 bullets in 1 hole and a 3rd under 1/2 inch away..:dancingbanana:the chrony showed 2750 fps or so?? and no pressure signs..I "THINK" we were also using H4350????

The "quiet Muzzlebrake " worked just as advertised reducing the recoil to a very pleasing amount that BOO said, quote"I could shoot this thing ALL DAY "

aND THE SOUND LEVELS WERE no issue at all..:eek::D..this quiet brake did EVERYTHING it was advertised...quiet pleasant shooting experience..

So that is now my .338 load..I believe 67 grains of powder??

I hope Boo posts the target and a few of his words on how he likes the load, the rifle the quiet brake..and even my home made shooting sled...


Steven
 
blargon I do not know the answer about seating the bullet deeper,as to the effect on pressure, but I will state the obvious and that is get a Chrony man! They are cheap and utterly indispensible. Once you have one you will wonder why it took so long! All of your reloading efforts will improve immediately.

FYI, I never bother measuring to the lands and all that hoo-ha. I load everything to factory C.O.L. I adjust the accuracy of my loads by trying different powders and velocities. I really think for hunting purposes there is no need to fuss about finding that ideal seating depth. You should be able to achieve excellent hunting accuracy just going to factory C.O.L.
And then I bet your Barnes TSX would seat the way it was designed to.

If you are into competition shooting then you do fuss the detail of the ideal seating depth...
 
So I fired a few loads today, tried 3 @ 66gr H4350 over the chrony. Readings were 2715, 2720, and 2705, pretty much where I thought they'd be. Group was about .75"
 
Barnes bullets get their best accuracy when seated about 70 thou off....yup 70 thou. That's the reloading info I got when I talked to the tech at Barnes about seating depth of the TSX bullets. He said caliber didn't matter as all were to be seated far off the lands.
 
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