Barnes TSX .30 cal 165 gr. vs. 168 gr.

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bweese

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I'm hoping those more experienced than me can help. I'm currently cooking up a new do-it-all hunting load for my Savage 110 .30-06. The gun seems to like the Barnes TSX 165 gr and shot several groups about 1" today.
The question is should I fork over the cash for a box of 168 gr. TSX? Are they generally more accurate? The box I saw of the 168 gr. at Epps was marked "match grade" or something, but they were still TSX.
Anyway, I'm just throwing this question out there.
My best groups with the Barnes 165 TSX (around 1") were with 53 gr. of IMR 4350, CCI lrg. rifle primers and unfired Rem. brass.
Any suggestions on how to improve this load?
Thanks all.
 
You're quite a ways off a max load for 165's/IMR4350 and are actually below the suggested starting load according to some manuals.
Have you tried a hotter load? I don't think you're going to see a great deal of a difference in accuracy by using a bullet of the same design and only 3 more grains of weight with a very minute difference in ballistic coefficient.
I'd suggest seating the bullet out to at least the max of 3.34" overall cartridge length if you're not there already and also try increasing the powder load by 1/2 grain at a time keeping an eye on pressure.
 
If you are considering changing bullets to a 168gr bullet, I would go with the 168gr TTSX over the TSX. With either bullet, try seating them .050" from the lands. As for the powder charge, I would try working up a few grains, if no pressure signs become evident.
 
Thanks all. I'll try working up a few grains. 53 grains is the minimum listed in Barnes #4, and I usually try to stay as low as possible (if for no other reason than I buy less powder).
C.O.A.L. for the most recent loads were 3.33. I'll seat the bullets out a little farther to 3.34, and see if that tightens them up.
I agree the 3 grains in bullet weight shouldn't make that much of a difference, but I am curious why Barnes even makes a 165 and 168?
Thanks again.
 
I've killed several truck loads of game with the 168 gr bullet out of various 300 magnums and my son an almost equal amount from his 30-06.

My 30-06 load is the 168 TSX, fed 210m primer, RP brass and 58 grains of H4350.
 
A picture of the 165 and 168 tsx
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The boattail of the 168 is slightly longer, and using 0.302" as a reference line the nose is 0.025" longer. The 168 is the bullet with only 3 grooves. There really is not much difference, I have shot mixed groups of them with the same powder/case/primer and kept all the shots inside 1moa. I wouldn't worry too much about switching between the 165/168 for accuracy. I would try the ttsx though, I got some great results with them in my 338 and 300wsm.
 
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