Barnes TTSX / LRX Grouping Issue

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AlbertaGrizzly

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Hi everyone,

I have been shooting for years but still haven't cracked this issue. I hunt with Barnes bullets, but I can never seem to tighten my groups. My rifle is Tikka T3x Lite 30-06 (11" twist), and for reference, I get consistent 0.5" groups at 100 yards with ELD-X, SST, or BTSP. However, when it comes to 1) Barnes TTSX 150 grains or 2) LRX 175 grains, my groups open up significantly.

Here are my go-to Barnes loads:
- 150 grain TTSX: 51.5 grain IMR4064; 3.340" COL
- 175 grain LRX: 48.0 grain IMR4064; 3.340" COL
- My maximum magazine length is 3.340" so I stay under that.

It seems like Barnes bullets have always been a bit jumpy for me - wondering if I am missing something. Would appreciate any tips, whether it's charge weight adjustments, seating depth tweaks, or anything else that's worked for you.

Thanks in advance!
 
Try a different powder, maybe Varget with 150gr and Ramshot BigGame with the 175gr

Barnes are generally plenty accurate for any reasonable distance hunting situation, I've never had a problem getting good results on target with them
 
Go to the bottom where it has "loading guidelines" as a title bar

https://www.barnesbullets.com/load-data/

Ive found that for a given weight (ie, 180gr cup/core) bullet...ive had to step down in weight for the barnes (150gr, 165/168, whatever) because barnes bullets are longer...and its the length/center of gravity/bearing surface that determines stability, not actual weight.
 
AlbertaGrizzly said:
Thanks for your reply Jim - I do weight them and usually SD is usually within 0.3 - 0.7 grains, which I wouldn't think is enough to cause consistent grouping issues.
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No problems, not everyone does. I mean you go through the trouble of weighing each charge, why not each bullet. Then they wonder why, there's always that one flyer. Yes it may seem OCD, but the pursuit of a tight group is just that. I've started doing it for all of my target type ammo, vs just sticking a random one from the box.
 
9.3 Hunter said:
Theres your issue. I have the same 3006.

My .30 moa loads for 5X are:

175gr LRX, 55.0grs RL17, 2800fps
Winchester stainless brass, Fed210 primer
OAL: 3.330

Same poa/poi:

168gr TSX BT, 57.3grs IMR4350
2760fps, Fed brass, Fed210 primer, OAL: 3.330

It shoots both well and consistently.
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Is your tikka a 22inch barrel? I have a howa 22in. Interested in trying the Barnes stuff
 
Barnes handloading data state that the best powder for 150 TTSX is H4895 with Fed 210 Primers. That's what I used to develop my load in my Browning Bar. 50.5-51 grains gave 0.5-0.7 moa for 3000 fps.
COAL is critical. You should start at 50 thousands form rifling than go down 25 thousands each time until you reach the best accuracy. These are Barnes recommendations and they work. For my rife, this was 100 tousands form rifling.
 
AlbertaGrizzly said:
Hi everyone,

I have been shooting for years but still haven't cracked this issue. I hunt with Barnes bullets, but I can never seem to tighten my groups. My rifle is Tikka T3x Lite 30-06 (11" twist), and for reference, I get consistent 0.5" groups at 100 yards with ELD-X, SST, or BTSP. However, when it comes to 1) Barnes TTSX 150 grains or 2) LRX 175 grains, my groups open up significantly.

Here are my go-to Barnes loads:
- 150 grain TTSX: 51.5 grain IMR4064; 3.340" COL
- 175 grain LRX: 48.0 grain IMR4064; 3.340" COL
- My maximum magazine length is 3.340" so I stay under that.

It seems like Barnes bullets have always been a bit jumpy for me - wondering if I am missing something. Would appreciate any tips, whether it's charge weight adjustments, seating depth tweaks, or anything else that's worked for you.

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
I've been reloading for decades, hence 1982, and always worked one bullet around different gun powders. Once a powder has been found, then seating depths is used for fine accuracy. From what I read, Barnes bullets are best with a long jump to the lands.
If you cannot find any powders in which the bullet may like, then move-on to a different Barnes bullet, in length and weight.
 
I have never had issues with not being able to achieve good accuracy with the TTSX, I start at .050" jump to the lands, and try multiple powders, then fine tune the best combination by adjusting jump to lands.
 
Good accuracy with Barnes TSX & TTSX in any of my rifles. In my 9.3x62 Anschutz M1782 & 9.3x74R Ruger No.1-S 250gr TTSX shoot pretty good. Seating depth to minimize distance for bullets to engage rifling & keep copper fouling from excessive build-up.

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Barnes like a Jump.
In my experience.
But i have also found that to be highly bullet dependent.
The TTSX and TSX seat differently. Presumably due to differences in the Ogive shape. I dont measure my loads by COAL for this reason but feom base-ogive.

I dont shoot the LRX but i will be building up a TAc-tx load for my grendel and will be erring on the side of deeper seating when i do.
 
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