Bullets! Premium and otherwise.

[Johnn Peterson]

Johnn; I agree that the 140 TTSX should be the real performer in your 7x61 S&H. However, the 10" twist should still stabilize the 150 as well. Try both, use whichever shoots best.

The 1-12" twist in your 30-06 will work just great with all weights up to and including the 180TTSX, However, I would opt for the 150 or 168 first.

Your Norma Mag with the 1-10" twist will be fine for any TTSX up to 200 grains, but a 168 or a 180 would be my choices in it.

Usually, you can drop back a step or two on weight when you use the solid copper bullets, compared to lead core varieties. Let us know how things turn out. Regards, Eagleye.

With the 7x61 S&H, as load data isn't listed for it in the Barnes #4 manual, I've sent an e-mail to Barnes to see what they would suggest for loads. In the mean time, with my comparisons and resulting load calculations, there seems to be a close correlation with that to the loads they have listed for the 7mm RSAUM. Another small wrinkle is the slight capacity difference between some of the original Norma 7x61 S&H brass and their later new improved production marked 7x61 Super.

A little 'similar' work to do with the 308 Norma Magnum as data for that caliber isn't listed in the Barnes manual either. The price I have to pay for my choice in calibers.

In the not too distant future I plan to get some of the heavier Barnes TTSX for both the 7mm and 30 cal to try out. That may well end up being a reason for me to pay my first visit or 'shopping' trip to the recently opened WSS outlet in Naniamo.

Oh, why I opted for something on the lighter faster side for the '06 was I thought it may go well with the slower 1:12 twist.

 

[lledwod]

Great thread! Though I have been handloading for about three years, I have only just begun hunting with my handloads. (Using up the rest of my factory loads the last couple years.) My best experiances were with winchester failsafe 140's in my .270. These worked great on moose, caribou and wolf. That was about ten years ago, I guess they are unavailable now? My worst experiance was with Nosler ballistic tips last winter. Loaded in my 7x57 at just over 3200 fps 120 grainers were like mini grenades on two wolves. Though the last one did not exit (head on chest shot @ 200 yds) the mess it made of the wolf made for a difficult skinning job. I can't imagine how they would work on table fare....
This fall I will probably be hunting with one or all of these three, 175 grn grand slam, 140 grn accubond, and 120 grn barnes tsx in my 7x57 and 7mm-08.