Anyone else having problems with TSXs ending up loose in the case? Mine turn easily by hand, at the ideal OAL. This is a length where the case mouth is over one of the grooves; I can make the bullets tight if I change OAL to put the case mouth over a "rib" on the bullet.

Annoying, to say the least. Oh, this is with fresh brass in .270 Win.

Pertinax

Check the measurements of the bullets. barnes had some quality control issues (AGAIN) a while back, and your scenario has played out quite a few times as of late.

I had not measured the bullets. But I did, of course, run the fresh brass through the sizer die.

Maybe they are too small. That might also explain why my first effort shot a 10" group at 100 yards. Still got half a box left to try to fix that. Otherwise, I'll be calling North Fork.

I know other people swear by them, but I'm underwhelmed to say the least.

Pertinax

OK, they (the bullets) are not too small. It's a new set of dies; perhaps the wrong size expander ball is in there. Have to check that later.

Pertinax

Sounds like you may need to take the expander ball down a thou or two.

I have got the 130 grain TSX working well, accuracy wise that is, though still to try them on game, and the case neck ends .015" below the second groove, i.e two annular grooves are seated outside the case neck, still the neck tension holds fine.

My cases are fired numerous times W_W ahead of 57 grains of Rel#19 and a Fed 210Match primer.

quote:

Originally posted by Jonathan Tomlinson:
My cases are fired numerous times W_W ahead of 57 grains of Rel#19 and a Fed 210Match primer.

That is the exact load that works for one of my rifles.

Barnes recommends that 1/3 of the bearing surface of their bullet be in contact with the inside neck (or there abouts). But that still does not explain being able to spin the bullet. That is an expander problem. I don't even use the expander anymore.

I have the same issue with 180g tsx in a 300wsm. I'm using Redding dies and win brass. I'm going to call Redding and see what they say.

Take the expander plug off and try that.

It worked better without the expander ball. Still, I had one that I could turn in the case, though not easily. Loading length leaves two grooves outside of the case.

Weird.

I figured out my problem. The crimp die was crimping a bit too much, which was bulging the necks just enough to reduce the grip on the bullet. It wasn't visible, but the calipers showed it. Doh!

Problem now solved-- let's see how they shoot with proper neck tension.

Try it without crimping, I usually don't crimp until I get into big bores or handguns. Then again if you just want to crimp, try one of the lee collect crimp dies.

Skip the crimp entirely as it certainly isn't required.

do not crimp.