I have used the 180XLCBT's for the last few years for Elk in my 30Gibbs (head to shoulder .050" less and neck .050" more than normal Gibbs), velocity 2885fps. I have loaded 168TSX/168XLCBT/165XLC, but did not change since the velocity only increased 100fps over the 180XLCBT's. Since last season I have burned up some left over (and some new) powder playing a bit with a box of the 180XLCBT's(RL15/RL19/RL22/RL25/IMR7282ssc/IMR4350) and increased the velocity to 2948fps w/RL22. I have found that with the XLC and TSX 165/168's the XLC was approx 50fps faster. In 30cal, is this consistant with others findings (especially with the 180XLCBT's) or have some gotten more velocity out of the TSX's, and if so how much?

Deke.

Having tried both I find that I can get slightly higher velocity with the coated bullets...but it takes more powder to reach comperable speeds. I'm talking less than 50 fps but it takes about 2.5 % more powder to do it. I'm now loading the TSX because they shoot so well in my applications without the finicky blue coating.

That is the exact info I got right from Barnes also. The advantages of the XLC are less fouling and capability of slightly higher velocities. The TSX bullets have shown to be extremely accurate though. I haven't made the switch yet. Most of mine are blue. I guess I like the cool color as well. The uncoated versions tend to turn that very drab color after a while from oxidation.