I was wondering about the Barnes XLC bullet in 308 caliber, 180 grain. Does anybody have experience with it and what was your findings? I was told that the Barnes X bullet could not be driven as fast as a conventional jacketed bullet, due to the longer bearing surface and harder material. Then I heard that you could drive the XLC bullet as fast as standard bullets due to the lube coating. Any info from the gallery would be helpful.
Good luck and good shooting,
Eterry

I do not have any personal experience with the XLC line, however I have gone out shooting with someone who does.
He shoots mainly the big Weatherby cartridges like 30-378.
One particular day he was shooting at a big piece or iron about 200 yards away and with a little orange sticker on it and he shot three shots touching.
I don't know how much more performance you need but the bullets looked like they made pretty good impact on the iron.
Personally, if you are really interested in the bullets, stop racking your brain about them and go out and buy them for peace of mind.

I have the entire Barnes line currently in stock.

www.cliffsgunsmithing.com

-Spencer

I was specifically looking for reloading data, I read that due to the longer bearing surface and harder material that you can not use data for conventional load data. Any loading data out there for 30-06 with the Barnes XLC 180 gr. ?
Good luck and good shooting
Eterry

H-414, min 53.5g 2728 fps
max 57.5g 2932 fps
IMR-4831, min 57.0g 2762 fps
max 61.0g 2956 fps

pushing a 180g about 3000 fps out af a 30-06 is pretty remarkable to me.

For other powders go to www.barnesbullets.com/images/c358.jpg

If a 140xlc to the tune of 3185fps average in a 7-08AI w/26" tube gets ya to thinking, try some xlc's in your rifle. But my question is this.....why such a heavy weight? The barnes retains weight better than anything out there. By stepping down to the 165 or 168 grain, you will get better velocity and give up NOTHING on game preformance.
Yes there is somevelocity to be gained form the coating. But the tsx will also crank out some pretty good numbers as well. I have used barnes bullets exclusively for the last 7 years and do not intend on changing. Drive 'em as ahrd as you wish. They will hold up. Just remember to seat them from .030 to .050 off the lands. They do better with a little "jump" into the rifling.

eterry,
I started using the X bullets when they 1st came out. I have/now used the 130 gr. plain, molyed, & XLC, & the 168 XLC, & have now worked up new loads for the 168 TSX, in my 06's. For deer in Va., the 168 is a "way over kill". In fact, I think the 130 XLC is over kill. I use Varget, & H-4895 for the 130 XLC's, & H-414 for the 168's. I get real close to 3000 fps for the 168 gr. TSX. I have never had the problems with accuracy that some people seem to have reloading them. They shoot as accurate as I can hold/shoot. Just as Barnes recommends, seat them at least .050 from the lands.
For deer in Pa. & Va. I mostly use my Rem. 6mm, now with the 85 gr XLC. I have use the 90, & 95 both plain & molyed, but after playing around with the 85 gr XLC, that's all I use. A few yrs. ago, ( for my satisfaction) I shot 4 deer with 95 gr.Nosler BT., & 4 with 95 gr. Barnes to see the difference, if any. Haven't used any thing except Barnes X's since. You should at least try the 168 TSX, they really shoot in my two 06's.

If you are looking for load data, try the Barnes #3 manual. It has all the XLC data in it.
I have it always in stock.

www.cliffsgunsmithing.com

-Spencer

I normally use H4831 for my 165 gr bullets in my 06. When i tried the XLC they were fairly accurate but slow, the powder is too slow burning, I switched ti H4359 with a almost max load from the barnes manual and seated the bullet exactly .50 off the lands and got the best groups my gun has ever shot. The powder charge was 59.6 gr of H4350, (max is 60) three three shot groups that averaged .55. Earlier I out 6 shots into 1.18. I intend to hunt with them this fall.