anyone have a favorite load for the 120gr TTSX in 7m-08? I have some RL17 Alliant says RL15 is better, anyone try RL17? (starting load for RL17)? Any recipes for the 120 gr TTSX in 7mm-08?
Sometimes I think the powder companies design teir tests just to sell more powders. Alliant says No data for RL17 and 120 gr bullets?

quote:

Originally posted by Michael b Freeman:
anyone have a favorite load for the 120gr TTSX in 7m-08? I have some RL17 Alliant says RL15 is better, anyone try RL17? (starting load for RL17)? Any recipes for the 120 gr TTSX in 7mm-08?
Sometimes I think the powder companies design teir tests just to sell more powders. Alliant says No data for RL17 and 120 gr bullets?

I use 140 gr. bullets in my 7mm-08, but I get the highest velocities with RL19.

The Barnes Manual number 4 recommends 41-44 grains of RL15 with the 120 grain TSX. Note this is not the TTSX. This is the best load of all the powders tested which include numbers like H414, IMR 4320, Varget, and H4895 The max load of RL15 makes 3031 fps. with a ballistic coefficient of 0.349. The TTSX should have some loads listed on the Barnes Website. I Hope this helps, DW

When California forced me into shooting monolithic bullets I really struggled to find a good load for my 7-08.

Most every other gun I tried shot well with the Barnes bullets, but not this one. I tried more powders than you can believe and still no luck.
Finally I tried IMR 4064 using a Fed 210M primer and WOW, great groups!

I am shooting the plain TSX, not the tipped version; but a max load of IMR 4064 suddenly gave me half inch groups from a Remington 700 LSS Mountain Rifle.

51g Big Game and a 120 TTSX.....3130fps @ muzzle..... .5@ 100yds.

My favorite is Varget for the 140 TTSX and 43.5 gr and 120 TTSX with 44.5 gr.

I have recently purchased some RE17 and it works good with 140TTSXs and 130SMKs but have not tried it with the 120TTSX yet.
The 130SMKS shot great with 47.0 gr of RE17 and averaged 3016 fps.

I'll be try the 120 and 140 gr. TSX bullets in my 7x57 so my question is more which one do you think would be best for Mule Deer? My loads in the 7x57 are in the 7-08 velocity range. The wife and I drew tags for the Kaibab for Mule Deer and while it isn't mandatory, the state of Arizona asks hunters in the Kaibab and Arizona Strip to voluntarily use monometal bullets for their hunts in those two locations. Depending on where you're hunting, shots can be quite long or very short. One deer I shot there quite a few years back was taken at 35 feet.
Paul B.

What is the length of your barrel? For me that would probably make the most difference in deciding between RL15, RL17 and maybe even RL19. Although RL19 might be pushing it a wee bit on the slower end unless you have a 24" tube.

Hey Mike, I looked up a little data and from what I see, I'd buy a can of RL15. The first and the best reason for me would be the recommendation from Barnes Web Page that it is the most accurat powder using the 120 grain TSX.