The Accurate Reloading Forums
Barnes TSX
14 August 2006, 03:24
JMJ888Barnes TSX
I have read a lot of positive feedback about these bullets on this site. It seems that Barnes has finally found a solid copper bullet that works well in many different rifles.
I just finished loading up a batch of the 300gr's behind some RL22 to try out in my new 375RUM. I spent all of today at the range breaking in the new barrel but I am going to try and work some time in this week to see how they shoot.
Should make for a great hog round.
14 August 2006, 04:31
MartyI think you're going to like it. I have been loading it in my 375 RUM HS Precision. Referancing my earlier posts on the reloading board, the only issue seems to be case capacity with a bullet that is an inch and a half long. Loading up to 98 gr IMR 4831, I was actually bulging the cases a bit, making chambering hard. I went with H 4350, best groups (1 moa) at 93 gr. Worked up to 96, no chambering issues. Good luck.
14 August 2006, 08:52
JMJ888Marty what was your COL with the TSX?
14 August 2006, 09:04
UglystickGreat bullets, just keep your barell clean.
14 August 2006, 18:33
PRDATORWhat kind of velocitys are you getting out of your loads for this?
You can't kill them setting on the couch.
15 August 2006, 02:52
JMJ888A chronograph is next on the "I want" list so I don't have any "measured" velocity but the Barnes data says 2638-2778fps with their original X-Bullet and RL22. They say you can go a grain or two above the X-Bullet data but that range is more than sufficient for me. The question is how well will those velocities translate to real world. With a 26" barrel and 95-100 degree temperatures here it might be interesting.
15 August 2006, 05:30
MartyThe COL with these bullets was 3.54 in when crimped on the last groove. To compare, the factory loads with Swift 300gr was 3.55.
Velocity on my chrony was 2805fps, compared to 2825 with factory loads. This from a 24in barrel with a brake. Seems a little fast when the factory nominal is, I think, 2750, but differant rifle and instrumentation.
15 August 2006, 06:23
PRDATORMarty,
is the 2805fps load with H4350?
thanks
You can't kill them setting on the couch.
15 August 2006, 08:05
JMJ888quote:
The COL with these bullets was 3.54 in when crimped on the last groove.
My stoney point gauge gives me a 3.683" COL with the TSX touching the lands. I backed it off .050" as Barnes recommends and it gives me more case room. I would venture a guess that you have ample room to move them out and still run through the mag.
15 August 2006, 08:55
MartyPrdatator- That was with H4350 93gr over a Federal 215 primer. I worked up to 96gr, but accuracy degraded to about 2moa with the hot loads. These shoot WAY better than factory in my gun. No signs of high pressure all the way up.
I agree that I would probably have had enough case capacity if I had seated the bullets less deeply. I wanted to crimp these heavy recoiling rounds on a groove, and I'm not sure I'd've had that much room. I leave for Mozambique in three weeks, and I wanted to get something going. I hadn't planned on losing time with the case bulging issue!
18 August 2006, 09:28
JMJ888Well I finally bit the bullet and ordered my chronograph...should be here Monday. I am hoping to finally get to the range Tuesday to test things out.
Made it out a few days ago to start first load development...94-96gr. RL22 behind 300gr TSX. 95gr. gave me a 0.420" three shot group with recoil comparable to the H&H...maybe 2650-80fps. I loaded them a little longer where they are just kissing the top of the second cannalure...still run in the mag but its close.
On tap for Tuesday is 96.5-99gr in 1/2 grain increments with chrono. I will post my results when I have them.
24 August 2006, 00:44
JMJ888Made it out to the range today just before the rain. Conditions were decent for this time of year...about 90 degrees and 90-100% humidity. Rifle is a custom 375 RUM with a 26" Krieger barrel weighing in right at 10 pounds. All velocities were 10 feet from the muzzle.
96.0 gr RL22 - 2758, 2786, 2763
96.5 gr RL22 - 2803, 2790, 2783
97.0 gr RL22 - 2811, 2840, 2809
97.5 gr " " - 2843, 2833, 2824
98.0 gr " " - 2836, 2850, 2842
98.5 gr " " - 2884, 2873, 2877
99.0 gr " " - 2916, 2901, 2914
Most accurate loads were 95.0, 98.5, and 99.0 all around 3 - 5 tenths. As a side note I had some of the new Nosler custom ammo with 300 gr. partitions laying around so I shot a few over the chrono as well. They advertise 2800fps and the chrono said 2786, 2801, 2807.
24 August 2006, 06:07
PRDATORso what did that 2900 feal like on your shoulder????
You can't kill them setting on the couch.
24 August 2006, 06:43
JMJ888quote:
so what did that 2900 feal like on your shoulder????
I will say that after 20 or so rounds it will get your attention real quick. I really couldn't tell much of a difference in recoil between 2800-2900 fps but then again I did have a thick PAST pad on which made things much more tolerable. It was just a trigger pull...heavy arm punch...and a total loss of sight picture.
I will say the first range session out with no recoil shield and the factory recoil pad on my HS Precision stock left a pretty black bruise on the shoulder after 20 rounds. I will take a bruise over a scope bite or thumb across the nose any day.