I've emailed barnes, but am waiting to hear back. Has anyone loaded the original barnes x in the 375 ruger? I know it will give more presure so I was thinking that 2 grains lower than what's listed for the TSX might work, any thoughts?

That's a good position to take. I remember when the TSX first came out, the Barnes #3 manual was on the market. #4 was in the works. Each box of TSXs had a info page with it stating that 1 to 2 grains extra could possibly be necessary to achieve the same velocity as the original X. However, I would not go to the MAX load and add 2 grains. I would work within the stated range in your manual or data and begin with the starting load and work up.

If you want to use up some old 'X' bullets for practice, fine. Drop the grains.

But Barnes now has a 250 grain TTSX (tipped) bullet with a .424 BC. Bullets are only $1. I can't imagine anyone purposely choosing the old 'X' over the new TTSX. You want a load that you can hunt with and a 375 Ruger, loaded for 'flat' shooting will cover anything in NA. It only becomes marginal in some eyes for buffalo.

BTW, that's a nice, balanced calibre and rifle combo, easily doing 250 grains in the 2800-2900 fps range in a 'standard size' action. If the 375 Ruger had been available 30 years ago I may never have done so much hunting with a 338WM.

Sorry - no experience with old X`es in 375 Ruger, but just have to say that I tried Norma URP some days ago behind some 300 grs Accubonds in my 20" barreled Alaskan... 81 grs gave 2724 fps average and tried all the way up to 84 grs which gave 2758 fps average - no pressure sign at all and no case head expansion... Impressive - though loads must have been a bit hot.. I settled on 81 grs which gave 3/4" groups. Fantastic caliber...

BUFFULO
i think your on the wrong side of the red line with that load....especially comming from a 20 inch tube

Maybe.... ;-)
Have used Norma 203B (same as Rel 15) before, but got pressuresigns around 2600 fps. But URP is very different. No loose primer pockets - but lets see after 3-4 reloadings...

I have just bought some 250 grain Barnes TTSX bullets for my 375Ruger and plan to use Vitahouri N150 when trying out some loads.
Will be very interesting to see how high I safely can go and what speed I can get it at in my Alaskan

quote:

Originally posted by Norwegianwoods:
I have just bought some 250 grain Barnes TTSX bullets for my 375Ruger and plan to use Vitahouri N150 when trying out some loads.
Will be very interesting to see how high I safely can go and what speed I can get it at in my Alaskan

It may depend on how much powder you can fit it. I don't know the N150 density, N140 might be worth a try, too.

There's a reason I'm using the old x bullet. I found a good supply for $34 a box, which is a hell of a deal these days. So it doesn't have the grooves and I miay have to tone down the load a little, oh well, still a great bullet.

quote:

Originally posted by 416Tanzan:
If you want to use up some old 'X' bullets for practice, fine. Drop the grains.

But Barnes now has a 250 grain TTSX (tipped) bullet with a .424 BC. Bullets are only $1. I can't imagine anyone purposely choosing the old 'X' over the new TTSX. You want a load that you can hunt with and a 375 Ruger, loaded for 'flat' shooting will cover anything in NA. It only becomes marginal in some eyes for buffalo.

BTW, that's a nice, balanced calibre and rifle combo, easily doing 250 grains in the 2800-2900 fps range in a 'standard size' action. If the 375 Ruger had been available 30 years ago I may never have done so much hunting with a 338WM.

quote:

There's a reason I'm using the old x bullet. I found a good supply for $34 a box,

The groved bullets are easier on the barrels, easier cleaning, and probably shoot just a tad better and faster. Why would you trade that for $7/box?

Go to
http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/
and you'll find Barnes .375" 250grain TTSX for $41/box.

The original X bullets were not necessarily noted for their accuracy due to the bullet lengths from different "lots" being different lengths. If you can buy enough bullets from all the same "lot" number your loads should maintain their accuracy from box to box. If not, you'll have to tweak your settled upon load from lot to lot. Just my .02

quote:

Originally posted by 416Tanzan:

quote:

There's a reason I'm using the old x bullet. I found a good supply for $34 a box,

The groved bullets are easier on the barrels, easier cleaning, and probably shoot just a tad better and faster. Why would you trade that for $7/box?

Go to
http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/
and you'll find Barnes .375" 250grain TTSX for $41/box.

+ shipping.

That is the best price I've seen though and they are actually cheaper than the accubonds. I'll be sure to check their prices when I order more bullets. Thanks for the link. I'll try x bullets out and if they are acting weird, then I won't bother with them any more.

gohip,

Everyone is right on with the reduced load. But I would start 3gr lower. Do you have a chrono to validate velocity?

You can sure try the the old X bullets, but if you have problems, go to the TSX's.

I had given up on Barnes specifically because of the X and XLC bullets. I had nothing but problems, horrible accuracy, pressure issues, extreme copper fouling. I found exactly one load that was decent between my 270's and 338-06's.

Then someone talked me into trying the TSx's, actually gave me some to try. Night and day difference.

I can only echo the comments on the old Barnes X bullets. I only loaded them in 270 and 280. Major lot to lot changes and few rifles shot them well, you certainly found out how smooth your bore was and what a truly clean bore was. Load development was critical and you could not just substitute the X bullet in a favorite load. Embarrassing at the range to use your heel to open a bolt.

Yet the performance on game up to the size of elk was amazing. I have a box and a half of 7 mm bullets for my 280 and less than a box for my one 270 that shoots them well. I would have never used Barnes X bullets again until a friend of mine was shooting factory TSX bullets in his M700 300 RUM, wow, match grade accuracy and great performance on elk.

I'm looking forward to trying the TSX in my .338/06, or as I like to call it my .338 OKH.

I use the original Barnes "X bullets in my .308 Norma Mag clone, .338 Win Mag, 9.3x74R, .375 H&H Mag, .376 Steyr, .405 Winchester, .404 Barnes supreme, .450/.400 3", and .404 Jeffery. Have never had a lick of trouble with pressures, accuracy or copper fouling in any of them.

I got started using them because the local gun emporium sold off all their stock of them when the new "grooved" version came out half a dozen years ago....so I got them for $15 per box! Actually the first dozen or so boxes I got for only $12.50 per box. All in all, IIRC I believe I bought about 60-70 boxes of them at the $15@ price.

Anyway, I had heard all the horror stories, but figured if they didn't work out in my guns I could always sell them at about $20 per box, or 33% profit. Turns out I wish I had bought more!

None of the dreaded boogie men showed up at my house.

My advice would be to develop and use moderate loads with them...that works well with almost all bullets and rifles, and may be the reason I haven't experienced any trouble with the Barnes X.

Well, I already bought 2 boxes so I loaded some up and will see how they do. Thanks for all the advice. I'm starting low and working up to see how they do. I do have a chronograph, so I will be checking my velocities along the way.

well, went from 75gr to 79gr of win 760 and the groups got tighter to under an inch at 79. I think I can tune the group a little tighter with a little more powder, but you guys were right about the fouling. it lays those copper layers on thick