70 gr Barnes TSX in a Rem 700 LTR .223

B

Brad H in MS

New member
I loaded up some initial rounds using the 70 gr TSX bullet and a minimum charge of varget powder.

it seems that the bullet is not stabilizing. literally spraying the rounds at random 2 ft area on the target.

I seated the bullet into the case so that the groove on the bullet closest to the tip is just inside the case mouth. so I have plenty of room to seat the bullet closer to the lands.

the twist on the LTR is 1-8. I was just surprised at the initial results. this gun shoots the 62 gr into a ragged hole at 100 yds.

any help appreciated.

brad
 
I would try speeding the bullet up. Watch for pressure on the way up. I believe that a 1/9 is right on the cutoff line for that bullet. Barnes recommends 8 or faster.
 
Minimum charge of Varget says fairly slow load. That bullet will need the gas to get it to spin fast enough. H322, blc-(2), h-4895. These all get it to 2900+. Or stomp on the Varget and it may make 3k fps. That should make it or break it.

Also, you being at a lower elevation...it may just not work!

Your rifle is also a 9tw IIRC.
 
great advice here guys thx.

my LTR is over 10 years old and I was thinking that it had the 1-8 twist barrel but I might be wrong.

I picked up some 4895 at lunch to try. wow powder has gotten expensive !!
 
I've played with the 70gr TSX a lot in my BCM 16" stainless barrel AR with a 1:8 twist. I've settled on close to Barnes's max load of H4895 and seating them deep (.05" off the lands, roughly). I didn't have great luck with Varget.
The best I've gotten with any TSX combo has been MOA or a touch over. This rifle will shoot 69 Sierra Match Kings .6-.7 MOA consistently.
Also, based on a phone call with Barnes, I try not to shoot more than 20 or so without cleaning the barrel.
 
Originally Posted By: Brad H in MSgreat advice here guys thx.

my LTR is over 10 years old and I was thinking that it had the 1-8 twist barrel but I might be wrong.

I picked up some 4895 at lunch to try. wow powder has gotten expensive !!

That's close to the same vintage my .223 LTR is and my factory barrel was a 1-9tw. It's easy enough to measure yourself with a good tight patch and a cleaning rod.
 
Why such a heavy TSX bullet in 223? The idea is that a TSX penetrates better than a much heavier lead bullet because the TSX retains 99% of it's mass instead of fragmenting. So you can use a light for caliber bullet, and the extra velocity of a lighter bullet only increases effectiveness.

So why a 70gr TSX instead of a 62 or even 55? Or much lighter for predators, like 45 or 50?

If you insist on such a heavy TSX, then you probably need to speed it up. It's well known that TSX's shoot really well at near max velocity and about .05" off the lands.
 
Originally Posted By: DiRTY DOGIt's well known that TSX's shoot really well at near max velocity and about .05" off the lands.


Having used Barnes exclusively for big game since 1992, and having loaded them in 22Hornet up to 300Weatherby (14 rifles), I would agree with pushing them fast for accuracy.

I start with COL and have not had to change that to get accuracy, yet.
 
no real reason other than curiosity.

all of my deer kills here on my property in the last few years have been with the 62 TSX.

I have an established 62 grain load in case the 70s don't work out.
 
Weight wise I usually ran 180+ for elk, 150 for deer size game both in 30-06. With the tsx I've dropped to 150 for elk and 100 for deer (25-06). And then I put together a 358 winchester at 225gr but have only hit paper with it. Pushed average+ for speed and they've done really really well.
 
I have about a 12-14 year old ltr 223 that clovers 40 g nosler BTs with, if I remember 25.5g of benchmark. Same goes for 60g v max. The vmax was more finicky like it is in all my guns and took forever to find a load that would group
 
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