Barnes TTSX?

W

William Suter

Well-known member
A buddy of mine is shooting the Barnes 130 grain TTSX in his Tikka 308 and getting great accuracy and speed as well. I tried them in my rifle and was not stellar by any means. He's telling me that I need to clean ALL the copper from my barrel before using the Barnes bullets because Barnes uses a different copper and it doesn't mix with standard types of bullets. Is there any truth to this? The only rifle I have ever had that really shot a Barnes really well was a 270. I can't say I'm a fan mainly because they are so hard to tune, at least for me. And they are pricey too. But...if you get a good load, they are killers for sure. At a buck a bullet it gets a little pricey working up a load.
 
No I haven't tried the Blc-2 yet.. I hate to admit it but I think my major accuracy issue was the front scope ring. I was using Leupold bases and rings. I pulled the scope off and noticed the front ring (twist in type) was very loose fitting. As in finger loose. I usually use a small crescent wrench to twist them in. I swapped out the Leupold for a set of steel Weaver style bases and a set of steel rings. I know these are tight!! I bought a box of cheap factory 150 grain Winchester power points and it actually shot them pretty decent today. Right at 3/4 inch which is the best its ever shot. I wanted to get an idea if it was the rifle or my handloads. I still had some of the Barnes so I loaded up a few more with Tac just to see if all the accuracy issues was because of the loose scope base. I guess I let my guard down and the loose ring slipped by me. It felt snug going in when I mounted the scope. If nothing else, I know it will shoot the Winchester good enough to hunt with.
 
I don't know about the different copper, but I know that a lot of people say that you need to clean the barrel before switching from lead to copper.
 
I never had a problem switching from lead to copper just a quick clean with a foaming bore cleaner, But one thing about Barnes they like to jump. As a general rule of thumb seat the bullet to the last ring on the bullet. 50 to 120 thousands jump is par for the course. I don't have a gun that they don't shoot accurately in.
 
Yes, it's very true. You HAVE to clean to bare steel. And you must have the proper distance off the lands. They need some uh free bore. Also, I find all copper bullets shoot their best going fast.
 
Shot the Barnes again today. Lots of wind but shot anyway. Fours loads of Tac, 48,49,50,51 grains. There wasn't a nickles worth of difference in the 49,50 and 51 grain groups as all were under an inch. Not by much but under. All three groups had two touching and one just out. Not sure if its seating depth or barrel heat. The rifle has a very thin barrel and heats up quick. I did let it cool completely between three shot groups.
 
Sounds like you are very close. 1. Try a cold barrel wrap with 5 minutes between shots(rule out heated barrel poi shift). 2. A light crimp (most factory rds are crimped, including Barnes ammo). 3. Don't worry about it because any hunting rifle shooting 1moa means if you miss it's not the rifle/bullet, it's the shooter.
 
I've heard the saying " A one inch group will kill anything on the planet" so many times I can't count. But being the accuracy snob I am my groups need to be tighter. I keep telling myself this is a hunting rifle not a target rifle but its hard to get it in my thick head.
I have enough of the Barnes left for one more trip to the range. I'm going to seat a few of them a little deeper to see if I can get that one shot that seems to stray into the group. Then make the decision to buy more or switch to a different bullet.
 
I didn't run the velocity/distance numbers, but your range will be limited to distance that the bullet drops velocity to 2000-2100 fps. Reliable expansion with copper bullets has a minimum velocity requirement. I personally think 400 yards as max with coppers out of most rifles.
 
I've been using Barnes since 1992, first the 'X', then the 'XLC', TSX and now TTSX.

The X and XLC were very sensitive to , well, everything, powder charge, seating depth, primers, pretty much everything.

The TSX and TTSX have been very easy to dial in. I start with published COL, and have not had to deviate from that to get very good accuracy. I use the 80gr in the 243, 130gr in 270, 168gr, and now 150gr, in the 30-06, and the 168gr in a buddies Browning 300wsm.

The groups tighten up some at the top end of the powder charge, and this has been with all rifles and all loads (using TSX and TTSX), so much so, that I start at 2.0grs below max, and work up.

I have not found cleaning the rifle first to be an issue, except for the 30-06, but that rifle fouls very quickly with any bullet anyway.

And, they work great on game, as well as being very accurate.

I'm not advocating that a 243 makes a great elk rifle, but, 2 years ago, my used the 243 (T-C Icon) and the 80gr TTSX to kill his first elk, a cow. She was facing us, at 306yds, and just as I was saying 'to far', he shoots, and she went straight down. Then I heard the 'whap' that Barnes makes when they hit.
 
I am also a Barnes fan and have been shooting them for years. I have never had any accuracy issues with any of the calibers I load them for, they all have shot very, very well.
 
I like Barnes bullets to but evidently the CA Mesa didn't. I went through a box of TTSX, 168SMK's and several different powders. Over 100 rounds and saw one, maybe two groups in the .990;s. All the others were well over one inch. I took the rifle to a tiny gunshow out of town and three different guys hit me up on the Mesa. One was the lucky winner. On the way out I found a CZ 527 in 222 and it came home with me.
 
Try some Hammer bullets. There a bit more costly but well worth it . I bet you pick up near a 100 fps with the same load.
We use them in all our hunting chamberings, and all seem to be around .6" groups.
 
William Suter said:
I like Barnes bullets to but evidently the CA Mesa didn't. I went through a box of TTSX, 168SMK's and several different powders. Over 100 rounds and saw one, maybe two groups in the .990;s. All the others were well over one inch. I took the rifle to a tiny gunshow out of town and three different guys hit me up on the Mesa. One was the lucky winner. On the way out I found a CZ 527 in 222 and it came home with me.
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Try the Barnes 36 gr Varmint Grenade bullet in your 222 if you are looking for a bullet for it. They shoot really well in my Rem 722 222 and perform really well on the varmints.
 
I have to agree on the Hammer bullets. Very easy to work up an accurate load. Well worth the extra expense , and terminal performance is outstanding.
 


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