.270 loads with Barnes TSX 140 grain bullets

elpac3

elpac3

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Was just given some Barnes 140 grain TSX bullets for the .270. Loaded up the first the and fired them off at the range. Bullets were seated to Barnes recommended COAL.

Group was more like a pattern, about 4 1/2 inches at 100 off a rest. Slipped in some old Speer 130 BT, seated .010 off the lands and grouped .9"

Went home did some reading and found a rate of twist calculation formula. Ran the numbers and most of the "new" bullets are coming out long and according to the formula it is looking like a 1:9 or 1:8 twist would be indicated vs. the old 1:10 in my .270.

Have some Nosler ballistic tips I am trying out as well. Have shot these for years. Used up the last of the "old" ballistic tips and bought some new ones which are longer than the old.

With everyone seeming to be jumping on the new secant or hybred ogive in addition to the all copper bullets, the bullets are getting longer. In fact several of the bullets cannot cannot be seated at the .010" ogive length that has proven best in my rifle in the past. Magazine length is proving to be a limiting factor.

Anyone have any insights, thoughts or words of wisdom they would be willing to share?
 
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If the newer bullets won't give the accuracy you need, go back to the "Old" technology.Speer, Hornady, Sierra...130-& 150gr. :) If you just have to have 140gr., wellll...O.K.

1 1/2" or less@ 100 yds. is sufficient for any critter within ~ 400 yards, and very few of us...them...whoever...should take that shot!:cool:

Practice will get you more improved accuracy than almost any exercise in Ballistic Proctology!;)
 
I've gotten very good accuracy with both the 130 & 140 TSX BT in a Cooper .270. Forget the Barnes book OAL; that's a very general recommendation and not necessarily even a good place to start. You need to seat bullets for your rifle and you don't need any after-market gizmos to do it right, either.

Seat the bullet where it is engraved slightly by the lands. Then, seat the bullet .003" deeper and make up four test rounds using one of the 4350s (I prefer H4350) or H4831 (you can use other powders but these have always worked best for me in about any .270). A moderate charge should be fine until you find the seating depth, then you can experiment with different charge weights. Make up four more rounds with everything identical, but seat the bullets another .003" deeper. Then, do the .003" one more time. One of those depths should provide you with an accurate load.
 
I had emailed Barnes for COL on my Enfield and they told me that the TSX likes to be just outside the lands, .001-.003ish. I am currently trying to find out what my 30-06 likes. I am using lead core to get a better idea of powder and weight then I will move onto Barnes. Don't give up so easily.
 
I've had better luck getting good accuracy from the plain, untipped TSX BT as opposed to what is probably more popular, the plastic-tipped version.

"Just outside the lands" might work and it's worth trying. That was my first suggested step in bullet seating above. However, every rifle is different and experimentation is worth the effort.
 
Thanks all

Have four batches of loads made up, .010, .050, .090 and .130 off the lands. Headed back to the range Monday to do some test firing.
 
Those non-lead bullets were made to help the Calif. people out, to be able to hunt game and shoot pest, to keep the Condor from extinction.

They don't have to be accurate........ just work.
 
FWIW, from Barnes FAQ:

Do I seat TSX bullets .030 inch to .070 inch from the lands, starting at .050 inch off the lands, as recommended with other X-style bullets?
Yes. All-copper TSX Bullets typically give better accuracy when seated off the lands and grooves (the rifling in the barrel).

I usually start at 0.050" off and continue seating in deeper increments. My .270 wsm shoots 130gr TTSX into tiny knots if given a long jump to the lands but shoots patterns close-up.
 
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For the last few years I've loaded Barnes for several rifles since being forced to by a stupid California law based on junk science. The experience was frustrating until I learned two things.
1) Seat them deep .050 to .070 or even deeper.
2) Load them fast. Max or near max.

Noticed your in Minnesota. In my opinion, there are many better and much easier to work with lead choices available. From Nosler, Hornady, Berger , just to name a few.
Don't have anything against copper for use on game as they work OK. However, they can often be temperamental therefore frustrating to develop accurate loads for.
 
rick1085 said:
For the last few years I've loaded Barnes for several rifles since being forced to by a stupid California law based on junk science. The experience was frustrating until I learned two things.
1) Seat them deep .050 to .070 or even deeper.
2) Load them fast. Max or near max.

Noticed your in Minnesota. In my opinion, there are many better and much easier to work with lead choices available. From Nosler, Hornady, Berger , just to name a few.
Don't have anything against copper for use on game as they work OK. However, they can often be temperamental therefore frustrating to develop accurate loads for.
Click to expand...

The above WRT seating depth (deep...) and 58 gr of H4831SC works out of my Kimber Montana. Throttled a hog a week ago with said load. A bull elk in 2015 as well.





 
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