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Gday team.
Just wondering if anyone here has any experience with the Barnes ttsx 168gn projectiles in a 308 win?
They seem really long and curious as to what it may do to the case capacity etc.
Thanks in advance. Cheers
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I don't no lots first hand about them I only had a little play. But from what I understand they like speed so I think 110gn or 130gn would be more suited to the .308 case the heavier 150+gn might be more intended for 300 win wsm rum norma etc I did try some years ago in .308 can't remember if it was 150 or 168 my rifle at the time didnt like what id loaded and it was only a 16'' barrel .While researching for seating depths etc is where I picked up they like speed and my short .308 was far from it . A mates using the 145gn 7mm down south but he's sending them at over 3400 fps out of a magnum cartridge that he usually shoots 180s out of it so I think its the norm to drop weights with these monos
The Barnes bullets work better and better with the more muzzle velocity you can give them. I think the 130 is pretty popular in 308 for that reason, because it's roughly the same length as a 150 jacketed bullet and doesn't eat into capacity much, plus you can get it up to 3k even with relatively short barrels.
I'd probably only go with the 168 in something like 300wm or wsm.
Cheers for the feedback. When you guys say perform better are you referring to accuracy or performance on game? Cheers
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Hi N&F I'm shooting TTSX out of my 308 and I really like them a lot. The 168s might be a tad long for the 308 - I'd suggest going for the 110s or 130s as they are the same length as a 155gr bullet.
Dont be afraid to shoot 110s as weight retension is genetally 90%+. I've shot kudu, Oryx, warthog, blesbuck, impala and springbuck out to 500m without issues.
Meat damage is minimal compared to conventional bullets. They're accurate as and the trajectory matches that of a 243W.
I'm shooting the 110s out of a 23" barrel at 3100fps.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Niceandfar
I think performance on game but I'm really not sure as I threw in the towel after one range season but mine were horribly inaccurate compared to the 180 sst and 165 interlock I was using at the time . Going fast apparently they are like electrocuting game . I believe they are also very accurate but I don't no if speed factors in their accuracy.
I have some 130s in wsm that were apparently accurate as and great killers but Im going to pull them as their someone else handholds
cheers
What others say, go down a size or 2.
I use 150's in my 300 Saum @ 3150fps. Slays them.
130 sound about right in a 308.
This is the 150 grn at 250 yards with my saum. The bullet was resting under the skin on the far shoulder.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iovPBtIdvRA
Game. Monos are generally very tough bullets and need high impact velocities to encourage them to expand fully. The GMX is another one - Hornady say 2000fps minimum. Barnes say 1800fps for theirs but I call BS on that - it's going to be minimal with either at those speeds. See here. The more speed the better.Quote:
Originally Posted by Niceandfar
If you are routinely shooting big tough animals through the shoulders out to moderate range, the 130 TSX or TTSX will do the job, that notwithstanding, the 110 TTSX or TSX will kill every game animal we have, out to moderate range, beyond 300 yds in a .308 you better be hitting major bone, 168 TTSX out of a .308 is just cruel - out of a 300 Weatherby would be fine, if you like blowing holes in the ground past your ordinary Red Deer.
In this context, performance is how well and without cruelty they kill, speed is EVERYTHING.
Ok awesome feedback. Im just looking to get awayfrom the eldms and go to something designed specifically for game. I mainly shoot deer out to say 400m max. Never further. Ive always used a 168gn pill on deet and 125gn on wallabies.
Sounds like ill need to go down to 110 or 130 and crank it along a bit. Running a 1 in 7 twist so will spin up a storm inside an animal.
Again thanks heaps for the feedback guys
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I believe @257weatherby used/uses 168 A-Maxes which are practically the same bullet as the ELD-M you're using. At 308 speeds they're a perfectly good choice. What's your experience been like with them?Quote:
Originally Posted by Niceandfar
I've shot 5 or 6 reds with the 130gr TTSX's, they kill well and I find the deer all ran about 10-15m before falling over and dieing max range was say 150m. In a 308 I wouldn't go any higher than the 130gr as speed is everything with these pills.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pommy
I liked the amax a lot better than the eldm something must have changed other than the tip?
They have been pretty accurate but the jury is out on how they perform on game. Ill probably give them a bit more of a try but just the fact they are a very basic cup and core design means they tend to blow up. I hit a fallow in the ribs at about 100m and ended up with an 8 inch hole out the other side. Was scary stuff!Quote:
Originally Posted by Pommy
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Thats a great result for me i like dead dead i fear them exploding midflight or on impactQuote:
Originally Posted by Niceandfar
ELD-X ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Niceandfar
I find to hard and fail alot but bassed on magnum velocitys could be gold slowerQuote:
Originally Posted by JaSa
I used them in my 8X57,I have given up on them as they fouled the barrel horribly.
They were very accurate however.I tried the first generation Barnes way back in the day,those were too hard and penciled through Thar at 300 meters.
If you like your 168 grainers,have you tried Sierra Game Kings?These have been my bullet of choice in .308 for 20 years and do the job well on Reds and Pigs.
Have used the130ttsx quite a bit, you should get well over 3100fps from 22"
They like a fair bit of jump to shoot well generally.
With no fragmentation you are relying on speed to deliver shock and energy to the animal so faster better.
They work great inside 300y launched at over 3100....like a super applecorer..... minimal bruising just cut a straight hole right threw in my experience.
Eldms are great on game just don't send them at silly speeds. Shot alot of game with them at different ranges with great success
@PommyQuote:
Originally Posted by Pommy
Yep, 168 Amax, about to switch to 168 or 175 TMK for what should be similar terminal performance with a bit more effective reach and slip off the wind. Have killed a few deer with the 155TMK, the heavier weight will be more reliable, same diff as the 155 Amax vs 168 Amax. Currently using Sierras 165 bthp for out too 200yds. Hits like a Freightliner with brake failure!
Second this, have shot a good number of animals with them in my 284 now. Working damn goodQuote:
Originally Posted by superdiver
284 and 2x260s for me. Lethal asQuote:
Originally Posted by stagstalker
I'm using 130gr ttsx in 308. Very effective killers but unlike some other comments I think they generate a LOT of bruising around the shoulder in red, fallow and sika. Despite hitting a lot of bone they just about always pass through which I think is a good thing.
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Not a 168gr 308 pill, but this is a 140ttsx from a 7mm mag head shot standing front on, on a yearling cattle beast at about 150mtrs, bullet was lodged in its neck meat. To be honest I was rather disappointed in them in both a 7 08 an rem mag.Attachment 146315
Hard to get a bullet to do everything and at all ranges , i like them , I run 130 TTSX getting 2950 out of 20 inch barrel , 3 groove Lilja barrel and I don’t have a problem with fouling , they have performed well for me , I shot a Chamois at 350 yards couple months ago in the shoulder , dropped it on the spot and did not exit so it has its limits in a 308 for sure.
I've used the 130ttsx for the last few years from a 16" 308 and can't fault them so far. 5 -200 yards on deer, pigs and goats and nothings gone more than a couple of meters so really happy. All pass through from memory without excessive damage.
Hitting heavy leg bones will cause lots of bruising with any bullet, compared to frangible bullets like amax and sst they are awesome meat savers if a meat saving shot is taken.Quote:
Originally Posted by Brakelie
sounds to me like pretty much any cup n core jobbie would do what you asking....hornady interlock etc etc....personally I believe too many folks have gone too far down the rabbit hole of search for perfect projectile.... I love the ttsx in the .223 and the 110grn tsx kill well in poohseventy....but no better or worse than a 130-140grn cup n core at ranges you are talking...Quote:
Originally Posted by Niceandfar
my .308 gets fed soft 180grn round nose for bush work and speer 150 hhot core for deer out further...125grn tnt for wallabies.... cant see myself buying anything else at the rate of shots fired for animals encountered it will take me years to work through box of 180s and box of 150s.
I got 3010fps out of my 18" barrel and shot 50 or so animals over the last 4 years with them, outstanding on tough thick skinned animals but terrible on lighter animals beyond 250m. Never performed great on reds for me, if you shoot in the engine room past 250m expect the deer to run a long way with little to no blood trail. I'm switching to eldms after the last few reds I've shot with the ttsx, I'd stick to your eldms and have them going under 2700fps and you'd have a much better all rounder imo. Cheers.
I’ve never really understood the meat saving part of rating a projectile. Rate the projectile on its terminal performance in killing the animal as best as possible. If you want to save meat then shoot it in the neck or head.
