Just picked up some 308 diameter Barnes 168 grain Tipped Triple Shock bullets, if you are not familiar with TSX bullets they have 3 bands below the ogive that seat below the case neck. Well I noticed the bullets were a bit long and when I got home I measured and compared them to some Nosler 168 grain HPBT. The Barnes meaured 1.42 inches long and the Nosler were 1.19 with a difference of .23, when seated to the last band the Barnes were recessed .24 of an inch deeper than the Noslers sit in the case, decreasing case volume.
I have no data for these bullets and Barnes' website is down ( I planned on using 168 grain HPBT data but these are alot longer). The COAL with the Barnes is 2.79 and the Nosler's are 2.80.
So can I load the Barnes TSX bullets up with reduced 168 grain data or do they decrease the case volume too much to load safely? I was thinking of maybe a starting load of 38 grains of Reloader 15 with the Barnes? Maybe they just ain't for 308 Winchester and are made for longer cartridges?
Looking forward to hearing from Bushmaster, RC, Walkalong or anyone else your help will be appreciated considering these are 36 bucks per 50 and there are no returns on components at Sportsman's.
I have no data for these bullets and Barnes' website is down ( I planned on using 168 grain HPBT data but these are alot longer). The COAL with the Barnes is 2.79 and the Nosler's are 2.80.
So can I load the Barnes TSX bullets up with reduced 168 grain data or do they decrease the case volume too much to load safely? I was thinking of maybe a starting load of 38 grains of Reloader 15 with the Barnes? Maybe they just ain't for 308 Winchester and are made for longer cartridges?
Looking forward to hearing from Bushmaster, RC, Walkalong or anyone else your help will be appreciated considering these are 36 bucks per 50 and there are no returns on components at Sportsman's.