30-06 AND BARNES 168 gr TSX
Have you experimented at all with the bullet seating depth on the Barnes ? Depending on which load data you use , if it is not from Barnes here is what typically comes into play when working up your loads . First is if viewing Barnes free load data on the web site they only give you 2 powders to select from for any given bullet weight in any calibre that shows one of them was most accurate and the other best suited as the one to use for hunting loads. Remember only one test barrel was used and odds are it isnt that close to what you shoot . It is just a referrence point,,,, somewhere to start . Now comes the trick . As stated in their manuals the Barnes bullets ( all of them ) prefer a longer than what is deemed nomal set back ( seating depth ) from the lands to achieve best perfomance . They recomend .050 setback and I personally have found this to be basically true having worked up several different loads for different calibres with their bullets . The second trick is with any of the banded bullets such as the TSX and even their earlier XLC coated bullets you need to add anywhere from 1 to 2 grains more powder to all but Barnes published reload data as these bullets behave much as Moly coated bullets do in that due to the reduced load bearing surfaces of these bullets when pushed through the barrel pressures tend to drop some. If you look at load data from such folks as Nosler or Lyman they list in their individual powder tests at what grain weight each powder gave its best overall performance and even go on to show which powder was the most accurate overall. These figures were derived with a certain amount of pressure having built up between the time the powder was ignited and the bullet exited the barrel. My expierience with Barnes bullets and powders which tend to show listings of best performance at or near max powder loads have been best and more often than not I had to exceede the max load data slightly for best performance . I do not recommend you attempt this yourself unless you are well versed in how to spot and or measure for signs of high pressure on your cartridges and always start well below the max listed load data and slowly work up in .5gr. incriments and I personally go to .3 gr. incriments when the max load data has been reached and move cautiously up from there. If your pressure signs are good at max load data but your groups are poor and not tightening up time to try a new powder. If at some point in your load workups you had a fair group return to that load and experiment with the seating depth in .005 incriments longer and shorter from that load and see what happens . Barnes is a great bullet but may take a bit of additional care and feeding to get where you want to go . Hope this helps . 10 SPOT
