Seating depth on Barnes TTSX

[123456]

I just loaded up and shot some Barnes TTSX in my 300 WSM and I was not impressed with accuracy. Barnes recommends .050 off of lands. So that is where I put my first loads. Groups where over an inch, and I am not happy. Anyone have an suggestions that will save me time and shoulder pain. I have thought about just moving them closer to the lands by .010 at a time until I get desired accuracy or I just might scrap them all together and get the 185 VLDS. Any suggestions? Also seemed groups got smaller as Load charge increased. I am 1 gr. off of Alliant's Max. I have notcied that I can now see where my ejector sits on my bolt face in the back of the brass after fired. Is this too hot? Nothing else shows pressure signs.

[Couzer]

Sounds to me they may be hot loads if your seeing the ejector on the brass. What's your speeds? I would compare that to the Manuel.

[firstcoueswas80]

Barnes like to be, and perform better the harder they are pushed (within reason).

 

Instead of going longer in the oal try shorter. You'll be surprised.

[rcdinaz]

If you have room to still cycle cartridges then y the seating depth no harm there. I agree with FirstCoues most of the high BC bullets like to be pushed pretty hard. Under load a VLD and watch it be unstable and shoot crappy groups as well.

 

I am sure you already know it but be careful with the the pressure signs. That being said if the bolt lift is not heavy and primers are okay I doubt you are having pressure issues with a load just behind the mfg suggestions as they are almost always conservative and safe. Almost always but some guns can be a little different. I only say this because I have had one rifle that left slight ejector marks but never any other issues.

 

You may also try another powder every magnum I have pretty much lives on H1000 now, used to be Retumbo but I have found H1000 more consistent pretty much across all three rifles.

[123456]

Thanks for the info, I will try seating them both shorter and longer and hope that helps with the accuracy. H1000 might be my next option. I have always been a hodgdon fan, but this time i decided to try RL-17. Do most of you try to shoot prone or off a bench to achieve best accuracy? I shot prone, and boy is my shoulder sore.

[firstcoueswas80]

Try shorter first.... Trust me.

 

Also, both 300wsm's i have loaded fir looked 4831sc

[MRL1984]

For load development use a bench and a lead sled. That way you take less beating and remove some of the human error from the equation. Once you find a load that shoots then go to prone shooting. I get my load and rifle dialed from the bench then practice field shooting positions and know the error is me not the rifle. I skip the sled since I don't have a punishing rifle.

 

I know nothing of the Barnes, but I think Firstcoues would be the one to listen to since he is the only one I know that admits to using em.

[rossislider]

I've had the same problems loading ttsx in my tikka 7-08. Due to my magazine size I can't go longer so I have worked up some new loads to try which follow firstcourse's suggestion of going shorter. I have gotten great results using the ttsx in several other rifles. Just a matter of patience with my recipe. I have been using H4895, my 30-06 loves this combo. If I can't get this to work in the 7-08 after try some shorter rounds, I may try IMR 4350. Let me know what you try.

[rcdinaz]

4831SC is what I use in almost every non magnum rifle and is the great stuff, very easy to work with as far as metering. If you try it please report back I may give that a whirl in one of the larger cases.