Any Grain adjustments at starting loads for Barnes Bullets

JCNLexWMA · October 16, 2014, 06:53 PM

I have 130 gr. Barnes tsx bullets and I want to develop loads for a low recoil 30-06. I have IMR 4320 and 8208 XBR. I looked at Barnes and they do not list these powders and IMR/Hodgdon list only 130gr SPR HP with these powders. My question is, do I need to start at a lower powder grain starting point with Barnes bullets?

jmr40 · October 16, 2014, 07:33 PM

Barnes bullets should use completely different load data. Powders and loads that work well with conventional bullets may not work well with copper. The times that I've seen data for lead and copper that used the same powder the loads did in fact use less powder.

I'd find published data for the powder you have or use a powder that you can find data for if it were me.

Chuck Dye · October 16, 2014, 07:42 PM

From the Barnes web site:

Home > Technical > Load Data
Load Data
For immediate access to ALL new Triple-Shock, Varmint Grenade, Banded Solids and other load data as it becomes available from the Barnes ballistics lab, click here to become a Copper Club Member! For assistance with troubleshooting, or additional load data for a particular cartridge and bullet weight, please call customer service at 1-800-574-9200 or email [email protected]. (emphasis added)

Why not go straight to the horse's mouth?

JCNLexWMA · October 16, 2014, 08:36 PM

Chuck I have already looked and printed those pages. I want to be able to use the powders that I have already if I can.

jmr40 · October 16, 2014, 08:47 PM

But if you call or e-mail they may have additional info and advice not on the website.

reynolds357 · October 16, 2014, 09:49 PM

When Barnes was just the plain old "X" bullet, you had to reduce loads for them slightly under published data. Now that they are the "Triple shock X" you can use some load data un-modified. You can use spitzer or some spitzer boat tail data and be fine. If you use Berger data, you are going to most likely blow a primer.

Thats my experience. May or may not be safe for you. Double check me and dont just take my word for it.

JCNLexWMA · October 17, 2014, 07:25 AM

Thanks JMR, will do. And thanks for the info on Bergers, Reynolds.

243winxb · October 17, 2014, 07:35 AM

This

Quote:

When Barnes was just the plain old "X" bullet, you had to reduce loads for them slightly under published data. Now that they are the "Triple shock X" you can use some load data un-modified.

A second look at data shows a starting load may be a maximum load for the current Barnes bullet in some cartridges. So, maybe reduce the starting load by 5% ?

skizzums · October 17, 2014, 08:35 AM

Let us know what Barnes says please

AllenJ · October 17, 2014, 09:34 AM

Barnes sent me their .264 Win Mag data just yesterday from a email request I made last week about loading their 127 grain LRX bullet. They did the same for me a year or so ago when I asked about data regarding their .284, 145 grain LRX. I don't think you'll have any problem getting your data.

Good shooting and let us know how it goes.

JCNLexWMA · October 23, 2014, 09:33 PM

I fired off an email to Barnes and had a response within 3 days

. Unfortunately they have not done any testing with the powders I had listed, nor any of the ones I have in my cabinet, for the 130 gr TSX BT

. So now maybe I try and do my own testing by dropping down a few grains below what IMR suggested for the 130 gr Speer HP with a starting point of 49.1 gr. for the 8208 XBR and use the Barnes COAL.

reynolds357 · October 24, 2014, 11:28 PM

At the premium price the TSX commands, I believe I would just buy some powder that I had data for. The shortage is over. Powder is relatively cheap.

October 16, 2014, 06:53 PM	#1
JCNLexWMA Junior Member Join Date: September 2, 2014 Posts: 14	Any Grain adjustments at starting loads for Barnes Bullets I have 130 gr. Barnes tsx bullets and I want to develop loads for a low recoil 30-06. I have IMR 4320 and 8208 XBR. I looked at Barnes and they do not list these powders and IMR/Hodgdon list only 130gr SPR HP with these powders. My question is, do I need to start at a lower powder grain starting point with Barnes bullets?

October 16, 2014, 07:42 PM	#3
Chuck Dye Senior Member Join Date: June 28, 2002 Location: Oregon-The wet side. Posts: 949	From the Barnes web site: Home > Technical > Load Data Load Data For immediate access to ALL new Triple-Shock, Varmint Grenade, Banded Solids and other load data as it becomes available from the Barnes ballistics lab, click here to become a Copper Club Member! *For assistance with troubleshooting, or additional load data for a particular cartridge and bullet weight, please call customer service at 1-800-574-9200 or email [email protected].* (emphasis added) Why not go straight to the horse's mouth? __________________ Gee, I'd love to see your data!

October 17, 2014, 08:35 AM	#9
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	Let us know what Barnes says please __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed

October 23, 2014, 09:33 PM	#11
JCNLexWMA Junior Member Join Date: September 2, 2014 Posts: 14	Data Sheet from Barnes I fired off an email to Barnes and had a response within 3 days. Unfortunately they have not done any testing with the powders I had listed, nor any of the ones I have in my cabinet, for the 130 gr TSX BT. So now maybe I try and do my own testing by dropping down a few grains below what IMR suggested for the 130 gr Speer HP with a starting point of 49.1 gr. for the 8208 XBR and use the Barnes COAL.

October 16, 2014, 07:33 PM	#2
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,809	Barnes bullets should use completely different load data. Powders and loads that work well with conventional bullets may not work well with copper. The times that I've seen data for lead and copper that used the same powder the loads did in fact use less powder. I'd find published data for the powder you have or use a powder that you can find data for if it were me.

October 16, 2014, 08:36 PM	#4
JCNLexWMA Junior Member Join Date: September 2, 2014 Posts: 14	Chuck I have already looked and printed those pages. I want to be able to use the powders that I have already if I can.

October 16, 2014, 08:47 PM	#5
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,809	But if you call or e-mail they may have additional info and advice not on the website.

October 16, 2014, 09:49 PM	#6
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	When Barnes was just the plain old "X" bullet, you had to reduce loads for them slightly under published data. Now that they are the "Triple shock X" you can use some load data un-modified. You can use spitzer or some spitzer boat tail data and be fine. If you use Berger data, you are going to most likely blow a primer. Thats my experience. May or may not be safe for you. Double check me and dont just take my word for it.

October 17, 2014, 07:25 AM	#7
JCNLexWMA Junior Member Join Date: September 2, 2014 Posts: 14	Thanks JMR, will do. And thanks for the info on Bergers, Reynolds.

October 17, 2014, 09:34 AM	#10
AllenJ Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,766	Barnes sent me their .264 Win Mag data just yesterday from a email request I made last week about loading their 127 grain LRX bullet. They did the same for me a year or so ago when I asked about data regarding their .284, 145 grain LRX. I don't think you'll have any problem getting your data. Good shooting and let us know how it goes.

October 24, 2014, 11:28 PM	#12
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	At the premium price the TSX commands, I believe I would just buy some powder that I had data for. The shortage is over. Powder is relatively cheap.