120 TTSX Performance

[Thisisdenny]

Data from Barnes says max for the 120ttsx and CFE223 is 48.4 grains (compressed)

For velocity they claim 3196 fps from a 24” barrel.

I stopped just under that and got great accuracy, but I don’t have any velocity info from my shorter (16.5”-20”) barrels.

 

[7rem]

The only downside to CFE is it’s a little messy to work with but it and the 120 ttsx are meant to be together

 

[Newtosavage]

Data from Barnes says max for the 120ttsx and CFE223 is 48.4 grains (compressed)

For velocity they claim 3196 fps from a 24” barrel.

I stopped just under that and got great accuracy, but I don’t have any velocity info from my shorter (16.5”-20”) barrels.

So I got my CFE 223 yesterday and finally took it to the range. I worked up to 48 grains (as you said, Max listed in Barnes is 48.4). The chrono results are a bit stunning if not hard to believe.

Granted, this Shaw 7mm-08 barrel is a screamer. I've always known that. Even chopped to 20" it consistently produces velocities at or above published data for 24" barrels.

So, at 48 grains of CFE 223, my 120 TTSX's were going 3250 fps.

That is not a typo and the chrono was working just fine, as my other loads were cruising along at their normal velocities. I'm thinking that's a bit hot, even if the primers still have rounded shoulders, so I'm going to back it down a half grain and call it good. Accuracy was stellar. 0.6" at 100 yards and 2.5" at 300.

This CFE 223 just turned my little 7mm-08 into a laser. Good lawd.

 

[Pabst]

So I got my CFE 223 yesterday and finally took it to the range. I worked up to 48 grains (as you said, Max listed in Barnes is 48.4). The chrono results are a bit stunning if not hard to believe.

Granted, this Shaw 7mm-08 barrel is a screamer. I've always known that. Even chopped to 20" it consistently produces velocities at or above published data for 24" barrels.

So, at 48 grains of CFE 223, my 120 TTSX's were going 3250 fps.

That is not a typo and the chrono was working just fine, as my other loads were cruising along at their normal velocities. I'm thinking that's a bit hot, even if the primers still have rounded shoulders, so I'm going to back it down a half grain and call it good. Accuracy was stellar. 0.6" at 100 yards and 2.5" at 300.

This CFE 223 just turned my little 7mm-08 into a laser. Good lawd.

3250 is fast no doubt. What was temp when you ran your tests?

I did some testing this morning with 145gr LRX and Big Game and walked away pretty shocked. Was at about 2910 with 47.6gr. I tested up to 48.4gr and speed decreased to about 2890 at the top end powder charge. Temp was 47F.

 

[Newtosavage]

3250 is fast no doubt. What was temp when you ran your tests?

I did some testing this morning with 145gr LRX and Big Game and walked away pretty shocked. Was at about 2910 with 47.6gr. I tested up to 48.4gr and speed decreased to about 2890 at the top end powder charge. Temp was 47F.

70 degrees.

This 7mm-08 barrel I have is a fast barrel. Every load I shoot in it is at or above published data for barrels 2-4" longer.

I got brave and tested some 139 LRX's over CFE 223 in my .284 Winchester barrel. The powders I have for the .284 (Hunter and IMR 4955) are really too slow for the ligher bullets, and I figured CFE 223 was close enough to the medium burning powders that it might just work. It sure did. I worked carefully up from 49 to 52 grains and had zero pressure signs at 52 grains and almost 3k fps with that bullet. This is encouraging since having a very fast 7mm-08 barrel was nearly making my .284 Win obsolete.

In the 7mm-08, 44 grains of CFE 223 under those 139 LRX's gave me 2920 fps and a cloverleaf group. Not sure what else you could ask from a 7mm-08 really.

 

[sndmn11]

3250 is fast no doubt. What was temp when you ran your tests?

I did some testing this morning with 145gr LRX and Big Game and walked away pretty shocked. Was at about 2910 with 47.6gr. I tested up to 48.4gr and speed decreased to about 2890 at the top end powder charge. Temp was 47F.

How long is that barrel? The 145LRX/Staball load I have for @KickinNDishin 's 20" vanguard averages 2925ish

 

[Pabst]

How long is that barrel? The 145LRX/Staball load I have for @KickinNDishin 's 20" vanguard averages 2925ish

22" Douglas. Velocity has been pretty consistently faster than what load data has suggested.

I was hoping for a node somewhere between 2800-2850 with the 145 LRX but it looks like I'll be around 2900.

 

[Newtosavage]

22" Douglas. Velocity has been pretty consistently faster than what load data has suggested.

I was hoping for a node somewhere between 2800-2850 with the 145 LRX but it looks like I'll be around 2900.

That is VERY fast. My Shaw 20" is fast too. Consistently 50 fps. over published data for whatever reason. I'm not complaining mind you. Every other 20" barrel I've ever had was 50-75 fps. behind published data.

 

[35WhelenAI]

Velocity = pressure, do factory loads clock the same amount over their rated velocities in those fast barrels?

 

[Newtosavage]

Velocity = pressure, do factory loads clock the same amount over their rated velocities in those fast barrels?

Valid question. Guess I'd have to fork over the $ for factory ammo to find out. Or, use the same $ to buy another 100 bullets. LOL

 

[Newtosavage]

One thing I've noticed about these 120 TTSX's is that for every 3-shot group, I get two touching (or nearly) and one "flier" 3/4-1" out. Every. Single. Time. Groups are never that nice round group I get with Interlocks or GMX or other bullets. Always 2+1.

So far anyway, I can't say the 120 TTSX's are inaccurate but I also can't say they are real accurate for me, compared to others bullets.

 

[35WhelenAI]

Really interesting pattern that you're getting exactly one out of every three bullets as a flier. Is there any pattern to which shot is the flier?

 

[Newtosavage]

Really interesting pattern that you're getting exactly one out of every three bullets as a flier. Is there any pattern to which shot is the flier?

Good question but none that I can see so far. I let my barrel cool between shots so there shouldn't be much difference from one shot to the next. My other 7mm-08 did this with the 120 TTSX's as well. It's been a consistent pattern I've seen with that particular bullet since I started working with them.

 

[Newtosavage]

Culling whitetail does and yesterday evening I had quite a long shot (only one I had) with the 7mm-08/120 TTSX combo. 310 yards according to my rangefinder. Held the first ballistic mark tight behind the shoulder and let it rip. Deer hunched up and made it 20 yards before dropping dead. Perfect point of impact and the exit hole was about the size of a quarter, right behind the far elbow joint. Don't have the bullet to show but I couldn't ask for better performance. One thing I love about these monos is there is very little bloodshot meat.

According to the Hornady ballistics calculator, with the MV and yesterday's weather and altitude factored in, that bullet should have been traveling about 2250 fps.

 

[35WhelenAI]

Great work! 200TTSX from my 35 Whelen AI is a terror on Elk and mule deer, haven't recovered one yet but internal damage is impressive. The recovered X-bullets from elk I have are the original X style. The expanded petal tips are bent in a way which indicates the bullet spin from rifling is a force internally with respect to contributing to tissue damage. I think of it a a propeller cutting through the water and causing turbulence from the outward slinging of water vs a spinning flat surface with less bite, like a traditional mushroom. Expansion videos for the TTSX show distinct patterns to the outward force exerted compared to a traditional mushroom in slow-mo.

And yes, less meat damage by far vs most other styles of bullets, especially traditional cup and core bullets. I don't need to lighten my load on the haul out from blowing up meat if the shot doesn't quite make it between the ribs. But those kind of hits make for great pics of internal damage with many bullets.

 

[Newtosavage]

Great work! 200TTSX from my 35 Whelen AI is a terror on Elk and mule deer, haven't recovered one yet but internal damage is impressive. The recovered X-bullets from elk I have are the original X style. The expanded petal tips are bent in a way which indicates the bullet spin from rifling is a force internally with respect to contributing to tissue damage. I think of it a a propeller cutting through the water and causing turbulence from the outward slinging of water vs a spinning flat surface with less bite, like a traditional mushroom. Expansion videos for the TTSX show distinct patterns to the outward force exerted compared to a traditional mushroom in slow-mo.

And yes, less meat damage by far vs most other styles of bullets, especially traditional cup and core bullets. I don't need to lighten my load on the haul out from blowing up meat if the shot doesn't quite make it between the ribs. But those kind of hits make for great pics of internal damage with many bullets.

I'm sold on these monos if for no reason besides the lack of bloodshot meat. The last six deer I've shot have all been with mono's (2 with Hammers, 3 with TTSX and 1 with LRX) and they have been some of the cleanest quartering jobs I've ever had. I'm a meat hunter and we eat this stuff so that's very important to me. The combination of accuracy and very little meat damage makes these bullets a real winner IMO.

 

[35WhelenAI]

^^^Absolutely!^^^

 

[Brook.Trout]

I shoot 120 ttsx out of my 708 BLR and they have always performed great. Shot a couple moose out to 300 yards and deer out to 400. Never had a shot at an elk, hopefully one day..

 

[wyosam]

Yea, I think I could get to 3K but 3100, no way...

Was a 7-08 Ackley getting that I believe. Don’t know what that Ackley isn’t more popular, it’s a good one. I’ve got a couple of them. My 20” tikka gets almost 3300 with the 119 absolute hammer, 3100ish with the 120 hammer hunter.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Newtosavage]

Was a 7-08 Ackley getting that I believe. Don’t know what that Ackley isn’t more popular, it’s a good one. I’ve got a couple of them. My 20” tikka gets almost 3300 with the 119 absolute hammer, 3100ish with the 120 hammer hunter.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I figured out how to get 3100 with the TTSX's out of my 20" 7mm-08. Just use CFE 223. LOL Easy. Actually, 3150 is pretty easy with a little room to spare.