168 gr ttsx or 150 gr tsx in 308 win and 30-06?

[medvedyt]

hello,

was wondering what are you thoughts on those 2 bullets in those calibers?

up to moose as bison need an heavier bullet,

thanks a lot.

 

[yeti14]

I shoot 168s in 30-06 with good results. I have not tried 150s. You have to keep the speed up on the those monos to get good expansion. Limits you to about 300 in yards.

 

[sndmn11]

The 168 has a lower "expansion velocity" per Barnes.

I shot an elk at 400yds last year with the 168 and it killed the elk but there was zero blood and tiny holes. I think I was 100yds too far, and my 30-06 is at 2990fps muzzle velocity.

The animals that I've shot 200yds and in had a lot of damage.

 

[rideold]

I'm a big fan of the 168 gr TTSX in my 30-06. Good speed and range out to 300. That's all I need.. I see no reason to go lighter or heavier

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Either can work for the 300-06, for my 308, I only load the 150s if I'm going with barnes.

 

[A382DWDZQ]

168 & 180 TTSX are 1500fps minimum impact velocity. I think the 150 TTSX is 1800fps as are the 165 and 130. WKRs with more experience than I say to keep it above 2000. I know .277 130TTSX works fine on moose.

*EDIT 7/10/2025* - my latest info is that for .308, the 150 TSX is 1500fps, and the 150 TTSX is 2000fps.

 

[medvedyt]

168 & 180 TTSX are 1500fps minimum impact velocity. I think the 150 TTSX is 1800fps as are the 165 and 130. WKRs with more experience than I say to keep it above 2000. I know .277 130TTSX works fine on moose.

i do not know about the ttsx in 150 gr but the 150 tsx is 2000 fps which will limit the use even in the 308 ...
all of that doesnt make an easy decision.

 

[chizelhead]

From Barnes.

“ The 0.308" 165gr TTSX is a shorter ogive than the 0.308" 168gr TTSX. We offer both for different cartridges to work within SAAMI COAL limits. The 308 168gr works well in the 308 WIN and 30-06 which allow more exposed bullet to be seated out further. The 165gr was designed for cartridges more like the 300 WIN MAG which require a shorter ogive to work within SAAMI limits.
When handloading, you can use either in a 300 WIN MAG just realize with the 168/175gr that you will need to seat it out a little further that the SAAMI max COAL and check proper fit and function in your particular firearm.
They all function to similar velocities. The 168gr and 175gr LRX will open up at a lower velocity (around 1600 ft/s) than the 165gr (around 1800 ft/s). For best performance we recommend keeping impact velocity a few hundred feet above this minimum.
Thanks
Greggory Sloan | Ballistics Lab Supervisor
Barnes Bullets, LLC”

The rule of thumb appear to be add 200 fps to the minimum. Again, this is others not my personal experience.

 

[Big_wals]

No experience with the 150 or 168, but 130 ttsx work very well on elk out of my 30-06.

 

[Schism]

I have had good results with Barnes ttsx bullets. I use 150 ttsx in my 308. The moose in my avatar was shot with 168 ttsx from my 30-06.