175 Barnes LRX in 308 Win?

[Ringbill27]

Does 3040-3050 fps sound like the speed you've gotten good results with?

I’ve loaded my wife’s 308 w/ the 130ttsx to 3150fps with no pressure.

 

[BringBackThe80s]

The 175LRX has a min extension velocity of 1600fps where the 168TTSX is 1800fps. For the extra 8grs of bullet you at gain better expansion at slower speeds. I’d get the LRX a go.

That was my thought, as well. I've seen both 1500, 1600, and 1800 fps reported as Barnes's "unofficial" answer on minimum expansion velocity for the 168 TTSX. But the 175 LRX is always reported to open down to 1600 or 1500 fps.

So, higher B.C. + additional K.E. with the same or better expansion despite marginally lower velocity? Seemed like a pretty easy choice to me.

 

[Ringbill27]

That was my thought, as well. I've seen both 1500, 1600, and 1800 fps reported as Barnes's "unofficial" answer on minimum expansion velocity for the 168 TTSX. But the 175 LRX is always reported to open down to 1600 or 1500 fps.

So, higher B.C. + additional K.E. with the same or better expansion despite marginally lower velocity? Seemed like a pretty easy choice to me.

From what I’ve ready and been told the LRX line is design to expand reliability at longer ranges then the TSX or TTSX. No idea how faster the ol’ 308 will push them but I’d say the 175 should out range the 168gr expansion wise and with that larger BC.

 

[BringBackThe80s]

From what I’ve ready and been told the LRX line is design to expand reliability at longer ranges then the TSX or TTSX. No idea how faster the ol’ 308 will push them but I’d say the 175 should out range the 168gr expansion wise and with that larger BC.

I had always wondered why Barnes made a 168 TTSX boattail and also a 165 TTSX boattail at practically the same weight but a much lower B.C. In the last year or so I've read (again, not from Barnes directly) that the 168 used to be sold as the 168 LRX with the same expansion envelope as the 175 and other LRXs. Allegedly, the 168 was later moved over to the TTSX line without any changes to the design or materials, allowing it to open at the same speeds as the 175.

In my pressure tests, I obviously could not push the 175 as fast as the 168, but the higher B.C. and weight/speed ration results in less drift and more retained energy--and even higher velocity in the 175 by 300 or 400 yards.

 

[North of 60]

It is a bit disappointing that we do get some varied responses form Barnes on minimum velocities for expansion.

In my last phone call with the Bares tech guy about a month ago, i was told that if the 130s didn't do well in my short barrel .308, to try the 168s because the minimum velocity for the 168 grain bullet was 1700 fps (or 1900 to be safe).

And as many have said, the added 10% regardless is wise for expansion.

To the OP, inside of 200yds, either the 175 or 168 should do just fine on deer.

 

[Woodpecker]

30-06 with a Barnes 175 LRX. At 2935 fps DRT !

 

[Ringbill27]

30-06 with a Barnes 175 LRX. At 2935 fps DRT !

2935fps? What powder are you using to get that?
With the 168gr I’m 0.5gr under max with big game and only getting averaging 2735.

 

[sdupontjr]

Do you happen to know what velocity thos load is/was giving in the Tikkas?

I only had ~1/3 pound of Varget (a 2021 lot) when you suggested that load. When I saw how well it shot a couple weeks ago, I drove from the range to a gun shop and bought 2 lbs (a 2025 lot). Yesterday I chronoed 5 shots with each lot at 49.0 grains.
- The 2021 lot (which shot small and lined up exactly with GRT's powder model) averaged 3045 fps, with an ES of 21.
- The 2025 lot averaged 2961 fps, with an ES of 22.

GRT originally predicted a node right there at 49.0 grains going 3049 fps. After truing GRT to this new, slower lot, GRT says that node is at 3039 fps and that I'll need 50.3 grains of the 2025 Varget to hit that speed. (50.3 is 1.1 grains above Barnes's listed max, but that's based on a substantially shorter C.O.A.L.)

Does 3040-3050 fps sound like the speed you've gotten good results with?

I'm going to run an OCW from 2-3 intervals below to 2-3 intervals above the predicted velocity. But I'm curious if you know what velocity you're getting at that 49.0 gn.

I did not, but everything says it should be 3000+ with 49g of varget. I have about 3 lbs of it plus 3 lbs of 8208xbr also some TAC. Im actually sending my barrel off right now to Kampfeld Customs to get cut to 16.5", shouldered and bead blasted for suppressor. Ill get some numbers when it gets back with different powders to see. Getting this done.