300WM Barnes TTSX 150g or 180g?

[deerhunter628]

Barnes says they made the 165 grain for the 300 win mag

 

[ndbwhunter]

If you end up sticking with the 180 ttsx let me know. I've done tons of testing with my 300WM and found some excellent loads with better than average SD/ES.

 

[UTJL]

Once I use up my current stock of 180 gr TTSX I will be going to accubonds. Ive recovered several and they have shed their petals at the entrance and penciled through with a bore size hunk of copper. I dont think thats ideal even though I have never lost an animal I've hit with one.

For the record I believe every bullet will fail if used enough.

I shot a bull elk with 180 grain accubonds out of a 300 jarret which is almost identical to a 300 RUM. The shots were all under 100 yards and it took 3 rounds to put him down. Each of the rounds completely fragmented less than 6” into the animal. He died but it would’ve been a lot faster with sufficient penetration. I talked to Nosler afterwards and they stated the issue was likely the high velocity (3300 fps at the muzzle) coupled with a thick hide and bones. The perfect bullet for every situation doesn’t exist but I thought I’d share my experience.

 

[Laelkhunter]

It’s good to hear actual success and application with 168 ttsx. I know that the 168 is about as good as you can get in 30-06 but have always wondered how it would do in 300 win mag so thanks for that feedback.

Reread his reply. You are saying168 TTSX in your reply and he is saying 165. Two different bullets. The 168 is designed to open at a lower velocity. I use them in my 30/06 with DRT results.
Read reply #2 where MeatMissle says the 168 expands at a lower velocity. He uses them in his 300 Wby. 168 is the perfect all-use bullet between the 150 and the 180 grain in the 30 caliber (In my opinion).

 

[Seamaster]

When I use the mono-metal bullets with a 300 WM I like the 165 grain TTSX the best. I don't believe that there is much of a benefit to use the longer 180 grain mono. For a 180 grain pill I like the Nosler AccuBond better. I have used both on larger game (elk, kudu, etc.) with no complaints.

I have used the 168 TTSX extensively in a 30-06 for Botswana and Namibia plains game with no complaints. The 165 takes a bit more velocity for expansion than the 168, so the 168 seems well suited for a 30-06.

 

[Smtn10pt]

For the record I believe every bullet will fail if used enough.

I shot a bull elk with 180 grain accubonds out of a 300 jarret which is almost identical to a 300 RUM. The shots were all under 100 yards and it took 3 rounds to put him down. Each of the rounds completely fragmented less than 6” into the animal. He died but it would’ve been a lot faster with sufficient penetration. I talked to Nosler afterwards and they stated the issue was likely the high velocity (3300 fps at the muzzle) coupled with a thick hide and bones. The perfect bullet for every situation doesn’t exist but I thought I’d share my experience.

Oh man i could have gone without reading that! Thanks for sharing your experience with the Accubonds. I've seen them work quite well out of my buddies 300 WSM, thats what I was leaning towards trying them.

 

[K1United]

Reread his reply. He said the 165 TTSX, you say 168 TTSX. Two different bullets. The 168 is designed to open at a lower velocity. I use them in my 30/06 with DRT results.
Read reply #2 where MeatMissle says the 168 expand at a lower velocity. He uses them in his 300 Wby. 168 is the perfect all-use bullet between the 150 and the 180 grain in the 30 caliber (In my opinion).

My mistake/typo, I meant 165 for 300 WM and 168 for 30-06.

However, I wanted to ask in what way are they different? I’ve never compared side by side or done the research but seemingly they’re both .30 cal and the weight is very close.

 

[Blackdog317]

Here is some info on the 165 & 168 TTSX directly from customer service at Barnes. FYI, it mentions the 175 LRX and 300 WSM (which I am interested in for a semi-custom project), but the info was very interesting and helped me understand their goals for the different bullets.

"Both the 300 Win Mag and 300 WSM were designed to shoot in a standard length or short length action; respectively. With the limits SAAMI places on those two’s COAL the 165 gr was designed to fit with those parameters. In addition to the COAL we felt the velocities of that bullet, being higher from both magnums would perform better if it had a higher, lower impact velocity of 1800 fps. The 168, TSX and TTSX, was designed more for the 308 Win and 30-06 velocities and thus has a 1500 fps minimum impact velocity. With that said, many many, to include myself, will shoot the 168 gr in either of the magnums since we reloaders are not constrained by SAAMI “and” we want the lower impact velocity for more reliable expansion at farther hunting distances; ie., long range hunting. The 175 LRX is the lightest of our 308 caliber LRX choices and gives a higher BC and lower impact velocity of 1600 fps for those hunters who want a heavier bullet and higher BC. “ALL” excellent bullets which can sometimes cross back and forth within the parameters given."

 

[A-Brakke]

Looked around a little last night but couldnt find any notes on chrono results. I know im using 87 gr of RE-22 powder, i want to say it was around 3200 fps at the muzzle, but not 100% on that. Shots were all under 200 yards.

Yeah I dont know what to say….your velocity is right up where it should be and the yardage of shot should also be perfect. Only thing I can reference would be what I’ve been told and that would be at closer range shots aim for the shoulder. But again than you lose meat….you got my stumped.

 

[UTJL]

Oh man i could have gone without reading that! Thanks for sharing your experience with the Accubonds. I've seen them work quite well out of my buddies 300 WSM, thats what I was leaning towards trying them.

I really think it was due to the high velocity. I’ve heard/read dozens of reviews where they performed well especially at longer ranges or with a bit slower cartridges. That said, I think they’d be an amazing bullet with your 300 RUM for anything smaller than an elk.

If you use them, I’d love to hear how they worked. It could be I just had a “bad batch”.

 

[Southern Boy]

Put it in the boiler room and it won’t matter. Shoot the one that is most accurate snd you have confidence in. That’s all that matters.

You nailed it. I couldn't agree more.

 

[Macintosh]

photo is 2 examples of 168gr ttsx from factory barnes 30-06. Been shooting ttsx in 7mm08 and 30 06 for several years, these are the only two I've recovered. Not your 300 winmag, but maybe helpful. The darker colored one was from a bull elk at about 50 yards--quite close, so perhaps the equivalent velocity of your win mag at 200-ish yards. It passed through the skin on the off side armpit and lodged agsint the off-side elbow, shed one petal along the way. The shinier one is same ammo from a deer at a bit over 100 yards--it was a finishing shot after the deer was down from sternum out spine, it was barely protruding from the skin above the spine and lost 3 petals.

 

[BucksNDucks]

Meh, I’d say go heavier instead of lighter lol. 212 Eld or 215 Berger. If hunting deer, wait for broadside and hit lungs and not shoulder.

I agree
I’m 210 Berger VLD and pushing 3255 300 RUM Reload with N570, my elk load

Deer 280AI 160 AB

 

[lowpressure]

shot my colorado bull this year at 406 with the 180 ttsx. i was very happy with the way they held together. recovered the two bullets. Ill try and take a picture of them to post.

 

[VO2Max]

No mention of your twist rate(?) Also, no mention that one 300WM with a 1:9 twist may shoot a 165gr well while another shoots a 200 or a 212gr better. For me, choose the bullet that you would like to try, order a dozen of them, load them up with spec'd loads and see how they fly. Choose the one that flies the best, most consistently and roll with it. Best of luck!

-Erik