One thing to consider with Barnes is the minimum velocity for expected good performance, and that varies, sometimes, between their factory loads and component bullets for handloads. For example, I use the ttsx 150 grain bullets in my 20” 308, and the component bullets in 308 150 are different than the factory loaded bullets. The factory loaded bullets supposedly expand down to 1500 fps, while the component bullets require 300-400 more fps. I recently found this out via a phone call to Barnes. I went out and bought a box of the factory ammo and sure enough the bullets used are very and clearly different in shape from the components 150’s I’ve been using for handloads. I was told they don’t sell the lower fps expanding 150’s as components to handloaders because someone will likely use them in a 30-06 or 300WM and shoot them at too high of a velocity. For factory ammo they can custom tune the bullets for a specific cartridge. I don’t know how often that is done across the range of their ammo. It would be good to know and I wish they’d publish that info.
Nevertheless, I’ve found the Barnes folks to be very informative and helpful if you call them. I’ve done this many times. My big conclusion from this last call is to assume nothing and check with the bullet manuafactures about specific questions. I,e., it never occurred to me that the 150 grain bullets would be different. I’d recommend the OP give Barnes a call and ask about 130 vs 150 min velocity, and whether that is the same for factory ammo vs handloads.
