Barnes Reloading data

[Pygmy]

I want to work up a load for my .280 Rem featuring the Barnes 140 TTSX bullet.

I don't have a Barnes manual.

My pet load is currently a 140 Nosler BT with 59.5 grains of RL-19.  My plan is to drop back a few grains  and work up cautiously with the Barnes bullet, but I would be interested in any published data on this  bullet in the .280, if anyone has any info to share.

[fasteddie]

This is the only .280 Barnes load i could find . Drop a few grains to start . I don't know if the TSX is the same as the TTSX or not .

http://gunloads.com/modules.php?name=Gunloads&cmd=Gunloads&did=654

[Pygmy]

Thanks, Eddie....The TSX and TTSX should be the same, because the bearing surfaces that contact the rifling are the same.

The only difference in the bullets is that the TTSX has a plastic tip to improve the BC and help the bullet begin to expand when it hits meat.

That is exactly the type of info I was looking for. I'll start a few grains below and work up to that level carefully..I was hoping for an APPX. 3000 FPS MV, which is what I get out of my Nosler BT load..

[covert]

Barnes has load data right on their website.  That's where I got the recipe for my .450 Marlin with the 250gr TSX FP.  ;D

http://www.barnesbullets.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/280RemingtonWeb.pdf

[Pygmy]

Thanks, Covert...I have it bookmarked...

I loaded up a few rounds for the .280 this afternoon..I'll report on the results.

I spent the afternoon at my loading bench.. Sometimes I'm just in the mood to fiddle around with my loading stuff..Along with putting together a few .280 rounds to try, I prepped a bunch of cases in 30-06 ( Lake City military ) and 7mm08..

As soon as my buddy who has a benchrest and 300 yard range gets the HAY off his range, I am looking forward to having a few range days involving the .280, my 30-06 M1 Garand, my 7mm08  and my new squirrel rifle, a NEA single shot in .17 mach II...

Is it just a co-incidence that GUN rhymes with FUN..??... ;D ....

[fasteddie]

All of my reloading for the past year has been for my oldest son .

My youngest son doesn't shoot enough and I told him to buy the powder , primers and bullets and I would make up some .270 rounds for him .

[Pygmy]

An update on my efforts to find a good load for the 140 Barnes TTSX for my .280 Rem.

I have carefully worked up to 59.0 of RL-19, with no obvious signs of high pressure.

58.0 gave me a 2 inch 3 shot group...With 59.0, the first 3 rounds went into one inch ( which is extremely good for my .280) but the 4th shot opened the group to 3 inches... Could have been operator error...

I think I will play around with 58 or 59 grains and fiddle with the seating depth..I think I am dialing it in.

My .280 is not a tack driver...Day in and day out with its best loads I am happy with a 1.5" 3 shot group.. However, I consider that good accuracy for a big game rifle.. It ain't a varmint rig, but within 400 yards, everything I shoot at seems to die, as long as I do things right.

[Lawdwaz]

I'll bet the barrel on that 280 got a touch warm today?  Plenty of shade and some time between shots should make it doable though. 

Did you get a chance to run them over a chronograph?  If not, what does the book say, 2800fps or so?

[Pygmy]

I shot early from inside a nice shady shooting shack and let the barrel cool between shots. It was beginning to get hot by the time I quit, though.. ...It was nice to get home to my nice,cool insulated garage to clean the rifle.

I have not chronographed the load with the Barnes bullet  yet, but  with the same charge  of RL-19 and the 140 Nosler BT I was getting 3000 FPS.

[Pygmy]

It has been too hot to shoot the last few days...

I'm looking forward to fine tuning the 140 TTSX load, but I'm waiting until it cools down a tad.

[Lawdwaz]

It's too hot for most things lately!

Took the Mrs. out for a canoe ride this morning on the canal.  Twas hot!

[Pygmy]

I shot a few more groups with 59.0 RL-19 and they range from 1-2".. I'd like to reduce that to 1-1.5".  I'm not looking for sub MOA, because I know from experience my .280 is not a sub MOA rifle.

I've changed the seating depth to .050" off the lands, which Barnes suggests as a starting point. I'll report on the results.

Another factor that might be involved is the fact that I have not done a lot of shooting lately and I feel somewhat rusty...I think I'm beginng to settle in, and hopefully that will take some of the human error factor out of my load development.

[Pygmy]

I finally settled on a consistent load for my .280 with the barnes 140 TTSX...

For some reason I could not get a consistent load with RL-19.

I tried RL-22 and things came together.

My current load is 58.0 of RL-22 with the 140 Barnes TTSX. It groups around an inch at 100, which is STELLAR for my M70 .280... I have not graphed it yet, but I expect velocity at around 2900 FPS or a bit more. My rifle shoots 140 Nosler ballistic tips with 59.5 of RL-19 at a little over 3000 FPS..

If you use this load, please take the usual precautions and start a few grains low and work up. This load shows no pressure signs IN MY RIFLE, but I suspect it is close to max, because if I go higher, I start to see some slight cratering on the primers.

[Lawdwaz]

I finally settled on a consistent load for my .280 with the barnes 140 TTSX...

For some reason I could not get a consistent load with RL-19.

I tried RL-22 and things came together.

My current load is 58.0 of RL-22 with the 140 Barnes TTSX. It groups around an inch at 100, which is STELLAR for my M70 .280... I have not graphed it yet, but I expect velocity at around 2900 FPS or a bit more. My rifle shoots 140 Nosler ballistic tips with 59.5 of RL-19 at a little over 3000 FPS..

If you use this load, please take the usual precautions and start a few grains low and work up. This load shows no pressure signs IN MY RIFLE, but I suspect it is close to max, because if I go higher, I start to see some slight cratering on the primers.

If you want to borrow my CED chronograph, I'll be passing through your neck of the woods pretty soon. I don't anticipate needing it back for a while.

[Lawdwaz]

I just settled on a load for my 243, 80 grain Barnes TTSX with 46 grains of IMR 4350, chrono'd at 3425fps.

Accuarcy is good, a shade under an inch. I shoot probably 30 loads while messing with seating depth and ended up at 0.100 off lands. (almost a mile!)

[Pygmy]

Larry...That sounds like a smoker of a load for your .243.

Since you are shooting a BARNES TTSX, you will get an exit hole with anything approaching good shot placement, but I wouldn't be surprised to learn that it is a " drop 'em in a pile" load, and not much tracking will be required.

What rifle/scope combo is your .243 ?

[David Waterman]

Thanks, Covert...I have it bookmarked...

I loaded up a few rounds for the .280 this afternoon..I'll report on the results.

I spent the afternoon at my loading bench.. Sometimes I'm just in the mood to fiddle around with my loading stuff..Along with putting together a few .280 rounds to try, I prepped a bunch of cases in 30-06 ( Lake City military ) and 7mm08..

As soon as my buddy who has a benchrest and 300 yard range gets the HAY off his range, I am looking forward to having a few range days involving the .280, my 30-06 M1 Garand, my 7mm08 and my new squirrel rifle, a NEA single shot in .17 mach II...

Is it just a co-incidence that GUN rhymes with FUN..??... ;D ....

[David Waterman]

You will fall in love with the Mach2.Got about 600 rnds.thru mine with about 1200 back up in case they quit makeing them.Hornady workes the best for me with CCI a close second.Midsouth has them on sale about once a month.Make sure you use the"0"ring trick--it will save a lot of aggravation.

[Pygmy]

David... I have about 800 rounds. A couple hundred Hornady, a 100 CCI and a 500 round brick of Eley. Everything has shot well so far in my rifle.

What is the "O" ring trick ? Never heard of it, but I'm new to the Mach II.

Are you shooting a NEA also ? My previous experience with a 17 was with the HMR in Savage 9317, but I found it a little too destructive for my taste, so when I got a good deal on the NEA, I sold the Savage, which was a fine shooting rifle..