Looking to re-create Barnes VOR-TX 30-06 180gr factory ammo

[xbr897]

I really didn't expect it to work this well, but my R8 seems to love the Barnes 30-06 factory loaded 180gr TTSX ammo. Shot a ragged hole 3 shot group at 100 and stayed under 1.5" at 200 even with a flinch on my part. I have about 30 factory rounds left so I want to work on re-creating this load, or making a better one, with the 180 TTSX.

Any ideas what powder (& charge weight) is closest to the factory load?

Barnes 30-06 load data calls out Superformance as their recommended powder for 180gr TTSX. They also have info for IMR 4064, which if I ran in to sourcing problems with the 180gr TTSX I could use the 4064 for 168gr TTSX as well.

I unfortunately have neither of those powders. I can start the hunt for them if its advisable though. I do have a lot of Staball 6.5 & H4350 on hand. Neither are listed for 180gr though in Barnes data. Any chance of using them?

I see threads mentioning IMR 4350 for 180s but can't find any load data for it in 30-06 with 180gr TTSX

 

[Areaonereal]

55 to 56 gr IMR 4350 max., but start at 53.5 to 54 grains. 56 gr on the 168 gr TTSX is a comfortable load in my rifle at 2810 FPS. I have shot 55 gr with the 180 at 2710 fps but accuracy was better with the 168 gr. Speed is advantage to the Barnes to open up and do what it was designed to do.

 

[shootist~]

I really didn't expect it to work this well, but my R8 seems to love the Barnes 30-06 factory loaded 180gr TTSX ammo. Shot a ragged hole 3 shot group at 100 and stayed under 1.5" at 200 even with a flinch on my part. I have about 30 factory rounds left so I want to work on re-creating this load, or making a better one, with the 180 TTSX.

Any ideas what powder (& charge weight) is closest to the factory load?

Barnes 30-06 load data calls out Superformance as their recommended powder for 180gr TTSX. They also have info for IMR 4064, which if I ran in to sourcing problems with the 180gr TTSX I could use the 4064 for 168gr TTSX as well.

I unfortunately have neither of those powders. I can start the hunt for them if its advisable though. I do have a lot of Staball 6.5 & H4350 on hand. Neither are listed for 180gr though in Barnes data. Any chance of using them?

I see threads mentioning IMR 4350 for 180s but can't find any load data for it in 30-06 with 180gr TTSX

I use H4350 for the 180 Gr Swift A-Frame and also have that load input into Quickload. As an important side note - I get 50 fps more Actual velocity with my reload than QL projects. (2,753 fps Vs 2,703 in a 22" Tikka T3X).

The Barnes 180 is going to be a longer bullet and H4350 will be a more compressed load Vs my load, but H4350 "should" work - albeit with about 2.3 grains less powder that I use for the 180 A-Frame.

QL shows near max pressure at about 54 grains of H4350 with the 180 TTSX - *IF* at the same COL as my A-Frames. What is the COL of your factory 30-06 180 Gr Barnes TTSX? I can plug that into Quickload and see what comes out.

[FWIW, due to Barnes bullets liking more velocity to work well, I think the 168 gr TTSX would be worth looking at.]

 

[TOBY458]

I have been shooting Barnes Vortex Factory loads in my 416 Rem Mag and I was pleasantly surprised at how accurate it is. Very consistent across the chronograph as well. Also velocity is as advertised.
I would think the Barnes manual will have a load that duplicates their factory loads. I have used RL19 in the past with good results. It's a compressed load, but will probably be very accurate.

 

[mdwest]

Barnes 30-06 load data calls out Superformance as their recommended powder for 180gr TTSX. They also have info for IMR 4064, which if I ran in to sourcing problems with the 180gr TTSX I could use the 4064 for 168gr TTSX

I used 4064 to replicate the VOR-TX168gr .308 round… I’m getting the same accuracy(roughly .75 moa from my rifle) and same velocity…

Wasn’t hard to do honestly.. using Remington brass and federal primers..

Just took 10x animals in South Africa last week using that round.. and have taken probably another 15 African animals and countless deer and hogs with it in the US…

I’m a firm believer in the 168gr ttsx at factory VORTX velocity..

 

[jwp475]

I shoot Winchester cases Federal 210 primers, 57.5 grains of H-4350 in my 30-06 excellent accuracy and velocity

 

[meigsbucks]

Work up to it, but 55gr of IMR-4350, in Remington brass with CCI-200 primers, gives me the best accuracy. Velocity is in line with factory velocity.
I recently tried H Hybrid 100V. It gave about 50fps higher velocity but not quite as accurate.

 

[baxterb]

Might try Ramshot big game.

 

[jwp475]

Might try Ramshot big game.

Or Ramshot Hunter

 

[xbr897]

For my comfort level, I won't be shooting past about 350-400 yards with the 30-06. Barnes calls out 1800fps min for expansion on the 180gr and shows the 30-06 180gr factory load still over that at 500 yards.

From muzzle to 500 yards (in 100 yd increments) per Barnes factory load data, the 168 gr has fps advantage of 100, 90, 81, 73, 66, and 57 over the 180gr. At 400 yards the 168 is at 2116fps and the 180 is 2050. My rifle may be different actual speeds and I'll check with my chrono, but those differences per Barnes don't seem to have 180s really 'worse' than 168s for expansion and the distances I'll be shooting.

My other thinking in staying with the 180s is that I already know they can shoot very well in my rifle. When I was looking around a few months ago I couldn't find any 168s anywhere either loaded or just as components. I can now source the 168 components but still don't know yet if my rifle will like them as well.