Range Report 150 or 168 grains TTSX in 308Win 18,5inch 1:11 twist

[Kruffe]

Hi

I am considering buying some Barnes Vor-TX TTSX 150 or 168 grains for my Tikka M595, 308Win, 1:11 twist, cut down to 18.5 inch.

I will be using it for medium/african plains game/white tale/hogs/red deer etc.

Should I buy 150 or 168 grains? I am wondering if the 168 will be to heavy in my cut down barrel, since TTSX prefers high fps (I've been told) and I guess I will have more fps with the 150. So perhaps the 150 is the better choice for my rifle? Or should I buy some standard lead hunting ammo instead of TTSX for my rifle?

I appreciate any input! Thanks!

 

[TheJ]

What range(s) do you plan to take shots at?

 

[Kruffe]

I do not think, I will go beyond 200 yards... would like to be able to safely shoot out to 300 yards if needed. What will my max ranges be? As far as I can understand, then the TTSX need at least 2000 fps when hitting the target in order to open up/mushroom...otherwise it will perform as a FMJ....

 

[Pusher591]

150 would be recommendation. TTSX are great projectiles

 

[TheJ]

Not necessarily, it will still open up some to roughly 1600 or so, but as you go down, it will open less and less.

However... looking at the ballistics, either should be good to go even from your 18.5 at 300 yards.

Now, the age old question on hunting rounds.... what do you want the bullet to do for your possible shot scenario. If it were me, I'd want that 168 if I thought there was a chance I might be popping a buck through the shoulder on a cornering shot, from something like dense cover and limited shooting opportunities.. If I was confident I could get a broadside double-lung, I'd rather have the 150 any day (and probably even their 130 or 110 over that).

I'll leave you with this:
The hotter I've loaded up TTSX, the better it has performed for me on medium game (whitetail mostly). A 7mm RM and a 300WM with 110s each (loaded to ~3600fps and ~3900fps IIRC) respectively never failed to produce immediate crumpling and death, through over a dozen, dozen and a half kills. That bullet gets super nasty as you run it hot. Haven't done it in a few years, switched to a 257wby for medium game, but those 110s got me along when I only had bigger magnums for hunting use with borderline unbelievable terminal ballistics.

All and all considered, I think I'd stick 150 max, and seriously consider the 130s and 110s for the lighter game.

 

[STLSteve86]

150 will be plenty. I've killed 2 deer with in 15 min apart with barns factory 168ttsx ammunition. Both about 100 yards out. Dropped them in there tracks. Awesome bullets


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[Grand]

I'd use 130g or 150g TTSX from a .308. Monolithic bullets need velocity to expand.