Originally Posted by
Bruce Cartwright
WDR:
I have attempted to develop a load using the Barnes 168 TTSX bullet for an professionally accurized Winchester Model 70. Despite changing powders (IMR 4831, RL-19, and IMR 4350), changing primers (Winchester, Federal), changing cases (Winchester and Remington) and doing all the things I normally do (full length sizing, trimming cases, deburring flash holes, varying seating depths etc.) to produce accurate ammunition, I could never get the Barnes 168 grain TTSX to shoot anywhere close to a minute of angle. My rifle reliably shoots Nosler and other bullets into sub minute of angle groups. I did what Barnes suggested by deep cleaning all of the copper out of the bore. It helped but not enough to satisfy me. I am a big fan of Barnes bullets, but I concluded that in this instance, in this rifle with the components mentioned, that my rifle didn't "like" the Barnes bullet. I am in the process of developing loads with other bullets. This isn't a knock against Barnes, just a realization that they don't work in my rifle.
Hope that helps.
Bruce