With Club X™ and Barnes’ Copper Club™
Handloading for Tactical Rifles
Do you handload for tactical rifles? If so, tell us about it. For what firearm(s) do you handload, for what application(s), and what bullet(s) would you like to see made available? Check out what Barnes is doing for YOU.
*NOTE: FOR TECHNICAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE EMAIL:
email@barnesbullets.com
I handload for many rifles. Some of which are tactical. Specifically, the Barrett REC7 in 6.8SPC. I know SSA currently has a load which consists of a 85 grain TSX. Is this bullet currently available for purchase? If so, I would like to order about 500. Please let me know at (623) 533-0903 or email: invst4u@cox.net
Thank you,
Johnny Burris
My rifle is heavy barrel 70 action in a HS stock.
The barrel is free floating so that it’s unique harmonics dictate my handloads.
My current load is a Siearra 200gr HPBT tailored to my rifles chamber.
The rifle ammo combo is very capable of 1/2 grouping at 100yds from a good rest.
I use sandbags or a pack for the rest and not a bipod.
Also, because of my degree in health and phys.ed., I have a group of execises to improve concentration, trigger squeeze etc..
The FN rifles, based on the 70 action, are as accurate as any 700 I have owned or fired.
Tom Bender
I load over 50 Caliders and 4 Shotshell Gauges. I am most interested now in Data for the AR-15 in 6.5 Grendel using TSX and Long Distance Bullets. I may add another Upper to my AR-10 in 260 Rem for the same bullets.
I load 223 and 204 Ruger for the AR-15 and 308 for the AR-10 and M1A.
Barrel lengths from 18″ to 24″.
Claude
I’ve been loading small calibers (223 VG shoots great out of AR’s)for years now and just started building a 338 RUM and I am looking for a very high B.C.(.760+) bullet that has severe knock down power at very long ranges you know the perfect bullet. Heavy bullets are good because they are predictable but most match grade stuff you shouldn’t hunt with. Ideally a 300g SMK that acted like your tsx would give everyone goose bumps.
I reload for two black rifles. The first is a DPMS Sportical .223. It really likes the 62 grain TSXs. The second is a DPMS 300 SAUM. I am currently working up loads for it using the 150 grain TTSXs, and have very high hopes for an accurate hunting load from it.
I’d like to see 6.5 TSX and/or M/LE bullets around 95-110gr for use in 6.5 Grendel AR-15 platforms along with 90-100gr varmint Grenades for the same rifles.
I currently own two 300 win mags. One is a rather new Rem 700 in the XCR model and the other is the rem 700 with the 5-R rifling. My friend owns a 300 win mag in the Rem 700 LTR. We both love shooting the long shots but I want mine more for hunting and his is more for tactical purposes. He shoots a 208 grain A-max for the high ballistic coefficient and the rapid dissentigration. He has achieved excellent groups.
I loaded up the largest boat tail barnes had for 30 cal (180) in the TTSX and used 70gr of RL 22 and my groups were great out of the 700 and phenomenal out of the 5-R.
I am considering stepping up to a bigger rifle and my friend and I agreed that if there was a better bullet selection, the 375 caliber would be awesome. Don’t really want to go to the .338 caliber, but barnes doesn’t make a boat tail for the 375. I would like to see one. i doubt there is much of a demand, but i would order a bunch. Not sure if achievable, but a bc of .7 or so would be awesome. thanks for the awesome bullets!
would like to see a heavier 6.5 (264) TSX and also a M/LE of 140gr. In general, your 6.5 offerings are a bit limited. 6.5’s ROCK !
Your current 70 grain .224 bullets are excellent! I use them on whitetail deer here in MN, where as of this year .22 centerfires are legal for large game.
I would like to see a couple more .224 offerings. Specifically, I would like to see a tipped TSX bullet in the 70 grain weight. Also, some sort of bulk pack would be much appreciated. I load/shoot Barnes as much as possible, but sometimes it’s tough to justify the cost when other companies offer a price break for those of us that load 1000’s of rounds.
-dan
My 25 year gun/caliber pilgrimage ended with the Barnes TSX and the 270 WSM. I was sick of the recoil and muzzle blast of my excellent 300 and 340 magnums. I still wanted 400-500 effective big game range since I shoot across deep canyons, but bullet weight had to be lower to reduce recoil. I was shooting Noslers in the big magnums and losing 30% of the bullet to fragmentation so I figured if I could retain almost 100%, I should be able to shoot a 270 caliber 140 grain with similar results. Frontal area is down, but weight retention is the same as the old 180 grain 30 caliber that had served me so well. I also purchased a 338 Federal caliber Sako stainless/synthetic this year and chose some older Barnes X 185 grains for it. Sighted in at 50 yards for brush work, I called in a 5 1/2′ boar black bear and put one through his shoulders, including complete penetration of the off-side shoulder bone. The bullet broke two of the four front petals off, going through the shoulder bone I’m guessing, but I was shocked to recover a nearly complete bullet under the skin on the far side. I have never seen a bullet hold together like this. I have no doubts that if I can place the bullet correctly, it will penetrate the maximum distance possible. I will never blow up a deer again with one of the other “hunting” bullets. Barnes nailed it, and I’m done looking.
I have loaded 6.5mm TTSX 120 Grain in my AR-15 Grendel. I am doing well with them so far. I still have more of the Barnes to load and test. I was interested in knowing if something in 123-130 would be coming out in a TTSX with a boat-tail with a higher BC. I stay within 400 yards most of the time, but I am going to start working my way out to 1000 yards. I may consider other bullets depending on how testing goes as I work beyond 400 yards. Control groups are with Wolf Gold ammo(cheaper than buying empty brass).