Anyone loading the Barnes TTSX in 6.5 Grendel?

[NapalmCheese]

I loaded the 100gr TTSX with 8208XBR in increments. I don't have the info with me right now but I want to say I went up to 30.6gr. Its a compressed load and I started to see pressure signs, so be careful. I got 2806 fps from an 18" Satern barrel. I was very happy with the velocity, but my precision degraded as I increased charge. It went from something like 0.75" to 1.25" from bottom to top of charge scale.

I am going to do a new ladder and retest. I had a lot of muzzle braked rifles near my that day and was flinching some. I also will scrub the bore big time before. I didn't clean it and went from amax rounds directly to the TTSX. I knew that was a bad idea, but was in a hurry.

The Barnes manual lists 29.5 as max so yeah, approach with caution. That's good velocity from that 18 inch barrel. At 29.5 Barnes lists 2855 fps from a 24 inch barrel in their manual. I'll be working up some loads for a 16 inch barrel and if I can get 2600 fps muzzle velocity I think it'd be pretty okay with shots inside of 200 yards (not optimal, but okay). Otherwise that rifle is mostly going to see SSTs and AMaxs and may never see a shot on game anyway.

Regarding scrubbing the bore, yes, I've found that it makes quite the difference. I don't know if the same would hold true switching from swift bullets (pure copper jacket) to barnes, or switching from ballistic tips to e-tips (gilding metal). In my experience the switch from standard gilding metal jacketed bullets to e-tips went just fine, but switching from gilding metal jacketed to pure copper required cleaning and de-coppering the bore for the best performance.

[MongooseV8]

Yes, pushing them fast with a decent jump gives me great accuracy with Barnes TTSX. And a clean bore has been crucial in a few of my barrels. I usually have to shoot a handful of fowlers before my lead free groups settle down after a good scrub.

Also most TTSX bullets need a minimum of 2100 fps at the target to fully expand. However I have been told a few times now that Barnes designed the lighter 6.5 bullet for the Grendel and it will expand at lower speeds as well. Might be a good idea to give then a call to verify.

[BillyGoatCrawler]

Mongoose -- I have seen on another forum that someone called and barnes said the 100 gr 6.5mm needs 1800fps to expand properly.

I'm going to try the ladder again with a clean bore, about 6-7 foulers, and then run my ladder. I'm also going to use my Hornady brass instead of my lapua since the lead free stuff will be used for hunting and chance of losing brass is higher.

[MongooseV8]

Yeah losing a piece of Lapua brass stings lol.

[2nd amendment believer]

I just read this. I have been having trouble getting sub MOA from E-Tips, though my AA 24" Overwatch shoots sub MOA with AMAX, and SMK consistently. I was trying to match that Precission Firearms load of Lapua Brass and E-Tips, but after reading this, I am thinking otherwise. Hornady brass won't hurt as much as you say, but I have a brass catcher anyway. I do't like losing anything! I have never heard of the scrub the barrel when switching over to gilding metal. That is the only thing I haven't tried. I tried laddering the loads, and also with the COL to no avail. Now I have to go start over after scrubbing. Wish I had read this before I started this process!