Barnes .308 XBT Load Data?

[sac240]

Hi All,

I recently came across a box of 180gr Barnes XBT's, and was wondering if anyone had any experience with them. I haven't had much luck finding any load data from the manufacturer or otherwise as this appears to be a discontinued bullet series. I have IMR 4895 on hand and would like to load using that, but can always wait and try a better powder. These will be run through a .308 bolt gun with a 1-10 twist if that helps. Obviously I'm not looking for anyone's pet load data, or max barrel burning compressed loads, but hopefully a little help on where to start with these would be great.

[FLIGHT762]

From the Barnes #3 manual with data for the old X bullets.

308 Winchester / 180 Grain XBT & XFB/ IMR4895

STARTING LOAD: 37.0 Grains @ 2274 FPS.

MAXIMUM LOAD: 41.0 grains @ 2520 FPS.

[sac240]

That's amazingly helpful, thank you Flight

[Divernhunter]

If you plan to hunt with them. DO NOT. You will have expansion problems. In a 308 you cannot push them fast enough for proper expansion.
Remember that a Barnes bullet acts like a lead core bullet 30% heavier. Also Barnes(or any like it) need speed to work(expand) and the old bullets were very fussy on depth(.050 approx) from the rifling and such. One of the reasons for the TSX and TTSX bullets. They are less fussy. The TTSX open sooner/faster than the TSX. Depending on how the TSX bullets hit they sometimes close up the point due to the small opening. The TTSX does not have this problem. It is a much better choice for a 308 win. For the 308win the 110/130 or 150gr TTSX are much better choices for hunting. I am presently working up loads with 130 and 150gr TTSX bullets for my 308win.
Before shooting barnes bullets really clean the rifle with a copper solvent. You can have problems if there is any old jacket material in the barrel with excessive fouling from the pure copper (or those coated) barnes bullets.

If you have not used barnes bullets before you can PM me about some help if you want.

[sac240]

Diver-

Thanks for the heads up, this is a new build so I'm working from scratch on the loads. I was planning on doing some hunting with these, keeping it within about 200 yards, but if I'm going to have issues with expansion maybe I'll save these for when I step up to a big-boy caliber.

I do have a couple of boxes of 168 gr ttsx (heavy, but in stock and I've got a 1-10 twist to stabilize them) on the way, and these were my original choice for a hunting round, but I was given the xbt's for free and figured I'd try to make them work. I've read about the ttsx's needing to 'jump' into the lands, so I'll start by loading them .050 off the lands like you are suggesting. Since it's a new barrel, load development will begin after break-in and thorough cleaning so there shouldn't be too much in the way of copper fouling to throw me off.

[Divernhunter]

The Tsx and TTSX are not as touchy about the jump as the older bullets. I would not worry about them so much. I seat mine closer.
I sent you a PM.