So I'm trying to work up some 130 grain ttsx loads in .308. I used 150s last year with good results and I wanted to try the 130s and crank the velocity up. So far, I have loaded to 49.7 grains of RL 15 and 51 grains of varget. I have yet to break 2900 fps.

I shot one of my 150s from last year just to see what the velocity was and they averaged about 2775. 150 grain ttsx over 46.5 grains of varget.

So my question for those of you who actually know what you're doing is does it seem right at all that a 130 grain bullet being pushed by 51 grains of varget would only be 100 fps faster than a 150 grain bullet over 46.5 grains? This is out of an 85 finnlight with a 20 inch barrel.

20 inch barrell medium speed powder longer bullet in TTSX.Probably not gonna get to 2900fps.

Physics. Max Case Pressure (limiting factor) created by said powder to move different mass weights (bullets weights).

Obviously you aren't trying to shoot long range or you'd be going up in bullet weight not down. Consider that a couple hundred feet per second inside the maximum point blank range of your rifle is essentially nothing. Thus no advantage to dropping to 130's to get a little more speed.

If you want to break that magic 3000 fps barrier get a 26 inch barreled .300 magnum.If you wish to keep that light handy Finn 85 don't worry bout velocity and keep using those 150 griners trust me the deer won't know the difference.

Worry more about consistent accuracy than top speed. I plan on loading the 130 gr TSX in the 308 also just to see how it acts. The 165 gr TSX over 44.2gr of varget shot very good consistent accuracy and was devastating on deer with a 20" barrel Steyr. No clue what the velocity is, but it is sub-MOA. The area I hunt is stretching for anything over 150 yards, too thick.

Why are y'all using heavy for caliber with the Barnes bullets? Everything I've seen says to use light for caliber bullets in the Barnes.

Heavy bullets cover a multitude of sins.

I've loaded a 125 grain Nosler BT for my 30:06 and had it pushing >3200 according to chronograph at range. I had to back it back down to 2900 to keep bullet from disintegrating when it hit bone.

That is light for that caliber using a ballistic tip. Glad you got it dialed in performance wise.

The Barnes bullets will retain nearly 100% of its weight compared to a Partition or Accubond's 60%.

It is light but very flat shooting at long range and surprisingly packs a wallop. Before I dialed the speed down, I would aim for the head when shooting a doe. It would blow their head up. I lost one buck I shot at 350 yds. I knew I hit him in the boiler house but he ran and there was no blood trail to follow. Found him about 100 yds away a week later. No exit wound.

My 85 Finnlight .308 shoots the 130 grain Barnes TTSX at 3050-3070 fps with 48.5 grains of Ramshot TAC powder and Lapua brass, seated 0.080"-.100" off the lands. Pretty much to a 1/2 MOA too.

I basically copied a dude off of 24hourcampfire and altered the powder and distance from the lands a little until I found the sweet spot. Bad news on the critters too.

Heavy TTSX's going slow punch a small hole in both sides with little blood. Shooting light for caliber and pumping the velocity up will open those babies up and do an impressive amount of damage, but still with 100% weight retention and a no doubt exit from any angle on any deer.

No doubt though, you're shooting yourself in the foot with the lightweight/low BC thing for anything other than relatively close distance.

That's pretty well said Jughead. So here is what I do... I shoot 165's but I shoot a Sierra not a bonded bullet and that's the trade off. I don't get a hole like a Partition or something... So I get pretty good expansion and energy... but less velocity.

There is no definitive answer that's what makes this interesting. I think Nosler BT's do good in .308 and .30-06 as well. If you read the reviews of the 165 Sierra on Midway it is a pretty good read.

I have never quite understood this philosophy. If I were in Africa hunting weight retention would matter but shooting a whitetail deer I could care less if the bullet has the 100% weight retention. Heck that's loss of energy expended IMHO. Give a bullet that will dump all that KE into the animal

Is that the only powder you had any luck with? I've read everything I can find about shooting the 130 ttsx in short barreled 308's and I'm not understanding why I can't get the velocities that others are when I'm using similar loads.

That is the only powder I tried in it other than Varget. I never chronoed the Varget though.

Atmosphere.Those higher velocitys probably don't have our dense wet air.

Exit hole means at least two point for blood loss out of the body. A bullet falling out the far side is good having spent all of the energy in the animal. However, how does one judge the velocity and retention need for every situation, deer body size, bones, organs, amount of penetration needed, etc to get just the perfect bullet & velocity combination to do that? I want to know I have enough bullet and velocity to handle those situations and reach as many vital organs as possible. There is a reason some (read BhamFred) swear by Nosler Partitions for penetration weight retention. I have used BT on many deer and coyotes and never had an issue with killing any of them. However, I used Barnes TSX the past year and was duly impressed and will probably use them or the TTSX from now on out in most any centerfire no matter the game.

Oh, by the way maybe you should use anything other than Barnes TTSX or TSX so there will be plenty for me when I need them!

I'll take penetration over separation every time. Admittedly, it doesn't take a lot to penetrate the rib cage of a broadside whitetail.

This is all I am trying to say. People shoot through whitetails with 223s. If you are shooting any bullet with some weight to it you will get a pass through 99% of the time.

Fun4, you don't have to worried I could care less about the barnes bullets. If im loading my own I stick with berger or hornady.