160 TTSX @3050 or 200 NPT @2800?

[Alaska_Lanche]

I finally got around to shooting some reloads I worked up nearly 6 month ago. My best velocity and accuracy with both the 160 grain TTSX @3050fps and 200 NPT @2800fps .

Anyways both shoot just under 1" at 100 yards, just didn't realize how much different the POI would be. The slower 200 NPTs grouped just as well as the 160 TTSXs but about 6" lower, which can be adjusted easily depending on which bullet I choose to hunt with this fall.

I'll be chasing caribou, moose, mountain goats, deer, sheep, black bear, and grizzly bear this fall. Kinda am liking the sub 4" drop at 300 yards if I sight in at 2.5" high at 100 with the 160 TTSX as well as the fact that in a 10 mph wind it drifts 1" less at that distance as well compared to the 200 NPT. Anyways figured it'd see what more experienced reloaders might do in my shoes.

Thanks guys.

 

[GD Yankee]

Is that for your Kimber Ascent .280AI? I guess I'd go for the 160 rather than take the beating shooting the 200 grainers, unless the load was for moose. I'd also take the better ballistics on the 160 as well. If it was a 180 grain I might trade up, but 3050 FPS is pretty darn nice.

 

[brav01]

I would make my choice based on the terrain where I intended to hunt. If it were in pretty dense timber with shots limited to 250 yds and under, I'ld go with the 200 grn load. If it was out in an open say, tundra or mountains where I could stalk my animal the 160's would get the nod. IF you laid in the sight corrections and found yourself in a situation where you needed the other round you could simply adjust your scope and reload with a different round for different terrain (kinda' opposite the KISS principle, but IT would work).

 

[Alaska_Lanche]

Is that for your Kimber Ascent .280AI? I guess I'd go for the 160 rather than take the beating shooting the 200 grainers, unless the load was for moose. I'd also take the better ballistics on the 160 as well. If it was a 180 grain I might trade up, but 3050 FPS is pretty darn nice.

No I don't own a 280 AI. This is an 18" barreled 325 WSM. Didn't even know they made 200 grainers for the 280 AI in NPTs.

Brav,

I mostly hunt open mountains and what not, but if I did do a K-Pen Brown Bear hunt this fall the 200 NPTs might be the ticket. Decisions decisions. Pretty sure it won't make one bit of difference to whatever critter I shoot with either bullet, but fun to think about I guess.

 

[limon32]

No I don't own a 280 AI. This is an 18" barreled 325 WSM. Didn't even know they made 200 grainers for the 280 AI in NPTs.

Brav,

I mostly hunt open mountains and what not, but if I did do a K-Pen Brown Bear hunt this fall the 200 NPTs might be the ticket. Decisions decisions. Pretty sure it won't make one bit of difference to whatever critter I shoot with either bullet, but fun to think about I guess.

If Kenai browns are your main concern for the 200s I'd say you can have it both ways. Sight in and utilize the 160s in your normal hunting, use the 200s this fall when you come down and don't bother adjusting anything, chances are pretty high your shot is going to be well under 100 yards on a brown around here, unless your in the mountains in which case you should be able to see well enough to utilize the 160s again.

A bit off topic, what model is your 325WSM? What does it weight?

 

[Alaska_Lanche]

If Kenai browns are your main concern for the 200s I'd say you can have it both ways. Sight in and utilize the 160s in your normal hunting, use the 200s this fall when you come down and don't bother adjusting anything, chances are pretty high your shot is going to be well under 100 yards on a brown around here, unless your in the mountains in which case you should be able to see well enough to utilize the 160s again.

A bit off topic, what model is your 325WSM? What does it weight?

I might just do that....loaded up 50 TTSXs yesterday for it. Maybe end of Sept I'll load up some 200 NPTs prior to coming down. Like ya said, chances are it'll be a close encounter on the K-Pen. My thought with the TTSX is it should retain nearly 100% of its weight thus be a 160 grain projectile through and through. The NPT is, by design, supposed to lose between 25-30% of its weight, thus making the 200 grain bullet now more like a 140-150 grain bullet and thus negates the extra weight especially at 250 fps less speed. Hard to argue with the success of the NPT though and I'll likely load up some prior to going real bear hunting as the grizz I hunt in the interior aren't the "real" bears

Limon my 325 WSM is a Browning TI that went to the chop shop for a shorter barrel and a magnaport. Weighs in at 5 pounds 13 oz with scope and rings:

 

[limon32]

Awesome looking rifle Lanche! Looks like the PERFECT mountain gun!

 

[4merguide]

Other than the Core Lok I used when I first got the gun, all I've been reloading, and using, are 200 grn Partitions for everything. They've been great. You may recall I shoot an 8mag, which is of course a lot like your round.....

 

[Alaska_Lanche]

Awesome looking rifle Lanche! Looks like the PERFECT mountain gun!

Thanks it might not be perfect for everyone, but its quickly becoming my favorite. I call it "mighty mouse" Only thing I don't like about it is its ugly as sin camo stock! That said I really like the feel of the duratouch or whatever its called stock, just try not to look at it

 

[limon32]

Thanks it might not be perfect for everyone, but its quickly becoming my favorite. I call it "mighty mouse" Only thing I don't like about it is its ugly as sin camo stock! That said I really like the feel of the duratouch or whatever its called stock, just try not to look at it

Ha ha ha... I catch a lot of crap when I take out my wifes 10/22. I put a bright pink hogue stock on it... I've never come close to leaving it anywhere and its pretty deadly on small game so I put up with it!

FWIW I thought that stock looks great!

 

[back country]

those stocks are Bell & Carlson and they can put any one of a number of different finishes on it and then top it with their "duratouch" coating

 

[Alaska_Lanche]

those stocks are Bell & Carlson and they can put any one of a number of different finishes on it and then top it with their "duratouch" coating

I've heard that before, but good to know that is an option for sure. Until I break the stock or something I think I'll just not look at it and carry it. Though a tan with black webbing would look a lot better, but not gonna worry about it until I HAVE to replace it. Thanks again for the info though.

 

[Daved]

It's the age old dilemma. How does the bullet get there and what does it do when it does? I don't think your two bullet selections will make a bit of difference to 300 yards. They will kill your critters fine. Your difference will be out past 300 yards, then the BC will make a difference, and the 200 NPT and the 160 TTSX are pretty darn close, so again, flip a coin. I personally would opt for the flatter shooting bullet to lessen mistakes in yardage and give the nod to the 160 ttsx..

You can't beat the Barnes bullets for terminal performance, they hold together real well. Then again, so do the NPT I hear. The only difference you might make on Brown Bears is a 200g TSX. You will have your terminal performance in spades and who cares if it is 1.5 vs 1.0 MOA at Brown Bear ranges.

 

[mainer_in_ak]

if you wanted to shoot 160 grainers, I'm certain a .270, 7mm or 30 caliber would be the ticket. Isn't a .32 caliber the whole reason behind getting a little better velocity out of a slightly bigger bullet?
In my opinion, treat the .325 WSM like a .338, don't treat it like a sub 30. Slowing down that bullet 200 fps makes a difference on meat loss. 1" less wind drift at 300 yds is laughable.....you can't even hold a rifle steady enough to notice that silly business.

I'm not sure what moderator-sheep hunters are more effected by:
Gear based bulimia because another sheep hunter moderator made you feel "fat"....so you go puke up a few more ounces to get all fluffy n light in the mirror

Or:
Velocity/Ballistic Coefficient-crazed obsessive compulsiveness.

Maybe both?

That 200 grain partition, or accubond would do it all.....and cleanly so.

 

[back country]

actually, in a TTSX that 160 should be a right fine killing pill with more reach than expected

 

[Alaska_Lanche]

if you wanted to shoot 160 grainers, I'm certain a .270, 7mm or 30 caliber would be the ticket. Isn't a .32 caliber the whole reason behind getting a little better velocity out of a slightly bigger bullet?
In my opinion, treat the .325 WSM like a .338, don't treat it like a sub 30. Slowing down that bullet 200 fps makes a difference on meat loss. 1" less wind drift at 300 yds is laughable.....you can't even hold a rifle steady enough to notice that silly business.

I'm not sure what moderator-sheep hunters are more effected by:
Gear based bulimia because another sheep hunter moderator made you feel "fat"....so you go puke up a few more ounces to get all fluffy n light in the mirror

Or:
Velocity/Ballistic Coefficient-crazed obsessive compulsiveness.

Maybe both?

That 200 grain partition, or accubond would do it all.....and cleanly so.

HAHA I hear ya, but tell me what 270, or 280 can get a 160 grainer going 3000+ fps with an 18" barrel??? I realize the 200 grainer at 2800 would do it all, but so would the 160 TTSX as well. I know you favor heavy for caliber and it works for sure, however I think I'll try the other end of the spectrum this year, just cause you don't like light for caliber. I'm sure all the animals will laugh and walk off once they realize I am shooting a 160 grain bullet out of a .323

As for a the point of a bigger bore is to get better velocity with a heavier bullet......I'm sure thats true for most. But not certainly the ONLY reason, and not the reason for me. The 325 WSM for me was to get a 160-200 bullets to shoot as flat as possible in a handy 18" barreled rifle. I tried the 220 grain woodleighs they shot decent but not nearly as tightly as the 160s or 200s.

As for Velocity/Ballistic Coeffficient crazed obsessive compulsiveness:

I'm fully aware that the shorter flat base bullets of equal weight would possibly allow more case capacity but chose the Accubond for it's unbelievable sectional density and to a lesser extent.....it ballistic coefficient

However, as time goes by, new powders have been developed that can get a little more performance, SAFELY. Re-17 and 2000-MR costs the same. Why leave 100-200 fps more velocity on the table when it is readily available.

Personally I'm not man enough to carry a heavy Savage 99 like you do so I gotta find other ways to be able to carry my gear in a lightweight model. 'Sides I don't have this hunting thing dialed in like most here (yourself included) so just trying to get some insight. I apologize for asking. I have since made my decision since posting this and reloaded up 50 160 TTSXs of the load that was most accurate at 3000+ fps. Lets hope I don't actually have to fire one of these little blue devils cause 160 grainers in the wrong diameter won't kill anything sectional density be ****ed

 

[mainer_in_ak]

did you just call my rifle fat? oh man.....my rifle n me are heading to the bathroom, to puke up a few ounces.:lol: "Man enough"?.....I believe you shot that very rifle very well, the carrying part aint too hard, trust me!
BC and velocity do indeed matter, as well as achieving the potential of the cartridge, I won't disagree with that. Little bit of razzin is good for me, thanks. I'm actually wondering what kind of velocity you'd get from the nosler E-tip 180 grainer, those are actually available online:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/54...0-grain-spitzer-boat-tail-lead-free-box-of-50

 

[Alaska_Lanche]

did you just call my rifle fat? oh man.....my rifle n me are heading to the bathroom, to puke up a few ounces.:lol: "Man enough"?.....I believe you shot that very rifle very well, the carrying part aint too hard, trust me!
BC and velocity do indeed matter, as well as achieving the potential of the cartridge, I won't disagree with that. Little bit of razzin is good for me, thanks. I'm actually wondering what kind of velocity you'd get from the nosler E-tip 180 grainer, those are actually available online:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/54...0-grain-spitzer-boat-tail-lead-free-box-of-50

Yep a bit of razzin' is what keeps this place fun. I thought about the 180 e-tips and they were going to be my next try if the TTSX or NPT didn't work out...turns out they both shoot so well that if I end up not liking the 160 TTSXs for some reason I'll just go with the old standby of the 200 NPT.

 

[Bighorse]

I'd go with the TTSX Luke. My goat round this year is a 350g TTSX only because I've got miles of bear infested salmon stream to cross. Just like archery, know your effective range and put it where it counts. You saw what a 25 AI can do. Those were swift sirrocco bullets.

 

[Alaska_Lanche]

I'd go with the TTSX Luke. My goat round this year is a 350g TTSX only because I've got miles of bear infested salmon stream to cross. Just like archery, know your effective range and put it where it counts. You saw what a 25 AI can do. Those were swift sirrocco bullets.

Yep, I've also seen a few moose and caribou taken with a .243 which is even more impressive. But they are a stupid choice to hunt with in bear country so I guess that rules them out in AK. 25-06 AI is packing a lot more heat than my .308 as well which I know more than works.