120gr TTSX in 7x57

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Have any of my fellow AH'ers ever use this bullet? I worked up a 140gr Nosler BT load that is very accurate in my son's rifle. Past experience has shown the Accubonds can be pretty much exchanged for the BT with the same powder and weight and will give identical accuracy. So I'd like to have an AB load as a choice for our trip this summer to RSA, but the darn things are awfully hard to come by.

But, the 120gr TTSX's are pretty easy to find. And I've read a few good reports of them being used on Gemsbok, Kudu and Wildebeest. Any experiences from you gents would be appreciated.

 

[gillettehunter]

I have used the 140 TTSx's in my .270 WSM and 150's in my .300 WSM. I get great accuracy and great penetration. I once shot a mule deer buck in the backside after thinking my buddy had hit him. The 140 wound up in the front shoulder basically going through almost all of a 4 pt mule deer. Have killed a number of elk with the 150's. Also used the 150's in Africa with no troubles. They have opened up reliably for me. I have not had any petals sheer off. Been a great bullet. I don't think you would be disappointed. I would probably recommend using the 140's in your rifle. Bruce

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I have used the 140 TTSx's in my .270 WSM and 150's in my .300 WSM. I get great accuracy and great penetration. I once shot a mule deer buck in the backside after thinking my buddy had hit him. The 140 wound up in the front shoulder basically going through almost all of a 4 pt mule deer. Have killed a number of elk with the 150's. Also used the 150's in Africa with no troubles. They have opened up reliably for me. I have not had any petals sheer off. Been a great bullet. I don't think you would be disappointed. I would probably recommend using the 140's in your rifle. Bruce

Agreed, but I can't find them either.

 

[nztimb]

If you are going to SA the GS Custom 120gn HV bullet is a very good choice. I run it to 3200fps in my 7x57 over BL-C2 and it is devastating on the goats I have used it on. Would have no hesitation in using them for what you mention the ttsx is to be used for.

 

[Divernhunter]

The 120TTSX would work well in the 5X57. Powders I would suggest are H-414-49.5grs/ win760-49gr/h-380-47.5gr/Big Game-48.5gr/AA2700-51,5gr/Varget-44.5gr/IMR4320-45.5gr. All of these are max out of the Barnes manual and give a min of 2900FPS. The Barnes bullets need speed to preform well on game. I shot that bullet in my 7mmRem mag also.

Try the Swift A-Frame 140gr or 150gr Scirocco bullets if you can get them. The A-Frame would be my 1st choice and the Scirocco 2nd with Nosler PAR third.

Try Graf and sons for your bullets. I often find they have what I want.

My 2 Cents

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

If you are going to SA the GS Custom 120gn HV bullet is a very good choice. I run it to 3200fps in my 7x57 over BL-C2 and it is devastating on the goats I have used it on. Would have no hesitation in using them for what you mention the ttsx is to be used for.

Not the first time I've thought of giving the GSC a go. But wow do I get overwhelmed by all the particulars on their page. But maybe it's time to go ahead and try them. What do you set your COL to? What primer do you use? I saw something on their page about using magnum primers only.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

The 120TTSX would work well in the 5X57. Powders I would suggest are H-414-49.5grs/ win760-49gr/h-380-47.5gr/Big Game-48.5gr/AA2700-51,5gr/Varget-44.5gr/IMR4320-45.5gr. All of these are max out of the Barnes manual and give a min of 2900FPS. The Barnes bullets need speed to preform well on game. I shot that bullet in my 7mmRem mag also.

Try the Swift A-Frame 140gr or 150gr Scirocco bullets if you can get them. The A-Frame would be my 1st choice and the Scirocco 2nd with Nosler PAR third.

Try Graf and sons for your bullets. I often find they have what I want.

My 2 Cents

Put a ton of effort into trying to get Scirocco's to fly in various .308 calibers, gave up. The 140gr A-Frames I can get a good group with, but a bit slow around 2600fps. Should be fine, just exploring other options.

 

[Norwegianwoods]

I can't speak directly of the 120 gr TTSX in 7x57 as I have never tried it in that cartridge, but I have used the .264 120 gr TTSX in my 6.5-06 with great results.
I would not hesitate to use it on Gemsbok, Kudu and Wildebeest at all.
I am also sure the 120 gr TTSX will do a great job in the 7x57 out to at least 300 yards.
At longer ranges than that, the bullet might not expand well enough to give a great result.

 

[gillettehunter]

I just checked and Cabelas has the 140's in stock right now. Good luck. Bruce

 

[Red Leg]

I generally love the TX clan. My only hesitation with the 120 in a 7 mm would be penetration. The TTX drives well, but the 7x57 made its rep with heavy for cal bullets. The 140 is a great general purpose load for medium size game. We're I using my 7x57 on PG, I would old school it and be experimenting with a tough 175.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I generally love the TX clan. My only hesitation with the 120 in a 7 mm would be penetration. The TTX drives well, but the 7x57 made its rep with heavy for cal bullets. The 140 is a great general purpose load for medium size game. We're I using my 7x57 on PG, I would old school it and be experimenting with a tough 175.

Understood, but don't know if I want to subject my soon to be 12 year old to the recoil. Then again, maybe it's not a big deal.

 

[Red Leg]

Understood, but don't know if I want to subject my soon to be 12 year old to the recoil. Then again, maybe it's not a big deal.

Ah understood. Then that might indeed be good kid's round. Though I wonder if there is that much diff in perceived recoil with the 140's? In any case, it will beat a .243 on PG and will be indistinguishable to anything it hits from a 25/06.

 

[graybird]

While I have not used the 7x57, I have used the 120 gr TTSX in my 7mm-08 on elk.

I've shot two cows with this combination and the first cow made it a grand total of about 30 yards, the first 15 yards on her legs and the next 15 yards sliding downhill on the snow. The second cow staggered about 5 yards and toppled into a downed tree. Shots were about 150 yards and both bullets were pass thrus with no recovery.

My load is going a touch over 2950 fps and accuracy is excellent. Many folks will call this combination a kid's or wife's rifle/load combo, but I call it effective and proven.

I would have zero reservations on using the 120 gr TTSX in a 7x57 on PG in Africa.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

While I have not used the 7x57, I have used the 120 gr TTSX in my 7mm-08 on elk.

I've shot two cows with this combination and the first cow made it a grand total of about 30 yards, the first 15 yards on her legs and the next 15 yards sliding downhill on the snow. The second cow staggered about 5 yards and toppled into a downed tree. Shots were about 150 yards and both bullets were pass thrus with no recovery.

My load is going a touch over 2950 fps and accuracy is excellent. Many folks will call this combination a kid's or wife's rifle/load combo, but I call it effective and proven.

I would have zero reservations on using the 120 gr TTSX in a 7x57 on PG in Africa.

graybird,

I would ask for your load recipe if you're okay with sharing it. If not, can you tell me what powder, brass and primers you used? Thanks.

 

[graybird]

graybird,

I would ask for your load recipe if you're okay with sharing it. If not, can you tell me what powder, brass and primers you used? Thanks.

Phil,

My load is nothing special. 44 grains of RL-15, CCI 200 primer, R-P Brass and a COAL of 2.800". As I mentioned the speed is about 2950 fps out of my near stock Ruger M77 Mark II with a 22" barrel. The only thing I've done to the rifle is put a Timney trigger on it.

I've also shot a few whitetail with this load. They were not impressed either!

With the 7-08, accuracy is generally found in the 44-45 gr range when using RL-15.

My last test a couple days before the season started.

As stated, I'm more than satisfied with the terminal performance and reliability of this combination in my rifle.

Good luck!

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Phil,

My load is nothing special. 44 grains of RL-15, CCI 200 primer, R-P Brass and a COAL of 2.800". As I mentioned the speed is about 2950 fps out of my near stock Ruger M77 Mark II with a 22" barrel. The only thing I've done to the rifle is put a Timney trigger on it.

I've also shot a few whitetail with this load. They were not impressed either!

With the 7-08, accuracy is generally found in the 44-45 gr range when using RL-15.

My last test a couple days before the season started.

As stated, I'm more than satisfied with the terminal performance and reliability of this combination in my rifle.

Good luck!

Nice, thanks for the info.

 

[nztimb]

Not the first time I've thought of giving the GSC a go. But wow do I get overwhelmed by all the particulars on their page. But maybe it's time to go ahead and try them. What do you set your COL to? What primer do you use? I saw something on their page about using magnum primers only.

Yes I use Mag primers and with the BL-C2. This was about the easiest bullet I have ever tried and got a result with. I called shot no 2 when I let it go and settled on the 51gn load for this great little bullet. 80mm C O A L

 

[elmerfudd555]

Plus 1 for Graybirds advice and load. I use the exact same load with the 120 TTSX in my 7-08 and have shot hogs up to 400lbs, and countless deer. I have no recovered bullets, always seem to pass thru, even on the broadside hogs.

 

[sestoppelman]

Phil you may recall we used the 140gr Triple Shock (not Tipped) in my boys .284 Win in RSA this year. We were driving it to just over 3000fps using 55.5 grs of W760. That's not max in that case but with over 3k and super accurate, I called it the load and it was very consistent. Look real hard at 760 for your powder. With that load, he laid everything down with one shot, even wildebeest and kudu. Penetration was surely not an issue, we didnt recover any bullets but the wildebeest slug, could not be found and didn't exit. In the 7x57 you should be able to get between 2800-2900 safely which would be a great load if accurate. If you find the 120's you may like them better for less recoil, but the diff between them and 140's will not be felt, unless as Jack O'Conner used to say, "except by some guru of heightened awareness". All the Triple shocks are long per caliber and weight, due to solid copper construction and penetration is more a factor of length than weight. Still being old fashioned I would go with the 140 were it me.

 

[PaulT]

Interesting thread here guys.

I'm loading the 140gn T.S.X and have registered a max 2950fps in my 7x64mm with 57gns of R19.
With the capacity of the x64mm case being a bit more than the x57mm case I expected to get closer to the velocities the manuals suggest (3150fps).
Maybe I need to re-test ?

I am intrigued to read about the velocities some of you are getting in the various 7mm cases.

Phil have you done any further loading/testing with the 120's ?