Barnes 224 bullets and our H&Rs

[GrampaMike]

Been looking at the Barnes bullets for the 22 Hornet, 223 Rem and 22-250 Rem.

Based on the getting these "longer" than normal bullets vs other brands to work (stabilize) in our H&Rs.  I searched for info for the bullet stabilization factor.  Seems to be a difference of opinion about this number.  I found recommendations from 1.35 to 1.75, so I split the difference for my calculations and used 1.55.  Before I wasted my precious load development time, I ran these numbers to find muzzle velocities needed for each bullet and twist rates.


Barnes .224 Bullets:                             9" Twist   12" Twist   14" Twist

36 gr VG (22436   0.700")                       1579         3384         4000
45 gr TSX FB (22441   0.705")                  710          2896         3641
45 gr Banded Spitzer (22425   0.768")       2307         3794         4301
53 gr TSX FB (22443   0.792")                 2220         3745         4265
62 gr TSX BT (22460   0.912")                 3545         4490         4812
70 gr TSX BT (22470   1.030")                 4294         4911         5122


Looks like it is a waste of time trying to get the Barnes bullets to work in the 14" twist 22-250 Rem or the 12" twist 22 Hornet.  Has anyone had any luck with the 22 Hornet, or is this close to being right?  The 223 has possibilities in either the 9" or 12" twist guns.

Thanks, Mike

[LaOtto222]

I can not speak about any of them with the exception of the 36 Varmint Grenade. I happen to have a few of them. They are almost the exact same length as 55 grain hollow points that I have on hand (Speer TNT). It is just a touch shorter than a 55 grain Sierra I have too. I would think that if a gun can stabilize the 55 grain bullets, it would certainly stabilize the 36 Barnes bullets, because you can push them faster and they are not any longer. The demo at Barnes site of the 36 Varmint Grenade is a 22-250 shooting through a grape. I have personally shoot them out of my 1-14" twist 223 and they stabilize just fine. If they will stabilize out of a 223 with 1-14" twist they should do just fine in a 22-250 too. I have also shot them out of my 2 Hornets one a 1-12" Handi and the other a 1-14" twist Savage. I had stabilization problems with both of them. I suspect I would have trouble getting 55 grain bullets to stabilize also, but have not tried the 55 grain bullets in these guns. At least for the 36 grain bullet, if you can shoot 55 grain bullets, then you should be able to shoot the 36 grain Barnes too. I would think you could use the same rule of thumb for the other bullets too. If they are the same length as another bullet and you can shoot them stabilized, then the Barnes bullets should too. I am just speculating here with the heavier Barnes bullets, the proof is actually shooting them.

[PHATINJUN]

Mike thanks for posting that info. That expains some things I found with the 36VG bullets that I gave away. I tried to make them work in both my 223 Ultra (9") and when I had the Encore 12" twist. I was pushing them way to fast and after a couple of shots they would disinegrate out of the H&R and probly not fast enough out of the Encore as I could not get 3 to hit the same spot. I was thinking about trying them again out of the old Hornet I have . I do wonder though if they will do what they claim at the 1-9 twist speed? Have they published and load data yet for the VG all they would say before was use someone elses data? Kurt

[LaOtto222]

Here is load data from Barnes site.

http://www.barnesbullets.com/information/load-data/data-224/

[PeterCartwright]

I've posted this in other threads:  My Superlite (Youth) Handi (12" twist/20" length/.223 Rem.) does quite well with the 53 gr. TSX pushed by 25 gr. of H4895.  No stabilization problems.  Prints first two into about an inch @ 100 yards.  The third shot often opens the group up to about 2".  Since my Handi is so long-throated, I simply crimp in the top groove.

PC