Barnes Varmit Gernades

[bikerbeans]

Anybody shooting Barnes Varmit Gernades in their Handi(s)?  223, 22-250 or 22 Hornet?  Just curious how they perform.  I need to make sure I don't bounce a round at any of my ground pig hunting spots and these appear to eliminate ricochets.

thanks

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  Biker, I shot some out of my old .22-250 at 'chucks. They did a good job. I am not saying they are perfect, but from what I experience they do fine..I only shot maybe 50, since that summer have not been back to do any chuck hunting...I used the 36 grain bullet...at the time I tried them in the Hornet, but they were too long for the twist in the Browning...If I were going to do much chuck hunting again, I would get some for the the Hornet also...

[Graybeard]

Not in a handi but I started playing around with them before the weather turned cold in a couple of Remington rifles and so far have been unimpressed. I'll get back to them when it warms again as I'm not much on getting out in winter these days.

I don't have the data from the first tests at hand tho I have reported it previously somewhere on here. My recollection is they'd not likely hit prairie dogs much beyond what I can hit them at with my iron sighted .30-30 handi tho due to the accuracy I've seen so far. I'm hoping I can find the right combination come spring time.

[cjclemens]

I've worked up a load in .243 that shoots a little under MOA in my brother's ultra varminter.  I have some test loads for the .223, but I'm still waiting on some good weather to try them out.  It seems to me that it's possible to get acceptable accuracy out of them, but it may take a little more patience.

[petebum]

I shot about 15 that a guy had at our range.  At 100 yr they were in a 2 inch circle.  Can't remember the load but they worked better in his 223.

[PHATINJUN]

I was not impressed when they came out a few yrs ago and never did find a load that would work in my 223 encore seems like they disinagrated 2 out of every three I shot .I gave up on them but at the time all they had was the 36gr. Now they have several others to choose from . There is a very good test article in the Varmint Hunter mag on the new 30 grainer for the Hornet 3100fps with 13gr Lilgun very accurate from a 1-16bbl I will be trying this in my Model 157 when the weather breaks also am going to try the 62gr 243 in my Handi. I may even go back and try the 50gr one in the new 1-9fluted 223 I just got. I have read both pros and cons on them I think the bullets them selves do well but the problems are getting the accuracy load worked up. Ya just about got to do all that yourself with the H&R's and I am going to commit some time to it this spring. Kurt

[dangerranger]

 because their weight to length is differant, wouldnt you have to use a faster twist? I have a 1 in 12  223 barrel and have been looking at these in 50gr as a posibility. DR

[cjclemens]

The 36 grain VG's in .224 are about as long as a 50gr lead bullet, and the 50 gr VG's are about as long as a 68 grain lead bullet.  I would guess that if your rifle shoots a 45-50 grain bullet well, it should be OK with the 36 gr varmint Grenade.  The 50 grain VG should probably only be used with 1:9 twist or faster.  I think that the biggest difference you'll get from the low sectional density and ballistic coefficient will be long-range performance.  Hopefully, the added velocity helps mitigate some of that.  Obviously, these substitutes wont perform quite as well as good old-fashioned lead bullets, but I can see they have some redeeming qualities.

[necchi]

I don't have the data from the first tests at hand tho I have reported it previously somewhere on here.

Bill's barnes bullet review from the hand loaders forum,,Looking forward to some additions to it if he gets time.

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,187254.0.html

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  the inaccuracy surprises me...i just used my normal load of h4895 in my .22-250 and it shot fine...the only other one I tried was the hornet, and I figured the bullet would be too long to stabalize

[PHATINJUN]

I got a box of the 50gr 224's and on the box it reads 1-10" twist or faster but if you go to Barnes bullet site and check technical notes for loading data it says 1-12 on some of them I think. When they first came out with these they wouldn't hardly even give you any reloading data all they would tell you was use 40gr load data. That was one of the reasons I quite working with them. At least now they got some data published on thier site. Kurt

[bikerbeans]

Hi All,

I appreciate the insight and help with the VGs.  Going to work up loads for my Handis as follows

50 grn VG for 1:9 223 REM

36 grn VG for handi 22-250

30 grn VG for 22 Hornet.

When & if I get the load(s) I want finished I will chrono 10 and see what the numbers look like.

I will be using Ramshot TAC to start with for the 223 & 22-250.  Any powder suggestions for the 22 Hornet?  Not trying to set any velocity records with the Hornet, just something that can shoot a 1" group @ 100 yds.

thanks

BB

[cjclemens]

A lot of people swear by Lil Gun powder for the hornet.  I use Win 296 or H110 with pretty good results.  I'd also recommend trying a small pistol primer rather than rifle if you haven't already.

[Frank V]

I found a partial box of the Varmint Grenade in .224 @ 36grs. I'm going to load some & I'll report, according to NFA mine has the 1/9 twist.
I've found it kind of likes H335 with the lighter bullets.
Frank

[cjclemens]

I had a chance to test some 36 grain varmint grenades in my .223 handi rifle.  It's nothin to write home about, but good enough to shoot at the occasional coyote.