[ADKWOODSMAN]

Barnes Bullets lists a load, on their web site, for their varmint grenade .223 36 gr. bullet with a load of benchmark of 25 grains and TAC powder of 27. 5 grains as starter loads.

There is none of this powders locally and I have the bullets so I’m wondering if anyone has loaded these bullets With IMR 3031 or IMR 4895 as these are the powders I have?

TAC has a burn rate listed as No. 109 on the burn chart on www.reloaderbench.com/burn.html and IMR 4895 has a burn chart No. of 114.

Benchmark is No. 95 and IMR 3031 is No. 94. Would a starting load of IMR 3031 in place of Benchmark and a load of IMR 4895 in place of TAC be O.K. or should I start 10 percent below these starting loads?

[627PCFan]

Im shooting 35 gr Hornady vmaxs in my 223, with 28 grains of varget (vibrated, and compressed) Start with the base load and you should be good-

[Idano]

I wanted to give those a try but from what I read you need a slower twist then a 1 in 9.

[Doug b]

I'll be trying some today in a 1 in 9 using benchmark, I'll let you know.

[Doug b]

Idano, they shot pretty good in my Bushmaster a little over an inch in a gusting cross wind on a crappy bench.

[Hoosier Reloader]

In my loading experience, I found that lighter (36 gr varmint grenade especially) bullets need a slower, 1:12 or 1:14 twist in .223. A lighter bullet gets unstable at faster rotation. Both my .223 AR's (Bushmaster XM-15 & Rock River A2 Varminter) are 1:9 twist and they like 55's, 69's & 75 gr bullets. Most of my shots are at 50 & 100 yds from a rest.
YMMV

[Doug b]

I think the varmint grenade is a no lead bullet,therefore long for a light bullet.I got the idea to try it in my xm from a poster on here that said they key-holed in his hornet.

[JFettig]

Doug b, did you shoot 36gr or 50 gr varmint grenades?
What twist?
Jon

[Doug b]

36 gr. in a 1 in 9 twist.