rbernie
Contributing Member
Anyone used the Barnes 53gr .224 bullet?
What have you used it on/how did it work for ya?
What have you used it on/how did it work for ya?
Last edited:
Anyone used the Barnes 53gr .223 bullet?
- Thread starter rbernie
- Start date
- Status
griz
Member
Assuming you mean the X bullet, yes I have. Used them to take a few smaller deer. They penetrated better than any other 22 bullet I had tried and still expanded and did a lot of damage. They all exited, which I prefer in a hunting round. I stopped using the 22's before the Nosler partition was offered in that caliber but I did use the Trophy Bonded Bearclaw (if I have the name right). They held together very well but their expanded diameter reduced penetration. I suspect the partition may be comprable to the X bullet in penetration but again I have not tried them.
Gordon
Member
The Nose blows off the 60 grain partition at 3200fps but it still penetrates. I heard the Win 64 grain power point is good also, about like the Trophy Bonded. I am using the 53 grain X Bullet (Triple Shock) this august for the local blacktail deer season, it looks very promising! 
OP
OP
rbernie
Contributing Member
Thanks for the replies.
My 7x57 (with 140gr factory ammo) seems to be 'too much' when hunting smaller deer (sub-120lb), and I lose more meat than I'd like. I've been working up some moderate velocity 120gr 7x57 loads in response to this, but I'm still not convinced that I won't be taking a sledgehammer to kill a fly. Given that the only smaller rifle I own in hunting form is a 223, I'm looking at my options in that caliber. (I'd really love to put together a 257 Roberts on a 95 Mauser action and fill in the gap in my hunting rifle collection, but that's still a ways down the road and I'm scheduling my next fallow hunt in February...)
Speer has a 70gr semi-spitzer that should stabilize in 1:12 barrels. Has anyone tried that one?
This is what I'm wrestling with.
My 7x57 (with 140gr factory ammo) seems to be 'too much' when hunting smaller deer (sub-120lb), and I lose more meat than I'd like. I've been working up some moderate velocity 120gr 7x57 loads in response to this, but I'm still not convinced that I won't be taking a sledgehammer to kill a fly. Given that the only smaller rifle I own in hunting form is a 223, I'm looking at my options in that caliber. (I'd really love to put together a 257 Roberts on a 95 Mauser action and fill in the gap in my hunting rifle collection, but that's still a ways down the road and I'm scheduling my next fallow hunt in February...)
Speer has a 70gr semi-spitzer that should stabilize in 1:12 barrels. Has anyone tried that one?
griz
Member
I tried the 70 grain Speer too. It isn't as tough as the premium bullets, but the extra weight helps. In a Savage 24 (not sure of the twist but it should have been around 1-12) it would not stabilize and would keyhole at about 60 yards. It did fine in a Mini 14 with a faster twist.
- Status
