Barnes 50 gr. Varmint Grenade

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dagger dog

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Anyone out there seen any load data on this specific bullet?

Wanting to shoot these out of a Savage 12 FV. Looks like they are long enough to seat out to the lands, and the 12 has enough twist 1-9" for these longer bullets. Have shot some of the 69 Sierra Match Kings with good results in accuracy, I know they aren't varmint bullets. But after I saw the "Grape Video" on the 36 grainers, I just had to try some. The 36 grs aren't long enought to seat out to the lands on the 12. I figured I'd try some of the Aliant 10X this stuffs supposed to be pretty good with the lighter .223 loads.

I'm not to bad on working up loads from data, but trying a new powder and a new bullet, is a little more than I'm used to handling.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!:banghead:
 
I too want to use these in my AR, It seems that they are quite a bit longer than normal? how will that effect powder charges?

Jon
 
JFettig,
The 50 gr Grenades are longer than any of the other manufacturers similar weight varmint bullets . On my Savage 12 FV, I have not been able to seat any of these bullets out far enough to touch the lands and still be able to keep the , seating to the required one, bullet diameter (.223"), seated into the case for enough bullet grip. The 50 gr Barnes Grenade will allow me to finally see how accurate the Savage is with a Varmint bullet. I have used the 69GR Sierra HPBT with great accuracy out to and beyond 200yds, they are long enought to seat out far enough to touch the lands. but have to be fed singlr shot as they are too long to cycle throught the magizine, sso will the barnes .
I'm going to load up 20 or so and will be using the Aliant data for the 10X powder , WIN brass and WSR primers, starting out with reduced load of course.
I'll get back to you on the seating depth, of course I don't know how it will cross over to your AR platform, I imagine your bbl has the most common twist of 1-9" found in the AR system, the sticker on the box states the minimum of
1-9"
 
Barnes states that they find the best accuacy with the bullet .02 off the lands for the varmint grenade. Try that and see if it will seat to the length you want.
 
First Post Here! I've been enjoying the advice here on the THR.

A friend of mine gave me a partial box of 94# 50gr Barnes Varmint Grenades. He couldn't stabilize them in his rifle. The box and Barnes webpage notes that 1/10 twist is recommended.

I loaded some with Newer .223 Hornady dies over 26 grains of Varget and shot them thru my friends 1/9 twist AR. These loads went thru the target sideways and clearly unstable.

First off, the bullets are fragile in the HP cavity area and I noticed the seating die marking them with a noticeable ring, so the next batch I loaded with a cotton patch stuck in the seating stem and this seated them without a mark. I haven't shot any of these unmarked ones in the 1/9 AR yet.

I did shoot some of these unmarked ones thru my AR with the 1/7 twist and they stabilized. But back to the fragile HP, the 4th round failed to feed as the point smashed when the bolt was going forward to chamber.

My conclusion: They need a fast twist, the only rifle with a fast enough twist in my line up is the 1/7 AR, but they won't feed reliably. I won't be buying any and will stick to the Hornady V-max line.
 
4sarge,
Man wasn't wanting to hear that!
The rifle I'm going to try those in is 1-9". but it's a bolt and I'll feed it one at a time.
I don't think having a longer barrel
(26") will any better. I don't know the length of your AR with the 1-9"
Hoping it's the scoring from the seater die!
 
I shot them in my friends 20" A1 rifle with the 1/9 twist.
I very well could have damaged those first loads by imprinting the bullet with the seater which caused them go adrift.
Next time we're together, I'll shoot a few into some paper and report my findings here.
You'll likely be fine in your bolt action.
 
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