In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.

Barnes Varmint Grenades

Colonel PlinkColonel Plink Member Posts: 16,460
edited June 2009 in Perry Shooter Competition Shooting and Reloading Forum
Does anyone here load them in 22-250?

I've got a Savage 112 with 1-12 twist and I can't find the load data I had for it.
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • 5mmgunguy5mmgunguy Member Posts: 3,092 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I am assuming you are loading the 36 grain Barnes...use the same load data you use for 40 gr Nosler or Hornady plastic tip bullets. Start low and work your way up for best accuracy and velocity. Just FYI, they will not blow up as good as lead bullets and they shed velocity very quickly.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • wanted manwanted man Member Posts: 3,276
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by 5mmgunguy
    I am assuming you are loading the 36 grain Barnes...use the same load data you use for 40 gr Nosler or Hornady plastic tip bullets. Start low and work your way up for best accuracy and velocity. Just FYI, they will not blow up as good as lead bullets and they shed velocity very quickly.

    AND...
    My experience has been that they (varmint grenades) are nowhere near as accurate as MANY other bullets, at least in my/our guns!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Rocky RaabRocky Raab Member Posts: 14,438 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Some early batches of VGs were not balanced very well and shot erratically. That's been fixed pretty well. Unfortunately, that won't stop people who were disappointed early to report their problems as current fact, probably for years.
    I may be a bit crazy - but I didn't drive myself.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Colonel PlinkColonel Plink Member Posts: 16,460
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Rocky Raab
    Some early batches of VGs were not balanced very well and shot erratically. That's been fixed pretty well. Unfortunately, that won't stop people who were disappointed early to report their problems as current fact, probably for years.


    I have no idea what the "born-on" date of these is, but I'll bet there's a way to find out.

    I'd hate to waste the powder working up loads for bullets that won't fly straight.

    Thanks for giving me vital information.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • wanted manwanted man Member Posts: 3,276
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Rocky Raab
    Some early batches of VGs were not balanced very well and shot erratically. That's been fixed pretty well. Unfortunately, that won't stop people who were disappointed early to report their problems as current fact, probably for years.


    In all honesty it's been a year or more since I last loaded them. If what you say about improvement is true (and I'm NOT saying it's not), maybe I should give them another try.

    Note to self: Think about giving Varmint Grenades another try *LOL*
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Rocky RaabRocky Raab Member Posts: 14,438 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm currently testing their newest, a 30-gr VG meant for the Hornet. It is MUCH more accurate than the samples of early 36-grainers I also tested when they were new. My conclusion is that they've climbed the learning curve on how to make these things. It HAS been two+ years since they introduced the VG, so it would not be surprising that they've gotten better.
    I may be a bit crazy - but I didn't drive myself.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 375H&H375H&H Member Posts: 1,544 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Colonel , have you tried the Ballistic tips or Seirra's Blitzkings or Hornady's SX or vmax bullets ? [:)]
    They all shoot fantastic out of 22-250's and the 225 win .
    Just seems to me that anything that has "Barnes" printed on the box = twice the price tag [xx(]
    Dead is dead , Barnes bullets don't kill any better than the others , and although I'v only shot a few of their over priced bullets , they ( Barnes ) didn't shoot as well as some of the others .
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Colonel PlinkColonel Plink Member Posts: 16,460
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by 375H&H
    Colonel , have you tried the Ballistic tips or Seirra's Blitzkings or Hornady's SX or vmax bullets ? [:)]
    They all shoot fantastic out of 22-250's and the 225 win .
    Just seems to me that anything that has "Barnes" printed on the box = twice the price tag [xx(]
    Dead is dead , Barnes bullets don't kill any better than the others , and although I'v only shot a few of their over priced bullets , they ( Barnes ) didn't shoot as well as some of the others .


    I'll never replace the Nosler 55-grain ballistic tips that get such good accuracy.

    But every once in a while, my curiosity gets the best of me and I want to play around at the reloading bench. I'm told this is normal for a man my age.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sandman375sandman375 Member Posts: 4 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by 375H&H
    Just seems to me that anything that has "Barnes" printed on the box = twice the price tag [xx(]
    Dead is dead , Barnes bullets don't kill any better than the others , and although I'v only shot a few of their over priced bullets , they ( Barnes ) didn't shoot as well as some of the others .

    I don't know about the Barnes VG, but I have loaded a lot of the Barnes big game bullets (TSX and TTSX) and have found them to be extraordinarily accurate. Compared to other premium big game bullets, the price is a bit more than the Partition and a lot less than the A-Frame.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Rocky RaabRocky Raab Member Posts: 14,438 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Have tried six powders so far and even preliminary loads are promising. Best group so far with the new 30-gr Hornet VG was .48" for four of five shots, with a flyer to .70" - at 3200 fps. From a standard Hornet.

    Several groups at or under an inch (the usual five shots at 100 yards).

    In short, looking good.
    I may be a bit crazy - but I didn't drive myself.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • AmbroseAmbrose Member Posts: 3,209 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Rocky; Are you using Lil'Gun? It groups better than any other powder in my 77/22 Hornet. Fast, too with no pressure signs.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Rocky RaabRocky Raab Member Posts: 14,438 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Well, of COURSE I am! The other five are AA1680, AA-9, I4227, W296 and 2400. Detailed results will be in my article, but there is no moss on the LilGun loads.
    I may be a bit crazy - but I didn't drive myself.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Rocky RaabRocky Raab Member Posts: 14,438 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ambrose, how's this?

    IMG_0881.jpg
    I may be a bit crazy - but I didn't drive myself.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Grunt2Grunt2 Member Posts: 2,525 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    We have burned up 400 rounds of the 36gr Grenades in 223 and 22-250. Hardly worth the effort. Couldn't find the sweet spot with any of the traditional powders and they were very poor performers on P-dogs. They have a profile of the 50gr. That's where we started...but I think Barnes has load data on their WEB site now. I'll stick to the Hornady 50gr V-Max...Good luck..!
    Retired LEO
    Combat Vet VN
    D.A.V Life Member
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Sign In or Register to comment.