barnes varmint grenades

[brad]

just been reading a couple other post about these little buggers and was wondering has anybody used them in 22/250 ?
what sort of accuracy have you got (in any calibre) and how well do they splat ?
as i mentioned i've read about them but want to hear first hand from someone who has used them !!!!!!!!

[czt3]

I have not tried em cause they are too dear compared to other qualityand well proven pills like BTs and V-max!

[crowbuster]

The latest Australian Shooter magazine has an article on them worth checking out & actually they are quite competitively priced.

I was up at Cleavers today finalising my CZ 204 purchase & noticed they had them on special for $29 /100 box (normal price @$34). This compares well with other quality brand bullets. Anyway I bought 2 boxes & can't wait to give them a go. Supposed to be suitable for ultra high velocity calibres but unfortunately only in .224 at the moment.

CB

[HiWall]

Someone (it may even have been Cleavers) isadvertising them in the latest SSAA mag in .243 - not that I would ever use them in a .243 - but I will try them in my .240Wby

[crowbuster]

You're right HiWall they are also available in 62 gn .243 calibre as well as 36 gn .224. I reckon the .243 round would be great for long range on varmints in windy conditions.

I am hoping they do a 204 version soon.......

CB

[Aussie steve]

Hi Brad, just been up to our farm, and with my Tikka .22-.250 varmint I was able to get 4460 fps with the 36 grain bullets and winchester 748 powder, without undue pressure. At 100 meters I had 4 shots touching, with the fifth shot being about 5 mm away from the rest.
My mate who was with me loaded some up in his .223 (about 3600 fps) and head shot a rabbit with one, and believe me they are well named!
just dont try and shoot bigger animals than foxes with them as I think that they will lack penetration
Cheers
Steve

[dave]

Can someone list what cals they make this bullet for please, cant seem to find any info and havent got a new mag lately! ta...

[bimbo]

i will have to check but i think there is on .224 and .243 at this stage. in the article in the australian shooter mag it listed them as only being available in .224

[Simpson]

Cleavers has them on their specials page in the SSAA mag. They list 224 and 243.

[7mmmag]

Hi Brad, just been up to our farm, and with my Tikka .22-.250 varmint I was able to get 4460 fps

Sound like a barrel burner

[Drew Jaeger]

Barnes currently have a 36gr .224 and 62gr .243 in their Varmint Grenade line.

http://www.barnesbullets.com/products/r ... t-grenade/

In 2008 Barnes will add a 26gr .204 and 50gr .224 to the Varmint Grenade line.

http://www.barnesbullets.com/products/c ... t-grenade/

[Rem 222]

Am a Hornet fan; quiet ( necessary for where I do a bit of rabbit shooting) and will go out to 150+ yds- enouugh for me.

Any idea at load data for standard Hornet.

Note that Winchester, article I read a few months ago in shooting mag, released 35 and 40 grain Hornet bullets.

Also, have purchased some " no name brand' brass for Hornet.

Given life expectancy issues with Hornet brass, is anyone aware of "quality" brass for this much ignored calibre?

[HiWall]

Am a Hornet fan; quiet ( necessary for where I do a bit of rabbit shooting) and will go out to 150+ yds- enouugh for me.

Any idea at load data for standard Hornet.

Winchester W296 will give you the highest velocity in the Hornet. It is a ball powder so don't go below the minimum listed loads with it. Work up carefully in small increments - big things happen fast in small cases.
AR2205 is the best of the Aussie powder for the Hornet but at a sizeable loss in velocity compared with W296.

Note that Winchester, article I read a few months ago in shooting mag, released 35 and 40 grain Hornet bullets.

They are the normal weights for Hornet bullets. Heaps of different types around. I use Sierras and Hornady V Max in my Brno ZKW465

Also, have purchased some " no name brand' brass for Hornet.

Given life expectancy issues with Hornet brass, is anyone aware of "quality" brass for this much ignored calibre?

I use Winchester and also have a couple of hundred Sako brass - had to buy loaded rounds to get the Sako stuff. Hornet case life is pretty good providing you only size the necks and don't try to get 'super fast' speed with hot loads. Have found that sizing only about 80% of the neck and leaving the bottom portion of the neck at fired diameter greatly increases the accuracy of my rifle - keeps the round nicely lined up in the chamber.

[Knackers]

I tried some loadings with the Granades Tuesday arvo, when the wind stopped blowing.

I had two loads 26gns of 2206 and 26.5gns 2206, I loaded ten of each for starters.

I fired a few warming rounds first up.

The 26gn loads were a bit ordinary, but a bit better than the 26.5gns.
1st group was 1.420" with 4 of them going into .776".

The 2nd group was .893" with 3 of them going into .200". This was out of a CZ 527 .223 sporter weight barrel with bi-pod and rear bag at 100 yards.

The next load was the 26.5gns and the 1st group was 1.318" with 2 going .226" and 3 of them going .469" but the two seperate groups were almost an inch apart.

The 2nd group was .816" with the holes in a diamond shaped pattern.

I only have an eight power scope on my .223, so it makes it a bit hard to do real target work, but I will persit.

I will keep tweeking around with the Granades with the .223 and my .22.250 and post my results.

[crowbuster]

Look forward to hearing your results Knackers. Those sporter weight CZs sure are accurate little rifles.
I bought a couple of grenade boxes too & will do some testing when I have the time. Trouble is my reloading manual doesn't list powder loads for projectiles under 40gns, but I'm guessing that you use a bit less powder for a 36gn projectile.

CB