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I have a box of Barnes original 250 grain 308 caliber bullets and I'd like to load and shoot a few of these. Anyone ever shot any of these? Any suggestions on finding load data? Might use one on a wild boar this fall. Going to load them in a 30-06
What.308 caliber cartidge are you wanting to use them in?
http://www.barnesbullets.com/information/load-data/data308/
but 220gr is max what you can find...

One of the last boxes of centerfire ammo I bought before starting reloading was the Barnes 250 gr in 300 Win. This was because I was having factory WW Silvertips fail to penetrate thru our puny Sitka deer at less than 50 yds broadside. Never had a 250 stay inside an animal, but I only bought I box.

My Hodgdon #25 (which I one of the first loading manuals I ever bought) has data for the 250 gr in .308 W, '06, 300 Win, 300 H+H, and 300 Roy. Mostly H4350 and H4831, but some H870. You can usually "eyeball" the IMR powder loadings off these. I can post if you want to know any of this data.
Originally Posted by Lives2Hunt
I have a box of Barnes original 250 grain 308 caliber bullets and I'd like to load and shoot a few of these. Anyone ever shot any of these? Any suggestions on finding load data? Might use one on a wild boar this fall.


I've played around a bit with that old bullet in the .30-06. My brother wanted to try the 250 Barnes on black bear from his Browning Auto, so it was a double whammy in developing a load that would shoot well but would also reliably cycle the semi-auto's action.

I settled on 2 loads after working off and on for several weeks:

52/IMR4831 for 2288 fps
54/R-22 for 2294 fps

The first load was the most accurate, so he went with it. Alas, he never found a big blackie to field-test the bullet.
The trajectory of that bullet in a 308 ought to be interesting..

kind of like a mortar round..
I bought 3 boxes of Barnes factory loads 250 gr RN for my 06 in early 80,s. Shot a raghorn Elk with one. It stepped up just as
I shot and split horn base killed it right there! They shoot right
to 100 yard zero with my 180 gr load 2" high @ 100 in my 760 06.
Muskeg Man I'm looking for load data for the 30-06 with H4350 or any other powders. Thanks
I wish they still made them I wanted to get a couple of boxes. If you want some data, I have the old barnes manual with the loads and can look them up.
Found some 30-06 data 47 gr of IMR 4831 for 2100 FPS with Barnes 250 bullets.
Originally Posted by Seafire
The trajectory of that bullet in a 308 ought to be interesting..

kind of like a mortar round..


Never tried 250's out of a .308, but with 3 or 4 different powders the best I could get 220's to do out of a 20" .308 was 2150 fps. I figure 250's would be in the 1800-1900 fps range.
Here's the data - published in 1986
26" test bbl
Std large rifle primer
308 Win - commercial brass (manufacturer not specified)

250 gr bullet:

H4831
start - 43.0 gr / 1,990 fps / 40.6 kCUP
max - 45.0 / 2,099 fps / 47.0 kCUP

H4350
start - 41.0 gr / 1,988 fps / 41.4 kCUP
max - 43.0 / 2,083 fps / 47.1 kCUP

H414
start - 41.0 gr / 2,009 fps / 43.1 kCUP
max - 43.0 / 2,142 fps / 49.0 kCUP

H380
start - 40.0 gr / 2,025 fps / 44.6 kCUP
max - 41.0 / 2,088 fps / 50.2 kCUP



For the 30-06, Quickload lists 48.8 grains of IMR 4350 for 55K and 2240 fps.

This is using a setting for military brass case capacity and a 22" barrel. I'd work up to the load if you use it. Quickload generally does a good job of estimating the velocity/pressure relationship, but not as well with charge/velocity or charge/pressure relationships.
Brainfart on my part - you wanted '06 data.

26" test bbl
Std large rifle primer
30-06 - commercial brass (manufacturer not specified)

250 gr bullet:

H4831
start - 52.0 gr / 2,086 fps / 45.2 kCUP
max - 54.0 / 2,180 fps / 48.0 kCUP

H4350
start - 48.0 gr / 2,049 fps / 43.2 kCUP
max - 50.0 / 2,131 fps / 46.5 kCUP
That's roughly what my older Barnes manuel says.
Be advised those bullets don't open well at reduced impact speeds. E
Originally Posted by MuskegMan
Brainfart on my part - you wanted '06 data.

26" test bbl
Std large rifle primer
30-06 - commercial brass (manufacturer not specified)

250 gr bullet:

H4831
start - 52.0 gr / 2,086 fps / 45.2 kCUP
max - 54.0 / 2,180 fps / 48.0 kCUP

H4350
start - 48.0 gr / 2,049 fps / 43.2 kCUP
max - 50.0 / 2,131 fps / 46.5 kCUP


How much MV would be lost using a 18" barrel verses the 26" test barrel used in the data above?

I'd say 25 fps/in, so 200 fps +/-
Originally Posted by MuskegMan

I'd say 25 fps/in, so 200 fps +/-


Do you think they would still open up at that speed?
ive heard of faster loads for one off rifles using rl 17 outta a .308, does anyone know the load im thinking of?
I've ben rel;oaing since 1983...Got a barnes reloading manual #3 with that info in it. recommends reloader #22 ---74 grains max so as always take of 10% to start... If you change your mind Ill take them projectiles of your hands
so sor that is the 300 weatherby 30-06 is Reloader #19 51.5 grain max
No loading data but I bought a box of 30-06 250 grain RNSP loaded by Circle B ammunition. Will lost report after firing.
Originally Posted by MuskegMan
Here's the data - published in 1986
26" test bbl
Std large rifle primer
308 Win - commercial brass (manufacturer not specified)

250 gr bullet:

H4831
start - 43.0 gr / 1,990 fps / 40.6 kCUP
max - 45.0 / 2,099 fps / 47.0 kCUP

H4350
start - 41.0 gr / 1,988 fps / 41.4 kCUP
max - 43.0 / 2,083 fps / 47.1 kCUP

H414
start - 41.0 gr / 2,009 fps / 43.1 kCUP
max - 43.0 / 2,142 fps / 49.0 kCUP

H380
start - 40.0 gr / 2,025 fps / 44.6 kCUP
max - 41.0 / 2,088 fps / 50.2 kCUP
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]
Originally Posted by MuskegMan
Brainfart on my part - you wanted '06 data.

26" test bbl
Std large rifle primer
30-06 - commercial brass (manufacturer not specified)

250 gr bullet:

H4831
start - 52.0 gr / 2,086 fps / 45.2 kCUP
max - 54.0 / 2,180 fps / 48.0 kCUP

H4350
start - 48.0 gr / 2,049 fps / 43.2 kCUP
max - 50.0 / 2,131 fps / 46.5 kCUP

I'd run H4831. Don't want to burn up the box I have though.
In Finn Aagaard's article on the 30-06 in his NRA book "Hunting Rifles & Cartridges," he reports using 53 grains of IMR-4831 as a max load under the 250-grain Barnes RNSP, getting 2,300 fps in a 22" barrel. I'd start around 49 grains and work up.

The point was to test the 250 Barnes against more modern designs, and the Barnes did not fare well.

Quote
The performance of the 200- and 250-grain RNSP bullets was rather disappointing. They had a tendency to come apart or lose their lead cores, and the 200-gr. boat tail bettered them, while the 180-grain Hornady came within a hair of matching them. If these bullets have any purpose, it is as stoppers to be slammed into large, heavy-boned game at close range. I have to infer that they are not up the the work.

Later in the article, he advocates for the 180-grain Nosler Partition as an all-around choice, and says
Quote
...when the utmost in bone-smashing penetration is imperative, the 200-gr. Nosler Partition bullet is the only way to go.

Many years ago I tried the 250 Barnes in a 24" 1903 Springfield with H4831 (?). I think I got something like 2,150 fps.

I still have a few on my loading bench.


Okie John
Originally Posted by okie john
In Finn Aagaard's article on the 30-06 in his NRA book "Hunting Rifles & Cartridges," he reports using 53 grains of IMR-4831 as a max load under the 250-grain Barnes RNSP, getting 2,300 fps in a 22" barrel. I'd start around 49 grains and work up.

The point was to test the 250 Barnes against more modern designs, and the Barnes did not fare well.

Quote
The performance of the 200- and 250-grain RNSP bullets was rather disappointing. They had a tendency to come apart or lose their lead cores, and the 200-gr. boat tail bettered them, while the 180-grain Hornady came within a hair of matching them. If these bullets have any purpose, it is as stoppers to be slammed into large, heavy-boned game at close range. I have to infer that they are not up the the work.

Later in the article, he advocates for the 180-grain Nosler Partition as an all-around choice, and says
Quote
...when the utmost in bone-smashing penetration is imperative, the 200-gr. Nosler Partition bullet is the only way to go.

Many years ago I tried the 250 Barnes in a 24" 1903 Springfield with H4831 (?). I think I got something like 2,150 fps.

I still have a few on my loading bench.


Okie John


I agree with this:

1. The 250gr Barnes originals are cool to have on the reloading bench.
2. If you really want something that penetrates and kills well, use a 200gr Nosler partitions.
I loaded them warm in a 30-06 and shot a cow elk with one. I recovered the bullet, and it is in my collection of recovered bullets along with the wound specifics. Haven't thought about it for years. Will have dig it out and photograph it.
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