Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints 36-Grain Varmint Grenades in the .221 FB

Have you tried the Barnes 36-Grain Varmint Grenades in a .221 Fireball rifle? If so, what were your experiences?

Thanks,
Rich

My observations shooting them in a Contender carbine in .221 FB.

They have a poor BC (noticably more drop than a comparable 40 gr. Vmax).
They were not as accurate as I had hoped (I would not base an entire trip shooting pds on their ability to hit distant targets)
They are overpriced based on other varmint style bullets.
I wouldn't buy them again unless I had to.

"I wouldn't buy them again unless I had to."

Unfortunately, I have to! I'm in California, and faced with the task of converting all of my center-fire's over to lead free projectiles.

What powder did you use?

Thanks for the input.
Rich

The gun

Contender carbine w/18" Bullberry (Shilen blank) 1-12 twist, .221 FB. Very accurate setup capable of 300 yd. shots with little trouble and choice of bullet.

I tried RL-7 and AA 1680 both of which worked well with everything in that gun.

Its not that these bullets were necessarily inaccurate but considering that they cost the same as a box of Bergers...not in the same class.

Try them, they may be the best thing that ever happened to your gun. They were not for my gun.