Gents,

I posted this on the Varmint Hunting forum by mistake... So here it is as a repeat.

Do any of you have any experience with the Barne's Varmint Grenades?

As some of you know, California is going lead-free, and I'm in a position to find a new bullet that is accurate in my rifle(s) and that I can afford to shoot for ground squirrels.

I have (2) 250 packs of the 50gr. Grenades, but my initial testing was a total failure! The twists in my current rifles are too slow to stabilize these bullets and they are tumbling.
100 yard targets show the full bullet profile! This has occurred with both my .22-250, & my .222 Rem.

I've since bought a Ruger Mini-14 Target (before they make them illegal here), and it shoot's 50 & 55 gr lead bullets into an inch @ 100.

I'm looking for feedback and or a proven load that works with these bullets...

You need some of the 36-grain VG's, which are made for 1-14 twist barrels like those in your rifles.

VG's shoot pretty well in the right twist. They also expand pretty well, though not like plastic-tipped bullets.

The Barnes 30gr VG Hornet bullet and the Hornady 35 gr NTX work real good for me, I did slow down the Hornet bullet just in case it might come apart in flight, with my 26" 22-250 I have 4200 plus fps with the 35gr NTX, makes a mess, I get ok accuracy with the 36gr VGs, I ordered a 225 Win in 1-10 twist just for them, haven't found the time to shoot it yet

SEM,

What powder(s) are you using?
This sounds promising!

shotgunjock,

Here are some results I've gotten with lead-free bullets in a Sako .222 with a 20" barrel. Groups are 5-shot--
30 Barnes Varmint Grenade: 20.0 W296, 3948 fps, 1.24"
35 Nosler Ballistic Tip LF: 21.5 LT-30, 3411 fps, .52"
43 Speer TNT Green: 21.5 RL-7, 3409 fps, .72

From a 22" barreled Savage .22-250:
35 Nosler Ballistic Tip LF: 38.5 TAC, 4251 fps, .94"

The 36 grain VGs shoot very well from my CZ527 in 221 Fireball.

Like HOW well, Prowler? What twist? Powders?

Just curious about what my "lead free" options might be.

About 0.5 to 0.7" at 100 yds using AA1680 at about 3500 fps. Twist is 1:14 if IFRC.

OK, good. I'm running a 14 twist in mine, so that's good news.

More options better!

sorry haven't checked back in, shotgunjock, Tac has given my best results in the 22-250 the 30gr bullet at sataring loads for 40 gr lead bullets gave good accuracy the 35gr NTX at all I can fit max load also very good 1.0 at 200 yards and playing around with the 223 reduced loads blue dot and Steel loads 13 to 14 grains shoots the 30 grainer at .5 at 50 yards 14 gr of HS-7 same hole. my 22-250 is 1-14 the 223 is 1-12

I tried some 50g in a .223 bolt gun when they first came out with RL-7 and it was a disappointment with groups running 2.5-3.5".

As SEM mentioned the 35g. NTX out of a 22-250 gives gruesome explosions when pushed to 4329 fps again with RL-7. Trajectory was flat but that Rem VSSF Ver.1 is a treasured shooter and I didn't want to toast that barrel.

I haven't tried out any of the recent production VG and perhaps their performance is improved.

I've only tried them in .204. They stunk it up. There are plenty of bullets that are accurate in my rifle. I'm done with the VGs.

Tom

Hmm, must have gotten a bad batch. I've has them average right around half an inch for 5-shot groups at 100 in two .204's.