.223 pet loads, Barnes varmint grenade

[cornbush]

Anybody have any pet loads using the 36gr. Varmint grenade in a .223?
My rifle is a 1:9 twist.
Headin out for some sod poodles in a couple weeks and would like to try some of these.

[T. O'Heir]

You must work up the load for your rifle. No two rifles, even two identical, consecutively numbered, rifles will shoot the same ammo the same way.
There's some data for 36 grain VG's on Barnes' site.
http://www.barnesbullets.com/images/223RemingtonWeb.pdf

[cornbush]

I know my rifle will be different than someone elses.
I am an expeienced reloader and just dont want to drop the change for the barnes manual to see if I like their bullets.
Just looking for a good starting point.
Does anybody have any loads using IMR4895, H4895, H335, I know to reduce and work up.
This is my biggest problem with Barnes bullets is the reloading data.

[Qtiphky]

I used Benchmark at a load of 25 grains with a 36 grain Varmint Grenade. Out of my rifle it is right under an inch at 100 yards. Haven't had a chance to explore these rounds further as my two associates (read in young sons) who come shooting with me don't have the patience to spend a whole day in scientific research.

I don't think they are really fast loads, but hitting a small target far away requires knowing where your round will go, not necessarily faster.

[Jim243]

I am not sure, but 36 grain bullets are a little light for a 1 in 9 twist, better suited for a 1 in 12 twist.


Jim

[cornbush]

The bullets were given to me, I normally shoot 55gr pills.
Might try the benchmark, I have a hard time buying the Barnes manual because I rarely ever use their bullets.
As far as velocity goes I don't care if they are screamin loads, usually the screamers are not the most accurate for me anyway.

Thanks.

[Jim243]

That's not the problem, the faster twist might rip the bullet apart as they come out the barrel and pepper everyone around you with peices of lead. The mfg suggest a 1 in 14 twist for that bullet.

Jim

[cornbush]

I have shot 35 gr. V-MAX, 40gr. Ballistic Tips, they work fine if not pushed super fast.
The only thing that might get peppered is a prarie dog or groung squirrel.
I've been there when 40gr bullets came unglued out of a 220 swift.
As I said before I'm just looking for a good starting point.
Are these the ideal bullet for my rifle? Probably not. Am I going to shoot them? Yes.

[Jim243]

Ok it sounds like you understand, the only ones I use are Hornady's V-Max and A-Max, I think they are a much better bullet. I have been there when some cheap 50 grainers I've used never reached the 100 yard mark. It's a pain when you are trying to see where the bullet holes are and you can't find it because the bullet blew up 50 yards out, or your target looks like it was shot with a shotgun.

Have fun and stay safe.

Jim

[cornbush]

Ya, the 40 grain bullets out of the swift would not make it 50 yards, at 25 you could start to see pieces. They were almost vaporizing.

[sk330lc]

I have played with the 36gr V-Grenade in a 16" RRA 1-9" barrel. Best Velocity was Given By BL-C(2) with groups under 1" @100 Best groups was Given with RL-7. .400" 5 shots @100yards. Great Bullet for ground hogs.

Other powders I tried were H355, AA2230, IMR4198, and Varget. Could Not get groups under 1" so I gave up on them. Not saying your Barrel Might not Like one of them.

The New Lyman Manual Gives Lots of load data, for this Bullet in the 223 Rem. The 36gr Bullet is about the Same length of a 55gr cup and lead core Bullet. It's not about weight with Barnes bullets its about length. the Longer the Bullet the More twist is needed.
They work great in the fast 1-9" twist.

[Qtiphky]

I got my loads directly from Barnes website before they remodeled it. I haven't checked it in a few months though. Like I said, it was not a fast load as it was the minimum starting point. I have seen no evidend of bullet disintegration with the ones that I have shot. Will I buy the 36 grainers again, no, my gun likes more middle range bullets and shoots them quite well. I do like Barnes bullets though and use them in my deer rifles with great results in both accuracy and stopping power.

[cornbush]

Loaded some up, we'll see how they do.

[Qtiphky]

Just looked at Barnes website and their load data is back up. Nothing changed.

[McClintock]

I've used the 36 gr. Varmint Grenades in a Savage bolt gun with a 1:9 twist barrel, and they worked okay, though they printed about 4" higher than 55 grain HP, which were what the gun was originally zeroed with. Used 26.0 gr. Varget (chrono'd at avg. 3200 fps) for the smallest groups (roughly 1MOA) I was able to get.

Utterly devastating on gophers... you may find only half of the animal remaining, depending on where you hit them.

Obviously YMMV, but they worked in my rifle. Are they the ideal bullet for that gun? Probably not. Are they fun? Absolutely!

Cheers!
McClintock

[Dave R]

FWIW, I use a 40gr. V-Max in a 1:9 AR for varmit hunting. No problems with bullets coming apart, yet...not too far from the bullets you're using.

I use 27gr. of H335, lit by a CCI small rifle magnum primer. That load is based on Speer #13 manual.

[SL1]

For what it's worth, the Barnes manual lists TAC powder as their most accurate load for the 36 grain Varmint Grenade bullet in the .223 Remington cartridge. But, they used a 1:12" twist 24" barrel. Loads for the TAC were start at 27.5 grains for 3681 fps with max at 29.5 grains for 3876 fps. But, frankly, the same powder was NOT the "most accurate" for that bullet in other cartridges, nor for other bullets in the .223 Remington, so I wouldn't put too much faith in that powder having any magic accuracy potential for your gun.

Barnes does not give data for any of the powders you list. Barnes only has data for IMR-4198, XMR-2015, RL-7, Benchmark, X-terinator, and TAC with this bullet in the .223.

SL1

[cornbush]

I loaded some up with 27 gr of h335, we'll see how the prarie dogs like 'em.

[cornbush]

They worked great!
Point of impact is about 2 inches higher, but windage is the same.
The local ground squirrel population doesn't like 'em.
I will definately be loading more, might try the 50 grain too.

[Dave R]

2" higher than standard 55gr loads? That's normal. They're lighter and faster.

[Tacoma]

Try some blue dot behind those little pills. You can get some very interesting results by loading them anywhere from (whisper quiet) 1200fps to full blown 3200fps velocities by using between 4 and 12 grains of this good stuff. Because it's fast burning, it's quieter and produces much less muzzle flash. POI is similar to a 55 gr @ 100yds. Consequently, Blue Dot behind any number of 35-45 gr pills has become very popular for varminting in close quarters. If you google search "bluedot .223" you'll find detailed discussions on these interesting loads on several other sites.
hth

[cornbush]

I figured they would be a little high, I was very pleased that I needed no windage adjustment.

[ForneyRider]

Not much luck with those. I did min to max of AA2230 with the 36gr VG out of my 20in AR 1:9tw barrel. I never got better than a .7in group. My worst group from 40gr to 75gr loads.