Here's a surprise

Contenderizer · #1 04-26-2008, 04:42 PM

I've been reloading 22 Hornets using Remington 45 gr HPs. I decided to change to 36 gr HPs, so I purchased a box of Barnes Varmint Grenades to play around with. Much to my surprise, the lighter Barnes bullets were considerably longer than the Remingtons (.697 " vs .520"). Is there any lead in the Barnes or are they pure copper? The box doesn't say.

Rocky Raab · #2 04-26-2008, 06:42 PM

Neither. They are filled with a non-lead solidified metal powder. Barnes does not say what it is, or how they make it. They do say it contains no lead. Being less dense (and having a HUGE nose cavity) they are longer than you'd expect.

Barnes seems to be getting ahead of what many see as the end of lead bullets due to whacko-inspired bans.

Contenderizer · #3 05-08-2008, 10:56 AM

Thanks Rocky. I gave the bullets a try and the results were the worst I have ever experienced. Through my 14" Contender K-Hornet barrel, most of the shots didn't even hit the paper.

The bullets were set on top of 10.5 gr of IMR 4227 using new Hornet brass. With an OAL of 1.720 I ended-up with a compressed load due to the longer bullet length. The shots were so erratic that I finally took the target down and fired into the sand pile in an attempt to see were they were going. I don't know if the barrel couldn't stabilize the longer bullet, or if some of the bullets were coming apart on the way to the target, but the results were awful. The resulting fire-formed brass looked normal.

Any thoughts?

Rocky Raab · #4 05-08-2008, 11:08 AM

None yet. I've just barely started working with that bullet. I got 2" groups with it in my Hornet rifle, compared to its usual 0.6". I plan to try a bit faster powder than LilGun, and 4227 is on my list. First up is H110, which works extremely well with Calhoon 37-grainers, which is another long-for-weight bullet.

My usual Calhoon load is WW brass, FL sized, Rem 6 1/2 primer, 11.0 H110 (easy to remember, huh?) and a medium Lee Factory Crimp. It gets 3100 fps.

Contenderizer · #5 05-08-2008, 01:34 PM

If you can get 3100 fps with the Barnes bullets you will give new meaning to the name "Grenade."

Keep me informed. In the meantime can you recommend a bullet in the mid-30 gr weight, normal length, for target use? I have some Winchester factory loads (36 gr JHP) that shoot great, but I can't find just the bullets. It has always been my understanding that we should be using bullets "made" for the Hornet (which the Barnes isn't), for best results.