.243 Win w/ Barnes Varmint Grenades

Andrew Davison

Andrew Davison

New member
Hello all, first time poster.

I posted a question on Leverguns.com and it was suggested I post my question over here as well.

I'm fixing to load up some test rounds in my 243 Win. using the 62gr. Barnes Varmint Grenade bullets. I've read conflicting reports. If I send these bullets along at 3500fps, will they:

A) Make a mess out of a coyote pelt?

or

B) The bullet will fragment inside the coyote?

I don't know who to believe but I'd like to keep some pelts. Should I stay with a harder, heavier bullet like an 85gr. TSX that it currently shoots.

Could I back the BVG's down to 3000 fps or so and have minimal pelt damage.?

What say you.?
 
Andrew, I have read the same thing. I think that it is hit and miss, when you hit a bone, the bone becomes a secondary projectile, which can and does happen with all bullets.

I have had good luck with 42.3g of IMR or H 4350, Win primer, with the 100g Hornady BTSP on coyote pelts...barely a trickle of blood on the exit with DRT results.

Good luck!
 
Originally Posted By: ackleymanI have had good luck with 42.3g of IMR or H 4350, Win primer, with the 100g Hornady BTSP on coyote pelts...barely a trickle of blood on the exit with DRT results.

Good luck!

I've loaded 87gr Hornady FBSP with 3031 and the one coyote I shot at 120yds was blown apart...literally. Insides were on a Joshua tree and the exit hole was about softball size. Entry point was forward of the left hip bone and exit point was just aft of the right side of the rib cage by the diaphragm.

Seems shot placement would be a factor... I would think as ackleyman experienced, a heavy bullet in the right place would have more energy retained as it passes through the soft tissue.

Good Luck!
 
Seems like I read some where that the Varmint Grenades were made for smaller game like Rock Chucks, P-Dogs - and sage rats. and not really suited for yote size critters.



I tell ya one Bullet for sure stay away from on yotes if ya want to KEEP the fur and that is the 80 Gr Nosler Ballistic tips. They will put a yote DRT with a exit hole big enough to put your foot in. I don't keep the fur so I do use them. I hit one yote in the neck @ 160 Yds. and almost decapitated the poor thing literally. They are accurate also.

DAB
 
i tried them last year in my .243 ackley. very accurate. the problem was they tend to splash upon impact on a yote. i would stick with a v-max or some other b-tip. i've had good luck with sierra 60 grain hollow points as well. just my $.02.
 
Originally Posted By: rwcathunteri tried them last year in my .243 ackley. very accurate. the problem was they tend to splash upon impact on a yote. i would stick with a v-max or some other b-tip. i've had good luck with sierra 60 grain hollow points as well. just my $.02.

+1
 
a few of my friends have used them and DRT but nothing left to sew up ....not a fur friendly projectile, I have hit many with 55gr v-max in .223 and a few with 75gr v-max in .243 and results were great dead right there and small entrance no exit
other then one I hit in the side of the throat at 270-280yards flat out ....I led him a bit to much ....looked like an explosive throat lozenge.
 
I shot them in my .223 and could not get them to group as well as the Sierra and Hornady boolits. Tried them in the .243 and the results were the same. So, I gave them to a friend in Indiana and sold what I had remaining to a buyer in California. Some folks have good results with them, but my experience has not been so positive.
 
Originally Posted By: Lee and PennyI was going to buy some Varmint gernades also for coyote. Any other comments about them????

Lee



I can't legally shoot lead bullets at coyotes, I have to shoot lead free bullets. The Barnes 62 gr Varmint Grenades grouped pretty good for me but I was not at all impressed with them on coyotes. I would much rather be shooting the 75 gr V-Max's I use to shoot. The Varmint Grenades don't seem to be as explosive as the good lead bullets are. I almost always had a exit hole on coyotes with the Barnes 62 gr VG's. Not big holes but part of the VG was exiting. I wouldn't use any lead free bullet unless I had to for small game and coyotes.

The Ballistic Coefficient on the 62 gr VG is .199, the BC on the 75 gr V-max is .330.

The lead free bullets are very long for what they weigh.
 


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