Barnes Varmint Grenade Test

SamSpade

SamSpade

New member
I tested the new 22 caliber 36 grain bullet from Barnes called the Varmint Grenade yesterday. I thought this would be a natural for my 222AI since I have been using 40 grain bullets. This rifle will shoot 3/8" groups all day long no matter which brand of 40 grainers you feed it. Results are on the target below. I used the same loading data for my 40gr loads. I did NOT do any further load development because I did not see any potential here. The sighter was shot with my regular load to be sure everything was okay with the equipment. BARNES VARMINT GRENADE
TargGrenade1.jpg

TargGrenade2.jpg
 
thanks for saving me the trouble of trying them myself! I had read about them, but hadn't tried em yet. it doesnt matter how good they fragment if you cant hit the target with em. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
Wish I had seen it sooner, the neighbor just ordered a box to try in his new AR. Maybe if he loads every other round, he can use them as a flashbang to stun them for the finishing shots /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif.
 
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I hope my 223 doesn't shoot like that I just bought 500 of those bullets!!!!!



Never buy 500 until you have bought 100 and tested them. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif

Who'd you buy them from - maybe you can return them??

.
 
While I'm having the same problem with Bergers, you might try pushing the powder charge up a little. It might stabilize them a little better. 4gr difference in bullet weight for light bullets can make a big difference.
 
Maybe with a different rifle and twist they may be just fine. I would guess that they were moving at 3400-3500 fps because my 40 gr loads are at 3300 fps.

??????
 
what rate of twist is your gun? what type of powder you using? Everyone I heard using them pushes them in the upper 3500 plus range.
 
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what rate of twist is your gun? what type of powder you using? Everyone I heard using them pushes them in the upper 3500 plus range.


Built the gun 10-12 years ago so I do not remember the twist. (Comes with old age) I use H4198.
 
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I hope my 223 doesn't shoot like that I just bought 500 of those bullets!!!!!



Never buy 500 until you have bought 100 and tested them. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif

Who'd you buy them from - maybe you can return them??

.



For anyone that bought more than they want to deal with - I would buy 50-100 from them just so I can try them out as well. If they don't shoot well it would be the first time I ever shot any kind of bullet thru my .221 that didn't.
 
If they come on wed I will work them up and try them out this weekend. if they dont shoot out of mine or my brothers guns I will send you some (skb2706) if you would like to try them.

Samspade, did you just put in the same amount of powder as you did on the other 40gr bullets or did you work with different amounts of powder??
 
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If they come on wed I will work them up and try them out this weekend. if they dont shoot out of mine or my brothers guns I will send you some (skb2706) if you would like to try them.

Samspade, did you just put in the same amount of powder as you did on the other 40gr bullets or did you work with different amounts of powder??



Just let me know. I'll pay what you got into them and shipping for some. See what they do in a 1-14 twisted .221 Shilen barrel. It should launch them out around 3250 at least thats what 40 Vmaxs do.
 
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Samspade, did you just put in the same amount of powder as you did on the other 40gr bullets or did you work with different amounts of powder??


I used the same load as the 40 grain. Thought if they shot an inch or so I could work from there.
 
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For anyone that bought more than they want to deal with - I would buy 50-100 from them just so I can try them out as well. If they don't shoot well it would be the first time I ever shot any kind of bullet thru my .221 that didn't.


PM me your address and I will send 50 or so no charge. I won't be trying them again because my 40's shoot fine so I don't need to fix anything.
 
if you are handing out bullets send some my way!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

my address is on the way!!!!
 
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I'd be happy to pay for a dozen or two to try out in my daughters 22-250AI...crank em up around 47-4800 and see how they shoot at that speed. PM me with the info and I'll be in touch. Thanks
 
Haven't posted in a long time but have been keeping up with this site. I wanted to tell you about my experience with this bullet. I bought 100 and between 2 of us shooters, I have about 50 left.

I have a NEF Handi Rifle with a .223 bull barrel and 1 in 12 twist. My favorite loads, in order of most to least accurate, are 40 - 50 grain Bergers, 40-50 grain Nosler BT and 50 grain Sierra Blitzkings. Powder is 26 grains of AA2230 and IMR4895.

At it's best the Varmint Grenades were almost as good as the Sierra Blitzkings. Since I already have 3 bullets better than the Grenade, I decided not to pursue experimenting with these.

One of my friends shoot 22 Hornets and he came to the same conclusion. They are OK but nothing to write home about.
 
I was just looking at another forum and someone had mentioned this which made me think.....

These varmint grenades may be a 36gr bullet but they are not the size and length of a regular 36gr bullet. they are the same size as a 50gr bullet. Since it is the same length as a 50gr bullet, why do people say that it would take a slower twist to shoot these bullets?

to me I would think that the size of the bullet would matter more than the weight of the bullet in determining the twist. Since these bullets are not made out of the conventional lead they are lighter???
 
well I just got back from the range today shooting these bullets. I shot a few bottles and have to say that I wasn't overly impressed with the performance on the bottles.

on paper: I had a group that measured .56" this is my 2nd batch of bullets I have ever reloaded so I am kindof excited about that group!! i only shot til I had this good group. (was a little sick)

I was using winchester brass, wsr primers, 26.1gr h335, and 36gr barnes v grenade. I shoot a win stealth 9" twist.

My brother shoots a ruger 12" twist and the best groups he could get on his was around 1" (pretty much the same groups as samspade on the top of the page) 26.1-26.5gr h335 were the best powders. I am going to play with the length on those gr powder charges to see if we can do any better.
 
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Update from the field. Very informal tests done on live creatures indicated to me that in my rifle, .221 FB 1-14 twist Shilen barrel they are prairie dog accurate at 200 yd. Not much past that. This would put them in the 1 1/2 - 2" group at 100. I did not have a chance to do alot of sightin but from what I have seen I have not been impressed. Its pretty tough to beat a Vmax for comparison and I always find myself going back to them no matter what else I try.
 


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