Barnes varmint grenades in a 22 hornet

I have an old savage in 22 hornet and tried to work up a load with the varmint grenades and I could NOT get them to shoot no matter what I did, One load with H110 I couldn’t even hit the target at a 100yrd. Put 40gr Sierra HP in front of some 296 and back to ¾ “ groups. So mine did not like them. Rich K.
 
Quote:One load with H110 I couldn’t even hit the target at a 100yrd....It's always been my information that H110 was only usable in magnum level handgun rounds...Not sure using it in a small caliber rifle round would be really safe...Interesting experiment at any rate....
 
Originally Posted By: OldTurtleQuote:One load with H110 I couldn’t even hit the target at a 100yrd....It's always been my information that H110 was only usable in magnum level handgun rounds...Not sure using it in a small caliber rifle round would be really safe...Interesting experiment at any rate....

No, OT, Hodgdon shows loads for basically all bullet weights with H110. Never tried it myself, but many do, some with good results.
 
Just got them in the mail so will work up some loads to see how they do in my cz. It may take a few days as we have a storm front moving in tonight.
 
Originally Posted By: OldTurtleQuote:One load with H110 I couldn’t even hit the target at a 100yrd....It's always been my information that H110 was only usable in magnum level handgun rounds...Not sure using it in a small caliber rifle round would be really safe...Interesting experiment at any rate....

H110 is the powder of choice for the 300 Blackout. It works great.
 
I loaded them for my Savage 40 after establishing great accuracy with 35g Vmax and 34g Dogtowns over Lil Gun. I could not get them to group well.
 
Where I live in California I have to shoot lead free bullets at squirrels and coyotes. If I didn't have to there is no way I would shoot them.

The only good thing about Barnes Varmint Grenades is the name "Varmint Grenades".

They have lower BCs than lead varmint bullets and they do not exspand as reliably as good lead varmint bullets.
 
Originally Posted By: Rich_In_HangtownI have an old savage in 22 hornet and tried to work up a load with the varmint grenades and I could NOT get them to shoot no matter what I did, One load with H110 I couldn’t even hit the target at a 100yrd. Put 40gr Sierra HP in front of some 296 and back to ¾ “ groups. So mine did not like them. Rich K.

Those old 22 Hornets shot .223 bullets not the .224 we now shoot. Maybe that contribuited to you problems. I don't beleive it to unsafe, just a tighter fit. I don't like the VG's either, but they work ok if you must use them.

Tom
 
Originally Posted By: MGYSGTOriginally Posted By: Rich_In_HangtownI have an old savage in 22 hornet and tried to work up a load with the varmint grenades and I could NOT get them to shoot no matter what I did, One load with H110 I couldn't even hit the target at a 100 yrd. Put 40gr Sierra HP in front of some 296 and back to ¾ “ groups. So mine did not like them. Rich K.

Those old 22 Hornets shot .223 bullets not the .224 we now shoot. Maybe that contribuited to you problems. I don't beleive it to unsafe, just a tighter fit. I don't like the VG's either, but they work ok if you must use them.

Tom

There have been NO .223" diameter barrels made in 70 years, and Savages were always .224" diameter.

The problem is that 22 Hornets have very slow twists (16"), and Varmint Grenades are very long for their weight - so the bullets are not stabilizing.


.
 
Don't confuse the 36 grain varmint grenade with the 30 grainer, I haven't been able to get the 36s to shoot well, the 30s on the other hand shoot pretty good, H110 will be the powder of choice in my case for anything under 40 grain bullets. Maximun charges or depending on your rifle a bit over seems to work well. One of my Hornets is a Brno Hornet Sporter made in 1973 and it seems to shoot better with .223 dia. bullets than with the 224s. I have read that some of the european rifles had the tighter barrels but I have not slugged this barrel. It seems to me that every time you find a new fact about any of these subjects it brings up at least three more questions.
 
Originally Posted By: CatShooterOriginally Posted By: MGYSGTOriginally Posted By: Rich_In_HangtownI have an old savage in 22 hornet and tried to work up a load with the varmint grenades and I could NOT get them to shoot no matter what I did, One load with H110 I couldn't even hit the target at a 100 yrd. Put 40gr Sierra HP in front of some 296 and back to ¾ “ groups. So mine did not like them. Rich K.

Those old 22 Hornets shot .223 bullets not the .224 we now shoot. Maybe that contribuited to you problems. I don't beleive it to unsafe, just a tighter fit. I don't like the VG's either, but they work ok if you must use them.

Tom

There have been NO .223" diameter barrels made in 70 years, and Savages were always .224" diameter.

The problem is that 22 Hornets have very slow twists (16"), and Varmint Grenades are very long for their weight - so the bullets are not stabilizing.


.

The popular CZ hornets are not .224 unless they have recently changed. Also, a lot of hornets are 14" twists (some Rugers & Savages). If I remember correctly, some of the handi-rifles and t/c's even have 12 twist.
 
Just returned from the range this AM. Barnes 36gr varmint grenade over h110 keyholed, wide dispersion up, down, left and right. Rifle is new CZ 527. Shoots factory PRVI 45r hp 1" at 100meters.
 
Shot the 30gr in my 1:8 ruger american, pretty pleased with results on paper & a can of creamed corn. Quite dramatic honestly, and 3900 fps
 
I have a load worked up using the 36 gr Varmint Grenade in my 220 Swift and it is both accurate and an absolute screamer, well over 4200 fps. I have only shot coyotes with it and if you hit them center mass my experience is they do not exit. Hit them on the fringes and they will make a big mess.
I don't use them a lot as they do not do well in the wind, which we have a lot of in the winter here where I live. I load them with AA2700 powder.
I know you asked about 22 Hornet but wanted to chime in as someone who has had good luck with the bullet.
 
I’ve used them in a hornet and shot ok. I’ve owned 5 hornets over the years and most guns are junk for accuracy. The best hornet I had was a Cz and it could shoot 1/2” 100yds. Ruger I have found hand terrible accuracy. If it shoots like crap rebarrel or buy a different one.
 
If u use varmint grenades in a fast twist bbl with speed they will surface splash. I would think they would b perfec in a hornet
 
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