My first adventure with Barnes bullets !!!!!!!!!!
- Thread starter Hangtime
- Start date
Tim Neitzke
New member
Originally Posted By: MGYSGTI did use some Barnes a while ago. I just used load data for lead bullets and went from there. They worked ok until I hit a rib going in. Very explosive.
Tom
Which bullet ?
Tom
Which bullet ?
Hangtime
New member
Originally Posted By: SmokelessOriginally Posted By: Tim NeitzkeOriginally Posted By: SShooterZOriginally Posted By: Tim NeitzkeWhich inturn make more friction = more pressure,so now they have the "rings" to cut down on the bearing surface.
I did not know that and always wondered why the rings. Thanks!
No problem. I pierced my first primer, trying to put the speed to the old "X" bullet.
JMHO, This is why I stopped using the Barnes. Too much fiddling. Others are just straight forward.
Well, I can certainly agree with your last statement !!!!!!!
That's why I decided this will be my last foray into Barnes bullets, and NO, I will not be spending $50.00 for their "Copper Club" book.
I don't sweat the lighter bullets (50-55 gr.), as that's the weight I generally shoot. I decided this spring that I wanted to start experimenting with heavier bullets 70 gr. and above.
Earlier this spring I bought some Berger 70 gr. VLD bullets, and started experimenting around with them. I mostly used the RRA Varmit A4 Cyro 18" SS 1/8 for these experiments, but just couldn't seem to get a good enough group with the 70 gr. VLD's.
Then one afternoon a couple of weeks ago, I loaded about 15 of them except I switched to 24 gr. of the Data-68 powder. That was all it took, and I got an extremely good group. Just plain old dumb luck I guess. Brass looked extremely good, so I'm in the neighborhood for a shooting load with that bullet and powder.
Anyway, thanks to all that replied !!!!! I'll just take it slow and easy with the heavier Barnes bullets. I'm in no hurry, because as I said I won't be buying anymore Barnes components.
Thanks again,
Hangtime
I did not know that and always wondered why the rings. Thanks!
No problem. I pierced my first primer, trying to put the speed to the old "X" bullet.
JMHO, This is why I stopped using the Barnes. Too much fiddling. Others are just straight forward.
Well, I can certainly agree with your last statement !!!!!!!
That's why I decided this will be my last foray into Barnes bullets, and NO, I will not be spending $50.00 for their "Copper Club" book.
I don't sweat the lighter bullets (50-55 gr.), as that's the weight I generally shoot. I decided this spring that I wanted to start experimenting with heavier bullets 70 gr. and above.
Earlier this spring I bought some Berger 70 gr. VLD bullets, and started experimenting around with them. I mostly used the RRA Varmit A4 Cyro 18" SS 1/8 for these experiments, but just couldn't seem to get a good enough group with the 70 gr. VLD's.
Then one afternoon a couple of weeks ago, I loaded about 15 of them except I switched to 24 gr. of the Data-68 powder. That was all it took, and I got an extremely good group. Just plain old dumb luck I guess. Brass looked extremely good, so I'm in the neighborhood for a shooting load with that bullet and powder.
Anyway, thanks to all that replied !!!!! I'll just take it slow and easy with the heavier Barnes bullets. I'm in no hurry, because as I said I won't be buying anymore Barnes components.
Thanks again,
Hangtime
Squeeze
New member
Hangtime,
I am a bit late to the party, and I see you have come to a
conclusion others have arrived at. But I just want to toss
out the idea that Barnes bullets have a long and storied
reputation on the internet. Much of it is fiction spun by
people that have struggled to get old X-bullet versions to
shoot well, that has nothing to do with the newer generations
of Barnes bullets.
As reference, I do have a very dated Barnes
loading manual(x-bullet vintage), that I use for starting
points. Most of that data is published on-line for free.
I shoot a number of different Barnes X(Have a supply stashed
as they shoot lights out in a Savage Striker in 308 Win),
TSX, and Tipped TSX bullets. I would not get too hung up on
load data specific to Barnes. As Cat suggested you just need
a safe starting point, and then you have to work the load for
your rifle. Just start low to mid-range for a bullet with
your chosen weight and your chosen powder, and start testing
loads on paper, through a chrony. I have Barnes TSX/TTSX
loads for 300 WSM, 25-06 Rem., 6mm Rem., 6.8 SPC, 6mm WOA,
and 308 Win., that all shoot sub MOA. Probably the biggest
aid in attaining good groups with Barnes bullets, is to
keep them .030" to .060" off the lands. They like to jump
a bit. Not sure why, but that recommendation comes from
Barnes, and until I learned that, I struggled to get accurate
loads with Barnes bullets.
I choose to shoot Barnes bullets because of on-game
performance. A mean bullet that performs well at close
and long ranges. I shot a northern whitetail at 20
yards. Hit high shoulder came out low shoulder(under my
box blind). 4" hole through the shoulder blade, pudding
in the middle, 3" exit wound...Stumbled 20 yards. I shot
a WY antelope at 320 yards, with a 80 gr. 6mm TTSX. High
shoulder shot, DRT. It looked like an RPG hit the spine.
In all of the game taken with Barnes bullets, I have never
experienced the internet fabled lack of expansion in a
Barnes bullet. I have experienced violent expansion on
bone hits on entry. In all cases the bullets carried through,
did massive hydrostatic damage, and exited, or were found
under the skin on the far side(only one and it went through
a lot of bone at 400 yards).
FWIW
Squeeze
I am a bit late to the party, and I see you have come to a
conclusion others have arrived at. But I just want to toss
out the idea that Barnes bullets have a long and storied
reputation on the internet. Much of it is fiction spun by
people that have struggled to get old X-bullet versions to
shoot well, that has nothing to do with the newer generations
of Barnes bullets.
As reference, I do have a very dated Barnes
loading manual(x-bullet vintage), that I use for starting
points. Most of that data is published on-line for free.
I shoot a number of different Barnes X(Have a supply stashed
as they shoot lights out in a Savage Striker in 308 Win),
TSX, and Tipped TSX bullets. I would not get too hung up on
load data specific to Barnes. As Cat suggested you just need
a safe starting point, and then you have to work the load for
your rifle. Just start low to mid-range for a bullet with
your chosen weight and your chosen powder, and start testing
loads on paper, through a chrony. I have Barnes TSX/TTSX
loads for 300 WSM, 25-06 Rem., 6mm Rem., 6.8 SPC, 6mm WOA,
and 308 Win., that all shoot sub MOA. Probably the biggest
aid in attaining good groups with Barnes bullets, is to
keep them .030" to .060" off the lands. They like to jump
a bit. Not sure why, but that recommendation comes from
Barnes, and until I learned that, I struggled to get accurate
loads with Barnes bullets.
I choose to shoot Barnes bullets because of on-game
performance. A mean bullet that performs well at close
and long ranges. I shot a northern whitetail at 20
yards. Hit high shoulder came out low shoulder(under my
box blind). 4" hole through the shoulder blade, pudding
in the middle, 3" exit wound...Stumbled 20 yards. I shot
a WY antelope at 320 yards, with a 80 gr. 6mm TTSX. High
shoulder shot, DRT. It looked like an RPG hit the spine.
In all of the game taken with Barnes bullets, I have never
experienced the internet fabled lack of expansion in a
Barnes bullet. I have experienced violent expansion on
bone hits on entry. In all cases the bullets carried through,
did massive hydrostatic damage, and exited, or were found
under the skin on the far side(only one and it went through
a lot of bone at 400 yards).
FWIW
Squeeze
Roger London
New member
I just ordered a box of Barnes Vor-tx for my 7-08. Hoping it will be the saving grace for my new (to me) Win. Mod. 70. At least it will be something different from the run of the mill.
204 AR
Well-known member
Originally Posted By: SqueezeHangtime,
I am a bit late to the party, and I see you have come to a
conclusion others have arrived at. But I just want to toss
out the idea that Barnes bullets have a long and storied
reputation on the internet. Much of it is fiction spun by
people that have struggled to get old X-bullet versions to
shoot well, that has nothing to do with the newer generations
of Barnes bullets.
As reference, I do have a very dated Barnes
loading manual(x-bullet vintage), that I use for starting
points. Most of that data is published on-line for free.
I shoot a number of different Barnes X(Have a supply stashed
as they shoot lights out in a Savage Striker in 308 Win),
TSX, and Tipped TSX bullets. I would not get too hung up on
load data specific to Barnes. As Cat suggested you just need
a safe starting point, and then you have to work the load for
your rifle. Just start low to mid-range for a bullet with
your chosen weight and your chosen powder, and start testing
loads on paper, through a chrony. I have Barnes TSX/TTSX
loads for 300 WSM, 25-06 Rem., 6mm Rem., 6.8 SPC, 6mm WOA,
and 308 Win., that all shoot sub MOA. Probably the biggest
aid in attaining good groups with Barnes bullets, is to
keep them .030" to .060" off the lands. They like to jump
a bit. Not sure why, but that recommendation comes from
Barnes, and until I learned that, I struggled to get accurate
loads with Barnes bullets.
I choose to shoot Barnes bullets because of on-game
performance. A mean bullet that performs well at close
and long ranges. I shot a northern whitetail at 20
yards. Hit high shoulder came out low shoulder(under my
box blind). 4" hole through the shoulder blade, pudding
in the middle, 3" exit wound...Stumbled 20 yards. I shot
a WY antelope at 320 yards, with a 80 gr. 6mm TTSX. High
shoulder shot, DRT. It looked like an RPG hit the spine.
In all of the game taken with Barnes bullets, I have never
experienced the internet fabled lack of expansion in a
Barnes bullet. I have experienced violent expansion on
bone hits on entry. In all cases the bullets carried through,
did massive hydrostatic damage, and exited, or were found
under the skin on the far side(only one and it went through
a lot of bone at 400 yards).
FWIW
Squeeze
My experience with the Barnes tsx mirrors this. I shoot them when I'm on a serious hunt, when I don't want any "my bullet didn't perform" excuses. So far in I-don't-know-how-many deer shot, from bambies to trophies, no failures of any kind. And accurate, my 270 Wby shoots them into less than 3/4 moa to 650 yards at least. My buddy shoots a 7 Rum, and has the same experiences on deer and numerous elk also.
I can't comment on their target bullets, and I wasn't real impressed with the varmint grenades that I tried. The old lead core varminators, otoh are deadly accurate IME.
I am a bit late to the party, and I see you have come to a
conclusion others have arrived at. But I just want to toss
out the idea that Barnes bullets have a long and storied
reputation on the internet. Much of it is fiction spun by
people that have struggled to get old X-bullet versions to
shoot well, that has nothing to do with the newer generations
of Barnes bullets.
As reference, I do have a very dated Barnes
loading manual(x-bullet vintage), that I use for starting
points. Most of that data is published on-line for free.
I shoot a number of different Barnes X(Have a supply stashed
as they shoot lights out in a Savage Striker in 308 Win),
TSX, and Tipped TSX bullets. I would not get too hung up on
load data specific to Barnes. As Cat suggested you just need
a safe starting point, and then you have to work the load for
your rifle. Just start low to mid-range for a bullet with
your chosen weight and your chosen powder, and start testing
loads on paper, through a chrony. I have Barnes TSX/TTSX
loads for 300 WSM, 25-06 Rem., 6mm Rem., 6.8 SPC, 6mm WOA,
and 308 Win., that all shoot sub MOA. Probably the biggest
aid in attaining good groups with Barnes bullets, is to
keep them .030" to .060" off the lands. They like to jump
a bit. Not sure why, but that recommendation comes from
Barnes, and until I learned that, I struggled to get accurate
loads with Barnes bullets.
I choose to shoot Barnes bullets because of on-game
performance. A mean bullet that performs well at close
and long ranges. I shot a northern whitetail at 20
yards. Hit high shoulder came out low shoulder(under my
box blind). 4" hole through the shoulder blade, pudding
in the middle, 3" exit wound...Stumbled 20 yards. I shot
a WY antelope at 320 yards, with a 80 gr. 6mm TTSX. High
shoulder shot, DRT. It looked like an RPG hit the spine.
In all of the game taken with Barnes bullets, I have never
experienced the internet fabled lack of expansion in a
Barnes bullet. I have experienced violent expansion on
bone hits on entry. In all cases the bullets carried through,
did massive hydrostatic damage, and exited, or were found
under the skin on the far side(only one and it went through
a lot of bone at 400 yards).
FWIW
Squeeze
My experience with the Barnes tsx mirrors this. I shoot them when I'm on a serious hunt, when I don't want any "my bullet didn't perform" excuses. So far in I-don't-know-how-many deer shot, from bambies to trophies, no failures of any kind. And accurate, my 270 Wby shoots them into less than 3/4 moa to 650 yards at least. My buddy shoots a 7 Rum, and has the same experiences on deer and numerous elk also.
I can't comment on their target bullets, and I wasn't real impressed with the varmint grenades that I tried. The old lead core varminators, otoh are deadly accurate IME.
Originally Posted By: SqueezeHangtime,
I am a bit late to the party, and I see you have come to a
conclusion others have arrived at. But I just want to toss
out the idea that Barnes bullets have a long and storied
reputation on the internet. Much of it is fiction spun by
people that have struggled to get old X-bullet versions to
shoot well, that has nothing to do with the newer generations
of Barnes bullets.
As reference, I do have a very dated Barnes
loading manual(x-bullet vintage), that I use for starting
points. Most of that data is published on-line for free.
I shoot a number of different Barnes X(Have a supply stashed
as they shoot lights out in a Savage Striker in 308 Win),
TSX, and Tipped TSX bullets. I would not get too hung up on
load data specific to Barnes. As Cat suggested you just need
a safe starting point, and then you have to work the load for
your rifle. Just start low to mid-range for a bullet with
your chosen weight and your chosen powder, and start testing
loads on paper, through a chrony. I have Barnes TSX/TTSX
loads for 300 WSM, 25-06 Rem., 6mm Rem., 6.8 SPC, 6mm WOA,
and 308 Win., that all shoot sub MOA. Probably the biggest
aid in attaining good groups with Barnes bullets, is to
keep them .030" to .060" off the lands. They like to jump
a bit. Not sure why, but that recommendation comes from
Barnes, and until I learned that, I struggled to get accurate
loads with Barnes bullets.
I choose to shoot Barnes bullets because of on-game
performance. A mean bullet that performs well at close
and long ranges. I shot a northern whitetail at 20
yards. Hit high shoulder came out low shoulder(under my
box blind). 4" hole through the shoulder blade, pudding
in the middle, 3" exit wound...Stumbled 20 yards. I shot
a WY antelope at 320 yards, with a 80 gr. 6mm TTSX. High
shoulder shot, DRT. It looked like an RPG hit the spine.
In all of the game taken with Barnes bullets, I have never
experienced the internet fabled lack of expansion in a
Barnes bullet. I have experienced violent expansion on
bone hits on entry. In all cases the bullets carried through,
did massive hydrostatic damage, and exited, or were found
under the skin on the far side(only one and it went through
a lot of bone at 400 yards).
FWIW
Squeeze
Same here. From 475yds to
I am a bit late to the party, and I see you have come to a
conclusion others have arrived at. But I just want to toss
out the idea that Barnes bullets have a long and storied
reputation on the internet. Much of it is fiction spun by
people that have struggled to get old X-bullet versions to
shoot well, that has nothing to do with the newer generations
of Barnes bullets.
As reference, I do have a very dated Barnes
loading manual(x-bullet vintage), that I use for starting
points. Most of that data is published on-line for free.
I shoot a number of different Barnes X(Have a supply stashed
as they shoot lights out in a Savage Striker in 308 Win),
TSX, and Tipped TSX bullets. I would not get too hung up on
load data specific to Barnes. As Cat suggested you just need
a safe starting point, and then you have to work the load for
your rifle. Just start low to mid-range for a bullet with
your chosen weight and your chosen powder, and start testing
loads on paper, through a chrony. I have Barnes TSX/TTSX
loads for 300 WSM, 25-06 Rem., 6mm Rem., 6.8 SPC, 6mm WOA,
and 308 Win., that all shoot sub MOA. Probably the biggest
aid in attaining good groups with Barnes bullets, is to
keep them .030" to .060" off the lands. They like to jump
a bit. Not sure why, but that recommendation comes from
Barnes, and until I learned that, I struggled to get accurate
loads with Barnes bullets.
I choose to shoot Barnes bullets because of on-game
performance. A mean bullet that performs well at close
and long ranges. I shot a northern whitetail at 20
yards. Hit high shoulder came out low shoulder(under my
box blind). 4" hole through the shoulder blade, pudding
in the middle, 3" exit wound...Stumbled 20 yards. I shot
a WY antelope at 320 yards, with a 80 gr. 6mm TTSX. High
shoulder shot, DRT. It looked like an RPG hit the spine.
In all of the game taken with Barnes bullets, I have never
experienced the internet fabled lack of expansion in a
Barnes bullet. I have experienced violent expansion on
bone hits on entry. In all cases the bullets carried through,
did massive hydrostatic damage, and exited, or were found
under the skin on the far side(only one and it went through
a lot of bone at 400 yards).
FWIW
Squeeze
Same here. From 475yds to