Barnes Varmint Grenade .22 cal 50 gr. question

R

Rangerrich99

New member
So I picked up a box of Barnes VG bullets (.224 cal, 50 grain) thinking I'd work up a few loads for prairie dogs. I have two powders for reloading .223 rem - IMR 8208 XBR and CFE223. Unfortunately when I checked Barnes Reloading data center, they don't list either powder, and Hodgdon's doesn't list Barnes VG bullets.

So my question is can I use the Hodgdon's data for CFE223 or 8208 even though it's for spire point bullets?

Thanks in advance for your replies.
 
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The Barnes bullets being solid may be just the change to get you in trouble so start with the starting loads and work up from there. Those Barnes bullets are kind of pricy aren't they. Try Hornady 50gr. SX you may be surprised how well they shoot and you can save on the cost.
 
No, NOT SOLID these are longer, lead free bullets

No, you cannot safely use data for 50 gr lead bullets.
These are longer, lead free bullets. They are made from powdered tin inside a copper jacket. This is a different bullet than Barnes 50 gr TSX. Considerably longer, and take up some of the powder space, and have longer bearing surface than lead bullets.
See barnes data here:
http://www.barnesbullets.com/files/2014/11/223RemingtonBRM5V131.pdf

Accurate powders lists loads for these too.
http://www.accuratepowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/WesternLoadGuide1-2016_Web.pdf
That 2016 guide is brand new, just released
 
Guess I should've waited for more replies.

I did make up some test loads using the aforementioned hodgdon data, and I guess I got lucky; everything went bang, there wasn't any signs on any cases/primers of over-pressure.

Out of my AR all bullets grouped okay, with two four shot groups printing under 1 MOA.

Out of the Ruger American one group was much tighter than the other three, at just under 1 MOA.

However, since I used the wrong data I guess it's back to the drawing board. Ah well, at least I didn't make up too many bullets.
 
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