26 Grain Barnes Grenade

[dawe11]

Looking for load data for the 26 Gr. Barnes Varmint Grenade bullet. Mainly interested in the 20 Vartarg and n120 powder.

 

[tarbabi]

This was posted on 204ruger.com

I just got this back from Barnes Bullets:

Thanks for the email. We are in the process of shooting for our new
reloading manual and don't quite have the load data for that cartridge.
However you can use other published load data from Hodgdon or Hornady and
the 32gr bullet for use with the 26gr Varmint Grenade bullets. Use the
minimum load data to start. Working up in 1/2 gr. increments. Be wary of
excessive pressure signs, such as flattened primers, sticky bolt lift, or a
shiny spot on the base of the case. If you have case head expansion of more
than .0005" on a once fired case or .001" expansion on new cases, these are
also signs of excessive pressure. Then back down at least one full grain and
you will have a max load for your gun.

See attached. The BC value is yet to determined. Please feel free to check
back.

Thanks, Ty

We Aim to please, reloading is a great hobby, enjoy it.

Ty Herring
Barnes Bullets
Customer Service Director
P.O. Box 215
American Fork
Utah 84003
Tel 801-756-4222
1-800-574-9200
Fax 801-756-4222
Email: email@barnesbullets.com
http://www.barnesbullets.com <http://www.barnesbullets.com/>

 

[martys]

I called Barnes and their tech department recommended 24-26 grains of reloader 10x. Max load resulting 4400 fps muzzle velocity

 

[Craiger5658]

More importantly: How does it work on varmints? Does anyone have any experience with these bullets yet?

 

[Craiger5658]

Answered my own question. Returned from a trip out west and on digger squirrels their performance wasn't all that hot! Sierra BK's and Hornady V-Max's outperformed the others,in the 32 grain varitey) as far as their ability to blow stuff up. The Grenade didn't live up to it's claim as far as we were concerned. Squirrels still died at all ranges, but the impacts were not as dynamic as with the Seirra's.

For us: they're a no-go.

 

[brfun]

Craiger5658
Don't have my 20 yet but tried the 36gr in a 22BR. after disappointing load development the best i could get was .56 for 5 shots i loaded the remainder to blow off at squirrels. not very explosive at all. much better show with other bullets i have tried. no more grandads for me!

dawe11
How does your Vartarg shoot? Did you have any luck with the Varmint Grenades? I hope to get mine together one of these days if PAC NOR can ever quit screwing up on my barrel. I got my replacement barrel today witch is now the wrong contour! I am taking it over to the gunsmith tonight to see if at least they got the bore problem fixed witch was why I sent the first barrel back. I want to get my 20 Vartarg up and shooting so depending on what the gunsmith says I may even though it is the wrong contour give it a try. But I may very well be sending this one back as well after sleeping on it and try for a third time to get what I want.

 

[Fasteel]

I used 26 gr of Varget in my test loads for my 204 in an H S Varmint rig, the accuracy is superb. I tried a variety of loads going up from 26 gr to 27.5. Mostly one hole groups with the 26gr load, man I love this rifle. FS

 

[gube]

I will soon be doing some extensive testing with the 26 gr grenades. I'm going to try RL-10X first. I think I may have to use a slightly quicker burning powder with these light weights.
I'm going to also try RL-7 and maybe some H-4198.