6mm Varmint Grenades

[Clancy]

Hey y'all,

Anyone else notice how long these bullets are?

My question is, should I load them like a heavier bullet as far as powder charges go?

It's a 6mm WOA for reference, and I'm thinking I'll load these 62 gr VGs with my 80 grain charges for testing. I can't really "work up" since the nearest range is now 100 miles away. I generally have to just load safely and hope to find something decent.

What's the general opinion on these bullets?

No I don't have a Barnes manual. Last time I bought one it was pretty much worthless.... Had very few calibers and way too many tips for hunting and shooting in it to suit me.

In fact, these 62 grain VGs aRe the only Barnes bullets I have.

 

[itchyTF]

100 miles to the nearest range! Bummer! If I were you, I'd invest in the means to load at the range (arbor press, in-line seater & scale). Prep & prime your cases at home and bring powder, bullets and everything else needed to finish the loading to the range. This way you can determine your load without wasting time or ammo.

 

[firearmdoc1]

When the 20 cal vg were first introduced, I called barnes about loading them in a 204ruger. These are 26 gr bullets and they had not worked up any data for them yet. I was told by them that I could use 32 gr data safely and the velocity would just be a bit faster. I would assume that you could use data for a 70 gr bullet and be ok. I started about mid range on the powder charge ad good results. I have heard that the vg bullets can be difficult to find a good load for. Thas has not been my eperience with 20 and 22 cal, but maybe I just got lucky.

 

[Dave T]

Be careful! I tried to shoot the 62 grain Grenades in a 14 twist barrel and they key holed like crazy. Not very accurate in a 9 twist 243 either, I have some left that you can have, that's my opinion of them.
Dave T

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

Barnes explicitly states that these bullets are for 10" twist or fasther barrels! That would explain the keyholing with the 14" twist. As far as not shooting in a 9" twist, I couldn't tell ya!

Mike

 

[Clancy]

Ya it's a 10 twist.... I think I'll just drop them on top of my 75 v max loads and give it a shot. No pun intended.

As for them being finicky, I don't let varmint bullets give me the fits. There are too many options out there. The only bullet I've put any work into is the Berger 88 just to punch paper.

That being said, just about every load I've tried... With any bullet...shot better than 3/4 MOA. Some as small as (in inches) .125.

I just want these VGs for night hunting, so if they will shoot an inch they'll do what I need them to.

I don't believe in hunting with a 5 million candela search light. I think it scares more stuff away than you see. I use a 300,000 bulb with a red filter, and the farthest I can potential identify a varmint is maaaaaybe 150-175 yards.

 

[soldierofchrist]

I was able to get them to shoot decent in my 243 Winchester, I couldn't push them horribly fast, but you won't need to they come apart easily enough. Good luck. My go to Varmint bullet in 6mm is the 65 grain V-max, amazing bullet.

 

[wapiti25]

The "Green bullets" are long for their weight because lead is heavier than copper. You have to watch the twist rate for each bullet. I only use them when in a area that requires them. I have hunted in restricted areas that require non-lead ammo, I have not found the Barnes bullets to be very accurate in my guns. Barnes did have some loading data on-line.