Lead Free 34/35gr bullets .224

[ASbobcat]

Purpose: 100-200yd TARGET at 3200fps +/-200

Anyone compared the 22cal Nosler and Hornady offerings for accuracy?
How do they compare to 40gr lead core offerings?

Not for hunting, so don't care about terminal effects.

 

[DiRTY DOG]

Yes. My 223 Rem loved 40gr Vmax but my state went lead free for hunting.

I tested all of the lead free varmint options from 35gr to 50gr (Hornady, Nosler, Barnes) and settled on Hornady 35gr NTX over 27.5gr 8208xbr at 3622 fps from a 26" barrel. They are fantastic on paper for casual target shooting, and very explosive on ground squirrels.

Left target is 35gr NBT-lf load development
Right target and bottom are 35gr NTX load development. All 5 shot groups from a factory Savage barrel.

 

[ASbobcat]

Yes. My 223 Rem loved 40gr Vmax but my state went lead free for hunting.

I tested all of the lead free varmint options from 35gr to 50gr (Hornady, Nosler, Barnes) and settled on Hornady 35gr NTX over 27.5gr 8208xbr at 3622 fps from a 26" barrel. They are fantastic on paper for casual target shooting, and very explosive on ground squirrels.

Left target is 35gr NBT-lf load development
Right target and bottom are 35gr NTX load development. All 5 shot groups from a factory Savage barrel.

View attachment 1752925

View attachment 1752926

WOW! I hit the jackpot!

Cannot thank you enough for your time and trouble. You saved me a lot of trips to the range.

I really appreciate all the details. Building a long neck .221FB.

 

[DiRTY DOG]

I bet the 35gr and 40gr NBT-lf will shoot too, with a little more load testing. I have use 50gr NBT-lf in an AR15 for foxes. But the NTX shot well right off the bat so I went with them, plus they go on sale regularly. The Barnes Varmint Grenades were disappointing so I gave up early.

 

[ASbobcat]

I bet the 35gr and 40gr NBT-lf will shoot too, with a little more load testing. I have use 50gr NBT-lf in an AR15 for foxes. But the NTX shot well right off the bat so I went with them, plus they go on sale regularly. The Barnes Varmint Grenades were disappointing so I gave up early.

Thanks for the additional info.

There is another thread on here somewhere showing light Nosler Custom Competitions all going through the same small hole (.15in CTC).
Worst .224 bullet I ever tried was Speer 52gr "Match". Grouped like a Blunderbuss. Maybe they were for shotgun matches.

 

[DiRTY DOG]

Thanks for the additional info.

There is another thread on here somewhere showing light Nosler Custom Competitions all going through the same small hole (.15in CTC).
Worst .224 bullet I ever tried was Speer 52gr "Match". Grouped like a Blunderbuss. Maybe they were for shotgun matches.

Like this? 35gr NTX same rifle as above. It won't do this every time of course, but it does very well for a Savage factory barrel.

 

[searcher]

In that weight range, I found that Reloader 7 and Accurate LT32 were great powders for accuracy using the 35 NTX, 36 Barnes Varmint Grenade and 32-grain Lead-free Ballistic Tip. If you are willing to step it up to a 40 grain bullet, the lead-free Ballistic Tips with LT32, N133 or Reloader 7 outshined them all in the 4 A/R's and a bolt gun I tried them in. Reloader 7 and Accurate LT32 powders are the first I'd try with these small bullets, then N133. Varmint and W748 turned in some good groups - but not as many. On average, I had better success with the Nosler brand in those weights.

 

[ASbobcat]

Like this? 35gr NTX same rifle as above. It won't do this every time of course, but he it does very well for a Savage factory barrel.
View attachment 1753158
View attachment 1753159

WOW! Fantastic shooting.
What twist rate? I am re-chambering a 1:8, faster than these like I'm sure, but it's what I have.

 

[ASbobcat]

In that weight range, I found that Reloader 7 and Accurate LT32 were great powders for accuracy using the 35 NTX, 36 Barnes Varmint Grenade and 32-grain Lead-free Ballistic Tip. If you are willing to step it up to a 40 grain bullet, the lead-free Ballistic Tips with LT32, N133 or Reloader 7 outshined them all in the 4 A/R's and a bolt gun I tried them in. Reloader 7 and Accurate LT32 powders are the first I'd try with these small bullets, then N133. Varmint and W748 turned in some good groups - but not as many. On average, I had better success with the Nosler brand in those weights.

Voting seems to be about 50/50 between NTX and LFBTs.
I am stuck with a 1:8 twist bbl, so I'm sure it will prefer one over the other.

Out of curiosity, is anyone on this threat shooting faster than 1:12?

 

[DiRTY DOG]

Mine was a 1:9.

 

[ASbobcat]

Mine was a 1:9.

Thanks.
Just talked to Hornady tech. They recommend max RPM of 300K on these, which equates to 3300fps in 1:8. That's exactly where I anticipate my 221FB to be, so I should be fine.

 

[searcher]

Voting seems to be about 50/50 between NTX and LFBTs.
I am stuck with a 1:8 twist bbl, so I'm sure it will prefer one over the other.

Out of curiosity, is anyone on this threat shooting faster than 1:12?

Do you mean slower - like a 1-12"? I like 1-9" twist (I have three rigs in that twist) and they all stabilize up to 50 grain lead free no problem, I've shot a lot of the 50 Varmint Grenades, 50 Lead free Ballistic Tips, etc. - no problem for the smaller pills. I don't have any barrels slower than 1-12", so not sure whether a 1-14" would stabilize those 32-25's. I'd think not well, if at all. Others may know better. I know in my 1-12" tube, it won't stabilize a 50 grain lead free at all.

 

[ASbobcat]

Do you mean slower - like a 1-12"? I like 1-9" twist (I have three rigs in that twist) and they all stabilize up to 50 grain lead free no problem, I've shot a lot of the 50 Varmint Grenades, 50 Lead free Ballistic Tips, etc. - no problem for the smaller pills. I don't have any barrels slower than 1-12", so not sure whether a 1-14" would stabilize those 32-25's. I'd think not well, if at all. Others may know better. I know in my 1-12" tube, it won't stabilize a 50 grain lead free at all.

If you run a stability calculator, it looks like these require a minimum of 1:10 twist.

 

[DiRTY DOG]

I'm not sure how accurate those stability calculators are for light but long-for-weight lead free bullets...

 

[ASbobcat]

I'm not sure how accurate those stability calculators are for light but long-for-weight lead free bullets...

That's a good point, because mass is a contributing factor for BC.