Making My Way To BARNES

[Mekaniks]

Thanks for the cool post Brick.

I shoot handloaded 185g Barnes in my .338wm and have great results. I have only recovered one bullet and it was from a black bear that hit lots of bone. Here is the pic...

I think Barnes are fantastic bullets in any of the 30 mags, 270-7mm's that start at 2800fps. In my opinion this is exactly what mono bullets were built for.
That said... I am chicken to try Barnes in any of my calibers that will not start with a muzzle velocity of 2800+. Not because I have ever had a failure, but because I don't want to experience a failure... So I use Partitions in my 338fed, 22 hornet, 30-30 win, and 308win suppressed slow heavy loads.

 

[Divernhunter]

Slow speed is not kind to any of the mono bullets.
That is what leads to wounded and not recovered animals.
Most people I have known that had bad experiences and put them down have used too heavy an bullet at too low of speeds and then get a pencil thru type of shot or get bad accuracy.. They call it a stupid bullet when the stupid was the one shooting the wrong bullet at too low of speeds and often from a rifle not property cleaned.

I just call them as I see them.

That said I prefer to shoot Swift or Nosler bullets most of the time. Yet everything we have shot at with a Barnes has died and been recovered without a bunch of tracking. Usually less than 20 yards........actually 5 yards

 

[RogerHeintzman]

Very good info here for me. I have been thinking of reloading for the consistent accuracy once a load is developed.
Too many times, a new lot of factory ammo does not shoot as did the previous lot. Now that my supply of accurate ammo is depleting and I have brass up the A**, I can put to use the above information and save the headaches.
Thanks everyone for the info. I may have to PM some of you when I am at that point.

 

[Rick Cox]

@Divernhunter
Thanks for the tips! I've been having problems getting consistent accuracy out of my Sako 85 270WSM. Hopefully following your recommendations will help.

 

[Divernhunter]

Glad to help. While I do not load for any 270 the rules for Barnes have worked on a large number of other cartridges for myself and others. Good luck. Never found a rifle that we could not get excellent groups ..........unless no bullet would give good accuracy............A worn out/damaged barrel will make no bullets work.

 

[elmerfudd555]

I have been working my way almost completely over to TTSXs over the last few years. Very little drama with these bullets. I've yet to see them fail on anything I hit properly, close or long range from coyotes to buffalo. .223 to 375 H&H.

270 Win was my first rifle caliber and I've owned several over the years. 55 grains of IMR 4350, CCI Bench rest primer, win brass, has shot exceptionally well in every version I owned, Ruger, Browning x2 and Savage. I've yet to see a 270 not shoot this load combo. Seating depth is to fit the mag box except Barnes where I always seat to just expose the edge of the topmost groove.

Elmerfudd

 

[BRICKBURN]

In case you might have noted the Raffle on AH.
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/cz-550-416-rigby-raffle.35970/page-10

OK guys so the moment you have all been waiting for is here. ..............
Thanks to all that paricipated! Congrats on the win Wayne!

I am now the proud owner of a new CZ 550 Safari Magnum in .416 Rigby.

I had wanted to develop a "solid" load for the .375 but BARNES no longer offers, ie discontinued the solids in that caliber.

Being the "un-gun nut" that I am I have no clue about this caliber and will be starting from scratch on every level.

I have no idea what this rifle caliber is good for. I have to admit that I did initially look at it before settling on the 375H&H. The adaptability of the 375 settled the either or question for me.
Now I have both.....

BARNES, thanks goodness, makes bullets for this caliber.

My fave in 350 grains..

Now, if they only fly as well out of this rifle as the other calibers before it, I am set.

Then the interesting news BARNES still makes SOLIDS for this caliber. They even have two weights available.

The search is on.

I am open to an education on this caliber.
I have about five weeks before it migrates north.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

In case you might have noted the Raffle on AH.
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/cz-550-416-rigby-raffle.35970/page-10





I am now the proud owner of a new CZ 550 Safari Magnum in .416 Rigby.

I had wanted to develop a "solid" load for the .375 but BARNES no longer offers, ie discontinued the solids in that caliber.

Being the "un-gun nut" that I am I have no clue about this caliber and will be starting from scratch on every level.

I have no idea what this rifle caliber is good for. I have to admit that I did initially look at it before settling on the 375H&H. The adaptability of the 375 settled the either or question for me.
Now I have both.....

BARNES, thanks goodness, makes bullets for this caliber.

My fave in 350 grains..

Now, if they only fly as well out of this rifle as the other calibers before it, I am set.


View attachment 176527


Then the interesting news BARNES still makes SOLIDS for this caliber. They even have two weights available.
View attachment 176528


The search is on.

I am open to an education on this caliber.
I have about five weeks before it migrates north.

If it's a solid you're after, pay the man and go with either the CEB or North Fork flat point solids. The flat meplat and shoulder design has a ton of lab and field data supporting the depth of and straight line penetration the bullets provide. I know you like the Barnes and they're less expensive. But put some H4831 in the brass and I feel confident you'll find loads quickly at least with the NF's.

 

[Pheroze]

Congratulations!

 

[sheephunterab]

With the weight retention and tough construction of the mono-metals the true need for solids are pretty limited these days. If the shot is to be anywhere in the body I'll take an expanding bullet all day long. There is a case to be made for solids with brain shots though. Still weighing my options for hippo this fall.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Like you, I think that solids might be an idea for Hippo and Elephant. The rest I am sure can be dealt with via a TTSX. Certainly, if it is 350 grains.

Maybe the "Tiny" guys too.

However, I wonder if the .416 TTSX would open on the Tiny guys?
I know the 250 grain TTSx sure did on an Oribi.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Congratulations!

Thanks

 

[sheephunterab]

My bet is that the hole coming out would be the size of your head!

 

[BRICKBURN]

If it's a solid you're after, pay the man and go with either the CEB or North Fork flat point solids. The flat meplat and shoulder design has a ton of lab and field data supporting the depth of and straight line penetration the bullets provide. I know you like the Barnes and they're less expensive. But put some H4831 in the brass and I feel confident you'll find loads quickly at least with the NF's.

Thanks Phil. I'll start at the BARNES shop and if they do not like my new rifle, I'll regrettably have to find an alternate. Thanks for the suggested options.

 

[BRICKBURN]

My bet is that the hole coming out would be the size of your head!

The 250 grain certainly demonstrated where a Grapefruit would fit easily.
I guess that plastic tip is doing it's job.

 

[rookhawk]

Slow speed is not kind to any of the mono bullets.
That is what leads to wounded and not recovered animals.
Most people I have known that had bad experiences and put them down have used too heavy an bullet at too low of speeds and then get a pencil thru type of shot or get bad accuracy.. They call it a stupid bullet when the stupid was the one shooting the wrong bullet at too low of speeds and often from a rifle not property cleaned.

I just call them as I see them.

That said I prefer to shoot Swift or Nosler bullets most of the time. Yet everything we have shot at with a Barnes has died and been recovered without a bunch of tracking. Usually less than 20 yards........actually 5 yards

Don't they make monometal bullets that are cut back more on the petals for function at moderate speeds too?

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

My bet is that the hole coming out would be the size of your head!

That's a huge hole!

 

[sheephunterab]

Don't they make monometal bullets that are cut back more on the petals for function at moderate speeds too?

Most premium bullets...not just monos need speed to work. While high velocity hits create dramatic results, these bullets still perform reliably down to about 2,000fps. That around 500 yards with a 30-06.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Don't they make monometal bullets that are cut back more on the petals for function at moderate speeds too?

Are you thinking of the CEB Raptor?

 

[BRICKBURN]

That's a huge hole!