Hi guys,

I went to the range this weekend to test my new loads of the 210 grain BarnesX with Norma brass cci 250 primers and local powder S335 I'm sure someone could help me telling what the equivalent of the powder is it is a medium fast burning powder. The rifle used was a K98 musgrave with a 24" barrel

BC of 0.689 and SD of 0.213

70 grains of S335 avg velocity was 3028 fps at the muzzle with a five shot grouping just under 2".

71 grains of S335 avg velocity was 3035 fps at the muzzle with a five shot grouping of just under 1" with 3 shots touching each other. Shooter error or warm barrel probarly opening up the group. This loads develops 4295 fpe. I was happy with this load and with the rifle sigted in a 200 yards the bullet drop will be around 6" at 300 yards and around 1 1/4" high at 100 yards. making this a super long range load for bigger game like gemsbuck, eland, zebra, wildebeest and hartebeest.

The cases didn't show any signs of pressure but with the shot grouping I got I'm not going to develop any more loads for this bullet as I'm happy. Further more the weight retention was exceptional as I digged up 3 bullets from the mound and on avg they weighed out 183 grains 87% with some petals braking off or partially breaking off. Comparinfg that to 270 grain Hornady spitzer running at 2550 fps at the muzzle which only retained 117 grains 43% altough I only digged up two. And as I'm being using hornady on game for quite a while now and is satisfied with their results I'm very much impressed with BarnesX.

Safari-Hunt

www.Safari-Hunt.com

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For safaris beyond belief

You have to be the only Velocity freak in Africa, I thought you guys only existed in the States!!!

With such a light bullet and its lack of SD and BC one must consider Atkinsons "flutter factor" theory...ever try to throw a feather?

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

You can't drive the 210's, 235's or 250's fast enough to eclipse the 270 "X" loading, with its' .503 BC @ 2,750+ fps. When you try, you'll lose any chance of achieving a softer shooting load, along with a measure of effectiveness on medium & heavy plainsgame species. I like the 210's at about 2,850 fps. At this velocity, they are an absolute pleasure to shoot and do a good job on the lighter species.

I agree with Nickudu.

For me, I have always found that when the 375 is loaded right up with lighter bullets it starts to a get a "340 Wby" feel about it.

This is especially the case with top loads of Reloader 15 and 250 grain bullets.

Mike

Yep, ditto Nick, and Safari-Hunt, that misquoted ballistic coefficient above is actually only 0.341 for the 210 grain Barnes X. Right?

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RAB

I'm sure the 210's would be fine for anything you don't need a .375 for though..but what about when you need one?

Hi,

This is not my hunting load I use 270 grain hornadys runing at 2550 fps for my hunting load. I saw this box of barnesX in a shop I just got it to try it out. This will be a specific load only for long range medium to large sized game only. I don't even think I'm going to use it in the near future it was just an experiment. But I'm sure that somebody in Namibia would appreciatte a load like that especially a ph to have a go a wounded animals.

Atkinson I'm not close to a velocity freak my second favorite rifle is my 303 Brit with 174 grain and 215 grain bullets. Like I said it was only a experiment it worked and it can be done and the accuracy is OK that was all I was after. What about a guy who brings along is 375 for Zimbabwe gets his buff and then moves down to the free state for Black wildebbest or even vall reedbuck long shots as you know it just makes the 375 more versatille that's all I think. Brining it even close to the ultimate all rounder.

Safari-Hunt

www.Safari-Hunt.com

S-H: I took my black wildebeest in the Free State with my 375 with 300 Gr. TBBC. The shot was around 250 yds. after crawling for quite a distance. I don't think those 210's will penetrate very well on the larger antelope; I experimented with the 250's my first trip to Africa. One failed to exit a quartering Wart Hog at around 100 yards.

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JD

I don't know you could be right but I don't see why it wouldn't penetrate properly as it is barnes and when the petals break off you have a solid shank. With the speed combined with the bullet weight I don't see why it should have less penteration than a .300 Win Mag with a 200 or 220 grain bullet.

However I will be able to let you guys know on how it performed after a trip but only in July so it is a wait. Maybe I should go ahead and do a penetration test for some earlier results. But Like I said in my first post the there was basically only the jacket left from the 270 grain hornadys at 2550 fps and a weight retention was only 43% and 87% on the barnes altough it's not the real thing it was a mound of dirt but still proves that barnes keeps together. You must remenber that this load is only for plainsgame and not big game at all and I also developed the load to make the 375 more versatille for myself as I don't have a fast long range caliber at the moment.

Safari-Hunt

www.Safari-Hunt.com

Once I get my dies, I want to develop a load with the 210 X's(at relatively low velox) for use on boar drives and for the deer here.
Just to be able to justify the use my double...

S.H.,

I knew that, all good African boys are heavy bullet oriented by birth, or their fathers would have beat them to death!..

Actually our locals around here have wonderfull success with the Seirra 250 gr. bullet on elk and bring their perfectly expanded bullets to the coffee shop evey year, I can still hear the recovered bullets clattering on the table, it's like a never ending I told you so nightmare, I wake up screaming at night in a cold sweat with all the grinning faces stareing at me!

On the serious side, I never use a bullet that won't shoot lenthwise through the game that I am hunting.

I have found the 260 Nosler, GS HV's, and most 270 gr. bullets to shoot as flat as I need a rifle to shoot.

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

JD-I had a similar experience with the 250 grain Swift A-Frame 2 years ago in Namibia. Took a running shot at @40 yards, slightly quarting away, and hit it square on the shoulder joint. It went down right away, but the bullet didn't exit. It was under the skin of the neck on the far side. Perfect mushroom-looked like one of their ads.QUOTE]Originally posted by JD:
S-H: I took my black wildebeest in the Free State with my 375 with 300 Gr. TBBC. The shot was around 250 yds. after crawling for quite a distance. I don't think those 210's will penetrate very well on the larger antelope; I experimented with the 250's my first trip to Africa. One failed to exit a quartering Wart Hog at around 100 yards.

[/QUOTE]

Mike and JD,

JD, was that a 250 TBBC you shot or a Barnes X???

My brother shot three warthogs recently with the 308 165 TBBC high energy federal load and all exited except one. All three dramatically dead.

If the 250 gr is putting them down pronto why would you want more penetration?

I have had very very very good results on elk and american bison with 250 gr Bitterroot at 2950 fps - 3050 fps using IMR 4064. Feels like a mild 375 not a 300 or 340 weatherby.

Andy

Andy: That was the 250 Barnes X that didn't work too well on the Warthog. By the way, he did not go straight down; he was the only animal I've shot in Africa that had to be tracked. Very little blood trail as well.

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JD

Tough hog.
Sounds like a great self-defense round;-)

Man after my own heart.

gs

JD,

thanks for clarifying that.

Have you ever tried the 250 gr Swift or TBBC?

they would have more frontal area than the Barnes X as they dont blow off the front end.

The Swift retains 212 gr and .60 caliber in my tetst at 2950 fps.

Andy

Andy: My experimenting with 250's ended with the Barnes X. By the way that particular X bullet was perfectly mushroomed but only penetrated maybe 12-14". I've stuck to 270's and 300's since.

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JD

[This message has been edited by JD (edited 05-13-2002).]