Barnes Varminator Bullets?

08 December 2002, 15:20

Has anyone tried these out yet? Im thinking about picking up a box of 50 grainers to try in my 22/250AI. I was wondering what kind of accuracy i can exspect with them. Which brings up another question, is it feasible to believe that you can get any bullet to shoot well out of your rifle if you play around with it long enough?

11 December 2002, 00:47

<Reloader66>

If your rifle does not like a certain bullet it is not likely it ever will. You must match bore twist rate with the right bullet weight and bullet length. Some 22-250 bores are 1 in 14" twist and some are 1 in 12" twist bores. The slower the twist rate the lighter weight bullets will perform best. The faster twist rate will like the heavier weight bullets. Example: trying to shoot a 220 or 240 grain bullet in a .308 diameter 1 in 12" twist rifle bore. That twist rate is just to slow to stabelize those bullets. The same will apply to your 22-250 rifle. Long bullets like fast twist rates and short bullets like slow twist rates.

11 December 2002, 03:08

Hot Core

quote:
Originally posted by Scott:
Has anyone tried these out yet? ... I was wondering what kind of accuracy i can exspect with them. Which brings up another question, is it feasible to believe that you can get any bullet to shoot well out of your rifle if you play around with it long enough?

Hey Scott, If this is the same bullet as the "Blue Coated" Barnes VLC, then I've seen one guy shoot two of them. So, not much of a Data Base to go on. And no accuracy data.

Met him at the range earlier this year. He had a 26" Stainless/Laminated Ruger #1 in (I think) 220Swift with the VLCs loaded to a bit beyond full throttle. Trashed cases on the first shot, but that was just due to his improper Load Development and had noting to do with the bullet.

Anyway he shot at 4-one gallon milk jugs lined up at 25yds. First shot made it through 2 jugs and we found nothing of the bullet. New jugs to replace the shot ones. Second shot caught the Bullet Base inside the second jug but the impact split the third jug without a bullet actually getting to it.

After he'd shot, I was looking at his cases and thinking about his Load when he mentioned that he thought the VLCs were monolithic like the "X" but had the Blue Lube coating. I explained the VLCs are just regular old lead core, jacketed bullets with a coating. He thought about it, explained to me nicely that he was sure I was wrong, packed his stuff and took off. Just check it out and you can see who is correct.

...

Concerning your question that contains the phrase, ...is it feasible to believe...?, well, yes it is. BUT the rifle still may not like a particular case/primer/powder/bullet combination after many tests.

I first Benchmark my rifles with Match Grade bullets to see what they are capable of. Then I select a bullet I want to hunt with. Depending on the rifle and intended Game, I'll try anywhere from 1-9 powders with that specific Hunting Bullet.

I'm fortunate to have a couple of rifles that like anything I put in them and I dread the day their barrels will need to be replaced. And I've got/had a rifle or two that it took tests with 9 powders to get a specific Hunting Grade bullet to shoot to my standards.

But, the "belief" that I'll find one that works is what it takes for me to move past the 2nd powder as I go toward the 3rd, 4th, etc.