Went through my stash of reloading stuff and found 3 boxes of .338dia Barnes XLC bullets (Stuff I had purchased on here a handful of years ago)..

I remember that these had both accuracy and expansion issues. Should I keep them for conversation pieces or are they worth loading and using?

These are the blue bullets

The only issue I had with them, as with the original X bullets, was that they were/are more finicky to get to shoot well, (especially against the TSX and TTSX).

I still have about 200 of the 45gr XLC's in .224cal. I use them in my 22Hornet on coyotes, where the on coyote performance is pretty good, actually, better than any other bullet I tried on Coyotes in the Hornet, and I tried a lot of bullets.

All I remember hearing about it was how difficult it was to remove the molly from the barrel.

worked great - the moly was meant to reduce pressure, which the tsx solved better -- set a minimum of -0.065 off the lands, and they'll shoot great

Was the blue coating moly? I never really thought so.

I think they shoot just fine and they look cool. Back when they were still making them, Barnes loads for them generally had heavier powder charges and higher velocities than their noncoated bullets but the reason for the coating was to reduce copper fouling.

A friend I hunted South Africa with took a bunch of animals with them in his 340 Weatherby and there was no problem with performance.

When loaded they do look like mini versions of the 25mm target practice tracer rounds

I tried them in several rifles just because they looked so blooming fine loaded in nickel cases. Unfortunately, I just couldn't get them to shoot worth a flip.

My .340 Wby shoots them with pin point accuracy, I still keep a few on hand. I took a fine Bull Elk on Thornburg mountain in Northwest Colorado with the blue bombshell. My .338 Lapua also likes them. Good Shooting.

I used the 225 gr. Barnes XLC bullet to take several Bull Elk and Mule Deer. My load was 90 grains of RL-19 with Fed 215M primers. The load chronographed at an average of 3093 fps. I will relate one kill I well remember because it was my best Bull. ----- A 20 below day to start with a high of 2 below. The shot was 290 yards up a snow covered mt. The Bull had his right shoulder facing me, I fired and when the snow settled the Bull had his left shoulder facing me, I fired again and he collapsed. When I got to him I found two holes from opposeite sides within two inchs of each other, one entrance and one exit. I also found two blue petals at each exit hole in the hide. I was very impressed with the damage done inside and the blood and gore in the snow beyond the Bull. The Bullet did the perfect performance for this hunter. Good Shootin

Not terrible, just not as good as what we have today! I've got a couple of boxes of 225's for my wife's .338 WM. Will probably never use them, but, if "push comes to shoove" in the future, they will do an adequate job. Their bought, paid for and don't tazke up much room. Of course, if someone wants to pay a large sum for them as a collectable, I'd sell and re-invest in acouple of boxes of 225 TTSX's! memtb

I have 2 boxes of Federal Premium XLC 180gr in .30-06 that I'll trade, if anyone is interested. I'd prefer Federal Power-Shok 220gr, but anything in .30-06, .243, .223/5.56, or .44mag will work. A brick of .22lr will work, too.

I used them in my 264 win mag. Shot well

Great, I will load them up and see how they do.

Is there any issues with Moly coating if I use load data for a different bullet (of same weight). I can't find my Barnes manual that had the XLC's in it.

I have the book you are talking about and will be glad to furnish an information about a particular bullet or load. Good Shooting.