How far off the rifling in your rifle does those col's make it? I noticed loading 140 gr Barnes X (and I realise that they are a different kettle of fish then the XXX's) in a 7mm-08 that I achieved excessive pressure very early on with a sort jump to the rifling (0.020" or less). This was with loads at the lower end of the range. - Dan

bizaare... and totally not what barnes (and I ) say about loading these buggers... i START at .050 off, and go back to .075, when doing load dev for them... and have yet to find a rifle that won't shoot SOME form of barnes well. Problems have been with "slow" twist barrels... say a 1-14 300 win... that shoots 180 seirra GREAT... what' shoot 180 barnes worth a damn... but try lighter ones, and it's GREAT and a lazer..

jeffe

Went out Sat. And was shocked by results with my 300RUM. I have for a long time been against barnes. Figured I would try the 180gr Triple XXX with 88gr RL25. I first worked up a load from 85gr to 90gr RL25 with 215 primer loaded at 3.6" COL. Then finalized the load by loading 15 bullets 5 each at different COL. Shooting at 200 yards. I have never seen a bullet so affected by COL as barnes.



I posted some targets at http://forum.hunting.net/asppg/tm.asp?m=542124



3.585" COL:2.0" groups

3.6" COL:1.0" groups

3.625"COL": 0.6" groups

jeff, you can't go .05 off the lands with my 300RUM. You would have to load the bullet to 3.78" to do that and it definately wouldn't fit the magizine. Not bazarre. Longer COL gets better groups? Thats nothing new. Just how drastic the groups can change.

I have tried that in the past with real long bullets like 200gr accubonds, and hit some pressure problems with the 300RUM. And since this is a dual purpose long range play gun and hunting gun, it wouldn't be practical for me. Besides, I am pretty darn happy with two groups less than an inch at 200 yards. It would have been nice if they didn't put so much freebore in the RUM. When I had this gun put together, the gunsmith screwed me a tad. I asked for him to make me a custom thoat where I could reach the rifling with a 200gr nosler Partition at 3.65". He said he couldn't find a reamer in time and had to rent one that is factory specs.

Okay... the throat is long, but the theory is correct...

I START at .050 off with barnes, which would be 3.78" -.05 which hits 3.73.. and I go all the way to .075 off, which is 3.705... You best groups are your "longest OAL" but they are getting closer to the throat 3.625"COL": 0.6" groups is
.150 (shesh) off... wonder if you can go 3.75 and see?

jeffe

Normal reloading doesn't work with the Barnes I think they like the free bore jump.

Hcliff