Barnes 26gr Varmint Grenade

[MinotBob]

Well it looks like the Barnes 26gr Varmint Grenades are being shipped. I just got notice that my order from Midsouth Shooters Supply was shipped. Unfortunately I won't be able to test them until May.

[Glen]

Good to hear they are on the way tho.

Besides,, May will be just a month away by the time they arrive.

[MinotBob]

I just got this back from Barnes Bullets:

Thanks for the email. We are in the process of shooting for our new
reloading manual and don't quite have the load data for that cartridge.
However you can use other published load data from Hodgdon or Hornady and
the 32gr bullet for use with the 26gr Varmint Grenade bullets. Use the
minimum load data to start. Working up in 1/2 gr. increments. Be wary of
excessive pressure signs, such as flattened primers, sticky bolt lift, or a
shiny spot on the base of the case. If you have case head expansion of more
than .0005" on a once fired case or .001" expansion on new cases, these are
also signs of excessive pressure. Then back down at least one full grain and
you will have a max load for your gun.

See attached. The BC value is yet to determined. Please feel free to check
back.

Thanks, Ty

We Aim to please, reloading is a great hobby, enjoy it.

Ty Herring
Barnes Bullets
Customer Service Director
P.O. Box 215
American Fork
Utah 84003
Tel 801-756-4222
1-800-574-9200
Fax 801-756-4222
Email: email@barnesbullets.com
http://www.barnesbullets.com <http://www.barnesbullets.com/>

[Glen]

I won't pretend to know anything about reloading but I don't think that "1/2gr increments" would be a safe bet. This is just my theory on this small case.

[glenn asher]

My PD shooting buddy bought some .20s and .22s, and we're supposed to try them out tomorrow morning. If all goes well, we'll try them and let folks know how they do. Southern Indiana has had a LOT of flooding with the monster rains we've had all spring, we don't even know for sure if we can get to the range..........................

[glenn asher]

Well, we made it to the range with no dramatic episodes, but you could tell where the water had been, and still was! in some places.
As it was, Doug had only loaded ten rounds to try, of a load he KNEW was plenty safe and mild. I snatched five of the ten rounds, and went to try them.
One round misfired, either due to a bad primer, or Doug's bad luck, we don't know for sure, but the other four went into .490" which, for me shooting , was pretty good I've done a lot worse, I can admit. Four rounds don't tell much of a tale, though, only that my rifle, a Savage, will tolerate them.
The powder was one that my rifles have NOT been happy with, Accurate DP-68, a surplus powder similar to 2015, according to Accurate Arms. Doug has a LOT of it (I gave him about 7 pounds, since my rifles didn't like it ) and the load was mild (25.0) it gave more of a POP! than a crack. They'd be nice in a PD patch, for shortrange stuff, probably more like a .20 Hornet load, and probably won't heat up a barrel very quickly. I couldn't chrono the stuff, since I forgot my tripod for the Chrony , but it was obvious that more powder would work better.
IF, big IF, they open up as advertised, they might be okay for ratkillins and such, at ranges suitable for Hornets and HMRs.
Doug has a Savage, too, it didn't like the load much, he said, I didn't get a chance to see the group he shot from his rifle, but we'll investigate better when we have more time, we were kinda rushed today.

[WrzWaldo]

I won't pretend to know anything about reloading but I don't think that "1/2gr increments" would be a safe bet. This is just my theory on this small case.

I would have to agree with you on this. 1/2 grain increments for this case is not acceptable or safe, especially when you get to the top end of the load data.

[Glen]

My biggest fear would be a 1/2gr increase with a powder that has been mislabeled.

[MinotBob]

I don't think mis labeling is a problem. Most here I believe that they keep their powder in the original container and I've never heard of powder being mislabeled from the factory.

[BigMike]

hey loaded some up this weekend with benchmark seated .015 off lands got .375" groups @ 100 yds. 4400fps, primers didn't like the load I was using though some major cratering. Think I will back it down a grain or so, was waiting for a little woodchuck to come out to see the beautiful spring day and cut him in half, but none showed up...

[jo191145]

Welcome to the forum Big Mike.

OK Spill your guts like a little spring woodchuck How much Benchmark and what primers?

[Da Varmitnator]

Hello new on here and got some info uall might like. Got a savage model 11 204 love it. Been reloading and using vmax bullets. Now I live in condor country and got some varmit gernades to try. Sat at the ranch tried some diffrent loads and this was the best. Winchester brass trimmed to 1.84, cci450 primers, 27 grns benchmark, 26 grn gernades, 2.25 oal. was able to get a 1" group at 200 yrds. I shoot ground squirrels out to 400 yrds with the vmax and hope these will do the same. I try them out this weekend!!
since theres no info on this I thought it might help.

[BigMike]

27 grs. of benchmark, rem. 7.5 primers, got me 4400 fps, had .002 case head exp. on new brass. Now this was a HOT load in my Savage 12 so use caution. Some tech over at Barnes told me that they had luck with 28.5 of benchmark, good thing I started low!!! I enjoy my face the way it is

[Da Varmitnator]

Thanks for the info big mike. 28.5 grns of benchmark is that a typo?? Think i will back off myself maybe 25.5??

[crazy2medic]

Max load for benchmark for a 32gr bullet is 28grs, I currently load load 32gr bullets to 28.8 grs with no pressure signs! I would bet you could take the 26gr barnes bullet to 28.8 with no problems either, but once again you'd need to work up to it!
max load for a 35gr berger 26.6
max load for a 40gr 25.7