Barnes TSX Question

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Canuck65

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I've got a 22-250, 1:14 Remington 799 (made by Zastava). With Sierra 55gr over 34ish grains of Varget and with Sako 55gr factory ammo accuracy is excellent. Under 1" at 100m. This is at about 3600fps MV.

I recently tried Barnes TSX 45gr, and couldn't even get a group that stayed on a 12" target. They were all over the place. I was in the neighbourhood of 3800-4000fps, and nothing would group at all. I know they're long bullets, but Barnes says these are stable in 1:14 barrels.

Switched back to 55gr Sierras, and it's super accurate again.

I've been hand loading for a long time - I know that some barrels and some bullets just don't work together, but I've never seen anything like this before. Literally, bullets were impacting over 12" apart at 100m. I plan to try again at lower velocities(3500-3700) just for sh1ts and giggles.

This is my first time using Barnes bullets - has anyone had a similar experience? Any advice? I'm happy just to sell the remaining bullets and move on, but I kind of want to understand what's happening here.

Thanks
 
well for myself it would be simple well i guess i won't load anymore of those bullets why waist my time
But the masses will have many unproven suggestions for you to look at
 
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Have you confirmed its ACTUALLY 1:14 twist with a cleaning rod?

Otherwise, you're right, Barnes does list a 1:14 rifle for their 45gr load data. How much powder are you using? It looks like you only mention powder with regards to your Sierra load?

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Thanks everyone. I did play with seating depth, neck tension, velocity … all the things.

I’m sure the bullets are just too long for that twist. Weird though that Barnes would market them for 1:14.

Another good reason to resume my lifelong practice of not buying or shooting Barnes bullets. Hahah.

I was really just curious if anyone else had similar issues.

Thanks everyone for your replies.
 
jamesharrison said:
Depending on which 55 gr. Sierra bullet you're using, bullet lengths go from 0.690" to 0.790".
The Barnes X 45 gr. bullet is shown to have a length of 0.705" in QL, but Barnes states they have a length of 0.698".
Regardless, they are too long for a 1:14" twist
Click to expand...

jamesharrison said:
Re: not really sure what the point was

The point I was trying to make is that you're no better off than if you had a .223, instead of the .22-250 you do have.
Click to expand...
Ah, gotcha. These Barnes are very very close in OAL to the Sierras. The small difference in shape of the Barnes out of range for this barrel I guess. I’ve seen tumbling/keyholing, but nothing like this, where the can’t stay inside of a 12” circle.

Anyway, thanks for the info.
 
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jamesh, I've often found that bullets with marginal stability often gave me the best groups groups in the 30 cal 1-15 twist rate barrels I shot HBR with.

Your charts are great, and I would have used them if they had been available to me in those days.

OP, 22 cal barrels are notorious for being finicky about what length bullets they will shoot well. Often it's just luck of the draw.

My last 22-250 was built on a Remington 700 short action, and it did similar things your rifle is doing.

The original barrel had a heavy profile 1-14 twist, 22 in barrel, and shot monolithic Barne's bullets very well in the 45 grain weight.

When accuracy dropped off, I took it off and installed a Shilen 1-14 twist medium profile 24 in barrel, thinking the bit of extra length would give a bit more velocity, which it did, but it wouldn't shoot the 45 grain barne's monolithics, or berger eld type bullets.

I went to the 55 grain sierra mk, and it was shooting sub 3/4 moa at 100yds with the first group.
 
Re: These Barnes are very very close in OAL to the Sierras. The small difference in shape tips the Barnes out of range for this barrel I guess. I’ve seen tumbling/keyholing, but nothing like this, where the can’t stay inside of a 12” circle.

I wonder if it is because the centre of gravity is farther back in the c&c Sierra, vice the mono-bullet.

Nevertheless, I'd listen to todbartell, sell the bullets & buy some more of what works.

ProTip:
Buy lots, cause the price ain't gonna go down & sure as S#!T, they'll discontinue the ones that work for you.
 
jamesharrison said:
Re: These Barnes are very very close in OAL to the Sierras. The small difference in shape tips the Barnes out of range for this barrel I guess. I’ve seen tumbling/keyholing, but nothing like this, where the can’t stay inside of a 12” circle.

I wonder if it is because the centre of gravity is farther back in the c&c Sierra, vice the mono-bullet.

Nevertheless, I'd listen to todbartell, sell the bullets & buy some more of what works.

ProTip:
Buy lots, cause the price ain't gonna go down & sure as S#!T, they'll discontinue the ones that work for you.
Click to expand...
Not only isn't the price going to go down and I've noticed several places are carrying few to none specialty bullets, and some are even dropping or just can't get some common hornady and speer bullets.
 
jamesharrison said:
Re: These Barnes are very very close in OAL to the Sierras. The small difference in shape tips the Barnes out of range for this barrel I guess. I’ve seen tumbling/keyholing, but nothing like this, where the can’t stay inside of a 12” circle.

I wonder if it is because the centre of gravity is farther back in the c&c Sierra, vice the mono-bullet.

Nevertheless, I'd listen to todbartell, sell the bullets & buy some more of what works.

ProTip:
Buy lots, cause the price ain't gonna go down & sure as S#!T, they'll discontinue the ones that work for you.
Click to expand...

Yep, that's the plan.. I'd still like to understand the physics of this problem, but I'm not going to waste any more time on the Barnes.

Cheers
 
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