Barnes-X Flying Everywhere

[QEU]

I am getting 3.5 inch diameter flyers with Barnes-X at 100 yards. Is anyone in the same boat? This is from factory Weatherby box w/ 90gr Barnes-X.

Here is my rig:
Weatherby Mark V Ultra Lightweight, .240 Weatherby Mag, original trigger, adjusted to 3 lb pull. Replaced Bell & Carlson synthetic stock with Deluxe wood stock. Wood stock is glass bed. Barrel is free floated with pressure point. Scope base and rings are Leupold. Scope is Swarovski 3-9x36. Shots are taken from sand bag. I was getting the same flying pattern from the Bell & Carlson stock. I have gone through 5 boxes (at $50 pop a box) of Barnes with no satisfaction. I switched over to the cheaper 100gr Spire Point last week and I am getting consistent 1.5 inch. Anyone in the same boat with Barnes-X? Yes, I have consider reloading and will jump on it soon!!

 

[Schoettgen]

Did the first stock have the pressure point also? I assumne you mean a contact point at the end of the forearm. I would consider eliminating it. 1.5" is better but still not that great. If you have not done so already I would do a good cleaning to remove copper fouling in the bore. Other than that I can't really comment on the barns, it is one bullet I have not tried yet. 50 dollars a box, ouch! Your going to love reloading, it will probably fix those groups also.

 

[Val]

I don't use the Barnes bullets in my reloads but I have heard numerous reports about Barnes bullets. Your gun either likes them and they shoot very tight groups, or your guns just don't like the Barnrs bullets. I've also heard that the newer triple shock Barnes bullets may not have a similar problem. It seems that a pretty large percentage of rifles don't seem to like them. They are copper and the fact that they are longer than lead bullets may have something to do with it. Guns that like the Barnes bullets shoot very tight groups.

 

[QEU]

Originally posted by Schoettgen@Oct 3 2005, 10:53 PM
Did the first stock have the pressure point also?

Schoettgen: the original stock does have the contact point at fore-end. i did try the full free float without the contact on the deluxe wood stock but no improvement.

Val: I am getting that same feedback from a few individuals I have talked to.

 

[larrysogla]

I have a Tikka Whitetail Hunter .300 Win. Mag. rifle and a BAR .338 Win. Mag. with BOSS on the barrel tip. I use Barnes X exclusively on these rifles and I get 3 shot 0.5" groups on the Tikka(180 gr. Barnes X by PMC, a 1998 lot date) and I get 3 shot 1.5" groups on the BAR(225 gr. Barnes X by PMC, a 1998 lot date). So I guess my rifles like the PMC Barnes X ammo. It takes a lot of de-coppering after the shooting sessions before the overnight soak with Hoppes Copper solvent comes out with no green or blue tinge on the white bore cleaning patch. If the rifles are not fully de-coppered with repeated overnight soakings of Copper solvent, the accuracy is erratic. The new Barnes Triple X band probably will reduce this coppering problem on the bores. One thing for sure, these Barnes X do not destroy the meat even with 15 yd. shots on wild boars shooting the Magnum ammos. The entry wound is bullet diameter and the exit hole is golf ball size even at 15 yds. shooting from a baited treestand in Texas. The bullets are never recovered(complete penetration) even on 200 lb. hogs, bone hit or no bone hit. The hogs have no chance at all. One thing I like very much is the very MINIMAL meat damage from a 15 yd. shot even with my .300 Win. Mag. 'Nuff said.

 

[snake river rufus]

Barnes 'X' bullets can be fussy about COL. The ogive needs to be 0.050" off the lands, generally. The weatheryby freebore makes that a bit of a problem sometimes. When you start reloading, play with seating depth. That may solve your problems.

 

[snake river rufus]

double post/srr

 

[tmoniz]

Used the Barnes stuff once. Very unaccurate and too much copper fouling.

 

[chap_dog48]

If I am not mistaken Weatherby has a guarantee if it you aren't getting 1.5 inch gorups they refund your $. Not absolute but I have heard this. Call weatherby and let them know I just looked this up on the Weatherby Web site.


This is from Weatherby-- All Weatherby® Mark V® rifles are guaranteed to shoot a 1 1/2" 3-shot group at 100 yards from a cold barrel when used with premium (non-Weatherby calibers) or Weatherby factory ammunition.

 

[BDB]

My Howa 1500 (30-06) shoots nice groups with Remmington Core-lokts and Federal Premium ammo. Around an inch or less. I bought some of the Barnes-X's but can't remember the brand of ammo, they shot about 2" groups for me so they haven't been back to the range again.

 

[7mm MAGNUM]

Originally posted by snake river rufus@Oct 19 2005, 03:10 AM
Barnes 'X' bullets can be fussy about COL. The ogive needs to be 0.050" off the lands, generally. The weatheryby freebore makes that a bit of a problem sometimes. When you start reloading, play with seating depth. That may solve your problems.

Just finished working some loads using both the X and Triple-X for my .300 RUM and have to agree with that .50 off the lands to start. (recomended by Barnes)

Both the X and Triple-X had different seating depth preferences in the same rifle.

I would recomend to you to get involved with reloading your own for the custom match your going to need with the Barnes products.