220 swift barnes bullets

[brushhunter]

Wanting to try some barnes bullets out of my m77 mark 2 vt 220 swift. Looking for some one who has experience with these bullets and how well they perform on game. Looking mostly at the tsx. Any help would be awesome.

 

[fuelpincher]

I have had great results with 45-62gr tsx and 50gr varmint grenade, but I have a 1:8 twist barrel on my Swift. Barnes 36gr vg is all that will work in a 14" twist Ruger barrel

 

[shotgunn77]

I have had great results with 45-62gr tsx and 50gr varmint grenade, but I have a 1:8 twist barrel on my Swift. Barnes 36gr vg is all that will work in a 14" twist Ruger barrel

I have the same Ruger M77 MKII, and I have to disagree with you fuelpincher. With the Hornady Vmax 50gr my swift will reach out to 800 meters consistently. Haven't tried further out...yet.

As for the Barnes bullets, I've loaded the 52gr tsx's with IMR4064 powder and have had great results.

 

[fuelpincher]

Shotgun77
You are cheating. The vmax works well because it is a lead core bullet. But I am impressed that you can keep the 52tsx stable. I've tried pushing the 45tsx with RL-15 through my Ruger no.1 14" twist with less than spectacular results and couldn't keep the 50vg on paper. I have gave up trying because it is a lot easier to just use my fast twist gun for the long lead free bullets. I'll tell you what; if you can keep a 50vg on paper with your Ruger, I'll buy you a beer next time I see you

 

[shotgunn77]

Shotgun77
You are cheating. The vmax works well because it is a lead core bullet. But I am impressed that you can keep the 52tsx stable. I've tried pushing the 45tsx with RL-15 through my Ruger no.1 14" twist with less than spectacular results and couldn't keep the 50vg on paper. I have gave up trying because it is a lot easier to just use my fast twist gun for the long lead free bullets. I'll tell you what; if you can keep a 50vg on paper with your Ruger, I'll buy you a beer next time I see you

fuelpincher, I can honestly say that I haven't tried paper out past 300yds. For the longer range shooting I like to use gongs. With the Vmax 40 and 50 grainers I can hit a 12" gong at 500yds. The time I went out past 300yds with the 52gr tsx's it was on a gong that was 1mt square. So from what you're telling me, is I need to see if they're tumbling in there. Thanks for the heads up, I always like and excuse to get out and shoot.

Cheers

 

[Mike 338]

Quite a few years ago I took a antelope with a 220 Swift using Barnes. Can't remember exactly what I was using but they were very accurate. They were most likely 52 gr. or right in there. 200 yards, the first shot hunched him up and you could tell by his eyes he was in shock. 2nd shot tipped him right over. Tiny holes going in and out but worked just fine. Use them with confidence.

 

[fuelpincher]

To be clear, I'm specifically referring to the varmint grenade which is a powdered metal core frangible bullet which is considerably longer for a given weight than a lead core or even the solid copper Barnes bullets. Stabilizing a .22 50gr vg is like stabilizing an 80gr lead bullet because they are about the same length. Check out this twist rate calculator and you'll see what I'm talking about: http://www.bergerbullets.com/litz/TwistRuleAlt.php

 

[Deleted member 46119]

The 14 twist is going to be a PIA with non-lead.

IMO Go light, go fast. It is what has worked for me in my 12 tw 223.

What are you using now?

If it were me:

Go to JBM - Bullet Length List and find your current projectile.

Then go to JBM - Calculations - Stability and find the stability.

Then go back to the bullet length and find a Barnes that is similar length not weight.

Then go back to the stability and try it to see if your stability is equal or higher.

You will be able to run the Barnes faster as it will be lighter so stability will go up.

For me, for non-lead stablity of 1.8 or higher works, lead is good at 1.5 or higher.

 

[barnesuser28]

Im using varget and 36 gr VG in mine, 4400 fps muzzle velocity sure does a number on blackbirds.

 

[john_m44]

I loaded up some 45gr tsx out of my 22-250 Ackley Imp. running 4060 FPS, they shot really well out of a 1:12.
I shot a doe at 80 yards, I was a little disappointed on the performance. Little hole going in the skin golf ball size hole in the entrance side ribs, the lungs was mush and there were 5 or 6 little holes in the ribs on the off side and only one leaving the deer.

 

[shotgunn77]

When refering to the Barnes bullets, I was talking about the TSX bullets, not the Varmint Grenades.

 

[branwill25]

The 50 grain TSX works well out of the 14 twist 220 swift. You shouldn't have any problems getting a good load for it. I talked to a Ryan Steele at Barnes and he said that bullet is designed for a 14 inch twist. Good luck.