Varmint Grenade bullets

[south]

Hi all,

I'd like to understand the Varmint Grenade bullets by Barnes.

They come in .22 and .223 and this is their blurb.

Introduced in 2007, the Varmint Grenade has rapidly become one of the most popular varmint bullets around. Based on a design Barnes developed for military applications, the hollow-cavity, flat-base bullet features a copper-tin powdered metal core surrounded by a guilding metal jacket.

The bullet remains intact at ultra-high velocities in fast twist barrels, while its highly frangible core fragments violently on impact. Produces instant fragmentation, virtually vaporizing ground squirrels and prairie dogs, even at long range. Varmint Grenades instantly expend their energy, seldom exiting large predators like bobcats and coyotes, leaving valuable pelts virtually undamaged.

Foxes aren't a military target Not sure what the point is really... A regular .22 or .223 will take them and good for pelt damage anyway?

Who wants to "vaporize" a squirrel? Can't really see why you'd switch to these over a regular bullet you were using already.

[Wilso1994]

A friend if mine loaded 50 36gr varmint grenade's in his .22-250, 15% under max load using the adi website. I have no idea what it is because I don't own a 250. They make a mess of pigs at 50 yards and almost completely destroy rabbits at 100 yards

[Shotfox]

Marketing - Dont you love it. Next time you want to cull a Coyote, bag a bobcat or even vaporize a squirrel I guess we have to use these. Hang on aint we in Australia

[Vati]

Who wants to "vaporize" a squirrel?

yep.

Interesting sales pitch. Aimed at all the tacticool kids maybe.

[tiki]

They make a mess of pigs at 50 yards and almost completely destroy rabbits at 100 yards

So much for leaving pelts "virtually undamaged".

[Tiiger]

I'm not familiar with the bullets, but definitely at odds to put vaporize and not damaging pelts in the same paragraph.

[Apollo]

Don't know what the initial post is trying to intimate, Barnes Varmint Grenades good, bad or just doesn't understand the design features.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Barnes VG's and the word "Vaporise" (Aussie spelling) should be taken in context of how these bullets are used. Ground Squirrels and Prairie Dogs are rather small, described to me by a Yank as about the size of a "Rat" so anything high velocity is going to make a mess of them.

Barnes VG's come in 20, 22 & 6mm Calibre, .223 is 22 Calibre. Realise these are "Lead Free Bullets" and as such they are much longer than convential Copper/Lead Bullets and you need to watch twist rates carefully.

As far as damaging pelts, well it depends on how you drive any bullet yet alone these. I and friends use both the 20 & 22 Cal BVG's on Fox for pelts and Rabbits for meat. In a .22 Hornet (30gr) and there is minimul damage, most likely they don't exit and cause massive internal damage which is exactly what we want.

However, increase the velocity and the story changes. Tried some in a .222Rem and they are quite good, move up to a .223Rem and the damage increases as does the velocity. Who in their right mind would use a 22-250 to shoot Fox for pelts with the wrong bullet but a well placed shot will probably result in minimul damage. The 36gr .22 Cal BVG is a .223Rem for head shots on Roo's up to 200 metres virtually blows the opposite side of the head off and an instant kill.

Barnes VG's are very well made, super accurate and aren't cheap compared to some other premium grade bullets. Also at times hard to obtain supplies and when supplies arrive they are gone pretty quick. There are a lot of shooters that won't use anything else.

If you use these on critters larger than a squirrel, in an ideal calibre you will be very happy with the results if you collect pelts.

The 26gr BVG in a .204R is something else, very deadly but misplace your shot and they cause massive damage.

[south]

I wasn't hinting at them being good or bad Apollo. Like I said I couldn't see why you'd switch to them, especially if they are expensive and hard to get like you say.

Context is important like you say. If the excessive damage is caused by people using them at higher velocity then they are meant for I understand. Thanks for that.

Some of the wording seemed a bit at odds like Tiiger said, and almost the opposite of what other bullets claim as being good. e.g. expansion and weight retention.

Not dissing them, I'm asking about them.

[Apollo]

No problems. In a nutshell I think they are great and good value when bought in bulk packs ie 250 packs.

As for wording, well they are Yanks and like to go overboard a bit with descriptions etc.

For anyone that hasn't tried BVG's then they are worth a test.

[Spooner]

As for wording, well they are Yanks

Ha ha. Yeah. Culling the pests isn't enough, it's gotta be done Hollywood action movie style!

"I have some prairie dogs on my property. They're a real pest, so I VAPORIZED THEM! "

Arnie would be proud.

[Apollo]

There are some magic high resolution photo's taken with a high speed frame camera by "Rick in Oregon" on the "204 Ruger Forum" and they really are "Vaporised"...

Nothing left but bit's n pieces. Rick loves his Cooper 204's and seems a nice bloke to correspond with yarning about long distance Varminting with his family.

Can't remember what breed of bullet he uses, have a funny feeling they may be SBK's or Berger's. They are all very destructive when driven to high velocities like in the 204 Ruger on tiny critters.

[upup]

There are some magic high resolution photo's taken with a high speed frame camera by "Rick in Oregon" on the "204 Ruger Forum" and they really are "Vaporised"...

I've seen the ones.

Crazy how much damage is actually done!

[yoshie]

I've used the 36g ones in my 223, results were pretty spectacular on rabbits and a fox. I wouldn't want to use them on anything bigger. Accuracy wasn't too good either. 1:12 twist.

[Apollo]

The 36gr BVG's I used that were super accurate was in a 1:9" Twist CZ527 .223R Varmint.

[howtow]

There are some magic high resolution photo's taken with a high speed frame camera by "Rick in Oregon" on the "204 Ruger Forum" and they really are "Vaporised"...

Anyone see that video with the rabbit getting hit by the super car... Ain't no rabbit left!

[bunnybuster]

Hi all,

I'd like to understand the Varmint Grenade bullets by Barnes.

They come in .22 and .223 and this is their blurb.

Introduced in 2007, the Varmint Grenade has rapidly become one of the most popular varmint bullets around. Based on a design Barnes developed for military applications, the hollow-cavity, flat-base bullet features a copper-tin powdered metal core surrounded by a guilding metal jacket.

The bullet remains intact at ultra-high velocities in fast twist barrels, while its highly frangible core fragments violently on impact. Produces instant fragmentation, virtually vaporizing ground squirrels and prairie dogs, even at long range. Varmint Grenades instantly expend their energy, seldom exiting large predators like bobcats and coyotes, leaving valuable pelts virtually undamaged.

Foxes aren't a military target Not sure what the point is really... A regular .22 or .223 will take them and good for pelt damage anyway?

Who wants to "vaporize" a squirrel? Can't really see why you'd switch to these over a regular bullet you were using already.

Vapourised squirrel ?? the first step in Squirrel Minestrone--take one squirrel--- completely varourised,discard skin and entrails,oh already done,bone carefully,done ------

Be Safe,BB.

[maxi]

Vapourised squirrel ?? the first step in Squirrel Minestrone--take one squirrel--- completely varourised,discard skin and entrails,oh already done,bone carefully,done ------

Every kitchen needs a .22