H322 and the Barnes 115 TAC-TX

[White Smoke]

I just finished confirming a ladder using H322 with the Barnes 115 TAC-TX bullet. I shot a seven-group ladder of four rounds each from 23.5 to 26.5 grains in half-grain increments. Kind of interesting. I got a double-node pattern from the seven loads. The bottom load of 23.5 was the tightest at 0.55" at 2180 f/s. Groups 2 ,3 and 4 increased in size and then started closing up again until group 7 measured 0.68 at 2484 f/s. I loaded up two 5-round loads to confirm and shot them today. The 23.5 load was just a bit larger than the 0.55" group it shot last week. The 26.5 load was the same, 0.68". Even though the 23.5 load is slightly smaller, I'm going with the 26.5 load because of the increased velocity. That's going with me to Texas in April for hogs and Axis deer. A quick note...the 26.5 load is a max load. The primers were JUST starting to show pressure. They were slightly flattened and the firing pin dimple was slightly cratered, not enough to worry about, but enough to tell me to not go any higher.

[outbreaker]

The chronograph will show the pressures long before the brass and primers will. Look for when you get an unexpected velocity jump that is a pressure spike. In the Grendel when you are seeing brass signs you are normally over pressue for an AR-15.

Be careful with Barnes bullets in the Grendel. I shot 3 does and 1 buck with them and they will not expand unless you hit bone. I had one doe shot in the lungs she ran 30yds and bedded up where I could see her but not get a shot. I watched her for the 2 hours it took her to bleed out. On cleaning the bullet entered between ribs and exited between ribs. No expansion solid center lung shot. No blood except where she was bedded. 2 of the 4 deer had these types of results. The other 2 were in the head so it did not matter. I quit using them after watching that doe die. Accurate, but unless you hit the bone they are worthless.

Now I shoot Nosler BT and killed over 200 deer and pigs with them. (MLD permitted lease and I was stacking does). On those I had the bullet fail 2/3 of the time (too much expansion) and those animals never moved a step. The other 1/3 the bullet worked perfectly and all were down within 50yds, dead.

[White Smoke]

The differences in velocity between loads from low to high were 60, 49, 48, 46, 35 and 16. Judging from what I saw on the cases and what you say about the velocity changes, I would say I'm right at the top end.

[outbreaker]

Pressure spike at 60 definitely. I would not go there and shoot the lower node. Notice 49-35 was remaining somewhat constant in the jumps.

[LRRPF52]

I just finished confirming a ladder using H322 with the Barnes 115 TAC-TX bullet. I shot a seven-group ladder of four rounds each from 23.5 to 26.5 grains in half-grain increments. Kind of interesting. I got a double-node pattern from the seven loads. The bottom load of 23.5 was the tightest at 0.55" at 2180 f/s. Groups 2 ,3 and 4 increased in size and then started closing up again until group 7 measured 0.68 at 2484 f/s. I loaded up two 5-round loads to confirm and shot them today. The 23.5 load was just a bit larger than the 0.55" group it shot last week. The 26.5 load was the same, 0.68". Even though the 23.5 load is slightly smaller, I'm going with the 26.5 load because of the increased velocity. That's going with me to Texas in April for hogs and Axis deer. A quick note...the 26.5 load is a max load. The primers were JUST starting to show pressure. They were slightly flattened and the firing pin dimple was slightly cratered, not enough to worry about, but enough to tell me to not go any higher.

.5 grain increments is too large, especially for solid copper/monolithic bullets.

You’ll get more resolution with .3gr increments, or 1% case capacity and not push over pressure spikes inadvertently.

[outbreaker]

.5 grain increments is too large, especially for solid copper/monolithic bullets.

You’ll get more resolution with .3gr increments, or 1% case capacity and not push over pressure spikes inadvertently.

Good catch I missed that

[Oso Polaris]

I've shot a lot of the Barnes 110gr TAC-TX in 300BO and started load development on the 115gr for the Grendel using CFE 223. My velocities were in the 2400-2500 range. With the Barnes you want fast to maximize expansion. With it being a solid core bullet, it needs to have a jump to the lands. Otherwise, you will have a pressure spike.

[Oso Polaris]

A while back I started load development on the 115gr for the Grendel using CFE 223. My velocities were in the 2400-2500 range. With the Barnes you want fast to maximize expansion. With it being a solid core bullet, it needs to have a jump to the lands. Otherwise, you will have a pressure spike.

[SCJim]

I did some load development with Noslers and H322. Good accuracy but velocities were a bit low

[grayfox]

The 115 gr Barnes factory loads for me, in my howa, were at 2510, 20" barrel. Shot pretty well.

[Happy2Shoot]

I just finished confirming a ladder using H322 with the Barnes 115 TAC-TX bullet. I shot a seven-group ladder of four rounds each from 23.5 to 26.5 grains in half-grain increments.

Barnes doesn't give information for loading with H322.

If you compare Sierra 120gr data with Barnes 115gr data you get a very strong correlation with similar powders such as Benchmark, H355, and 8208 XBR.

I would stop around 25.8gr of H322.

[Harpoon1]

Barnes doesn't give information for loading with H322.

If you compare Sierra 120gr data with Barnes 115gr data you get a very strong correlation with similar powders such as Benchmark, H355, and 8208 XBR.

I would stop around 25.8gr of H322.

Hodgdon website shows the Barnes 120 TSX and H322.

2.200” COL, 23.0 start- 25.8c max load @ 50,000 PSI

[Happy2Shoot]

Hodgdon website shows the Barnes 120 TSX and H322.

2.200” COL, 23.0 start- 25.8c max load @ 50,000 PSI

Lol, that's awesome!

Thanks for the backup!

[Harpoon1]

Lol, that's awesome!

Thanks for the backup!

Roger, it’s all good!