Barnes quality control

I have been using Barnes bullets for over a decade in 6.5 and 30 06. I noticed with the latest batch of 127 grain LRX, that my groups open up quite considerably to an inch and a 1/2 from previously being half an inch.
I weighed out fifteen LRX 127 grain bullets and although eleven were 127.2 grains , the rest varied from 127 to 127.7 grains.
Ten of the TSX 200 grainers from older stock all weighed exactly 200 grains.
I weighed out ten Hornaday ELD-X 143 grain bullets and they all weighed 143.7 grains. I heard that Barnes have recently been taken over by federal.Has anyone else noted a decrease in quality of these stamped bullets?

rodkayak said:

I have been using Barnes bullets for over a decade in 6.5 and 30 06. I noticed with the latest batch of 127 grain LRX, that my groups open up quite considerably to an inch and a 1/2 from previously being half an inch.
I weighed out fifteen LRX 127 grain bullets and although eleven were 127.2 grains , the rest varied from 127 to 127.7 grains.
Ten of the TSX 200 grainers from older stock all weighed exactly 200 grains.
I weighed out ten Hornaday ELD-X 143 grain bullets and they all weighed 143.7 grains. I heard that Barnes have recently been taken over by federal.Has anyone else noted a decrease in quality of these stamped bullets?

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It’s happened before , @Ronin explained it to me but it’s definitely happened before.
I know he prefers to use lathe turned solids now rather than rolled Barnes.

Another step in the reloading process (I only use Barnes across 3 calibres) - weigh each sodding bullet before seating

I use barnes 130grn TTSX, I always weigh before I reload and never noticed a variaton of more than 0.2 Maybe I have older manuf stock.

He will not be able to help. RIP.

Barnes are not owned by Federal they are owned by JDH Capital Company who also own Sierra Bullets.

Federal are owned by Czechoslovak Group or CSG.

It would surprise me if the bullet weight variation you have seen is the cause of your increase in group size.

Why I say this is due to Sierra for example stating that their MatchKing bullets vary a maximum of plus or minus 0.3 grains.

The Barnes bullets that you weighed are very nearly within that range.

The 100 grain, 25 cal bullets in a box of Swift Scirocco II I have vary in weight by 3 grains. Due to this I have never used them but others that I have spoken to that have used them say they are very accurate.