36gr Barnes Varmint Grenade - How much jump?

[Hairysausagefingers]

I've just acquired a few hundred 36gr Varmint Grenades for use in my .22K Hornet. It has a 1:12 twist and the good news is that there's no sign of them hitting sideways.
Without getting too detailed on the load, I think I've got the right powder charge but I'm 70 thou" off the lands (started at 50 thou" off and then did a second batch at 70 thou" off, with more powder too).
I've got a 1" group at 124yds (that's just where the muck-heap/ backstop conveniently sits) and they open up either side of this charge.
Has anyone else used these 36grainers and found they want a whopping jump?
I think I can tune it further with OACL adjustments, but what increments should I use in a situation like this (i.e. being so far back already)… . 3, 5, 10, 15 thou"?
I don't want to miss a node by leap-frogging too far, but I want some bullets left once I find it.
To put it another way, if they want such a big jump will they even be sensitive to a 3"thou increment?

 

[Longstrider]

I know 3/8ths of bu88er-all about what jump they'll want, or what else will work, but have you not already answered your own question ? If 70thou is giving you consistent 1" groups at 100yds +, use that and get shooting stuff with them

If it ain't broke ... Don't fix it.

 

[Hairysausagefingers]

Well, I took your advice, loaded some and went out rabbiting.
I didn't achieve the same groups in the field but ended up with 6 bunnies for 9 shots.
1 lost in the hedge, 2 had to be finished off, 1 went 40yds and one got shot through the eye sockets and was still very much upright and I had to pull its neck. 2 clean misses.
"Varmint Grenade" is a very poor description.
I couldn't believe how little damage these non toxic bullets did, even on head shots. V-Max or Varmageddon would have blown the heads off. Typically I get some mush with a pair of ears attached.
I didn't chronograph these, but they will be circa 3,000fps. Not too impressed at all.
Honestly, I would have been as well using the .22LR with subs and getting a bit closer.
Not sure whether I'll stick at these or whack them through the .223 at fast speed. Undecided.

 

[cjs66]

40g Nosler Varmas for me, all day long. The B/Ts are better but if I can't find them, the H/Ps work well too. I had a really accurate load with the Sierra 40g H/P too but, they were a touch harder and didn't expand as well. My rifle is just the standard Hornet though.

cjs

 

[Hairysausagefingers]

Cheers. I have a box of the Sierra 40gn HP. Looks almost full. Came with a rifle. Might be good for foxes from what you say?
Just tried one of the 36gn Varmint Grenades with 12.5gn of H110… ..primers just starting to flatten.
I'll work back in 10ths of a grain and see if there's another load it likes at the top end of the charges. It seems these need all the velocity they can get.
Agree totally on the V-Max. Both hornets I've had really liked them, but I thought I'd try non toxic… and the bullets were cheap!

 

[Longstrider]

If bunnies are running off after a hit from a Hornet of any sort it simply has to be a bullet issue. As long as the bullets are leaving at a sensible speed (I'd say yours are), then to have so many potential runners would see me revert to a good old fashioned soft point in very short order.

 

[cjs66]

Cheers. I have a box of the Sierra 40gn HP. Looks almost full. Came with a rifle. Might be good for foxes from what you say?
Just tried one of the 36gn Varmint Grenades with 12.5gn of H110… ..primers just starting to flatten.
I'll work back in 10ths of a grain and see if there's another load it likes at the top end of the charges. It seems these need all the velocity they can get.
Agree totally on the V-Max. Both hornets I've had really liked them, but I thought I'd try non toxic… and the bullets were cheap!

I had no luck getting the Varmint Grenades to group in my rifle, although I thought they were 30g. It was a long time ago. The Sierra 40g hollow point is the most accurate bullet I've put through my rifle but, they can pencil through. 40g bullets of most types through mine are averaging 2550 -2650 fps, for best accuracy. With yours having more case capacity, being the K Hornet, you might have more luck. My favourite load is, 11.5g of H110 in RWS brass, Fed s/r primer and a 40g Varma bt on the top. Great in mine. Also, mine has only an 18" barrel, great in the truck but must slow it down a bit. Good luck, you've got to love the Hornet.

cjs

 

[Hairysausagefingers]

Thanks, Hornets are indeed a love hate thing.
Great when it all comes together, but infuriating when they don't do what you want.

I stepped the powder up to 12.3gn of H110 and got well under a half inch group at 90yds this afternoon. 4 shots. I'll do some more and see if it's repeatable. If I can reproduce the group it saves me fiddling further with seating depth.
If I can hit them in the head all is good and should eliminate runners. I have 5 boxes to use up!
I will definitely start on those Sierra hollow points and have a play with them soon… many thanks for the heads up on those.

The 30gn Varmint Grenades seem to have a better following with Hornet owners and I can see why. The 36gn ones I've got are way longer than a 40gn Varmageddon and I can see why a 1:16 twist won't stabilise them. I do wonder though, if the people who get them to shoot but can't get them to group perhaps haven't seated them deep enough. Most things Barnes seem to want really big jumps, in my rifles at least.

 

[Acm]

I’ve not heard of anyone who can get the varmint grenades to shoot any sense. If you’d like to have a non toxic load for the hornet though, try some of @Edinburgh Rifles fox bullets. I have a load for the 45grn in my .222 that shoots lights out. The bullets expand well too.