.40 Flat Based 195g Barnes Observations
Oct 23, 2010 13:26:35 GMT -5
Post by Chris Champion on Oct 23, 2010 13:26:35 GMT -5
Guys,
I've shot 60 of the 195g Barnes with the new and improved flat bases and I just wanted to share some of my observations compared to older version.
* No need to knurl. I had been knurling the 195 Barnes between two double cut bastard files to get best accuracy and consistent velocity. My barrel is from RB's special batch that measure .450-.451 land to land so its a little bigger than most. I'm getting the same accuracy with the flat base un-knurled bullet as I had been with the knurled older version.
*Slightly increased loading resistence. The new un knurled bullets load about the same as a knurled older version. I used to knurl the .395-.398 Barnes up to .401-402. The bullets I recently purchased from Barnes mic right .398 to .400. This is a good thing.
*Increased velocity. Last year my hunting load of 63g H4198, knurled Barnes, and smooth blue Harvester was shooting 2760 fps in 50 F weather. This year the same load with the new flat based bullets, (minus the knurl), averages 2790 in the same temps so far. Now 30 fps ain't much but the numbers are what they are. I've also seen very consistent velocity. Today I shot 12 times with the 63g load and velocity ranged from 2783 to 2796.
*Reduced sabot stress. Last winter in 20F temps I tried shooting 64g H4198 with the old batch of bullets, (knurled,) and the smooth blue harvester never blew, but you could tell that it was right on the verge of doing so and accuracy was so-so. Today I shot 12 of these bullets with 64g H4198 in 50 to 60F temps and sabots looked very good and velocity was very consistent in the 2820 fps range. Accuracy was right there with my 63g load.
*Accuracy is good. In my gun the 200 SST has proven to be slightly more accurate than the 195 Barnes. Still at 200 yds my 3 shot groups with the flat based Barnes with 63g H4198 have averaged right at 2"...some better some worse. A month or so ago I got a package of the large radius verson from Mid-South Shooters Supply. I never blew a sabot like others had, but I shot all 24 of those bullets at 200 yds the best 3 shot group I could muster was a fuzz over 3".
For me the biggest advantages I've seen is no need to knurl for consistent accuracy and speed and the potential to shoot it faster due to less stress on the sabot. At least in my gun, this bullet has shown a tendency to shoot better the faster you push it. To go any faster than I am right now I'd probably have to duplex. I have nothing against duplexing but I want to stick to the simplicity of single powder loads and a 2790 fps, MOA load is plenty good enough for this guy.
I've shot 60 of the 195g Barnes with the new and improved flat bases and I just wanted to share some of my observations compared to older version.
* No need to knurl. I had been knurling the 195 Barnes between two double cut bastard files to get best accuracy and consistent velocity. My barrel is from RB's special batch that measure .450-.451 land to land so its a little bigger than most. I'm getting the same accuracy with the flat base un-knurled bullet as I had been with the knurled older version.
*Slightly increased loading resistence. The new un knurled bullets load about the same as a knurled older version. I used to knurl the .395-.398 Barnes up to .401-402. The bullets I recently purchased from Barnes mic right .398 to .400. This is a good thing.
*Increased velocity. Last year my hunting load of 63g H4198, knurled Barnes, and smooth blue Harvester was shooting 2760 fps in 50 F weather. This year the same load with the new flat based bullets, (minus the knurl), averages 2790 in the same temps so far. Now 30 fps ain't much but the numbers are what they are. I've also seen very consistent velocity. Today I shot 12 times with the 63g load and velocity ranged from 2783 to 2796.
*Reduced sabot stress. Last winter in 20F temps I tried shooting 64g H4198 with the old batch of bullets, (knurled,) and the smooth blue harvester never blew, but you could tell that it was right on the verge of doing so and accuracy was so-so. Today I shot 12 of these bullets with 64g H4198 in 50 to 60F temps and sabots looked very good and velocity was very consistent in the 2820 fps range. Accuracy was right there with my 63g load.
*Accuracy is good. In my gun the 200 SST has proven to be slightly more accurate than the 195 Barnes. Still at 200 yds my 3 shot groups with the flat based Barnes with 63g H4198 have averaged right at 2"...some better some worse. A month or so ago I got a package of the large radius verson from Mid-South Shooters Supply. I never blew a sabot like others had, but I shot all 24 of those bullets at 200 yds the best 3 shot group I could muster was a fuzz over 3".
For me the biggest advantages I've seen is no need to knurl for consistent accuracy and speed and the potential to shoot it faster due to less stress on the sabot. At least in my gun, this bullet has shown a tendency to shoot better the faster you push it. To go any faster than I am right now I'd probably have to duplex. I have nothing against duplexing but I want to stick to the simplicity of single powder loads and a 2790 fps, MOA load is plenty good enough for this guy.
