Barnes xpanders
 

I recently started shooting the MZ's at the recommendation of a few other guys on another forum. 50yd accuracy is NICE, basicly one hole 3 shot groups. I switched from the shockwaves because of results I received on deer last year and my omega likes the Barnes better when killing paper as well. I was just lookingfor some more feedback on the effectiveness on deer or other game. Also, I have yet to shoot this setup at extended ranges. Does anyone have any experience with the MZ's at extended ranges 150+ ?

Thanks

RE: Barnes xpanders
 

Just like any projectile from a ML, I get 2MOA accuracy with them and 125gr of loose 777. And sighted 2" high at 100 yards, I drop around 6.5" at 200 yards and zeroed at 150. Groups open to 6" at 200 but all i put on ML is1.5-5.

I have killed deer with the SST and killed alot of deer with barnes.The barnes seems to leave more damage behind. Nice exit holes.The SST seemed to penetrate ok, but never left alot of blood behind. But worked perfectly fine.

RE: Barnes xpanders
 

In this ML bullet-buying business, most times, you get what you pay for it -- when purchasing these bullets in small quantities.

The Barnes Expanders, Nosler Partitions, Precision Dead Centers.... etc ..are considered the best foroverall workat the 25-100 range mark. However, those bullets are not consumer-friendly at the cash register line.

RE: Barnes xpanders
 

From all I have read on the Barnes Expanders their ability to produce excellent wound channels and achieve excellent penetration even on thick skinned or larger animals is excellent. I have personally never gotten to shoot an animal with them as of yet. I do get some outstanding accuracy with them in my Knight Rifles. I also switched to the Barnes XPB handgun bullets. They are almost identical to the Barnes Expander in design except they have a crimp ring for loading into cartridge casings. The other nice thing about them is they are much more buyer friendly then the Expanders.

I shoot 100 grains of Goex 3f and a 250 grain Barnes Expander in my Knight Wolverine with excellent results. I have never shot them over 100 yards on targets yet so I can not comment on long range abilities. I normally shoot under a 2" group with them at 100 yards.

RE: Barnes xpanders
 

I used the Barnes quite a bit until just recently, when I switched to the Shockwaves. Have only hunted elk with them and have no experience with deer. The 200 yard groups usually run about 3 to 4 inches. The 250's, for me, shot just a little better than the 300's; and the 250's turned out to have plenty of penetration for elk.

Within my family group, we have taken about six elk in New Mexico with the 250 Barnes. Distances vary from 30 yards to a little over 200 yards (ranged). At 30 yards, with an impact velocity still over 2,000 fps, the bullet broke a couple of its petals off and went clear through the elk broadside. Starting at about 125 yards, the bullet spreads its petals out like a fan blade and is normally found just under the hide on the off side. The damage this bullet produces is similar to a .30 caliber magnum rifle. Most of the elk we have shot went down without being able to take even a single step.

Only reason I switched was the cost, and the fact that they seat real hard in the T/C guns. I keep meaning to play around with some different sabots and see if I can get them to seat like the T/C Shockwaves. But the Shockwaves are also working very well for us, and I'll probably shoot up what I have on hand before going back the Barnes.

RE: Barnes xpanders
 

Thanks for the replies,
The MZ's do load a little rough especialy on a clean bore, Mine seem to load much smoother after a fouling shot and a spit patch. I switched from the shockwaves after a few little to no blood trails and a lost 8 point, the 2 doe I shot both died relatively fast but with no sign hardly on the ground. The 8 point was a quartering 2 me shot right in the shoulder, I'm pretty sure the bullet fragged on the bone. Barnes will have a balistic tip available at the end of the month, which they are saying expands a 1050fps and still all copper. I'll be giving these a try as well. I also have some dead centers to try as well, but I realy like what I'm getting out of the MZ's so far. Thanks again.

RE: Barnes xpanders
 

I called Barnes last week for some pricing and they have changed the pricing for all ML bullets for 2006. Check out there website http://barnesbullets.com/for pricing. They are a lot more afordable now.

RE: Barnes xpanders
 

i've shot a butt load of deer with the barnes. this past year I switched to the shockwaves, and I LOVE them. I shoot a t/c encore, just kinda wondering why you didn't like them quite as much. But either route is great. I love the barnes, and they will always be used at some point or another.

RE: Barnes xpanders
 

Bowtech,

The reason I switched was the lack of blood trail I received on 2 does I shot, both died farely quick but one left no blood and the other was just a few splatters on the snow in about 50yds. I shot an 8 point that was quartering to me in the right front shoulder at about 100yds, I'm almost positve that bullet fragged on the bone. We've seen this buck since and has a noticable limp on that right shoulder.

RE: Barnes xpanders
 

Cabelas has a real good price on them right now but they are backordered for like 6-8 weeks[:@]I think they are selling them for 15.99 for 24. They also have the new poly tipped t-mz's as well.

RE: Barnes xpanders
 

Having shot a couple of elk with the 250 Shockwaves, I am having trouble visualizing that bullet breaking up in the shoulder of a deer. Not saying it didn't happen . . . but since the deer wasn't recovered, you will never know for sure.

RE: Barnes xpanders
 

I'm not saying they are bad bullets, they shot pretty well out of my omega. Another fella shot a buck that had 5 exit wounds, they will frag. I'm just not too confident with the results I personaly received and have heard about from a few others. But I hear a lot more positives than negatives.

RE: Barnes xpanders
 

Man, I don't mean any offense, but I have to raise up the BS flag on the "5 exit wounds". I would say just about everyone on this page has too.

RE: Barnes xpanders
 

I have a question or two Since the 200 and the 250 SW shot an inch or less in my Omega and will do it with an unbeliveable range of powder loads.
Since bullets are usually designed to work at a certain volicity I would like to have every one say the load and or the volicity and what they shot as well as what the bullet did. I can believe that they might not open up at 70 or 80 gr. and that if you shot them out of that new smokeles gun that is supposed to get 2800 fps that they might frag. Thank You Lee

RE: Barnes xpanders
 

It could very well be bs as I was not there personally. Thats only what I had heard but you know how that goes! Although I think its funny how they just came out with the new bonded sw's, they had to have some sort of issue with the bullets coming apart or I dont think you would have seen these. like I said I'm not trying to bash the sw just posting my reasoning for making the change thats all.I'm shootin 110gr's app 3f, dont know the velocity.

RE: Barnes xpanders
 

I'll give you one reason......HOGS!!!!