Anybody Use the 250gr Barnes MZ?
 

I stumbled onto the Barnes MZ expanders and in my Traditions 50 caliber they really work well in front of 130gr of pydrodex.Excellant accuracy and great expansion at 50-100yds.Don' t get too many long shots up here but would be very confident at 150+.Anybody else like these bullets?

woods

RE: Anybody Use the 250gr Barnes MZ?
 

You know......I tried those once. I shoot a Austin&Halleck and I couldn' t get those bullets down the barrel. They wouldn' t even fit in the muzzle.....weird huh.

RE: Anybody Use the 250gr Barnes MZ?
 

Thats what I shoot out of my Remington 700MLS .50cal.I use 100grns of 777 and they work great! I have killed several deer with them and they perform great.

Wish I could have told you about a 250lb. hawg this year but he ran off before I could get a shot[:@]

I am thinking of trying the 300 grainers too but the 250s rock!. BTW Knight also sells the same bullet for about $2.00 more a pack called the " Red Hot Bullet" same bullet different package

RE: Anybody Use the 250gr Barnes MZ?
 

I use them in my Knight rifles. At regular MZ velocities they expand JUST LIKE the picture on the package! Awsome performance!

RE: Anybody Use the 250gr Barnes MZ?
 

Woods, you ever tried the hornady XTP in 240GR? I have been using them, with 100 gr of pyrodex behind. While my bullet drop at 200 yards is 10-12" the accuracy is superb at 100 and have taken a big mulie at 130 Yards with this set up, holding tight on him. I have been thinking about going down to 180-190 due to 200 yards shot are a real possibilty for some of my areas, but my experience has been so good both on the range and in game with the XTP and my 50 cal.

Guys who have shot both, how do these 2 bullets compare? What warrants the price difference between XTP vs MZ for deer and a 50 cal ML? Is it whatever shoots the best, only thing you tried, basically why?


thanks

RE: Anybody Use the 250gr Barnes MZ?
 

Skeeter - I couldnt get the 240XTP' s to shoot worth a hoot in my Rem 700ML. The barnes shoot considerably better groups and none of the deer Ive shot with them have complained. I have to admit Im a newbie to MZ' s though and didnt experiment much, just stuck 2 pyrodex 50 pellets down the tube and tried a handfull of bullets to see which worked. I dont shoot MZ recreationally, just for hunting so bullet cost wasnt much of a factor. I picked up an Encore 50 today so I will retry the 240XTP which the encore is supposed to like. If I can get twice the bullets for less money, and get them to shoot well, thats what I' ll shoot. The Barnes shot well in my cousins Knight, but I think that was all he tried. His last name happens to be Barnes, so guess what he picks up first;).

RE: Anybody Use the 250gr Barnes MZ?
 

Thanks Timber. Funny I have 700MLS.

I shoot with a number of guys and the load combos vary, it really is whatever works.

Good Luck with your Encore.

RE: Anybody Use the 250gr Barnes MZ?
 

skeeter,I think its when you find a great bullet/load combo that a lot of guys stop right there.I' ve never tried the XTP 240gr. and can' t comment on them.I was using a lead with plastic tip sabot that traditions was selling(silver something) and loved them but they discontinued and at that point I saw the Barnes at wally world and picked up a pack.They shot very accurate and worked well so I just stuck with them.I hear more and more about them on these boards and it all seems pretty positive so I guess it works for a lot of guys.I see Cabelas is selling a lead plastic tipped sabot now like I used to use in their new catalogs and they come in lighter weights like 200gr.I may give them a try and see if they shoot good for me.Like you I would like to come down about 50gr in weight to flatten out the trajectory a little better.

woods

RE: Anybody Use the 250gr Barnes MZ?
 

Woods, have you by chance tried the noslers in 180-195 gr? A buddy who guides was saying a number of the guys were bragging them up(180 gr nosler with 100Gr pyro) this fall. Saying they were flat, fast and held great groups at 100 - 200. I have posted here a few times, but have gotten only a couple of comments, but they seemed positive. I am thinking about giving them a test when the snow goes. I would like to get some field experiences with this bullet, but it seems the light weights and ML is almost taboo. If you have heard anything, I would appreciate your comments.

RE: Anybody Use the 250gr Barnes MZ?
 

Far as the lightweight and ML thing being taboo,only to some [:@]The 45' s wouldn' t be popular if guys wern' t looking to flatten the bullet curve some huh?Its odd you would mention the nosler as thats the only bullet I use for any type of game in my CF' s so you' d think I would have tried them first in the ML but I have never tried them.I guess they have designed them for ML velocities and they should work excellant.I never see anything on the boards about them so I never gave them much thought.I think this summer I will shoot a couple different bullet combos at 100-150yds and see what they will do.Maybe try the nosler and the plastic tipped boattails.I stay at 130gr of pyrodex as that is where my gun shoots best(guess that would be about 105-110 of 777).Keep me posted about any you try and I' ll do likewise.

woods

RE: Anybody Use the 250gr Barnes MZ?
 

Thanks woods, will do. I have never been a part fan, they don' t group well enough out of my CF' s. The NBT is a different story. What brand or who makes the boattails you mentioned? I noticed you mentioned Cabela' s, but we can not order ammo from them anymore (canadian...eh!!!!). I wouldn' t mind giving them a go, if i can find them.

RE: Anybody Use the 250gr Barnes MZ?
 

Hmmmmmmmm............bummer,Cabelas are marketing them theirselves in their catalogs.Don' t mention whos making them for them.

woods

RE: Anybody Use the 250gr Barnes MZ?
 

Check out www.prbullet.com you will find the Traditions bullet (Silver Lightning) and the Cabella' s bullet (QT Polymer Tip) there. They make them and provide valuable info for ML' s also.

Almost forgot, I have also used the 250 gr MZ' s. Great performance on two bucks in the 2001 season, used 303 gr JHP Rem Core-Lokts in 2002 also on two. Both bullets performed well. I had no problem using the MZ' s in my 2001 Austin & Halleck .50 cal, didn' t have enough MZ' s to work up a load in my new 2002 Austin & Halleck .50 cal. Two other friends use MZ' s (300 gr) in their A&H ML' s with no problem.

Robbie

I had a comma behind the .com, now corrected

RE: Anybody Use the 250gr Barnes MZ?
 

Thanks,can' t get the link to work but will find them and add to favorites.Now I' ll want to get the silver lightning again and I got two packs of Barnes :(

woods

RE: Anybody Use the 250gr Barnes MZ?
 

OK I got in and thats them,those Dead Centers look real good,better than the Silver Lightnings.Thanks Again for the tip,Robbie.

woods

RE: Anybody Use the 250gr Barnes MZ?
 

I checked where I buy my ML supplies locally and they have the dead centers in 300 gr only. Supposely there are planning to bring in some of lighter grains in spring/summer.

Thanks for the brand name info. I think I may give them a run come warm weather.

RE: Anybody Use the 250gr Barnes MZ?
 

Skeeter7mm,I am a little confused on the nosler 180 and 195 bullets,I looked at Cabelas and noslers web site neither listed any noslers in 180 and 195 gr bullets only listed 50 and 54 cal in 250 grs and up.
I have used the nosler 185 gr pistol bullets and the worked great but they look like the xpt bullet,no plastic tip or boat tail.
Are you sure they wasn' t talking about the pression bullet that has a blue tip and boat tail.If this is something new that nosler has come out with would like to try them.I have tried the pb in the dead center and the QT tip and like them too, but if you click on the link below you can see how I got the barnes 195 gr to shoot in my encore.
Anyone else know about the nosler bullets??

RE: Anybody Use the 250gr Barnes MZ?
 

Herman the ones I was orginally refered to were the Nosler PB' s. I know that I can get these locally, I was just looking for input on how they performed and if they worth a try or stick with the XTP' s.

Woodseye mentioned the plastic tipped/boattail style in a reply, available through cabela' s. I was looking for manufacturer' s that may have that style bullet, as being canadian I can no longer order those supplies through the US.

RE: Anybody Use the 250gr Barnes MZ?
 

I have used both the Barnes MZ 250 gr bullet and the Precision Rifle " Dead Center" bullet in 220 gr.
I had excellent accuracy with both from my Encore 209x50 ML.
Differences: Barnes was most difficult to get down the bbl, while the " dead center" easily goes down the tube.
Barnes has a terrible drop at 150+ yds while the " dead center" is still screaming at 200 yds
Both bullets and their sabots handle 150 gr. of pyrodex very well.
The polymer tip on the " dead center give the bullet a better " B.C." , flatter trajectory and hotter velocities.
p.s. I bought my " Dead center" bullets directly from the manufacturer, and funny enough, they are located in Canada!

RE: Anybody Use the 250gr Barnes MZ?
 

Thanks for the info. I have found the same with my XTP' s, shoot great, preform great, but 150 or better they drop off like now and very tough to stuff down the barrel.

I am definately going to pick up dead centers with the polymer tip this spring. What type and amount of powder are you using with the dead centers? I know that their website has a lot of test (Ballistic) data on triple 7. I never realized they are right next door in Manitoba. I just have to try them now, if only to support a canadian company. However they do look rock solid and seem to be what I am looking for.

I find that very interesting that americans can buy and export ammo for personal use from canada, but not vice versa. Are you a dealer by chance???

Thanks Again.

RE: Anybody Use the 250gr Barnes MZ?
 

Skeeter,
No, not a dealer. But how can chunks of lead be classified as ammunition? By that definition, fishing weights could be ammo! But who can understand trade laws?
The " PR Bullet" web site does extensive testing and some of it with the Encore 209x50. Their results also are shown using pyrodex pellets. This is what I use. 3 of them to be exact.
I am going for supreme accuracy and I feel that by removing as many variables as possible, I can acheive that. 1 of those variables is the compression of your black powder. That compression directly affect how you powder burns and the resulting pressure. They got marginally better results using triple 7 or clean shot (can' t remember which), but what about if the wind is blowing and you only get 145 of you 150 gr. load down the tube? Now where does your bullet go? I can' t go for that.
For me, 150 gr. pyro pellets, 220 gr. " Dead Center" and Winchester 209 primers.
Or at least until something better comes along.
p.s. take a look at T/C' s new " Shock wave" polymer tipped bullet. That is my next bullet to run through the paces.

RE: Anybody Use the 250gr Barnes MZ?
 

mlaubner, how can a Scope be considered dangerous...got me![:@]!! I can' t order anything firearm related through the US. This has nothing to due with trade laws, but Sept. 11th!

I too use the pyro pellets. I used loose prior, but for many reasons I am happy where I am now. I am glad to see your getting good results using the pellets:D.

Thanks for the info. I will take a look, give an update on the knight bullet. I am sure you' ll be on the range before me, 2 feet of snow and real cold as of late[:o]. Looks like she' ll be a while[:@]!