XLC bullets
 

Anyone have any comments on them...besides they are outrageously expensive? I'm pretty sure luck was on my side but today I shot my best reload group EVER on a first-try recipe. Three shots one hole about 1/2" from edge to edge off a bipod in sitting position in the bed of my truck. 2 shells had a COL of 2.33" and one was 2.25" I shot the short one first and it made the left side of the whole...for all I can tell the two long ones were playing follow-the-leader. This is at 50yards...but I imagine that gives .75MOA on a first try recipe in less than benchrest shooting situation.

THIS IS EXCITING cause the only other stuff I handload for are revolvers.

22-250 Remington 700bdl sporter (stock) barrel
9 1/2 Rem. Primer
Win. brass
34gr IMR 4320
53gr. Barnes XLC FB
2.33" OAL

Had to share.

(The partition load isn't key-holeing but is still a 2MOA load and the blue-dot load I tried was probably a 1.5MOA load...I'll keep working on them to see what happens)

RE: XLC bullets
 

Try some of the 3031 powder! I have used alot of 4320 and had good groups but the 3031 worked better,but some rifles like one better than the other!

RE: XLC bullets
 

I use 100 grain BARNES Triple Shocks in my 25-06 at 3200 fps. They are the most accurate bullet I've ever found - 3/4" 100 yard groups / 3" 300 yard groups. Devastating on deer.

I want to try the53 grain .224 bullets in my Hornet,but not sure the twist is right for that heavy a bullet. It's 1 in 14" (Savage Model 40).

What's the twist rate of your Remington?

RE: XLC bullets
 

I don't judge any load based on a single group,and .75MOA is pretty average for a 22-250 anyways.

RE: XLC bullets
 

Jumper: You absolutely correct on both points. But I've been getting 1.5-2.0MOA with most my loads so I'm finally getting something acceptable which is why I'm excited. I'm cooking some more of those loads up tonight. (Ten of my old recipe and 5 each of either .5gr or 1.0gr up and down.)

My remington 22-250 is 1:14" twist...but it's sending those bullets quite abit faster than your hornet will...beyond that, they are a long bullet for their weight (only 0.02" shorter than my 60gr partitions if memory serves correctly, and the partition isn't exactly a short bullet per weight either.)

RE: XLC bullets
 

They are designed to copper far less than the original naked ones and that they do. But they are hunting bullets, not designed for benchrest so don't expect them to shoot 1/4 inch groups! However they stay together and penetrate..not sure you'd want that in a varmint bullet however. My family uses them in all our hunting rifles and have never recovered one because they are all pass throughs. And all on big game and from any angle and no matter what they hit, none have ever stopped... I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a deer with a .22 cal XLC...I can't imagine it would stop either, especially out of a .22/250 and it's velocity..but to be used on varmints, not sure it would be worth the expense unless you don't want much pelt damage..they are like shooting a full metal jacket...

RE: XLC bullets
 

Coyotes and Deer (and paper) are all these bullets will see. I'd like get a solid load made up and then set them on the shelve till I need 'em...cause they aren't cheap at all!

RE: XLC bullets
 

I want to try the Triple Shock/22 Hornet combination on hogs.

The Barnes manualdoes not haveloads for the 53 grain triple shocks, but Hodgdon literature shows 2,509 fps for the 53 grain XFBwith 12.0 grains Lil'Gun, and only 39,000 CUP pressure (SAAMI max for the Hornet is 43,000 CPU).I figure to get at least that velocity with the triple shocks if my 1 in 14" twist will stabalize them. They should do a number on hogs, and even deer with precise shot placement.

Triple Shocks are expensive, but I do love them for a hunting bullet.

RE: XLC bullets
 

I think they were most likely made with 223 and 22-250 velocities in mind...which means they're likely to not open up much at all unless you take a head/skull shot (even on tough boarhide). I dunno, just a thought though. I can't believe I'm going to suggest this, but.......look about 3/4 of the way down on this site http://www.guns.connect.fi/gow/QA10.html and look at the "dimpled" or "asemmetric" fmj topic. If you can make a .22 bullet tumble you all of a sudden have a .6-7" projectile when it turns on its side. Definetaly do ALOT ALOT ALOT of personal testing if you try it. It might be fun, and if I get alot time on my hands I may play around with it next summer.

I just hate spending this much $$$ for a bullet...even moreso if I had a .22 hornet and knew it may not even expand the bullet (which means I just paid 75 cents for a friggen fmj!!!!)

RE: XLC bullets
 

Hey Soilarch, you may be right, but I'm betting (hoping)they will expand even at Hornet velocities.

The Barnes website has a picture of theexpansion of a .308 after only two inches of ballistic gelatin. Check it out.

http://barnesbullets.com/information/bullet-talk/x-citing-facts/

I know, I know - it's308 Winchester velocity. But still - two inches of gelatin?I think it's an favorable indication.

What I plan to do is take a large cardboard box, place a large plastic garbage bag in it, pack the box withvertically stacked newspaper (inside the plastic bag), pour in a couple of gallons of water, and let it set overnight so the paper fully absorbs the water, then shoot into that at 100 yards.

It's not ordinance gelatin, but should tell me if the bullet will expand. Will be interesting anyway.