Load data for Barnes 85 gr Match Burner

[Eurodriver]

I agree with opsoff1. I actually don't use ball for anything anymore.... except H335 for night shoot muzzle flash circus loads.

Off topic but I was shooting Xterminator out of a 10.5” LMT and noticed huge balls of muzzle flash out of an A2 even in the noon day, cloudless sunshine.

It was insane. I can’t wait to try it at night on a braked 10.3”

[Pappabear]

Off topic but I was shooting Xterminator out of a 10.5” LMT and noticed huge balls of muzzle flash out of an A2 even in the noon day, cloudless sunshine.

It was insane. I can’t wait to try it at night on a braked 10.3”

It’s a “ ball of fire “ experience. But if you want fireworks try that H335 for that fireball experience.

PB

[markm]

Retested the 22.3 gr TAC, Fed AR Match primer combo, and it's the final load for sure. Great accuracy, and no popped primers.

It still amazes me how big of an impact the primer can have on a load.

[markm]

Revisiting these heavies with a box of Barnes Factory ammo inbound. And also adding the Nosler 85gr RDF bullet to the research.

[markm]

Lord this topic is popular!

I loaded some head to head tests, Match Burner vs. RDF with Both TAC (a new lot) and VV135. The RDF is a VERY 'pointy' bullet requiring a dramatic adjustment on the seating die to get it to mag length. I wish I could haul my loading set up out to the range and finish load work up in one day, but we'll see what happens.

[MarshallDodge]

I've had some impressive results with the 85 RDF, but that experience was with seating them close to the lands in a bolt gun. What kind of accuracy are you seeing with seating at mag length?

[markm]

I've had some impressive results with the 85 RDF, but that experience was with seating them close to the lands in a bolt gun. What kind of accuracy are you seeing with seating at mag length?

Really good. I'm still working on a load, but we're at 2604 FPS out of a 23.75 Bolt gun. We're seeing MOA accuracy. I'm leaning towards stopping there. Chasing Barnes's 2700 fps velocity is a fools errand. That ammo is just outstanding.

I'd like some pressure cushion for the summer months.

I did load 5 RDFs to 2.335" with 23.5 gr of Varget. Those shot 2705 fps and shot MOA too. I'm more interested in a mag length load with VV N135 though since I have 900 of the bullets remaining. We already have a single feed load of 88 gr ELDMs that can't be beat by anything.

[markm]

Here's a 200 yard 5 shot group with the Black Hills 87gr Barnes ammo:

Also easily sub MOA. Neither of the 85 Match Burners or the Black Hills load do anything exciting at 1000 yards. We feel like we're wasting money when it takes 3-4 rounds just to get on steel.

[markm]

85 Barnes factory load after a 1 gallon gel jug - Cardboard 18 inches behind the target to see what passed through.

[vicious_cb]

85 Barnes factory load after a 1 gallon gel jug - Cardboard 18 inches behind the target to see what passed through.

https://i.imgur.com/NOehmHC.jpg

Im not surprised this is a good terminal performer, the Army was testing some experimental 87gr 5.56 loads that were pretty explosive. Andrew on TFBTV gel tested this load and it performed better than 77gr SMK, fairly short neck on par with 75gr Hornady, lots of a frag with good chunk of core going deep. Might be a good choice for a 20" to get as much velocity as possible out of these while getting as much mass on target as you can from a 5.56.