Barnes .308 175 gr match bullets

[Mustang]

Anyone tried these?

I ran across some information about them and noted that they claim a very high BC... .521. This is higher than any other 175 grain .308 bullet that I can find, including Sierra MK's (.505), Berger VLD (.498), and Nosler Custom Competition (.505).

I was curious enough about these that I bought a box (they are significantly less than Berger and about the same price as Sierra or Nosler match bullets. I was surprised when I compared them to the SMK's and Nosler CC's.



I measured the bullet length and found that the Sierra MK's averaged 1.225", the Nosler CC's averaged 1.245" and the Barnes match bullets 1.325".

I'm wondering how the Barnes compare to the Swiss 174 grain GP11 bullet. Does anyone have BC information for that bullet?


Thanks

[brian01tj]

Are you running an internal box mag or a detachable mag system? Id be interested to see if you could get those to seat just off the lands at the same time get them to fit in the mag. If you run a detachable mag system you could run the Alpha Mag that allows you to seat them longer than a standard mag will. Just a thought

[Mustang]

Mainly planning on using them in vintage bolt action military rifle matches where they can be loaded one-by-one.

[Gunsrruss]

Bullets

If you look at them the .223 shooters will see that the Barnes 175 looks a lot like the 80gr Noslers and sierra's. I may have to try these. I would only be using them in Rem 700 PSS

[brian01tj]

If you look at them the .223 shooters will see that the Barnes 175 looks a lot like the 80gr Noslers and sierra's. I may have to try these. I would only be using them in Rem 700 PSS

See my post above. Guarantee you'll have to single feed them if you seat off the lands

[Gunsrruss]

Lands

another way to spend way to much time loading bullets. I load my .308 to 2.84. It works great. I use to spend all this time measuring. As long as I have the same length and powder I'm good to go. Now if I was shooting bench shooting then I would do the extra needed to make sure my rounds were perfect. Just my two cents worth

[al8550]

Q about copper plated bullets?

With bolt actions they run fine, not so much in AR type platform

[Mustang]

Well, as I said, I'm primarily interested in using these in a bolt action that I can hand feed, if needed.

My sons and I shoot in vintage long range military matches. We have been using Swiss rifles that fire a 7.5 x 55 Swiss round (surplus ammo which is referred to as "GP11"). The GP11 round uses a 174 gr. projectile that seems very similar to the Barnes 175 gr.

Here is a picture of the GP11 bullet next to a 175 SMK. Despite the nomenclature of "7.5 x 55", the bullet is actually .3075-.308, so .308 projectiles are used.





I believe that the Barnes bullet, seated to the same depth as the GP11 projectile, will feed thru the magazine. But as I said, I can handfeed as necessary.

[Mustang]

I pulled a GP11 bullet and photographed the three 175 grain match bullets next to the GP11 bullet. the Barnes MB 175 gr appears to more closely match the Swiss GP11 bullet on the right.


Sierra MK, Nosler CC, Barnes MB, and GP11