Barnes Bullets

Lab Tests

We have always known that our saboted Expander MZ muzzleloader bullets are extremely accurate and deadly on game. Recently, we tested them against PowerBelts as well as Hornady and Nosler saboted bullets. The results detailed below speak for themselves and show why the Barnes Expander MZ is the projectile of choice for knowledgeable frontloader hunters:

Firearm: A Knight Disc Extreme, .50 caliber muzzleloader, serial # S039992 was used in all the tests. This gun had a 25.5″ barrel as measured from the muzzle to the front face of the breech plug. The barrel had 8-groove, right hand, 1:28″ twist rifling.

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Machine Rest Tests

Accuracy, velocity and BC values were measured with the stock removed and the above firearm clamped in a machine rest. Oehler M55 Skyscreens and an Oehler acoustic target set at 100 yds were used to measure accuracy and velocity, and to calculate a BC value. A paper backing was placed behind the acoustic target to verify group size and to check bullet stability.

Winchester 209 primers were used to ignite the two 50-grain and single 30- grain charge (total 130-grain equivalent) of Pyrodex Pellets. The barrel was swabbed between shots with one patch wet with Hodgdon Easy Clean Solvent, and one dry patch. A primer was then snapped to clear the breech plug prior to reloading. The test data below was based on 5-shot groups unless otherwise noted.

1. Barnes .50 caliber 250-grain Expander MZ with Black High Pressure Sabots.

Note: Test one was fired at the start of testing; test two was fired after the competitiors’ bullets were tested.

2. PowerBelt .50 caliber 245 grain AeroTip Bullets with Green PowerBelt.

Note: 6 shots were fired for this test. Velocity varied from a low of 1243 ft/s to a high of 1789 ft/s. The bullet holes in the paper target were not clean and round, and showed signs of yaw.

3. Hornady .50 caliber 240-grain (.429″) XTP Bullets with MMP Green plastic sabot.

	Test 1
Accuracy	3.0″
Muzzle Velocity	1740 ft/s
Std. Dev.	108 ft/s
BC Value	0.181

Note: Velocity varied from 1596 ft/s to 1895 ft/s.

4. Nosler .50 caliber 250-grain HG Partition with Nosler tan colored plastic sabot.

	Test 1
Accuracy	5.6″ / 20.3″
Muzzle Velocity	1652 ft/s
Std. Dev.	148 ft/s
BC Value	0.181

Note: Four of the five shots went into a 5.6″ group; one flyer opened the group to 20.3″. Bullet holes show signs of slight yaw. Velocity varied from 1447 ft/s to 1787 ft/s.

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Ballistics Gelatin Tests

Ten-percent ordanance gelatin was used in the following tests. Two 8″x8″x12″ blocks were set up 100 yards downrange, one block behind the other to give a maximum penetration of 24 inches. The blocks were calibrated with a .177 caliber BB gun prior to testing to ensure they were uniform. Four layers of heavy denim were placed in front of the gelatin blocks.

Test 1: A charge of two 50-grain (100-grain equivalent) Pyrodex pellets was used. The rifle was re-installed in the stock and a scope mounted and zeroed at 100 yards. The actual initial weight of the Barnes bullet was 250 grains; the PowerBelt weighed 248 grains.

Bullet	Shot#	Velocity	Penetration	Avg. Exp. Dia.	Final Weight
Barnes .50cal 250 gr Expander MZ	1	1739 ft/s	13.4″	0.965″	248.6 grains
PowerBelt .50cal	2	1265 ft/s	24″	0.503″	248.0 grains
245 grain AeroTip	3	1314 ft/s	24″	0.500″	247.2 grains

Note: Three shots were fired with the PowerBelt bullet. The first shot missed the gelatin completely and is not recorded above. The second shot had a muzzle velocity of 1265 ft/s and impacted the gelatin one inch from the side of the block. The bullet traveled in a straight line, penetrating both blocks completely. It hit ¾” plywood backing behind the last block and bounced back into the wound cavity four inches. The bullet was somewhat deformed; however, there was no expansion. The third shot with PowerBelt bullets impacted the gelatin slightly high but approximately centered. The bullet also failed to expand and penetrated the gelatin completely coming to rest against the plywood backing. The Barnes bullet expanded uniformly and left a large wound channel.

Test 2: As with our accuracy and velocity tests in the machine rest, we saw in test one that the PowerBelt bullets did not give reasonable velocity or accuracy when used in conjunction with Pyrodex Pellets. For this test we used 100 grains by volume of Hodgdon Triple Seven powder.

Bullet	Shot#	Velocity	Penetration	Avg. Exp. Dia.	Final Weight
PowerBelt .50cal 245gr AeroTip	4	1972 ft/s	15″	0.745″	229.2 grains

Note: Accuracy was somewhat better with the Hodgdon Triple Seven powder, and velocity was as would be expected. The bullet expanded; however, it did lose weight and fragments were evident between 6.5″ and 11.5″ of penetration. The wound channel was reasonable for a lead bullet; however, it was not as large as the wound channel created by the Barnes Expander MZ.

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Conclusion
The Barnes Expander MZ was by far the most accurate of the four bullets tested. Bullet holes in the paper target were clean and round - and for a given powder charge, the Barnes bullet/sabot combination gave the highest velocity. The Barnes bullet also showed a larger wound channel and superior performance when fired into gelatin.