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Minimum expansion speed for Barnes 140gr 308W MPG

Pen & Sword Life

25 years army, now a happy civilian
Minuteman
Jul 16, 2021
48
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Denmark
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Guys, simple question: What is the minimum speed for proper expansion of the Barnes 140gr 308W MPG/RRLP projectile?

I’m currently using this round for hunting. I have cheap access to Danish Police surplus frangible 308W. Projectile is a Barnes 140gr MPG/RRLP and casing is marked with MPS (Not a reloader, so I don’t know what MPS means).

I have used it successfully for both deer and raccoon dog (an invasive species in Denmark), but until now below 100m. The round is quite accurate and shoots sub-MOA easily.

The max distances at my hunting grounds are 300m and the round is shot out of an 18 inch barrel (R5 rifling). I've yet to crono the speed at V/0.

I’m fairly convinced that I could get good results at that range, but could do well with some practical input in regards to what minimum speed is needed for the round to function. Don’t want to make stupid shots with potential crappy impact on target.
 

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Not a lot of info out there and none from Barnes. This thread discusses the 150 gr and said 2100 fps was the minimum in gelatin unless the bullet was modified:

Thanks for the the link. I aggree, not much on the Barnes MPG.
I'm sort of leaning up against the DRT test results that the Danish Army and Danish Hunting association did a few years back. It's close to the 2100 FPS statement, with the possibility of slightly lower minimum expansion speed.
Measurements are in cm.

I guess I would have to to make a 10% gel block and test the MPG at the range at 300m just to be sure :) Could be fun.
Using the less than precise cantaloupe medium at 100 meters did indicate effectiveness of the 140gr Barnes MPG.
 

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Barnes technical support has always answered the phone and been happy to talk about expansion speeds with me. I think they do their tests in water so its arguable an whether they translate well for tissue. Call barnes.
 
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The 140 grain .308 bullets were discontinued. I contacted Barnes a few weeks ago and it doesn't even appear that they have load info on them. Bummer, seems to me the 140's would be a better fit than the longer 150's. They must've had good reason to move up to the 150, but they didn't volunteer that information to me.
 
The 140 grain .308 bullets were discontinued. I contacted Barnes a few weeks ago and it doesn't even appear that they have load info on them. Bummer, seems to me the 140's would be a better fit than the longer 150's. They must've had good reason to move up to the 150, but they didn't volunteer that information to me.
Definately discontinued, that's what I understand too.

The Barnes rep said 2050fps was the minimum speed for the frangible round to work its' magic after initial penetration of target.
The rep also said that to his knowledge the round had not been intended for the civilian market. I live in Denmark and the factory (match) rounds are Danish Police surplus. At my range they go at 83$ for 50 rounds boxed and ready to fire.
 
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Not to hijack the thread but their LRX bullets are claimed to expand down to 1800fps.