Barnes Varmint Grenade bullets ok for home defense?

Question

Opinions please: I went to http://www.barnesbullets.com and selected "new for 2008" and got the blurb for the new Varmint Grenade bullets.

A small but important segment of the shooters fraternity is limited currently to both one firearm, a rifle in either .223 or .243 bore, and living in the situation of regular personnel often on the other side of walls. Barnes makes the new V.G. hyper-frangible bullets in those two calibres. At rifle velocity, the powdered core won't exit a coyote very often.

The question is, are folks on the other side of "a wall" safe enough from V.G. shots which miss a violent intruder? I think generally yes, probably enough so as to justify their use for home defense. Maybe. What do you think? Regards, Larry.

Answer 1

I don't think it is a great idea.  For starters, those cartridges create very shallow wounds in flesh.  However, that doesn't mean they won't zip right through sheetrock.

Hornady 223 TAP in 55 grain, on the other hand, has been specifically designed to penetrate the body well, but to be a poor wall penetrate.  I think that might be a better choice

Answer 2

I have several issues with using a rifle for home defense but I defend your right to do so and give you credit for looking a the overpenetration issue.

I was shocked when I saw the name of this product. Having served on my state rifle association's board for a couple of years, I can tell you sure as shooting if you drop an intruder with that ammunition in your house you can bet that said intruder's family will sue you poor if their scumbag lawyer finds out that name, Varmit Grenade.

I've seen some frangible pistol ammo leave nothing but a grey streak on a denim jacket worn by a shooting dummy. I'll not trust it to go into the bad guys.  

Answer 3

I wouldn't trust a frangible bullet for defense purposes, I like to know what a bullet is going to do if I ever had to use one for that reason.  I think the Hornady stuff is the way to go, that's what I've got loaded in my 30 rd. P-mag for my Bushmaster M4.  I don't like the idea of a bullet failing to penetrate, and I think that the Barnes bullet may not penetrate heavy bone(skull/forehead), a heavy coat, etc.  Something else thats really cool about the Hornady TAP is the powder they use, I don't know if you already knew this or not, but it has hardly any muzzle flash to it.  I shot off some at night, and was amazed by the extremely low flash, and this could be really helpful in a low light defense scenario, something to think about               PS, don't listen to the other guys baggin' on you for using a rifle for home defense, I use one, but I've also got a Glock 23 loaded with Cor-bons as backup, and IMHO shotguns are terrible for home defense, test out the ammo your considering and see what you think, Good luck  

Answer 4

Yes, very, very good choice. It will rip a big hole in the person/animal that you shoot so even if you just hit them or get them in the leg, it will leave a massive hole!!!

Answer 5

why would you use a rifle for home defense?

Answer 6

The high velocity should just obliterate the stuff in a wall.. but then again it might just obliterate on a rib cage as well. I did a lot of tests with frangible handgun ammo and decided against trusting it to penetrate a rib cage. Do yourself some tests..  make yourself a little dummy wall to shoot and try some. Looks like a decent option if a rifle is all ya got!