55 gr SP vs 50 gr VMax for .223

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D-Nasty

New member
Trying to decide what ammo to stock up on while it is on sale. I'm shooting a 14.5" AR with 1/7 twist. I've had good luck with 50 grain Vmax in the past and found some bulk Fiocchi's I am entertaining.

I've also found some 55 grain Hornady SP. I've never shot any lead SP out of an AR and was curious if I should be concerned about having any deformation when the gun cycles that could cause issues with accuracy.

I shot an off brand with 50 grain V-Max and had three shots touching at 100 yards so I know those are good and the Hornadys should be a good round, I just want to know that what I am getting will do well through a semi-auto.
 
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I've had nothing but good with hornady 55gr sp out of my AR or bolt action 223. My farthest shot with them was just shy of 300yds but it was still a pass through even through the guts. That one got up and ran about 75yds and was down. The 50gr v max works in my 22-250 but haven't tried them in 223.
 
I shoot more 50 grain VMaxes in the 223 than anything else. It's my favorite bullet, followed by a 52 grain Speer HP, and then various 55 grain bullets.
 
for shooting coyotes... VMAX

Couple of weeks ago my friend shot 5 coyotes with me, all using 55gr SPs
all but one coyote was a runner, and all were shot well. The only one that dropped was shot in the face and that was after 4 runners.

I can't remember the last time i had a coyote out of the past 40 that took more than a step or two. using Vmax.

SPs have their place, but for something i am not going to eat, I want it to drop dead and not take a step, and those VMAx do a number on them.
 
Originally Posted By: Tbone-AZfor shooting coyotes... VMAX

Couple of weeks ago my friend shot 5 coyotes with me, all using 55gr SPs
all but one coyote was a runner, and all were shot well. The only one that dropped was shot in the face and that was after 4 runners.

I can't remember the last time i had a coyote out of the past 40 that took more than a step or two. using Vmax.

SPs have their place, but for something i am not going to eat, I want it to drop dead and not take a step, and those VMAx do a number on them.

I feel like I already know the answer to this, but I need to ask...

Should I expect issues with penetration if I'm taking a shot into bone (shoulder/broadside, straight facing me, etc)?
 
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I use a 53gr Vmax in 223, as does my friend in both of his ARs.

I would suggest trying a few different. If you found a cheaper knock off that shoots well, using a Vmax, stick with what is accurate. It doesn't matter if it's a knock off, that just means that you saved a few bucks.

As for the blow outs.. Well Over the past 4 years I have shot almost 100 coyotes. I have tried HP's, SP's, Varmit Grenades and Vmax. I found that Vmax causes the least damage if you wait. It's all about shot placement. With the others i was more than half the time tracking them. To me this is a waste of time.
The Varmit Grenades didn't shoot well out of my gun and took a few legs off.
The Vmax goes in, and then just turns everything inside to just jello. I skin them most of the time and get to see what it does.. All of the rounds would cause blow outs in the hide if you hit a shoulder or some kind of solid bone.

This, IMO, is where the Vmax is great (and other simular rounds) in that you don't have to aim for the heart or lungs. If you watch the jellitan shooting, they show the expansion and it's about 6-8" or very large grapefruit small cantelope size. I found that i can aim dead center in a broadside coyote, maybe a little more toward the head, and they just drop.
The round goes in, but when it expands it still taking out the heart and lungs and not coming out the otherside. Just a tiny hole that i can't find until i drag it to the truck and toss it in.. Then you start to see blood leaking out the tiny hole.

For head on shots i aim for low neck so that the bullet will punch through that gap in the neck and miss the ribs. same result as before. I don't like shooting them in the chest since most of the time you are going to hit a rib and almost take the leg off. Not to mention a hole right between the legs makes skinning tougher and take more time. But it doesn't really seem to matter if you do hit a shoulder, they still drop dead, its just a little more sewing if you are skinning. If you are not skinning, then shoot away, what do you care?
Just my Opinions. good luck.
 
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I'll add to the number of VMAX fans out there. Im loading 50 gr. VMAX w/ 26 gr. Varget. They hit hard, and very rarely do I get an exit. They are also priced a heck of a lot less then Sierra and they shoot very very well in my .223's

Cheers!!
 
I am deciding on whether to go to a full on V-Max, or stick with Critical Defense for HD. Reading the description of what that 50 V-Max does on living tissue makes me consider changing to AAC's 55 gr V-Max. Same basic bullet and expansion, cheap loading.
My son's bedroom is directly across from mine. I will NOT send rounds towards him. I know where I can stage shots to avoid the situation, but the bad guy gets a vote too. At least I can choose the gun and ammo, and to train!
 
"My son's bedroom is directly across from mine. I will NOT send rounds towards him. I know where I can stage shots to avoid the situation, but the bad guy gets a vote too"

A 40gr Vmax, at 3,700fps+ out of a 223, should work on a bad guy, though will probably be a bit messy, lol.

At that speed, it should also limit the penetration of the 40gr Vmax. If anything gets out of the body cavity, it will most likely be fragments.
 
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