Byron South
New member
Lately there has been a lot of talk about bullets and 223’s so I thought I would start a thread and offer my opinion and hopefully start a constructive discussion.
How any bullet performs depends on a number of things but mostly its mass, construction, impact velocity along with WHAT it impacts. The V-max as well as other varmint bullets are designed to expand rapidly by using a soft core and thin jacket. At high velocity this rapid expansion can cause the bullet to come apart into lots of tiny pieces (not explode). This fragile design coupled with short light (light for caliber) bullets pushed at high velocities can and do result in poor penetration at times. Sometimes it even happens so rapidly that the bullet disintegrates to such a point its mass is spread over a large area resulting in what we call a surface splash. This usually occurs when these light, fast, short, fragile bullets strike bone.
Food for thought.
Keep in mind a .22 caliber 40 grain V-max at 3600fps or faster performs quiet differently than .22 caliber 60 grain V-Max bullet at 3000 fps. I’ve used lots of different bullets over the years and the 60 V-Max at 223 velocities flat out works and works well. In my business of filming the last thing I want is runners, splashes, or wounded coyotes. I like them DRT. I have used bullets of tougher construction and in heavier weights but keep coming back to the 60 grain V-Max. The heavier (69-77s) bullets don’t seem to create the hydrostatic shock the faster 60s do and the lighter bullets just don’t have the punch nor do they penetrate as reliably as the 60s do.
Now before anyone gets upset, I didn’t say you can’t kill 100 coyotes in a row with the 40s, 45s and 50s out of your 223s. What I’m saying is you will get more reliable penetration with the somewhat heavier, longer 60 grain bullets. Shooting these slightly heavier bullets also slows it down enough you don’t often get nasty exits or splashes thus making them about as fur friendly and deadly as any round I have ever used. Keep I mind I shoot coyotes at typical calling ranges (20-150 yards or so). You guys that like the lighter bullets might also be surprised to find out these heavier bullets shoot dang near as flat as the lighter bullets. Although they start slower, they maintain their velocity as well as their thump much better than the shorter lighter bullets as ranges get on the longish side. They simply don’t run out steam as fast thus creating a wider range in which they will perform as designed.
I will also go on to say I don’t care for any light for caliber bullets, regardless of construction, in any caliber. Some of the worst wounds on coyotes I’ve ever seen were with 250’ shooting light bullets. The worst splash wounds I ever saw were created by a 243 shooting 55 grain bullets. If shoulders were hit, this load would make a mess. In contrast I’ve seen plenty shot with 80-100 grain game bullets out of 243s and 6mms with minimal fur damage.
Merry Christmas, Good Hunting,
Byron /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
How any bullet performs depends on a number of things but mostly its mass, construction, impact velocity along with WHAT it impacts. The V-max as well as other varmint bullets are designed to expand rapidly by using a soft core and thin jacket. At high velocity this rapid expansion can cause the bullet to come apart into lots of tiny pieces (not explode). This fragile design coupled with short light (light for caliber) bullets pushed at high velocities can and do result in poor penetration at times. Sometimes it even happens so rapidly that the bullet disintegrates to such a point its mass is spread over a large area resulting in what we call a surface splash. This usually occurs when these light, fast, short, fragile bullets strike bone.
Food for thought.
Keep in mind a .22 caliber 40 grain V-max at 3600fps or faster performs quiet differently than .22 caliber 60 grain V-Max bullet at 3000 fps. I’ve used lots of different bullets over the years and the 60 V-Max at 223 velocities flat out works and works well. In my business of filming the last thing I want is runners, splashes, or wounded coyotes. I like them DRT. I have used bullets of tougher construction and in heavier weights but keep coming back to the 60 grain V-Max. The heavier (69-77s) bullets don’t seem to create the hydrostatic shock the faster 60s do and the lighter bullets just don’t have the punch nor do they penetrate as reliably as the 60s do.
Now before anyone gets upset, I didn’t say you can’t kill 100 coyotes in a row with the 40s, 45s and 50s out of your 223s. What I’m saying is you will get more reliable penetration with the somewhat heavier, longer 60 grain bullets. Shooting these slightly heavier bullets also slows it down enough you don’t often get nasty exits or splashes thus making them about as fur friendly and deadly as any round I have ever used. Keep I mind I shoot coyotes at typical calling ranges (20-150 yards or so). You guys that like the lighter bullets might also be surprised to find out these heavier bullets shoot dang near as flat as the lighter bullets. Although they start slower, they maintain their velocity as well as their thump much better than the shorter lighter bullets as ranges get on the longish side. They simply don’t run out steam as fast thus creating a wider range in which they will perform as designed.
I will also go on to say I don’t care for any light for caliber bullets, regardless of construction, in any caliber. Some of the worst wounds on coyotes I’ve ever seen were with 250’ shooting light bullets. The worst splash wounds I ever saw were created by a 243 shooting 55 grain bullets. If shoulders were hit, this load would make a mess. In contrast I’ve seen plenty shot with 80-100 grain game bullets out of 243s and 6mms with minimal fur damage.
Merry Christmas, Good Hunting,
Byron /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
