Thoughts on 53g vmax.

G

gtoad

Active member
Interested on some thoughts using the 53g vmax on coyotes. (Handload )
Using it in 22-250 going 3760 give or take 10 fps. Shooting very good groups at 100.

Have been using 50g vmax with no real issues in the past going 3800 and change.
I changed out barrels this season going from 14 twist to a 10 twist, with the 53 in mind.

Could be an interesting topic. šŸ‘
 
Never used it in the 22-250 but do use it in my 223/5.56 (in 8 and 9 twist) . I like prefer it over the 55 & 60 grain V-Max, because it's just as accurate and effective in dropping predator's plus it has a higher BC too which is a plus shooting past 300 yds.
 
The Hornady 53gr Vmax is one of my favorite bullets and pretty much all I shoot coyotes with in both my 223AI and 22-250.

As to it being "an interesting topic" you'll likely hear bad things about them from those that don't like Vmax bullets and good from those that do. Personally, I could care less who makes it or what kind of bullet it is. If they shoot well, have a good BC, and consistently kill yotes for me that's all I care about.
 
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I haven't had much luck with .224 Vmax mainly getting them to shoot accurately in my rifles but I've only shot the 50 and 52gr. Plus I started with Noslers and they worked so well for me I never pursued .224 Vmax on game after no luck with accuracy. The 58gr Vmax has been great in my 6s And 75s in my .257s

I do have a box of 53s that I'm going to try in my new 222 Rem target barrel.

A couple of the guys I hunt with shoot the 53s of n their .223s and they work well for them.

One thought, if you can't find them dont blame the bullet to until you see what's gone wrong with the bullet not your shooting.

I'm a pelt hunter and most of the time that I abandon a bullet is due to too much damage to the pelt. It is a lot faster to just put a pelt on the stretcher than to have to sew it back together first.
 
I prefer the 60gr V-Max in the .223 1/8 or 9 barrel. Groups are sub MOA in every rifle I've worked up a load with. I like that they are a little heavier and punch deeper with more than adequate tissue damage without splashing. Since I do not save hides the exit wounds on coyotes are impressive. They are devastating on rock squirrels.
 
I find that the Vmax on-game (coyote) varies considerably between the 22cal and the 6mm/243 versions. I found differences between the 55gr Nosler Btip in 22cal and 6mm/243 as well.

The 75gr Vmax out of my 243 went 33-34 coyotes straight without an exit or any pelt damage, but the 22cal 60gr out of a 223wssm at 3,700fps causes serious damage.

I've got really accurate loads for the 53gr Vmax in both the 223wssm and the 222RemMag, but have not used that bullet on a coyote, yet.
 
TXCOONDOG said:
Barrel length, twist, powder, accuracy and anything you would like to add is welcome? I don't have a 22-250 but that's about to change.
Click to expand...
I ran them out of a 26" 1-12 twist Savage factory barrel for many years. Using H4895 I was getting like 3860 or so FPS.
Now I have a 24" BHW 1-9 twist on that rifle. Using Leverevolution, she's smoking them at 3915 FPS. I'll admit I haven't shot as many coyotes with this new barrel as the original, as it's no longer my primary coyote rifle, but they have all been DRT.

The only bullet I've ever had "splash" on a shoulder was an 87 vmax out of a 6 Grendel. -- That sounds odd and it was, but I discovered (a bit later) that the feed ramp / lug area on a new (AR) barrel was so sharp that it was scoring the bullet bad enough to create a burr big enough that the bullet made a buzzing sound that you could hear distinctly on the way to longer (like 500-600 yards) targets.
 
A while back, I bought one of those Cabelaā€™s Savage FV specials chambered in .22-250, specifically for the 12-twist barrel to stabilize the 53 V-Max. Got lucky first try with some RL-17 pushing them accurately at 3850 fps. Havenā€™t shot any coyotes yet with that combo, just a couple of 300-yard groundhogs; they were flattened instantly, surprisingly with no exit and barely noticeable entrance holes. Must blow up inside them which is fine, but I expected more fireworks.
 
I know many have had great luck with them. I bought some to load in a 223 that I had and never could get acceptable accuracy. Too many other bullets shot fantastic, so I never revisited them.
 
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