35gr .224 bullet

[Pioden222]

Hi
Anyone know an alternative to the hornardy vmax 35gr please?
A 22 hornet is on its way shortly and I don't trust hornardy vmax so I'm looking for a different 35gr ballistic tip bullet to load for the hornet.
I've looked around and the vmax is all I get for 35gr tipped results.
I will be using the hornet on caravan parks so an explosive bullet is a must as I don't want the risk of any ricochets or bounces.

 

[Klenchblaize]

I’ll leave others to comment on the importance of backstops but rather ask what your negative experience with the 35g V-Max head comprises?

K

 

[Klenchblaize]

Whoops!

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

VMax bounce just like air pellets bounce if fired into the wrong backstop

Sierra do some light one

Would be using air rifles if round caravans
Those things are pricey…

 

[Klenchblaize]

I’ll leave others to comment on the importance of backstops but rather ask what your negative experience with the 35g V-Max head comprises?

K

 

[Pioden222]

I've not had any bad experience with 35gr vmax as I've not started loading for a hornet yet.
Ive had 40gr vmax not break up on impact at all, 2 bullets out of 15 all travelling over 3200 fps. I've also had 50gr vmax go straight through a fox without doing what it should.
I will add a picture of the 40gr I retrieved from my backstop of the ground and stone when I get home, I'm waiting for a duck eating fox at the moment.
This has put me right off hornardy vmax as a bullet in any weight.
I use a 17hmr usually on the caravan parks the hornet is for windy days and nights. At a couple of the parks the average shot is around 90yds so I'm afraid my hw77 is not going to reach.

 

[NP435]

Hi
Anyone know an alternative to the hornardy vmax 35gr please?
A 22 hornet is on its way shortly and I don't trust hornardy vmax so I'm looking for a different 35gr ballistic tip bullet to load for the hornet.
I've looked around and the vmax is all I get for 35gr tipped results.
I will be using the hornet on caravan parks so an explosive bullet is a must as I don't want the risk of any ricochets or bounces.

What is wrong with the V-Max. Never found one to bounce and in the last 15 years I have shot a bit of 6K of them in assorted caliber's Never found one non expanded either.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

RWS do a 3 gram jagdmatch hollowpoint.

 

[Klenchblaize]

I’m stuck with the 35g V-Max and frankly can’t squirrel away enough of them as nothing else I’ve tried will group as well in my Hornet.

Hit a fox in the engine room at 100 yards and they just fall over without drama.

Whatever ammo manufacturer you go with do be sure to choose a bullet with a hornet-friendly profile. I made the mistake of purchasing some 30g Berger Varmit bullets and they were all over the place due to being too long.

K

 

[bluesako]

ive used and shot vmax for years and never had a problem, and bounce ? wt* is bounce, they dont bounce when you hit what your shooting at bs

 

[Acm]

try nosler varmageddons, although like everyone else i can't say ive ever had a problem with v max

 

[Klenchblaize]

VMax bounce just like air pellets bounce if fired into the wrong backstop.

Is that the lead-free offering??

K

 

[Cottis]

Yep Varmegeddons are decent in terms of accuracy and their destructive tendency to fragment heavily on impact. I personally think they are a better bullet than Vmax but I don't think Vmax are a bad bullet. I just think the Noslers are better.

 

[Rewulf]

Yep Varmegeddons are decent in terms of accuracy and their destructive tendency to fragment heavily on impact. I personally think they are a better bullet than Vmax but I don't think Vmax are a bad bullet. I just think the Noslers are better.

Probably depends on the rifle.
Ive done comparisons with Varmagedons and various weight Vmax bullets in 224 , 40 g to 55 g, and the best by far for accuracy was the 53g Vmax.
Expansion wise, they very very seldom exit, and kill virtually instantly, even when placement isnt perfect.

I did use the 95g Vmax in the Creedmoor while they were still available, which were explosive , and still rarely exited.

 

[Pioden222]

These are 2 vmax 40gr I shot through my 222 at 100yds. The slowest load I made up chronographed just north of 3200fps. I only shot 15 of the bullets to get these 2. The back stop for my target was the ground and a stone wall. I found these scrabbling about in the pulverised rock and earth at the foot of my backstop.
As you can see neither has lost that much mass and they certainly have not expanded overly much.
These 2 bullets are definitely vmax as I had not shot anything else at this target with boat tails.
I gave the rest of the box to a mate who likes them.
I don't.
I will try the varmageddon version when I get to start reloading, thank you that suggestion Acm.

 

[Cottis]

Probably depends on the rifle.
Ive done comparisons with Varmagedons and various weight Vmax bullets in 224 , 40 g to 55 g, and the best by far for accuracy was the 53g Vmax.
Expansion wise, they very very seldom exit, and kill virtually instantly, even when placement isnt perfect.

I did use the 95g Vmax in the Creedmoor while they were still available, which were explosive , and still rarely exited.

Quite possibly but the tipped 53grain Flat Based Varmie is the best bullet I have used in terms of accuracy, performance and cost. Difficult not to prefer it. It is marginally more accurate than Vmax over the distance .224's are normally shot, I think due to it being flat based. It puts massive holes in stuff when it exits, if it exits. The Vmax punches through a little more in my experience but both mostly stay internally and turn innards to mush.

I always used to use Vmax in the .243 for windy nights when out foxing but again, promptly switched to 70grain Varmegeddons in 6mm as the 250 count packs presented better value for money with basically the same if not better accuracy over the ranges I shoot. Although that difference is basically negligible for hunting purposes. Cost is not negligible though.

Not sure why the 53grain Varmie has never caught on in terms of being a regularly stocked bullet in places that I have visited. It is cheaper and has a better BC than the Vmax variety. I get my local supplier to order in 1000 at a time for me from USA. Otherwise I have never seen them on the shelf.

 

[Rewulf]

Not sure why the 53grain Varmie has never caught on in terms of being a regularly stocked bullet in places that I have visited. It is cheaper and has a better BC than the Vmax variety. I get my local supplier to order in 1000 at a time for me from USA. Otherwise I have never seen them on the shelf.

Tried them , and the 50 g ones , also the highly expensive BT Noslers, whatever works for your barrel, but despite the promise of higher BC , and a reduced cost if you bought he 250 piece boxes, they fell short on accuracy compared to the 53 Vmax.

 

[Smellydog]

I think you have been misguided in what you can expect from a bullet.

The bullets you display have expanded.
A bullet designed to expand in an uncontrolled way will always be err uncontrolled!
All bullets can bounce. Even your HMR.
How strong has the wind got to be before you stop shooting?
I go out in the wind with my HMR.
I've noticed the bullet is less affected than my aiming ability in the wind!

Back to the hornet, it's probably effected by the wind to a similar value!.

 

[25 Sharps]

I've not had any bad experience with 35gr vmax as I've not started loading for a hornet yet.
Ive had 40gr vmax not break up on impact at all, 2 bullets out of 15 all travelling over 3200 fps. I've also had 50gr vmax go straight through a fox without doing what it should.
I will add a picture of the 40gr I retrieved from my backstop of the ground and stone when I get home, I'm waiting for a duck eating fox at the moment.
This has put me right off hornardy vmax as a bullet in any weight.
I use a 17hmr usually on the caravan parks the hornet is for windy days and nights. At a couple of the parks the average shot is around 90yds so I'm afraid my hw77 is not going to reach.

You have to assume all bullets will bounce including HMR!

Nosler do a 35gr varmageddon flat based bullet that is essentially the same bullet in profile and presumably construction as the v-max, your other option is the 30 gr varmint grenade but in my experience at hornet velocities (3200 fps or so) they expand less and bounce more than 35 gr v-max or varmageddon.

 

[25 Sharps]

I’m stuck with the 35g V-Max and frankly can’t squirrel away enough of them as nothing else I’ve tried will group as well in my Hornet.

Hit a fox in the engine room at 100 yards and they just fall over without drama.

Whatever ammo manufacturer you go with do be sure to choose a bullet with a hornet-friendly profile. I made the mistake of purchasing some 30g Berger Varmit bullets and they were all over the place due to being too long.

K

Did that last lot land okay?