Vmax

[lou71]

Hi all new to the site

I’m sure this may have been discussed, after a few different makes of ammo in my 243 , I’ve ended up using Hornady 87gr vmax I seem to get better grouping , However out stalking it can take out a shoulder slightly if I clip it on a shot with some meat damage, not huge concern as I have confidence it will knock muntjac, Roe down no problem which for me is most important and can put up with some meat damage.

Wondering others thoughts on Hornady 87gr Vmax , if there is alternative which others have full confidence with .

Thanks in advance.

 

[Jimbob39]

I use them. Savage things. Mostly head and neck shots. Find damage can be quite bad depending on range and impact point.

 

[Scuffy]

90g Nosler Ballistic tip is a little less frangiable

 

[Acm]

85grn Sierra gameking, a bloody awesome little bullet.

 

[sillbeam]

Hornady 90gr eld-x is a close alternative to 87gr vmax.

 

[lou71]

85grn Sierra gameking, a bloody awesome little bullet.

Would this give less carcass damage than the v max .

 

[sillbeam]

Would this give less carcass damage than the v max .

To be honest, I think a .243 does a bit of damage to shoulder shot roe deer whatever bullet is chosen.
Trying to replicate shots in order to determine which is best is difficult but I've found eld-x to be the lesser of the evils.
Again, it's all quite subjective. I was once told that 58gr vmax would be terrible for shooting roe but I didn't have any exit wounds nor did I have any "runners".
Another important question is, are you home loading?

 

[Finnwolf VL63]

87 grain V-MAX are Varmint bullets ,made to be explosive on impact
Nosler 95 grain great bullets.

 

[Longstrider]

Cannot comment on V-Max's in a .243 as I don't use .243, but in my .270 they are pretty similar to sticking a limpet mine onto an animal. The last (and I mean 'last') deer I shot with a 110gr V-Max had an entry wound similar to the exit wound I normally see with a 130gr softpoint. I could have fitted my welly into the exit wound !

Mind you ... they're devastating on foxes

 

[Jagged77]

The 85gr interbonds are close enough to the 87 v-max. If your rifle shoots the vmax well it should be fine with the interbonds too.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Hmmm.
Vmax are a varmint bullet designed to give maximum expansion - utterly devastating on foxes.
This is from the Hornady site for .243:-
“the Hornady® V‑MAX® represents the pinnacle of what a specialized varmint bullet can achieve, offering straight‑line trajectories, enhanced accuracy, dramatic expansion and explosive fragmentation at a wide range of distances and velocities.
The industry's leading varmint bullet with polymer tip and streamlined design results in flat trajectories. The concentricity of the match grade AMP® bullet jacket provides maximum accuracy at all ranges as well as explosive expansion, even at velocities as low as 1600 fps”.
Sooo clearly defo not for body shooting deer. As has been recommended earlier Sierra or one of the better copper bullets would be much less destructive.

 

[NoIDeer]

100gn sierra prohunter work well in my 243 with not too much carcass damage and the only 100gn that I have found accurate, I've no experience of vmax.

 

[Blench99]

Another for Sierra game kings, my rifle loves them

 

[Cyres]

Work well on roe and fallow. Prefer head or neck shots. I use 75 or 87s. If heart or lung shot not too much damage but will jellyfy a shoulder. At sensible ranges chest shot normally exit.
D

 

[ashray]

if these are factory ammunition they will be very near max velocity ,if your own reloads slow them down ! i used the 87gr v-max for 30 + years . if driven fast they will cause a lot of damage at close range 0 to 150 yards ,150 to 300 minimal damage. slow them down and you can kill deer in close or far out with minimal damage BUT you have to damage deer/foxes etc to KILL THEM.

 

[lou71]

Thanks for all comments , ammo always interesting subject !! as said these Hornady seem to like my Tikka , maybe worth trying sierra gameking once I’ve used up the V max …. Yes factory bought not reloading