.224 53 Gr. VMax... WHY???

[urbanrifleman]

Is this bullet better than all of the others in the weight range?

 

[Adam in WI]

Because even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile

 

[urbanrifleman]

Because even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile

Is it better than the 55 BK?

 

[Jeff Porter]

Probably marketing… match BTHP are 52/53 gr so it has to shoot well , right ?

For fur … 50 Vmax gave me splashes and spinners. 55 did a better job of anchoring the coyote but 55 lost a bunch of velo I needed for a 300 yard Point Blank Zero. Haven’t run the math but 53 may be the sweet spot.

 

[Adam in WI]

I've never tried the 55 BK. The 53 is available locally very reasonable, so it gets used. It's left nothing to be desired, but my expectations may not be as high as yours. I see you have some 55 BK for sale, and I'm tempted to buy some. The leftover 50 grain Sierra Blitzkings I used to sight in shot significantly better than even the 53 vmax. Like, afraid to say how small it shot...

 

[Tommie]

Is this bullet better than all of the others in the weight range?

Better for what?

 

[Mark M.]

Is this bullet better than all of the others in the weight range?

It's very accurate and has a higher B.C. than all the others in its weight range and I have a lot of them

 

[urbanrifleman]

I've never tried the 55 BK. The 53 is available locally very reasonable, so it gets used. It's left nothing to be desired, but my expectations may not be as high as yours. I see you have some 55 BK for sale, and I'm tempted to buy some. The leftover 50 grain Sierra Blitzkings I used to sight in shot significantly better than even the 53 vmax. Like, afraid to say how small it shot...

Exactly.

I have shot the 50 BK. I have not shot the 50 Vmax, or the 53 vmax. I know the Vmax blow up good. The 50 BK blow up pretty good. No better than the 50 TNT.

 

[lb-ft]

53 Vmax is fantastic. Only way to improve it is if a 14 twist was sufficient.

 

[pdhntr]

Is this bullet better than all of the others in the weight range?

It depends on how you define "better".

Over 40 years of shooting a lot of prairie dogs, I have shot enough of most everything else to form an opinion.

Two years ago, when I shot out my two 22-250 barrels, I chambered up two 12 twist to try the 53 Vmax and the 60 gr. STMK. After testing there was only one bullet in the 53 weight range that was slightly more accurate, and that was the 52 gr. Berger. But the 53 has better BC so there was no decision to be made for my 250s. I know the BC of the 53 Vmax is not what is advertised, but it is better than anything else I have tried.

I like the Berger from my 223s, but they are shot at shorter distances.

The 60 gr. STMK is real joy to shoot. I take some with me and shoot at longer distances with them, and am very happy with the results. Just make sure there is a back stop. They will open up on a pd, but they can also skip if the ground is hard packed and bare.

From now on, all my 22-250s will be 12 twist.

Jim

 

[pdhntr]

Is it better than the 55 BK?

That used to be one of my favorite bullets.

Jim

 

[screaminweasil]

Is it better than the 55 BK?

No

 

[screaminweasil]

The Hornady 53gr V max BC number is inflated. The 55gr Blitzking isnt.

Sierra is one of the only companies who is conservative with BC numbers, or pretty right on. Brian Litz has confirmed this as well.

 

[JB10]

From what i have seen on coyotes that a friend stole my shots on the 53 vmax has not made damage like the 50 vmax has. I just started running the 50 due to low on 50gr nosler ballistic tips and was looking for another in stock option. I loaded up on them so now just need to use them up.

 

[varmintshooter]

We have all heard or said don't use a target bullet for hunting so maybe Hornady built the 53 Vmax to have a bullet it that class. I use them but use the 50 Vmax more.

 

[Gary in MD]

I haven’t shot the 53 grain vmax enough yet to get it shooting as folks say it should.
Never have any trouble getting that 55 grain BK shooting excellent or anything else out of a green box for that matter. That 55 BK will really do some damage too!!
YMMV
Gary

 

[DogBuster]

I like it because....have a good inventory of mine

BC is higher means flatter.....cheaper than the BK's (don't tell Hornady )

My 9 twist P-N loves 'em....

Soon to try 'em in my 12T 222 mag CBI

 

[No manches"]

They have become my favorite in both my 220 swift's , stupid velocity and outstanding ranges with great stability in a 12 and 11twist barrels.

 

[Pawnee Bill]

Lots of talk. Show me target.

 

[wkdickinson]

I have an older Colt AR with a 24" 1:9" twist barrel that shoots them amazingly well - 3/4" 5-shot groups at 200 yds. But they "blowup" in my AR with a 26" 1:7.7 Krieger barrel, only about 30% ever get tot the target.