It seems to me that Hornady is the only company making heavy for caliber boat tail bullets specifically for varmints in .224... I know you can use a lot of bullets for varmints but why is Hornady the only one making the heavies marketed at varmint hunters?
For examples: Hornady .224 62 gr ELD VT or 80 gr ELD X
Just curious why Sierra or Berger etc aren't making something in a boat
It seems to me that Hornady is the only company making heavy for caliber boat tail bullets specifically for varmints in .224... I know you can use a lot of bullets for varmints but why is Hornady the only one making the heavies marketed at varmint hunters?
For examples: Hornady .224 62 gr ELD VT or 80 gr ELD X
Just curious why Sierra or Berger etc aren't making something in a boat tail?.?.?.
Bobinpa -
Howdy !
Maybe…. you don’t need to go w/ the “ heavies “ ?
Using 450ft lb kinetic energy as example threshold for minimum KE applied to groundhog:
( Load data from Hodgdon’ 2025 Reloading Annual Manual )
( Ballistic data from Hodgdon’ ballistic calculator, ltd to 25yd increments )
Using 200yd zero, 1.5” scope ht, for comparison w/ same zero
Example MAX RANGE for delivering 450 ft lb:
.220 Swift 24” 1-14 Hornady 55SX 42.5gr H380 3,839fps 497yd -31.2” drop
.22-250 24” 1-14 Sierra 55Blitz King 42.5 gr 6.5StaBal 3,887fps 583yd -48.5” drop
.22-250 24” 1-12 Nosler 60gr Varmint 40.5gr 6.5StaBal 3,711fps 450yd -50” drop
.22Creed 26” 1-7 Berger 60FB varmint 48gr Magpro. 3,487fps 529yd -32.8”drop
.22-250 24” 1-14 Hornady 60 V-Max 43gr SuperPerf 3,738fps 494yd -33” drop
.22 Creed 24” 1-7 Hornady 62 ELD-VT ( Swift 62gr Sir load ) 3,656fps 830yd -123” drop
.22-250 24” 1-14 Hornady 63Semi-Pt’d 42.7gr SuperPerf 3,674fps 497yd -35.8”drop
.22Creed 24” 1-7 Hornady 73ELD-M 43.5gr SuperPerf 3,484fps 853yd -146” drop
One needs to decide for themself what yardages they want to cover w/ the rifle.
500, 600; or 1,000 for examples.
IF the bulk of the ( groundhog ) shooting will take place @ 500’ish and under, one wouldn’t of necessity have to go w/ a heavy/ heavier VLD… especially if their location doesn’t always feature a bunch of wind. In my NE Indiana location, windage issues do not loom as large as elevation does; and a comparatively flat shooting set-up holds appeal.
As can be seen from the listed examples, an aerodynamic .224” 55gr varmint bullet could be used to provide the guideline 450ft lb out to 600 yd. This would be doable
w/ a .22-250, .220Swift, or .22 Creedmoor ( to name a few ) when each is given enough barrel length.
I prefer to use dedicated “ varmint bullets “ on groundhog. In .224” calibre, for me….
it’s the Hornady 55SX.
My intent for the next barrel, is to use a l-o-n-g barrel w/ gain twist, and propel the 55SX to 4,000fps using my “.22-35 Remington“ wildcat. This approach exploits use of a higher expansion ratio for the gun, w/ the gain twist selected to control bullet’ rpm’s. This rifle
would cover the bulk of my anti-groundhog shooting, w/ some 525+ yd of useful range; using my KE guideline. I still have my “ DEEP 6 “ wildcat barrel if need be, for any potential 1,000 yd kill shot.
With regards,
357Mag
