.224 Swift ground hog bullets.

[XBBR Shooter]

Hi jg, can't believe I forgot to give the twist rate! It's 1 in 14, Before I wrote/posted the above question, I searched on the Internet, it was about 50/50 with people saying yes/no to the 1 in 14 twist working, however it is the Internet!
One person that sounded knowledgeable, said he used a Remington 1 in 14 twist and had no problems stabilizing the Hornady 53gr bullet, but I still think it's a valid question as to whether it is OK. That was the idea behind my post, then I forgot all about it, go figure!

My reason/interest in the 53gr Hornady is the claimed BC in the 290's, it's hard for me to disregard that high of a BC in a 53gr .224 bullet. However, if it doesn't want to shoot accurately all the speed in the world won't help, therefor my reason for all the questions.

If anyone provides more information please give the elevation in your shooting area. Usually your local weather web site has that information or should.

When the 53 first came out, I spent a lot of time testing it, because of the fan-damn-tastic BC. I shot the 53 V-Max AND the 55 SBK out of a 22-250 and .220 Swift. Both have 28" barrels and 14" twists.

What I found was the Sierra 55 BlitzKing has a little bit HIGHER BC than the 53 V-Max, even though the stated number is 0.270-ish... or, stated another way, the 53 V-Max has a lower BC if you use the Sierra "Infinity" program to make drop charts.

They were tested by actual drop tests at 400 yards (zero @ 100, and shoot for drop at 400, all at the same velocity - measure drop, and back calculate for BC).

Keep in mind, that the bullet companies do NOT use the same systems to assign BC numbers to their bullets - so a given bullet will have different BC's depending on which company tests it.
Both of these bullets are ~0.825" long, which is on the long side for the 14" twist.

If you work up loads, the early loads will be awful from a 22-250 or a .220 Swift... the bullets will come into their own at speeds over 3850-ish and faster.

The BlitzKing has a thinner jacket than the V-Max (I sliced them open and measured both) - the BK is 0.016" thick and the V-Max is ~0.020"
The BK opens faster, and will also open at lower velocities, meaning the you will get ~ 150 to 200 yards more performance for a given level of expansion, from the BK, which really counts when you are whackin' a 'chuck out at 700 yds.

 

[Changeling]

XBBR thanks for the reply, very good reply I might add. I've never shot the Sierra 55gr SBK (Sierra blitz king) bullets but I certainty will give them a try and see how things go.
It would definitely be cheaper then the Nosler 55gr Varmint BT bullets and that's not a bad thing at all. I'm sure that the guys shooting prairie dogs will really appreciate knowing that because of their shooting volume.

Have you had any problems (SBK's) with them coming apart (centrifugal force) at velocities over 4000fps or any other surprises ?

 

[XBBR Shooter]

XBBR thanks for the reply, very good reply I might add. I've never shot the Sierra 55gr SBK (Sierra blitz king) bullets but I certainty will give them a try and see how things go.
It would definitely be cheaper then the Nosler 55gr Varmint BT bullets and that's not a bad thing at all. I'm sure that the guys shooting prairie dogs will really appreciate knowing that because of their shooting volume.

Have you had any problems (SBK's) with them coming apart at velocities over 4000fps or any other surprises ?

It is easy to be seduced by large published BC numbers, (and I am the first to admit to that weakness)... but over the years, I have learned to take BC numbers with a lot of salt.
Terminal performance with varmints, at the outer limits of the caliber have become more important (to me). Which means bullets like the Speer 52gr HP are not high on the long range list because they have the BC of a ping-pong ball... but the Speer 50gr and 55gr TNT are. They shoot much flatter than Speer's BC number would suggest (cuz Speer can't figure the BC numbers out ).

I have blown up Hornady 50 and 55 SX's, and Sierra 50 and 55 plain Blitz's (the soft points)... but I have never blown up a Plastic tipped bullet. I shoot the 55 SBK's at 4,100 fps from a 28" long, 14" twist .220 Swift, with 42grs of 4007 SSC, seated to jam. The bullets arrive intact, with terminal authority

The soft point SX and Blitz have jackets that are 009"... paper thin. None of the plastic tipped bullets that I have "dissected", have jackets thinner than ~ 0.015", and the run-of-the-mill hollow points, like the 52 MatchKings run 0.022" and up... which is why they suck on chucks and crows, but work great on coyotes.

 

[40X Guy]

It is easy to be seduced by large published BC numbers, (and I am the first to admit to that weakness)... but over the years, I have learned to take BC numbers with a lot of salt.
Terminal performance with varmints, at the outer limits of the caliber have become more important (to me). Which means bullets like the Speer 52gr HP are not high on the long range list because they have the BC of a ping-pong ball... but the Speer 50gr and 55gr TNT are. They shoot much flatter than Speer's BC number would suggest (cuz Speer can't figure the BC numbers out ).

I have blown up Hornady 50 and 55 SX's, and Sierra 50 and 55 plain Blitz's (the soft points)... but I have never blown up a Plastic tipped bullet. I shoot the 55 SBK's at 4,100 fps from a 28" long, 14" twist .220 Swift, with 42grs of 4007 SSC, seated to jam. The bullets arrive intact, with terminal authority

The soft point SX and Blitz have jackets that are 009"... paper thin. None of the plastic tipped bullets that I have "dissected", have jackets thinner than ~ 0.015", and the run-of-the-mill hollow points, like the 52 MatchKings run 0.022" and up... which is why they suck on chucks and crows, but work great on coyotes.

Great post! I just bought 200 Sierra 55 grain BK's to try in my Swift. I'm looking to coax the most out of my new build. Been shooting Nosler 55 BT's for 20 years on chucks and a buddy of mine suggested trying some 55 BK's. Then I saw your posts! I may have to look at some 4007SSC powder as well. Changeling, I'm not trying to hijack your thread, just found XBBR Shooters posts very informative. Have been locked into 55 BT's for too long.

Frank

 

[justinp61]

I have had great success shooting Sierra 1365 55 grain Gamekings out of my 12 twist Savage 22-250. My longest kill so far is 446 yards with a bunch over 400. They're fairly cheap too.

 

[Coolhand]

Hi jg, can't believe I forgot to give the twist rate! It's 1 in 14, Before I wrote/posted the above question, I searched on the Internet, it was about 50/50 with people saying yes/no to the 1 in 14 twist working, however it is the Internet!
One person that sounded knowledgeable, said he used a Remington 1 in 14 twist and had no problems stabilizing the Hornady 53gr bullet, but I still think it's a valid question as to whether it is OK. That was the idea behind my post, then I forgot all about it, go figure!

My reason/interest in the 53gr Hornady is the claimed BC in the 290's, it's hard for me to disregard that high of a BC in a 53gr .224 bullet. However, if it doesn't want to shoot accurately all the speed in the world won't help, therefor my reason for all the questions.

If anyone provides more information please give the elevation in your shooting area. Usually your local weather web site has that information or should.

Changeling , when I built my .220 AI , I really wanted to use the 53 VMAX my mate Chris shot them out of a .223 AI with incredible accuracy. But my 1:14 would not shoot them. When I say the 1:14 would not shoot them, I mean that even though I got a couple of nice groups with them, close inspection of the bullet holes on paper revealed that the holes were ever so slightly oval . So I bumped the load of RL17 (average velocity at sea level was around 3900 fps)up and the groups did improve slightly but still those holes that did not fill the group were oval. I think maybe with some tweaking I might be able to get them to settle down but I have since found that the 55 Sierra Blitzking to be a beauty and in this current barrel, a Krieger Rem Varm profile, they perform slightly better than the Nosler 55 BT'S. the most accurate bullet I have used so far is the 40 grain Nosler BT. In fact as I have some 53 VMAX's left , I just might stoke up the load of 45.2 RL17 even more and see if that will settle them down.
BTW , I have only used RL17 in all my loads with PMC primers and Norma Brass. I emailed Hornady and they would not give any guarantees from a barrel slower than 1:12.

regards
Mike.

 

[AckleymanII]

Changeling , when I built my .220 AI , I really wanted to use the 53 VMAX my mate Chris shot them out of a .223 AI with incredible accuracy. But my 1:14 would not shoot them. When I say the 1:14 would not shoot them, I mean that even though I got a couple of nice groups with them, close inspection of the bullet holes on paper revealed that the holes were ever so slightly oval . So I bumped the load of RL17 (average velocity at sea level was around 3900 fps)up and the groups did improve slightly but still those holes that did not fill the group were oval. I think maybe with some tweaking I might be able to get them to settle down but I have since found that the 55 Sierra Blitzking to be a beauty and in this current barrel, a Krieger Rem Varm profile, they perform slightly better than the Nosler 55 BT'S. the most accurate bullet I have used so far is the 40 grain Nosler BT. In fact as I have some 53 VMAX's left , I just might stoke up the load of 45.2 RL17 even more and see if that will settle them down.
BTW , I have only used RL17 in all my loads with PMC primers and Norma Brass. I emailed Hornady and they would not give any guarantees from a barrel slower than 1:12.

regards
Mike.

Sierra puts a very high grade jacket with all blitz kings, they are sorted for concentricity, so consistent accuracy from lot to lot is the norm. To me, this is worth paying a tad bit more money for match grade bullets with a super varmint exploding bullet.

 

[Coolhand]

Sierra puts a very high grade jacket with all blitz kings, they are sorted for concentricity, so consistent accuracy from lot to lot is the norm. To me, this is worth paying a tad bit more money for match grade bullets with a super varmint exploding bullet.

Yup ! Liked them so much I bought 1000, now sit down when I tell you the price per 100 down here ......wait for it ................. $58.00 ! And I didn't get a price break on the 1000.
I have also loaded up some left over 53 VMAX's and intend to drive them a lot harder, maybe they might just settle down with a really stiff load.

Mike.

 

[284winner]

Didn't read all the feedback before me but try 55 gr Ballistic tips by Nosler.

 

[AckleymanII]

53 V is a fickle bullet to deal with, and I don't have the patience for them. Give me a Sierra Blitz king or a nosler ballistic tip, and the nosler 55g Varmageddons are proving to be super accurate in some custom 223 AI's Driven to warp speed for that case, these bullets have proven to be consistent from lot to lot and easy to tune. For the highest launches and helicopters, the Sierra 55g Blitz king rules the roost!

 

[NC308]

I have a ruger M77 MK II with a 1;14 twist. I have shot 55gr vmax with no trouble but currently shoot the 52 gr Amax at 3900. I don't think they make that bullet anymore? I was going to try the 53 gr vmax but reading this is talking me out of it! My try the sierra line?? After i run out of the 52 amax of course

 

[Coolhand]

At the BR range yesterday confirmed my 26" 1:14 sporter weight barrel does not like 53 grain Vmax's no matter how stiff a load of RL17.
Started out with 45.2 and went up to 46.2 , actually I stopped at 45.8 grains I had seen enough not to persist with the 53 grain Vmax's and will stick with the Sierra 55 BK'S , interestingly though I bought a box of Norma factory .220 Swift ammo on the way, they are loaded with 50 grain SP's, fire forming these factory rounds shot two groups under MOA and I am no BR shooter. I reckon they will do better.

regards
Mike.