Heavy .223 bullets for Prairie Dogs

[centershot]

Most bullet manufacturers quit making thin jacketed bullets at 60 grain. What do you use in the 75 to 80 grain range? How do they perform?

 

[boltfluter]

75 A-max and they act like small "bombs". Lol.

Paul

www.boltfluting.com

 

[Hotshot]

I have not tried the 75 Amax but I have tried some very accurate loads with Berger, Nosler, and Sierra 69 to 80 target bullets. The hits are not spectacular in anyway because there is no expansion. Sometimes you see them fall over running to their hole and you didn't know they were hit.

 

[Phil]

I like the 75 Amax, the squirrels..........................not so much.....

 

[stacy]

I HAVE HAD GOOD RESULTS WITH 68GR BTHP AND 75GR BTHP HORNADY'S OUT OFF A 1/9 TWIST SAVAGE

 

[boltfluter]

I have not tried the 75 Amax but I have tried some very accurate loads with Berger, Nosler, and Sierra 69 to 80 target bullets. The hits are not spectacular in anyway because there is no expansion. Sometimes you see them fall over running to their hole and you didn't know they were hit.

Hotshot,

I have done the same with the target bullets. But, the A-max has the plastic tip, that acts like a wedge when driven back upon impact, creating explosive expansion and flying body parts. Lol.

Paul

www.boltfluting.com

 

[centershot]

I assumed that the A-max had a thicker jacket than the V-max. Will the A-max expand on a prairie dog?

 

[hunter243sgk]

Have you tried the 65g sgk? It has proven to be very accurate and does expand well. Plus has a bc of.303. I have got some very good kills with it from varmints to deer.

 

[John from MN]

I've used the 75 grain Amax out of a 223 AI and 22-250 AI.
Not as explosive as a 50 grain plastic tipped bullet, but no problems with dogs crawling down their holes after being hit.

 

[Mark W]

I assumed that the A-max had a thicker jacket than the V-max. Will the A-max expand on a prairie dog?

I'm not sure if it is pertinent to the thread but I have dissected 52 Gr Amax and 53 Gr Vmax bullets and found the jackets to be pretty much identical. If anything the Amax jacket was slightly thinner.

 

[Phil]

I'm not sure if it is pertinent to the thread but I have dissected 52 Gr Amax and 53 Gr Vmax bullets and found the jackets to be pretty much identical. If anything the Amax jacket was slightly thinner.

Good to know, I have some 52 Amaxes laying around.........

 

[Berger.Fan222]

Thin bullets and the faster twist barrels are a poor match. We've blown up 50 VMAXs right in front of fast twist barrels in a grey mist.

The heavier AMAX bullets expand well enough, they just don't explode. Hoping the same for the ELDs.

 

[2dogs]

I remember killing a prairie dog at 650 yards from my 22 BR running the 69 SMK @3400. Dog went flipping one way and his internals the other...

Twist was 1/9. Barrel a 27" Hart.

 

[rmr]

Hornady still makes the 60Vmax. PV as them in stock..