Hornady 35-Grain Vmax / 223

[Mike in Oregon]

I had a 223 built for the 40-grain Vmax with a 14 twist. I'd like to know your thoughts on trying the above bullet to speed things up a bit. I'm guessing that would put me at or near the 4000-fps mark. I also think I would be able to reach out to 400 yards still.

 

[jds holler]

I use those stubby little 35's for my Bee, because they give me an acceptable OAL for the short magazine. My Bee isn't a phenomenally accurate rifle, but they shoot as good as anything.

I have shot them in my old 222 with surprising accuracy, but I wasn't pushing them to 4000. I've got a pic somewhere of a group that was like .3ish. jd

 

[varmintshooter]

With a BC of .109 have you thought about how the wind will affect it, it won't be good

 

[Mike in Oregon]

With a BC of .109 have you thought about how the wind will affect it, it won't be good

Yes, it would be on a no wind day!

 

[jds holler]

Here's that load I mentioned. This was a complete surprise. Dorky looking little bullets are barely in the case neck. AND I had already decided that this barrel was shot out.
I didn't have a chronograph at this time, but this load may be cooking. It's the same powder load I was using for 40 gr. and I decided just to try some of these. jd

 

[Mike in Oregon]

I can live with that!

 

[Mark2]

It will be interesting to see if the bullets reach the target at 4k+! At .22 K hornet velocity the terminal ballistics on sage rats are quite impressive!

 

[Mike in Oregon]

It will be interesting to see if the bullets reach the target at 4k+! At .22 K hornet velocity the terminal ballistics on sage rats are quite impressive!

I wouldn't think it be that much different from a 40-grain Vmax. I was doing that all day long at 3700 fps.

 

[Mike in Oregon]

I just read that the bullet was designed for the Hornet and not for a 223 due to speed. Alrighty then, that concludes today's lesson.

 

[jds holler]

One of our forum fellows around here, (don't remember who) sold me I think a thousand bullets which look identical to the Hornadys -- except they have green tips, and weigh in at 33 gr. They don't look Hornady-ish to me. They were very reasonable and seem as accurate in my Bee as the Hornadys. I think I was clocking them at 3200 which is good for a Bee. It pops em pretty good. jd

 

[snert]

Here's that load I mentioned. This was a complete surprise. Dorky looking little bullets are barely in the case neck. AND I had already decided that this barrel was shot out.
I didn't have a chronograph at this time, but this load may be cooking. It's the same powder load I was using for 40 gr. and I decided just to try some of these. jd

View attachment 1796645

I recognize that bullet!

 

[Tommie]

One of our forum fellows around here, (don't remember who) sold me I think a thousand bullets which look identical to the Hornadys -- except they have green tips, and weigh in at 33 gr. They don't look Hornady-ish to me. They were very reasonable and seem as accurate in my Bee as the Hornadys. I think I was clocking them at 3200 which is good for a Bee. It pops em pretty good. jd



View attachment 1796750

Those greenies might be Remington. I believe they offer that bullet in their 22 WMR ammo.

 

[Mark2]

One of our forum fellows around here, (don't remember who) sold me I think a thousand bullets which look identical to the Hornadys -- except they have green tips, and weigh in at 33 gr. They don't look Hornady-ish to me. They were very reasonable and seem as accurate in my Bee as the Hornadys. I think I was clocking them at 3200 which is good for a Bee. It pops em pretty good. jd



View attachment 1796750

Once upon a time I had a good friend in a senior management position at Hornady. He sold Remington a bunch of 33 gn. Green tipped bullets to load in the .22 mag. I prevailed on him to send me...some...to load in my .22 Hornet. They worked quite well. I sent him pics of the results. Soon after they bumped them to 35 gn, changed the tips to red and they became a catalog item. I do not know if they changed the jackets but the original 33's were intended for .22 mag velo...hence my comment above.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

It will be interesting to see if the bullets reach the target at 4k+! At .22 K hornet velocity the terminal ballistics on sage rats are quite impressive!

Ten-four on that, Mark2!

When that 35gr became available, I loaded up a couple hundred for my K-Hornet for use on sage rats here. They shot well on paper, so my first trip out with them confirmed they 'worked as advertised' at Hornet velocities. My K-Hornet load with 1680 zips along (for a Hornet) right at 3,100 fps.

The pic below was that first outing with my Browning/Winchester Low-Wall K-Hornet.....'nuff said.



As you mentioned, it's doubtful at 4,000 fps they'd make it to the target with that very thin jacket.

 

[jds holler]

One of our forum fellows gifted me several boxes of the 35's after he found out that they were my fav for my beloved Bee. Between what I had, what he sent me, and these green tipped 33's I guess I'm pretty well set for life. I won't mention snert's name, cause he might not want the rep of being a wonderful guy. jd

 

[DiRTY DOG]

Try the 35gr NTX, they are amazing! As good or better than the almighty 40gr Vmax which I shot for years.

35 Vmax BC .109
35 NTX BC .177
40 Vmax BC .200

 

[Ackman]

Once upon a time I had a good friend in a senior management position at Hornady. He sold Remington a bunch of 33 gn. Green tipped bullets to load in the .22 mag. I prevailed on him to send me...some...to load in my .22 Hornet. They worked quite well. I sent him pics of the results. Soon after they bumped them to 35 gn, changed the tips to red and they became a catalog item. I do not know if they changed the jackets but the original 33's were intended for .22 mag velo...hence my comment above.

Once upon a time Midway had bags of those 33's real cheap. Red tipped. I figured to run those things really fast through a very accurate Shilen .223. About half of them went through the paper sideways but still in a decent group. I figured the culprit was thinner jackets, maybe for 22Mag or Hornet velocity. But in a .221 they're just stupid accurate and nicely effective on small targets not very far away. That schoolbus BC becomes noticeable at .221 velocity and about 250. Definitely a closer range load that works just fine. When they're gone I'll try the 35's.

 

[searcher]

Try the 35gr NTX, they are amazing! As good or better than the almighty 40gr Vmax which I shot for years.

35 Vmax BC .109
35 NTX BC .177
40 Vmax BC .200

I have one A/R that loves those 35 NTX's with Reloader 7 powder. Yesssir.
In my 6 varmint rifles, I got better accuracy with the Lead-Free Ballistic Tips, the 40 grain typically being the best.