Hornady V-Max on deer sized game?

[Willem .243 musgrave]

Hey guys

Just wondering about how effective the 87gr V-Max would kill a deer sized animal with a shot to the shoulder standing broadside @ 300-400 yards ? Or is this ballistic tip bullet going to expand to violently and should only be used on varmints or head shots?

Is the 100gr Sierra Gameking a better option for this type of hunting?

I shoot the V-Max at approximately 3200 ft/s and the Gameking at 2900 ft/s.

Reason I wanna know is that I get better groups with the V-max and do not have to compensate on the height for longer range shots that much as with the heavier Gameking.

 

[LHSmith]

NO......Hornady designed it as a Varmint bullet. Do not confuse the V-max with the larger caliber Ballistic Tip bullets which are constructed heavier for deer size game and marketed as such.

 

[2506]

The 100gr Sierra is what I would use. It has been in my 40 some odd years of hunting experience that when you set up a rig to shoot long range and plan your hunt around long range that is exactly when Murphy shows up at 50 yards. That V-max is a very explosive varmint bullet and at close range you will probably just blow the hide and meat off a shoulder and not get to the vitals on closer shots. The 100 gr Sierra is almost a sure get into the vitals bullet. Even if it does not expand all that much at loooooog range if you put it through the lungs it means a dead animal but you my have to do a little trail work but not far. If you have time to do the work up try you some 85 gr Sierra HPs. They are about the lightest bullets that I would use on deer size game from a 6mm. They are a game bullet not a varmint bullet and they work very well on deer. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[WyleWD]

If you have time to do the work up try you some 85 gr Sierra HPs. They are about the lightest bullets that I would use on deer size game from a 6mm. They are a game bullet not a varmint bullet and they work very well on deer. Just my 2 cents worth.

+1 on the Sierra 85's....

The 85gr HPBT Sierras are my favorite deer bullet of all time. I've used several other calibers and an assortment of different bullets from each, but the 85gr out of a 243 is still the one to beat for me.

A few years ago I took off deer hunting and grabbed the wrong box of ammo for the 243 and had nothing but 70gr NBT's with me. I got two deer with them and neither took more than 3 steps. But I wouldn't endorse the use of "varmint" bullets on deer. WD

 

[MrMajestic]

Definitely not a shoulder shot! Lung, head or neck perhaps but still a bad choice for a Deer bullet. Go with the Gameking and your results will be positive. IMHO

 

[vmaxpro]

I flattened one with a 40gr vmax to the head, it was a mercy kill I felt bad for her!

 

[funkyon4wheels]

Went thru this last week. http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3798985.0 I shot one monday at 150 yds broad side with the 87gr. Vmax at 3330fps passed right thru. Bullet didnt touch the shoulder so I cant comment on its performance on sholder shots and longer ranges.