Hornady Vmax vs Sierra BK's

[K22]

I have a long history with Sierra bullets, and they have always performed very well for me and for many years was my sole bullet of choice. However, about 5 years ago or so, availability became a major problem so much so, with great reservation, I moved aways from Sierra except for the 85 BTHP for my 243's. But other than availability, it's hard to imagine Sierra not being a first choice for a hunting bullet.

My experience with Hornady Vmax bullets in several brands of rifles has been positive. While I do not shoot the caliber posted, I think it is safe to assume that this experience is transferable to other calibers. The chief difference is the secant ogives with Hornady versus the tangential ogives with Sierra. I am not crazy about the secant ogives, but they seem to shoot well enough.

I mostly use Nosler BT's these days for my varmint bullets in my 223 Rem's, 12" twist. The 50 and 55 bullet are superbly accurate in my rifles. For the 8" twist, 223 Rem's, the 60 Vmax work best for me. You may want to test some Nosler BTs in your rifle.

As any experienced reloader will tell you, the only way to know if a specific bullet will work in your rifle is to test it. But Sierra, Hornady and Nosler have long histories as successful varmint bullets both from an accuracy and terminal performance perspective.

 

[Jrjones]

Well, I have to give the Sierra 39 grain BK's a fair shot. I added a box of 100 in my grocery basket off G&S.

Probably be wishing you got more than one. They are just awesome bullets. They all make good stuff. Let your rifle and your loads tell you.

 

[Sonic Crack]

Im a big Sierra fan and shoot them whenever , in whatever I can. I only shoot BK’s in my varmint rifles. Two diff 22cal, 6mm and a 25cal. With plans to build something in 6.5 just to shoot the 105BK’s.
Im not a fan of much of anything that hornady does. Dont care for their brass. I once measured weight hornady match bullets VS hunting bullets from Sierra. The Sierra hunting bullets had less variation in weight than the horny match bullets.
I do buy cheap Hornady bullets to fire form with.

Just the other day I shot a groundhog at 30yd w my 6-284 and 70 grain BK’s. Hit it just right and NO exit wound. Thats impressive.

 

[Hammertime1]

I have a 204 11 twist. Mine prefers the 40 Vmax over the sierra 39's.

 

[diyj98]

Sierra was always my first choice when trying new bullets, but the 110 grain V-Max shoots so well in my 308 that I haven't tried anything else. It's performed well on groundhogs and coyotes.

 

[Stugots]

Go with what ever does less damage to the wallet and buy a bunch!

 

[Fern]

Mike if you find the sierra stock up on them. Problem is they only seem to pop on the shelves for a short time only to be gone for a good while. It took me almost two years to see some on a shelf. The ones I got I traded for some 50-55 bergers

 

[Lefty2506]

Try a box of both. I'm still waiting on my 20 Practical to be finished. I'm planning on shooting the 40gr vmax because they are cheaper, and the isn't 1" difference in drop between the 32g and 40gr out to 500 yds but the 40 does a little better in the wind.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Don't forget to try the Speer 39 tnt, great varmint bullet. Usually surprise you with how accurate they are for the price.

 

[lyktorct]

Well, I have to give the Sierra 39 grain BK's a fair shot. I added a box of 100 in my grocery basket off G&S.

The BK 39s shoot the best in my 1:11 twist VT, over 4198. Cost and availability of both are a factor however.

 

[tjtjwdad]

The SBK 39s The shoot the best in my 1:12 twist 204's over RL-15. The H40 VMAX shot pretty good in my CZ but near as good as the 39 SBK. My VT shoots the 32 Nosler BTBT over H4198, RL7 and A2200.

 

[5spd]

In my 20p. 1/11" twist I had the 32g vmax shot a tad better than the 39 sierras.
Both shot well, blew up pdogs, but the hornady 32g were much more available and cost less so that's all I ran back in 2014.

 

[David Milisock]

It's varmint shooting any varmint bullet that shoots accurate and flat enough will work.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

In all my .20 caliber varmint rifles, the 32 & 39gr SBK's shoot the best in terms of accuracy, but the price stings for shooting colony rodents for a few days or a week at a time.

As the Nosler's are available as seconds, it makes perfect sense to shoot them instead as they still shoot in the .2's and launch Skippy and his pals in grand fashion. Sure a guy can pay more for an accurate bullet, but how much more accurate must it be if the 'bargain bullet' will shoot less than 1/4" in all my twenty cal rifles?

Like many things in life, economics becomes a key factor, like it or not.

 

[Tommie]

In other words: see what works best for you.