Lemons & Lemonade

[K22]

Sometimes, not often for me, a problem will lead me to something better.

I have 243 Win, Remington Model 7 that I had re-barreled a few years ago with a 20", #3 contour Hart barrel, 10 twist. This rifle shoots my favorite 6mm bullet, the Sierra 85 BTHP, really well. This rifle / load is my predator buster - a real hammer.

Well, those Sierra bullets have been non-existent for several years, at least in my search efforts, and they ain't the cheapest critters either. I think Sierra went to Mars since my local shop, which use to stock every Sierra bullet they made, haven't had any 6mm or 224's for a very long time.

So, I picked up a box of 75 grain Hornady Vmax's at my local gun shop on Saturday to go along with a can of Varget. The good news, they were only $26 for 100 and they had a ton of them. I wasn't expecting much since I've never had a lot of success with Hornady 6mm bullets, at least the ones I've tried in the past. Maybe it has something to do with the secant ogives and my barrels not liking them. I had to seat these to 2.600 for this barrel.

Granted, I only shot 2 five shot groups this morning with a single starter load of Varget, but they shot sub 3/4 moa. I was surprised for sure. I am thinking I can shrink this group with some load development since this is the first load that I tried but even if I can't this will work quite nicely for predators. Also, the wind wasn't too great this morning but there was no mirage. Anyway, maybe I found some lemonade.

 

[SSL]

Sometimes, not often for me, a problem will lead me to something better.

I have 243 Win, Remington Model 7 that I had re-barreled a few years ago with a 20", #3 contour Hart barrel, 10 twist. This rifle shoots my favorite 6mm bullet, the Sierra 85 BTHP, really well. This rifle / load is my predator buster - a real hammer.

Well, those Sierra bullets have been non-existent for several years, at least in my search efforts, and they ain't the cheapest critters either. I think Sierra went to Mars since my local shop, which use to stock every Sierra bullet they made, haven't had any 6mm or 224's for a very long time.

So, I picked up a box of 75 grain Hornady Vmax's at my local gun shop on Saturday to go along with a can of Varget. The good news, they were only $26 for 100 and they had a ton of them. I wasn't expecting much since I've never had a lot of success with Hornady 6mm bullets, at least the ones I've tried in the past. Maybe it has something to do with the secant ogives and my barrels not liking them. I had to seat these to 2.600 for this barrel.

Granted, I only shot 2 five shot groups this morning with a single starter load of Varget, but they shot sub 3/4 moa. I was surprised for sure. I am thinking I can shrink this group with some load development since this is the first load that I tried but even if I can't this will work quite nicely for predators. Also, the wind wasn't too great this morning but there was no mirage. Anyway, maybe I found some lemonade.

You just discovered the best kept secret around. 75-grain VMax bullets shoot better than lots of other brands and weights in most .243 and 6mm rifles I have messed with.

 

[JB10]

Years ago i did not have much luck with the hornady bullets i had tried, mainly 30 cal. So i stayed away. Since 2019 ive had some good luck with them in 22 cal, 6mm, and 6.5mm. Best part is easier to find them over other brands lately.

 

[17cal Fan]

The 55 Sierra and 58 V-Max will stomp a coyote and I've found them both to be very accurate in my 243's. Less recoil and more speed.

 

[Gary in MD]

I've shot the 85 grain Sierras and also the 75 grain Vmaxs. Both were extremely accurate in my rifles, a 243 Win, 6mm AI, 240 Wby. Between the two, I found the 75 grain Vmax much more explosive on ground hogs and foxes. If I was going to also shoot deer with the same load then I would pony up for the 85 grain Sierras.

 

[sqrlgtr]

The 55 Sierra and 58 V-Max will stomp a coyote and I've found them both to be very accurate in my 243's. Less recoil and more speed.

I've had good luck with the Nosler 55gr BT's in my Rem 78 sportsman (cheap 700) also. Very flat trajectory out to 350/400 yards on top of the less recoil, will turn a whistle pig inside out and put the hurt on coyote;s. Also like the fact of a lesser chance of ricochet's. IMO the Ballistic tips are a little tougher than the vmax or blitzking's. I wouldn't hesitate to use any of the above bullets though, but my rifle seems to like the Nosler's and have a healthy supply left.

 

[SeabeeKen]

I've shot the 85 grain Sierras and also the 75 grain Vmaxs. Both were extremely accurate in my rifles, a 243 Win, 6mm AI, 240 Wby. Between the two, I found the 75 grain Vmax much more explosive on ground hogs and foxes. If I was going to also shoot deer with the same load then I would pony up for the 85 grain Sierras.

My Ruger 243 varmint from back in the 80's loved that 85 Sierra. 400 yd head shots on groundhogs were easy when I was hunting in Antietam. Here is one from 1984 draped over the barrel. 400 yds, eye shot

 

[Gary in MD]

My Ruger 243 varmint from back in the 80's loved that 85 Sierra. 400 yd head shots on groundhogs were easy when I was hunting in Antietam. Here is one from 1984 draped over the barrel. 400 yds, eye shot

Very good shooting And cool photo !!
I still hunt a little right down the road from there. Unfortunately, it seems as though there is more housing than ground hogs there today.

 

[K22]

You just discovered the best kept secret around. 75-grain VMax bullets shoot better than lots of other brands and weights in most .243 and 6mm rifles I have messed with.

Yea, I was surprised since the 87 Vmax's never shot that well in my rifles. But I am encouraged with the 75 Vmax - going to do some dreaded load development but really, I'm fairly satisfied as is.

 

[K22]

I've had good luck with the Nosler 55gr BT's in my Rem 78 sportsman (cheap 700) also. Very flat trajectory out to 350/400 yards on top of the less recoil, will turn a whistle pig inside out and put the hurt on coyote;s. Also like the fact of a lesser chance of ricochet's. IMO the Ballistic tips are a little tougher than the vmax or blitzking's. I wouldn't hesitate to use any of the above bullets though, but my rifle seems to like the Nosler's and have a healthy supply left.

I had a lot of success with the 70 Nosler BT in my Hart barrel 243 Win but haven't seen them in about 2 years.

 

[WVRJ]

Hornady deserves a big thank you.The other bullet makers aren't putting anything out but the bare minimum of the most popular bullets,apparently using most of what they make for loaded ammo.I've never been able to get too many loads worked up with Hornady bullets that shot as well as some of the others,the exceptions being the V-Max and the A-Max.But I bought myself a 6.5 CM for Christmas and the shop I bought it from had some 140 grain ELD-M and it absolutely loves them!What luck,to get a high BC bullet that's readily available and not overpriced to shoot good.Thanks,Hornady!

 

[ChrisNZ]

Yea, I was surprised since the 87 Vmax's never shot that well in my rifles. But I am encouraged with the 75 Vmax - going to do some dreaded load development but really, I'm fairly satisfied as is.

Same experience in my 6BR walk-about varminter. The 75's are both more accurate and far more emphatic terminal performance

 

[NZ_Fclass]

When I first got my 6BR, I easily found a load that was great and popped them in the middle without too much effort - 105 A-Max jammed a long way in the lands. Then they were discontinued. Damn. It took another load of pills to get a load that performs as well - so I bought 500 to make sure - 107 Sierra. Couldn't get the 108 Hornady's anywhere.