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Stabilizing the 53 gr Vmax

After reading thru the 22 forum I'm still left confused. Much talk about the effectiveness and accuracy of the 53 gr Vmax but still questions regarding appropriate twist.

I'm thinking of getting a new barrel in 223AI. Plans are to go no tighter than needed on twist; I expect to shoot bullets exclusively between 40 and 55 grains. Consensus seems to indicate a 12" twist is adequate for bullets in this weight range until the 53 gr Vmax is brought up.

Is the Vmax much longer than other bullets in this weight range ? Some comments suggest a 10" or 9" twist to adequately stabilize. If you were to fire this bullet what twist would you pick ? Shooting mostly at targets and the occasional varmint. Max range is 300 yards. Accuracy is more important than speed.

Currently I'm about at 1100 feet above sea level; future plans to move would get me much closer to sea level. I try not to shoot below freezing or above 95 degrees. I hope this helps.

Comments and experiences with this bullet in a 223 or 223AI would be appreciated. Thanks.
 
The 53gr Vmax is pretty much all I shoot in my 223ai and they shoot extremely well. My 223ai started life as a Rem LTR 223 then I had Defensive Edge Rifles rebarrel it with a Hart 22in 1-9tw. When it was done I gave them a box of Hornady Superformance 223 53gr Vmax ammo to test it with. This was the first group it shot. Not to shabby for a box of factory 223 ammo in a 223ai chamber. 223AI group.JPG
 
The 53gr Vmax is pretty much all I shoot in my 223ai and they shoot extremely well. My 223ai started life as a Rem LTR 223 then I had Defensive Edge Rifles rebarrel it with a Hart 22in 1-9tw. When it was done I gave them a box of Hornady Superformance 223 53gr Vmax ammo to test it with. This was the first group it shot. Not to shabby for a box of factory 223 ammo in a 223ai chamber. View attachment 1069799


Not shabby at all. How are those groups looking when you roll your own ?
 
the 53gr vmax is my favorite in the 22cal. Ive run them in 12 and 9 twists. from my experience, they shoot great in both, out to 300+. in the slower twist barrels, just remember that velocity is your friend.
 
Not shabby at all. How are those groups looking when you roll your own ?

I've gotten really close but never been able to match that group, but in all fairness, Shawn is a MUCH better trigger squeezer than I am so it certainly isn't the guns fault.

The last few years my 223ai shooting the 53gr Vmax has been my primary yote gun and it puts them down quite nicely. I've got a new Kelbly 22-250 with a 1-12tw barrel that i'll be using a lot this year but unless for some odd reason they just don't shoot, the 53gr Vmax is what I'll be shooting in that as well. I may have my 223ai for sale if you're interested in buying one instead of building one.
 
I've gotten really close but never been able to match that group, but in all fairness, Shawn is a MUCH better trigger squeezer than I am so it certainly isn't the guns fault.

The last few years my 223ai shooting the 53gr Vmax has been my primary yote gun and it puts them down quite nicely. I've got a new Kelbly 22-250 with a 1-12tw barrel that i'll be using a lot this year but unless for some odd reason they just don't shoot, the 53gr Vmax is what I'll be shooting in that as well. I may have my 223ai for sale if you're interested in buying one instead of building one.


Thanks for that insight. I'm leaning to build rather than buy. That way I get exactly what I want and don't have to spend more $ to tweak it immediately after buying it.

I've used a great many 50 and 52 grain Speer hollow points in the past. For some reason the 52 gr would always group better than the 50 in fast twist barrels ( 8-9" ) so I am leaning to the slow twist for this build.
 
I'm not shooting a 223AI, at least not yet... But, I shoot a Remington 700 5R 223, w/1-9" twist. My primary varmint bullet for that rifle is the 53 GR V-Max!! I love it! My favorite Ground Squirrel bullet.. I'm at close to 2000'. In my 700 LVSF, which I believe is a 1-12, the Nosler 50 Balistic Tip is a great match.... Idaho-45
 
I'm not shooting a 223AI, at least not yet... But, I shoot a Remington 700 5R 223, w/1-9" twist. My primary varmint bullet for that rifle is the 53 GR V-Max!! I love it! My favorite Ground Squirrel bullet.. I'm at close to 2000'. In my 700 LVSF, which I believe is a 1-12, the Nosler 50 Balistic Tip is a great match.... Idaho-45
I shoot the 53 gr V-max 1-9” XP100 great bullet .
 
Thanks for the feedback on the 53 gr Vmax, folks. I'm going to have to try them in my 223's. And in the AI if I can get that put together.
 
I had my Tikka Master Sporter .22-250 rebarreled with a Brux 1 in 12 twist barrel. I shoot the 53 gr. V-Max bullets for prairie dogs and this rifle is very accurate and gives me spectacular action on PDs.
 
I have a 1997 Colt CAR (Colt Accurized Rifle) with the original 1:9" Colt barrel. The guy I bought it from was a prairie dog hunter and estimated it had about 10k rounds through the barrel (maybe an exageration, but a lot), mostly moly coated. It didn't shoot very good when I got it, but after lots of cleaning and JB I finally got all the moly out of the barrel. It now shoots 53gr V-max, .6 moa @ 200 yds., 5 shot groups. I am pleased :)!
 
Another vote for 53 gr V-max in 223, at about 3250 fps out of both a 9 twist and an 8 twist. Another favorite is the 52 gr Sierra HP (p/n 1400) which is a flat base bullet that shoots just as well for me. Smallest group with a factory barreled Savage 12FV was five shots measuring .062 at 100 yds using the 53 V-Max. That was with my son shooting, not me.
 
Another vote for 53 gr V-max in 223, at about 3250 fps out of both a 9 twist and an 8 twist. Another favorite is the 52 gr Sierra HP (p/n 1400) which is a flat base bullet that shoots just as well for me. Smallest group with a factory barreled Savage 12FV was five shots measuring .062 at 100 yds using the 53 V-Max. That was with my son shooting, not me.


Whether its you or your son, that is fantastic shooting with a factory barrel. I think Savage is about as ugly a gun as was ever made. But they have an excellent reputation for accuracy. I may have to get past my "ugly" issue to be able to shoot like that. Well done.
 
If ALL your shooting is the 50 weight variety bullets a 12 twist is ideal. As said you probably won't notice an accuracy difference with a 9. Speeds will be up a bit with a slower twist.
 
After reading thru the 22 forum I'm still left confused. Much talk about the effectiveness and accuracy of the 53 gr Vmax but still questions regarding appropriate twist.

I'm thinking of getting a new barrel in 223AI. Plans are to go no tighter than needed on twist; I expect to shoot bullets exclusively between 40 and 55 grains. Consensus seems to indicate a 12" twist is adequate for bullets in this weight range until the 53 gr Vmax is brought up.

Is the Vmax much longer than other bullets in this weight range ? Some comments suggest a 10" or 9" twist to adequately stabilize. If you were to fire this bullet what twist would you pick ? Shooting mostly at targets and the occasional varmint. Max range is 300 yards. Accuracy is more important than speed.

Currently I'm about at 1100 feet above sea level; future plans to move would get me much closer to sea level. I try not to shoot below freezing or above 95 degrees. I hope this helps.

Comments and experiences with this bullet in a 223 or 223AI would be appreciated. Thanks.

I shot them in a Remington 700 VS, which I suspect is a 1:12" twist (I did not check with a cleaning rod). While I did not have detectable stability problems, grouping was mediocre. It would be best if you get a barrel with a twist sufficient to handle them if you want to shoot them.

Dsnny
 

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