Testing the 53gr vmax in my 223
- Thread starter Chris Shelton
- Start date
A full case of N133 and a cci450 shoots bugholes in my 12 twist 700, .3's and 8 twist AR, sub 1/2" .
Plenty of red mist on bunnies. Shame we don't have sod poodles out here but I thoroughly enjoyed the ~5 sessions I've had in the OK panhandle.First off don't worry about what primer is harder or thicker than other unless your firing pin is bad. I never worried about that crap. Primers have a different burn rate and a hotter primer for example will get bullet moving before all powder is burned and not hot enough just takes all powder longer to burn. This best way I can describe it.
In a load powder and bullet comes first, lighter bullets for a cartridge tend to favor faster burning powders and as you go up in bullet weight little slower powder will be the favorite. Just look at powders listed in a reloading manual as guide and choose accordingly. In the 40 some years I've been reloading I have never gone by anyone else's load info or his choice of bullets that work for him, many times they won't work in your rifle. It sounds like your twist is fine and it's just your rifle don't like the bullet you picked that's way it goes sometimes. Drop down to a 40 gr. or 52 gr Sierra or Berger or go up in weight like 55. See what weight your gun likes and tailor around that. Find something that at least shows a promising group and then play around with brand of primers to make the group a little more rounded and consistent. I use BR primers in most of my rifles first and then may try something else at later date if I need to tune more.
In a load powder and bullet comes first, lighter bullets for a cartridge tend to favor faster burning powders and as you go up in bullet weight little slower powder will be the favorite. Just look at powders listed in a reloading manual as guide and choose accordingly. In the 40 some years I've been reloading I have never gone by anyone else's load info or his choice of bullets that work for him, many times they won't work in your rifle. It sounds like your twist is fine and it's just your rifle don't like the bullet you picked that's way it goes sometimes. Drop down to a 40 gr. or 52 gr Sierra or Berger or go up in weight like 55. See what weight your gun likes and tailor around that. Find something that at least shows a promising group and then play around with brand of primers to make the group a little more rounded and consistent. I use BR primers in most of my rifles first and then may try something else at later date if I need to tune more.
Benchrest Braxton
Formerly Sigma
been shooting 223 and 53's for a long time. my original go to was benchmark with 53 vmax.
now i run n133 and 53 nosler varmageddon's.
absolutely lights out performance in both precision and speed.
3,500 fps is a comfortable load that is also very temp stable and provides great sd's
now i run n133 and 53 nosler varmageddon's.
absolutely lights out performance in both precision and speed.
3,500 fps is a comfortable load that is also very temp stable and provides great sd's
Is that the one with the really high BC? I considered those instead of vmax. 53 gr Vmax is just so abundant!
I dropped a factory 24" Remington 223 barrel on my 722 just to see how it would perform. Put a Harrel radial tuner brake on. I settled in on 53 gr Sierra and Vmax bullets but will just load Vmax as easy to get and cheap. Im loading 25gr of TAC and have shot many .250" and under 5 shot groups with both bullets and the Vmax bullets probably averaging in the 3/8-1/2" area on most days but good enough for steel and hunting. I never use to like Vmax bullets or TAC powder but I am getting to be a big fan of both. Meant to add this is right at 3250fps in 50deg weather.
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Benchrest Braxton
Formerly Sigma
no the 53 nosler varmageddon has a slightly lower bc, but is a more stable bullet than the 53 vmax in a 12 twist barrel.
so far i am very very impressive with the varmageddons. even better for me now that i don't need to run a hornady bullet!
Benchrest Braxton
Formerly Sigma
you need to try some 53 varmageddons. i wish they had a boat tail like the vmax, but only because it makes them sit nicer on the case when seating
There seems to be 2. One of them is 53 gr with a g1 bc over .300 . https://www.nosler.com/22-caliber-53gr-fb-tipped-varmageddon-bullet-100ct.html
That one is impressive on paper!
Benchrest Braxton
Formerly Sigma
its definitely not that high, i tested them vs the 53 vmax at 320 yards with my garmin down range at target.
i like shooting out to 600-800 on occasion and I appreciate the added stability out of my factory 12 twist. the varmageddons are spot on, meanwhile the 53 vmax's are tumbling after going transonic.
243Lapua
Silver $$ Contributor
My load on my 1-12 Twist Kimber SSV is
Lapua Match brass
53 GR Sierra Match FB
H335 @24.4 gr
205M primer
1 thousands of JAM. Kept an average speed of 3150fps.
I dropped the 53 Hornady, I couldn't make it group. Then I switched to the Sierra and it was instant change.
Lapua Match brass
53 GR Sierra Match FB
H335 @24.4 gr
205M primer
1 thousands of JAM. Kept an average speed of 3150fps.
I dropped the 53 Hornady, I couldn't make it group. Then I switched to the Sierra and it was instant change.
I run the 53vmax bullets in .223 out of 7 and 8 twist Urbanrifleman barrels. 600 yards on 6" plate, no problem with winds 5-6mph.
8" plate at 700 yards again no problem in 5-6mph winds. I have not taken this bullet to 800, that's what my 6br is for. These are my Wyoming pdog rifles and every year they come through for many 1st and 2nd round kills at these types of distances in Wyoming winds. I have an older 9tw 20" .223 bolt rifle that has taken pdogs out over 550 with the 53vmax.
8" plate at 700 yards again no problem in 5-6mph winds. I have not taken this bullet to 800, that's what my 6br is for. These are my Wyoming pdog rifles and every year they come through for many 1st and 2nd round kills at these types of distances in Wyoming winds. I have an older 9tw 20" .223 bolt rifle that has taken pdogs out over 550 with the 53vmax.
dusterdave173
Silver $$ Contributor
Like he says..
In the big wind of a WY PD field--the 53 Vmax runs circles around other similar weight bullets I have tested
It is not what is on paper-- but how it performs in the field. I have been on the bench beside Dgd6mm and watched him plaster those PD's in 18 MPH wind--I had been shooting a 50g Vmax until Dgd6mm taught me better--The 53 Vmax with N133 is the perfect package--I get single digit SD with the N133 to boot.
My experience with 12" twist 223 bolt rifles.
1. For field used (i.e., hunting) extruded powders gave more consistent performance due to temperature sensitivity of ball powders. I shot some amazing groups with H335 (ball) in my 223's but in the field, I would get pressure surges in 90+ degree field conditions.
2. Had my best results with Federal 205match and Remington 7 1/2 primers.
3. Had my best results with Nosler 50 and 55 BT bullets. However, I never tried the 53 Vmax so I cannot comment on that bullet. The 55 Vmax also shot well in my rifles.
4. I found a number of powders that work well with the 223 such as IMR / H 4895, Varget, Benchmark, and H335 (for range target shooting where temperature control under cover is afforded.
1. For field used (i.e., hunting) extruded powders gave more consistent performance due to temperature sensitivity of ball powders. I shot some amazing groups with H335 (ball) in my 223's but in the field, I would get pressure surges in 90+ degree field conditions.
2. Had my best results with Federal 205match and Remington 7 1/2 primers.
3. Had my best results with Nosler 50 and 55 BT bullets. However, I never tried the 53 Vmax so I cannot comment on that bullet. The 55 Vmax also shot well in my rifles.
4. I found a number of powders that work well with the 223 such as IMR / H 4895, Varget, Benchmark, and H335 (for range target shooting where temperature control under cover is afforded.
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