Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Zombies and Vmax: the same bullet with different colored tips??

My pal and I bought a bunch of Zombies and I haven't loaded them yet..
We figured they were just Vmax with green plastic.. Right??

Also, for those who have used Nosler BTBT in .224 and 40 or 50 Gr. bullets, how do they compare to the Vmax or Blitzkings??

Yes.

All but one of my varmint rigs prefer the VMax except for a new 20 VarTarg and it likes the Sierra.

The VMax seems to give more explosive hits. The Nosler seems a bit tougher.

YMMV.

Crow, thanks that is what I thought on both issues.. Bought a bunch of Nosler factory seconds when I was in Oregon 7 or 8 years ago and never shot 'em.. Coyote bullets will be their use..

WCH, On dogs I prefer the Nosler as the base does penetrate much more than the V Max in my Swift, no matter the weight. Muddy

WCH,
Yes the Zombies are just V-Max with green tips.

The Nosler BT in 40-50gr are a little tougher bullet than the V-Max IME. I like them better on Coyotes than the V-Max, and have had good luck with them on the dogs.
If saving pelts, the 40gr BT will usually stay inside one from a 223 Rem., so only an entrance hole. The 50gr BT may pass thru or not, depending on distance/impact velocity, shot placement and which cartridge you are using them in.
The V-Max are more explosive on smaller varmints, so prefer them on ground squirrels/gophers, praire dogs, etc.
Can't speak to the Blitzkings in any great quantity, but what I've used seemed more explosive similar to the V-Max.
Good Luck,
-Ted

Thanks guys.. Kind of what we figured.. Nice to hear others use of bullets, rifles, and things..

Yes. If your rifle likes a V or and A, it will like a Z.

Haven't followed Hornady recently, the Z-max construction is the new plating(AMP jacket), so it's jacket is like an A-max, not the V-max.
Core may be built like the V, and perhaps not the A.

So the real answer is that the Z-max is both, and neither.

Did not know about that information. Can you elaborate? Thanks

The Z Max is a V Max with a different color tip. That is per Hornady.

When they were offering them in .308, those were A-Maxes. But I'm pretty sure the .30 cal Z has been dropped.

The V's and Z's are not as tough as the Nosler BT's. Especially the 40 grainers. I consider them a gopher or p-dog bullet.



Travis

Thanks.. again..

Travis,

Thanks. That was my initial understanding. Thought there may be a new "twist" on the construction of these bullets. I have a few of the Z max 50 gr. and could not be happier with the results.

Yessir.

I love 'em.




Travis

I love the Z's and they act just like V's, but I do think they are different. At least the two lots I have on hand anyways. Ogives are noticeably different on the .224 50 grainers. I'll go take a pic....

Hard to tell with my crappy photo skills, but the Z has an edge where the taper starts. The V is more of a slope. Seating depths were a bit different as well to kiss lands.

Hornady changed the Amax & match bullets jacket to the "AMP" process; which according to them is also used in the Z; but not stated about the V.
Instead of a standard cup-n-core, they plate on the copper. I'm not certain the entire thing is plated, possibly a partial cup, but the bulk being plated. Similar process to what Speer started quite some time ago.

Interesting... Thanks

From the Hornady website.

"Combined with AMP® jacket technology, the Z-Max™ bullet is built to...MAKE DEAD PERMANENT!"

FWIW

To ensure nothing had changed since their initial introduction, I called Hornady again this morning.

They said the exact same thing they said last time. The Z Maxes are V-Maxes with a different tip. He even went as far to explain that having two different production lines for products that are this similar "would not be cost effective."

He also stated the 168 was/is an A-Max. and that the 30-30 ammo uses the FTX.

He went on to say " They are simply an already existing line, with a different colored tip."

I have been mixing red and green tips since their introduction and I have seen no difference in group size, POI, or terminal performance.





Travis

Yep, any minor differences in bullet shape in V-Maxes and Z-Maxes are due to differences in manufacturing lots, not basic design.

Aside from the information from Hornady, I have plenty of both on my shelves, in both .204 and .224. They shoot identically with the same loads, and expand identically on varmints.

You'll also often see minor lot-to-lot differences in Hornady Interlocks, or Sierra GameKings, Nosler Ballistic Tips, or any other popular bullet.