Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles All around varmint bullet?

Got my AR dialed in with some leftover HPR ammo with the Hornady 75 BTHP. Had actually bought a box of Superformance 75 gr and got home and found they are not recommended for carbine length gassers. They let me exchange it for the regular match.

Anyway, it seems I won't be able to push this thing as hard or fast as my Tikka (obviously) so I'm wondering if I'm gaining anything going with the heavier match bullets like the Hornady 68 or 75 or if I should just stick with, say, a 55 gr V-Max. Calculating the typical velocity sited in the manual the drops are near identical at 500 but the wind drift is noticeable (about 10" between the 55 and 75 at 500). I do have the kick-ass SS 1-4 which will let me hold for wi dagthe pretty easily, tho....

I've got a butt load of 75 A-Max for the Tikka but they're a no-go at mag length.

How are the match bullets on game? Talking about rabbits, rockchucks and possible coyotes out to 300 yds or so (most likely under 200 for most shots).

Do I need to stick with a dedicated varmint bullet? And what do you guys like at the lower velocities of a 16" barrel?

I'm also assuming it's safe to run at the max velocities listed in the manual (under service rifle) without undo wear and tear?

TIA

50gr. V-Max. Buy tons of 'em.




Travis

Load it to the gills.




Travis

I'd look at the 53gr VMAX. For the weight, they have a good BC.

53 gr VMAX

40Ballistic and go KILL SH1T!!!

Steve

What powder are you guys using on the 53's? How much?

I'm using TAC for the 53gr Vmax and 77gr TMK.

50s have been my go to critter killer for years. I have been slowly replacing them with the 53s as I deplete my stock. I have found that the 53s are a bit trickier to get to shoot, but once they do, they really shoot. The 50s are hell on coyotes, bobcats, and various other critters.

I am shoving them in a case full of Benchmark, Ackley in one, standard in another.

much better BC (.291) than any of the other 50-55s....

main diet for my 9T 223AI P-N

full case of Benchmark......

I got a good deal on a thousand of the Midway Dog Town bullets (50 gr.) last year. I'm getting excellent accuracy with this bullet pushed by a max load of H335 in an AR and a Tikka T3. The AR has a 20" FN 1:7 barrel from PSA. I am highly pleased I could find a load that works great in both.

My son shot a coyote with this load at 150 yards a few weeks ago and it was DRT. Big entrance wound that will have to be sewn up. Nothing out the other side but a sliver of jacket.

I have gotten really good results with Sierra 52 gr. hpbt match bullets, again over a max load of H335. Here is a target from the Tikka.

[quote=deflave]50gr. V-Max. Buy tons of 'em.

+1

I love the 50 grain v-max. However, yotes, bobcat, opossum, skunks, crows, groundhogs, ect. They probably don't love them as much as I do. Lol

I shot the 53 gr. Sierra match bullet in a .222 for exactly 1 day; no expansion at all, although it was superbly accurate. 50 & 55 V-Max or B-Tip, whichever shoots best in your rifle.

Clarence

My experience with the 52 as well in .223.

Thinkin I'm gonna go with the 53 Vmax...

What Travis said...

50gr Vmax is also my go to for anything smaller than a deer...absolute death to coyotes and cats.

For a load in the AR, what powder do you like with the 50 gr. Vmax?

Benchmark is what I have settled on. It meters great, and gives very good velocity for me.

I've used all of the aforementioned, and am now a 69 tipped matching convert.

Great BC, seems extremely accurate on everything I've tried it in, and isn't that expensive.

I've have 400 loaded up and a thousand more on the way.

Dave