Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Experiences with Varmageddon .224 55gr FBHP's?

Anyone with personal experiences with this bullet? Due to the market conditions I am looking to expand my horizons; my 55 gr. Ballistic Tip and V-Maxes are getting hard to find. Both accuracy and terminal effects would be appreciated. I see the BC is on the low side but wonder if it really matters out to 400 or so. I currently shoot a couple of 223s and a 22-250. 9, 12 and 14 twist respectively.
Thanks in advance.

I don't know if they're the same bullets that you're referring to but I bought a thousand of Nosler's 55 gr. "SHOTS" hollow points a while back. The last four, five shot groups I shot with four different charge weights of Varget were 0.75", 0.8", 1.05" and 0.8" (100 yds) out of a stock .223 Sig Hunter model with an 8" twist and a fairly rough trigger.

i could not get them to stabilize in my 14 twist 22-250 for whatever reason. went to some 52 gr speers or bergers or 50 gr v max and just about everything in under .5 moa. no idea why but they didnt work for me

JSH,

I've tested the Varmageddons extensively, and as with other hollow-points they don't expand like plastic-tips, whether Varmageddons or others. The difference becomes more obvious past 200 yards--but the .224's still expand, working as well as any other hollow-point bullet I've tried.

Accuracy depends on the individual rifle, but I've shot HP Varmageddons in various .17, 204 and .224 rifles and accuracy is normally very good, no matter the twist.

Thanks for the feedback, guys.
I still have enough of the old standbys to get me through my June PDog trip (explosive expansion preferred...)
I may have to try some for future range work though.

John, I noticed they also make a plastic-tipped version of the Varmageddon, although currently out of stock. Would you say expansion on this one is similar to V-max and Ballistic Tip performance?

I'm not John but I can tell you from experience that the plastic tipped Varmageddons are great on PDs. Lift is phenomenal! My experience is with 40 gr. FBs but I would expect the 55s to perform the same.

The 55's result in some flight-time as well, especially out of a 1-8 twist.

My records show 3034 fps from 25.5 grains of IMR 4895 and the 55 grain non tipped version. Best group was 3 shots in 7/16 of an inch at 100 yards. This was out of a Remington 700 VTR in .223 with 1-9 twist. One of the best groups this gun has produced. I have only shot one groundhog with the load. Shot was at 200 yards +/- a couple. DRT with no exit. Shot hit about the sternum of a standing hog. No blood no muss just a small entry hole. Have yet to try them in my new 22-250 with 1/14 twist. It is liking 45 and 50 grainers to well.

i tryed the hp and the tipped version with a load of rl15 . the gun is a remington
700 in 22 x 6mm . Speed was 3970 fps . hollow points shot under a half inch at 100 yds . 5 shots , while the ones with tips did very well first 4 shots put one ragid hole 5th shot droped below group but could still cover all 5 with a dime . Twist 1 in 14

accurate and explosive... what else do ya need?

I haven't got to shoot the HPBT but I shoot the 55 Tipped version in a 22 Dasher, 14 twist Hart. They are more accurate than the 55 BT and the 55 VMAX, in that gun. The VMAX seems to be a bit more explosive and the BT seems to be be a bit less. But that is subjective.

I'm a fan of those bullets.

When I get an opportunity to buy some of the HP's I'll jump on them.