Varmints - Federal VShok Ball Tip OR Nosler Varmageddon OR Hornady Superformance Varm

thegazelle

thegazelle

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Hey there, sorry for the long title but hoping some of you seasoned hunters can provide some suggestions for varmint ammo (for coyotes and smaller). I am considering these three just based on research...can anyone give any feedback on them in terms of effectiveness, accuracy, etc. in your real life experience? They are all around the same price currently.

Federal VShok with Nosler Ballistic Tip
Nosler Varmageddon
Hornady Superformance Varmint VMAX

Thanks.
 
This year I used the 55gr tipped varmageddon in my 243 and will continue to do so. On paper they're very accurate. On coyotes they were great. Usually one small hole in, dead on the spot. About 1 in 5 passed through, exit wound was less than 2". Very happy with them
 
I don't think I've ever had a pass through on a coyote with .224 or .243 Vmax in any grain weight
The results on "smaller" varmints are quite spectacular as well.
 
Thanks for the feedback, folks. Can anyone comment about whether your real life experience has shown any "splashing" with the VMAX, where the hide of the animal was mangled and penetration wasn't as deep as anticipated? For smaller varmints, there is no issue of fur collecting but for bigger animals, retaining the integrity of the fur would be beneficial.

By the way, if you have any recommendations of other rounds are equally as effective and accurate, please feel free to pass along. I know the Federal premium line offers multiple different rounds and can't figure out heads or tails sometimes.
 
I have seen softball size exit holes on coyotes with .22 250 55g Vmax when the shot is under 50 yards broadside. Hit them in the neck or behind the shoulder and usually resulted in large exit hole. I would try to shoot straight on or hit right in the shoulder and most times it would not exit (if not on steep angled shots, up or down).

Anything over 100 yards it was common for no exit hole, again if not a bad shot(guts,neck)

Will say I never lost one coyote from a well placed hit with a 55 or 50g vmax. They work great and shoot amazing in my Tikka and Sako .22 250s.

I now shoot Sako factory Gamehead 50g soft point ammo. Mostly because I found a good deal on a lot a bunch. I'm really impressed with the small exits and no problem dropping them where they stand.

Id personally use whatever shoots the best in your rifle (from the choices you listed)
 
I love the vmax. My 2506 sit 75gr vmax at 3600fps. Never had a splash on surface hit. Inside 100 yards it was not fur friendly as a general rule but it dropped coyotes instantly. Ontario Groundhogs could never reassembled. Crows lost all body mass. Coons were nearly cut in half or at least turned mostly inside out. I lent my rifle to buddy for a deer and wolf hunt with a box of loaded vmax and a box of loaded interlocks. He shot a big doe and said she just dropped. When he returned the rifle and ammo he had fired a single round. 75gr vmax took the deer out at what he said was likely 60 yards. He stated the lungs were liquid and the heart was shredded. I wouldnt shoot vmax at anything larger than a timber wolf myself in 257 cal but apparently they will work on deer
In 223 i load 53gr vmax and love them. I switched to sierra game king hp at 55gr because they group tighter than anything. Ive noticed much delayed kills and must hit the shoulder to drop coyotes on the spot whereas the vmax did a much more instant reaction
Ive loaded 40gr varmageddon bullets in 223 but havent tested them on game yet
 
Thanks for all the feedback. Please do report when you try the Varmageddons for .223 @ 53 gr. That's what I have ordered

Your friend must be a good shot. When I was talking with the store they said that it is purely varmint round with coyotes being the largest.

That's a great endorsement for VMAX from a number of you, as well as Varmageddon. Seems like it does what it is advertised to do.

Anyone use the Federal premium VShok product? There is a significant price difference between the Nosler Ballistic Tip variety and regular Vshok. I am told that the ballistic tip version is like the Hornady VMAX product that fragments and it doesn't over-penetrate.

I have ordered some of the Hornady Superformance Varmint and Varmageddon.
 
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As far as real world performance they'll all be about the same. Find what shoots best in your rifle and stick with it. I hardly doubt you'll notice enough difference between any of these bullets performance wise to split hairs
 
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I am asking about the Nosler Varmageddon, Hornady Superformance Varmint VMAX and the Federal Vshok w/ Nosler Ballistic Tip. Coyote fur friendly would be nice, but not prime consideration. If there are others worth considering please advise. My LGS has actually mentioned to me the use of match rounds for varmint / predator hunting as well but I don't know anything about that.

Think there was also Powershok (much cheaper) and Fusion, but I think Fusion is a deer round which is not really what I am after. Also there is a Federal Vermint and Predator .223, 50gr round. That is like half the price of the three I listed above...I believe these are JHP (the Federal Varmint and Predator). Maybe it's my conditioning for pricing but I always wondered "well, why is that one so cheap? Must not be any good..."
 
I dont know the exact bullet used but good old winchester grey box positive expanding ammo is fantastic at rapidly killing varmints and its cheap. I used it to build up a stash of winchester brass. It has shot well in each caliber ive used it in. If i put a nosler in a coyote next week ill let you know. I have 40gr loaded in 223
 
The only other bullets Ive tried was the 80 ELDM, 65 GK, 53 vmax and something like the 36gr grenades. The 69s were by far the best of all of them.
 
RVG_Don said:
What is your rifle's twist rate?
Click to expand...

It's 1:8, which from what I have always understood, equates to a 62gr round AT MINIMUM (going up to something like 77). Previously I have shot always shot 55 gr, as that seems to be most common that I can find and what I have. But my varmint ammo ranges anywhere from 40gr to 53gr. I know match ones are higher but I wasn't considering match rounds until this week.
 
I shot a very not tight pattern about 4" around 10 shot group. My rifle does not like 40gr varmegeddons. Shot under inch with 55gr sierra gamekings though. Its a 1 in 9 twist. It also doesnt like 69gr tipped matchkings either but will shoot extremely good with any weight vmax
 
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