hornady v max advice

scuba52

scuba52

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Had a thru and thru this morning on a coyote at about 300m with a 50 gr vmax from a 22250. Thought the bullet was suposed to fragment on contact but it went right through the rib cage behind the front leg and out. Im only loading with 35 gr of varget and the gun likes it so i dont want to change the load, but would this be a fluke or should i experiment with a new bullet or speed. It was a long shot, would that be the factor?
 
How big was the exit hole? I find that the base of the bullet seems to punch through on my 223 rem shooting 53 gr V-max. I get an exit hole about the same size as the entrance. I have had a look at other bullets, but like the high BC of the 53 gr since my 223 doesn't have the poop of your 22-250 its and important factor. especially when you want to reach out past 300 yards.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCqmclsRQmM
Here is a vid of the 53gr in 223. you will see how it has explosive expansion, but the base seems to carry on a ways.
 
If I had to guess it would be that only a fragment passed totally through. Open the coyote up and muck around inside and you'll know for sure. Slow impact velocities will compromise expansion as well.
 
i have gotten a few pass through's on coyotes using 50 gr vmax in 22-250. i have noticed that often the exit hole is more of a tear than a complete hole. my theory is that the pressure of the bullet expanding in the coyote is so violent that if a small chunk of bullet hits the other side it causes it to tear. i will have to ask the gentleman i bring my coyotes too to confirm this next time i get an exit hole but thats my theory at least.
 
scuba52 said:
Same size as entrance hole
Click to expand...

I've shot about 20 with that load 40 to 295 yards. they all but one tipped right over. On all the broadside shots that I can remember I have that small exit hole. I would assume that the quick kill and the small exit hole is due to just a fragment making it though. I believe this fragment to be the base. Great bullet otherwise. I have just chosen to live with it. If you want something better try the Varmagedon. they have a very thin jacket and base. Unfortunately they are flat base and not boat tail.
 
Thanks guys it was a quick one and it was my first yote I just wanted to make sure. With the reviews I saw I was surprised by the exit
 
I've got 30 gr vmax bullets back from a jack rabbit minus the red tip and small dent they were perfect.
Range was 230 yards
My 25/06 with 75 gr Vmax leaves fist sized holes on broadside shots on coyotes out to about 300 yards. After that exits are smaller. At 600 yards no exit

I've recovered a few intact bullets on snow from misses at and beyond 700 yards. About half lost the tip and started to peel back. The base is the toughest part of the bullet. They perform awesome on small game up to wolf and coyote
 
I have shot thousands of vmax 22 cal bullets in 40 and 50 gr weights. Even at 300yards that bullet should have expanded. I would chalk it up as a one off defect and keep using them. Sometimes quality control slips. I have found 17cal bullets mixed in a fresh box of 22s. Tipped bullets missing tips. And one bullet that separated in half when loading. These are not just Hornady examples. Every company has a bad day. I did inform the different companies of their defects and they all responded by wanting to send me something to compensate. Oh, and soon or later you will find defective new brass as well. Thats why we inspect our components throughly when reloading.

Never the less, stick with Hornady V-Max. They are still me favourite for Yotes!
 
I shoot the 55g v-max's out of my .22-250 and out of dozens and dozens of coyotes I have only had a few exits. Most of the time it was when it was under 50 yards......Blew fist sized exit holes.....


Anything in the 200-300 yard range was always little entrance and no exit, Fragmented as it should.....
 
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