Your thoughts on a good/accurate .224 55 grain bullet for the price.

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For accuracy, I shoot Sierra 60 gr. Varminter out of my Howa 1500; out of my "assault weapon" (life in Kalif.) I use Hornady bulk 55 gr. FMJ-BT, which are very accurate at 50 yds.I would never shoot at zombies further out than that, so I'm good! The latter can be found at fair prices.
 
The accuracy difference of a rifle from 50 to 100 yards can be very dramatic. I've never found an inexpensive FMJ or soft point bullet that shot anywhere near as well as the V/Z Max. I'm an informal target shooter (competing against myself) and an experienced varmint hunter. The poly-tip bullets are a bargain in my opinion.

Don't get me wrong....I have tons of bulk .224 caliber bullets that shoot great......they definitely have their place. But if I was looking for only one bullet to do it all (not big game of course) the V/Z Max and/or other ballistic tip style bullets would get the nod. If you search high and low the bullets can be had for 10-12 cents each....not expensive at all (and I'm pretty thrifty!) but I won't compromise when it comes right down to it.
 
HankC said:
Do V-Max and Z-Max worth the extra over Hornady 55 gr FMJBT at range <100 yds? I have plenty MidSouth Hornady 62gr HPBTs and they shoot 1 hole at 50yds in my Savage 12FV, ordered some Cabelas Hornady 55 gr FMJs and wonder if the V/Z-Maxs worth it. I also reload Wolf Gold 55gr FMJs, it is decent, almost 1 hole! Ordered Hornady 55 gr FMJs to see if it is better than Wolf!
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The Midsouth Hornady 62 Gr HPBT is a quality bullet like the V-Max and Z-Max. They are all going to out shoot the Hornady 55 Gr FMJ, despite it being one of or the best 55 Gr FMJs.
 
Damon555 said:
The accuracy difference of a rifle from 50 to 100 yards can be very dramatic. I've never found an inexpensive FMJ or soft point bullet that shot anywhere near as well as the V/Z Max. I'm an informal target shooter (competing against myself) and an experienced varmint hunter. The poly-tip bullets are a bargain in my opinion.
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Yep.
 
Walkalong said:
Orcon got me straightened out. I ordered 1K of the 55 Gr Z-Max. :)
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Have you shot those before? I'm wondering how they shoot compared to the 55gr V max-No cannelure. 55gr Z max has a cannelure but the BC is the same as the V max.
 
I have had great results in Midway USA Dogtown bullets. They are made by Nosler and shoot great in AR-15 and bolt guns. They run sales about $62.00 per 500. We used to get them a lot cheaper, like $42.00 per 500. Good shooting
 
I'll second the Nosler Varmegeddon 55gr, and for a couple pennies more the Sierra 55 GR SPT Pro-Hunter Varminter is very accurate for me. For "good enough" I use Hornady FMJBT 55GR which can be had for as little as .06/round. The FMJ Hornady has never had the accuracy for me.

-Jeff
 
How well does your mini shoot ammunition that is accurate in other rifles? My Ranch rifle shooting the “good stuff” can be out shot by several of my AR’s shooting regular 55g FMJ’s.

For hunting, unless you are going on a prairie dog hut, you won’t need that many rounds, why not splurge and get a box of top shelf bullets, takes awhile to kill 100 animals.

If your killing prairie dogs at 300 with yours, with any regularity, you got a better one than I did and I would keep using what shoots that well.
 
I did not have success with the varmint nighmare 55g sp from midsouth. not saying they are not good bullets, but for me, in two guns, 4 different powders they were a 3" bullet.

hornady 55g fmj are a 1" to 1.5" bullet out of two AR's

nosler varmageddon 55g fbhp are stupid accurate with 8208xbr, two 10 shot groups of .6" out of a 16" ar15
 
jmorris said:
How well does your mini shoot ammunition that is accurate in other rifles? My Ranch rifle shooting the “good stuff” can be out shot by several of my AR’s shooting regular 55g FMJ’s.
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Yep, my older Mini 14 isn't going to win any accuracy contests, but I like it for what it is. It does shoot the good stuff better than the bad stuff, but it's not MOA with anything. It all depends on the accuracy you need for the application.
 
The two most accurate Mini 14's I have are both SS Ranch Rifles with the heavier barrels/scope mounts and they are less than 8 years old. One is around 1 1/4 inch and the other is around 1 1/2 inch at 100 YDS in a cold barrel with handloaded 55 grain loads tuned to each one. Not anywhere near the accuracy my 20 inch AR is giving though. But for a Mini I am happy with them. Now my 25 year old blued one lets just say it will shoot a bullet in the general area it needs to go.:D I may get it rebarreled someday just so I can say that one shoots accurately as well.;) Heck my 223 Handi Rifle with 18 inch heavy barrel will shoot better than any of my Minis hands down every day, all day long.
 
Just adding on my experience with MidwayUSA Dogtown 55gr fbhp 0.224 bullets. In my 1:12twist 223 Rem 700 the bullets are great ....0.7 MOA out to 200 yards tested. Perfect. However, when I tried them in my 1:7 twist AR-15 the Accuracy was inconsistent and about 1 in 8 bullets disappeared (appeared to lose structural integrity)
This was with a M193 equivalent load ...3050 fps in my 16” barrel. So they are a no go in 1:7 twist 223 in my hands.
 
JimKirk said:
The bullet Walkalong mentions ... the 55 grain Varmint nightmare ... is shooting pretty good so far for me .... reasonable price too ...
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Jim

What kind of accuracy are you getting from those Varmint Nightmares? I'm looking for another bulk bullet but want to keep the 5 shots touching accuracy I already have.
 
.... ... I have not shot enough to say definitely. The first and only load(W748)I have loaded ... I easily put 10 rounds in 1.25" at 100 yds. with my DPMS Sweet Sixteen ... I think with a little fine tuning or may another powder or two trials .... I believe it could be a 1" bullet in this gun . ...

The Hornady Vmax 50 & 55 grain will do 3/4" if " I" can do my part on a good day ...

I should point out the bullets(55 grain) I have are from MidSouth Shooters ... I think they are on sale right now .... $39.99 for 500....
Varmint Nightmare X-Treme 22 Caliber .224 Diameter 55 Grain Premium Soft Point 500 Count
 
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JimKirk said:
.... ... I have not shot enough to say definitely. The first and only load(W748)I have loaded ... I easily put 10 rounds in 1.25" at 100 yds. with my DPMS Sweet Sixteen ... I think with a little fine tuning or may another powder or two trials .... I believe it could be a 1" bullet in this gun . ...

The Hornady Vmax 50 & 55 grain will do 3/4" if " I" can do my part on a good day ...
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Thanks! I can put 5 v max touching at 100yards right now I could cover with a quarter on a horrible day and sometimes tighter so just trying to keep it that way for cheaper.
 
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