At long last, Hornady is making 7.62x39mm VMAX.

[benEzra]

So they are buying a bunch of Wolf or Barnaul and pulling the bullets and powder out and loading the case with thier own stuff. Whoop Dee Doo, anyone can do this..

Any manufacturer could have, except no one did. And the VMAX is an excellent bullet. Given that the projected cost is not far above Winchester white box FMJ, I think it's a good deal for those of us who don't reload.

 

[Coronach]

Not really, Domino. What are you going to load it with? what is impressive is the bullet, not the rest of the cartridge.

Mike

 

[rdhood]

Hmm. I guess if it is more accurate that standard wolf or American 7.62x39, the maybe this becomes an SKS hunting round?

You hope that it is: more accurate, more deadly, or both.

 

[9mmepiphany]

the AK might move back up to the top of the HD pile with this ammo...the only AR i have in the house is a target gun

 

[Maverick223]

what is impressive is the bullet

Mike, don't forget about the powder, it's a lot better too. At first I really didn't see the point in a 7.62x39, but I failed to realize that there are rifles that can actually make use of the advantages of this bullet...basically that an AK isn't the only rifle that shoots x39.

 

[benzy2]

Now to wait a couple years for them to release the bullet as a component and for me to start handloading 7.62x39. This will go great in the SKS for a groundhog rifle. I had been using a Marlin 336 but for some reason a semi-auto sounds like a fun change of pace. I don't know why they wouldn't use reloadable brass. Oh well. The wait begins.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Now to wait a couple years for them to release the bullet as a component and for me to start handloading 7.62x39. This will go great in the SKS for a groundhog rifle. I had been using a Marlin 336 but for some reason a semi-auto sounds like a fun change of pace. I don't know why they wouldn't use reloadable brass. Oh well. The wait begins.

This bullet has been avalibe for quite a number of years now from Grafs.


The velocity claimed is rather anemic compared to other Russian ammo if you ask me. I don't see the bbl length listed in the specs but as quoted "Steve Hornady stated this new load has a muzzle velocity of 2,390 fps" is quite underwhelming to me. If a factory rep says this it means that in a real gun (not test bbl) you'll be lucky to get within 100fps of this figure. meaning this ammunition is as woefully underloaded as the rest of the domestically loaded 7.62x39 garbage.

If this spec is for a 16" bbl it's not too bad, but knowing how Hornady likes to stack the deck I bet money they use a mythical 24" bbl as the do with their leverrevolution figures

see 3rd sig link for velocity comparisons

 

[benzy2]

This bullet has been avalibe for quite a number of years now from Grafs.

Maybe in .308 diameter but not in the .311/.312 diameter of the 7.62x39 bullets. The only thing Hornady offers at Grafs are heavier 150 and 174gr pills, either FMJ or lead tip.

EDIT: I just checked their .308 selection at Grafs and no 123gr bullets there either.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I bet money they use a mythical 24" bbl as the do with their leverrevolution figures

Yeah, that mythical 24" barrel sees a LOT of use in all calibers in all reloading handbooks. It is ONE magical mo-fo of a barrel when it comes to unrealistic velocities!

I guess it is an interesting round for self-defense with this bullet/ammo, where there are overpenetration concerns, showing 8" of penetration in ballistic gel:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=158778

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3034972

 

[R.W.Dale]

Maybe in .308 diameter but not in the .311/.312 diameter of the 7.62x39 bullets. The only thing Hornady offers at Grafs are heavier 150 and 174gr pills, either FMJ or lead tip.

EDIT: I just checked their .308 selection at Grafs and no 123gr bullets there either.

I'm lookin at a very dusty box of .310" diameter hornady V-maxes right now

http://www.grafs.com/product/231030

of course "Out of stock" but we expect that now

 

[Mikee Loxxer]

I thought Hornady discontinued the 123 gr .310" V-Max. I'll have to look into getting some if they are back in production.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

it's my understanding that only Graf's (&maybe Cabelas) is the only retailer of the .310 VMax. I bought a K from Graf's - loaded in Lapua cases over 680 they shoot as good as Lapua's much touted ammo in my M30.
I consider them light for anything but a profile or front-on shot on whitetail however and wish they were 150gr. I use them for doe tags and hogs (well haven't had a shot at hog yet but I'm confident they will do well inside 150yds w/good placement)

 

[benzy2]

I guess I was looking under the .311 diameter and didn't look at the other side where they had .310 listed.