Switching to .224 53gr Hornady Vmax from 55gr Vmax?

[Dentite]

Hey gang,

Anyone here loading the .224 53gr Vmax bullets?

I've been using the 55gr Vmax bullets in my 1-9 twist bolt action .223 and my 1-7 Colt AR with good success. The only thing that's a little annoying is loading flat bottomed bullets.

I just realized that Hornady makes a 53 grain Vmax that is a boat tail and has a slightly higher BC.

Thinking about switching to the 53 grain just for reloading convenience of dropping a boat tail bullet onto the case mouth vs. a flat bottomed bullet.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[redbullitt]

Go for it! It might shoot better thanks to the fact you have a better chance of getting the bullet straight into the case without scrapes etc.

 

[climbnjump]

I just realized that Hornady makes a 53 grain Vmax that is a boat tail and has a slightly higher BC.

Most of the increase in BC comes from the fact that the 53 gr bullet has a secant ogive rather than the more standard tangent ogive. What that means is that they can be sensitive to seating depth.

For instance, the Hornady manual suggests a COL of 2.24 for that bullet. I did try that in my rifle but got 3 inch groups at 50 yards. (Tried it 3 times just to make sure the first time wasn't a fluke.) Seating them at 2.28 still gives 3 inch groups, but out at 200 yards instead of 50.

So if they don't work for you at the recommended 2.24, you might play with the seating depth to see if they get better.

 

[Hardtarget]

I've looked at those for a while. However, last range trip, shooting the flat base, 55gr V-max I shot a half inch three shot "mini group". I stopped because I didn't want to mess it up! That was with my 20" 1/9 twist, AR. I have a 1.5-4.5 Bushnell Banner scope (I know it is a low end scope). This is a Model1Sales rifle with a 3lb Jard trigger.

I will not change bullets until I shoot these a while longer. I also got two 3/4" "mini groups" with peep sights on this gun using this same ammo.

But if you like the boat tail bullet, then go for it! I like BT as well and have three other loads I shoot that have BT bullets.
Thats why we like to reload! We can try everything!

I need to start shooting five shots every time... just to confirm a real group. I think 3 shots is just short changing myself.

Mark

 

[Dentite]

Most of the increase in BC comes from the fact that the 53 gr bullet has a secant ogive rather than the more standard tangent ogive. What that means is that they can be sensitive to seating depth.

For instance, the Hornady manual suggests a COL of 2.24 for that bullet. I did try that in my rifle but got 3 inch groups at 50 yards. (Tried it 3 times just to make sure the first time wasn't a fluke.) Seating them at 2.28 still gives 3 inch groups, but out at 200 yards instead of 50.

So if they don't work for you at the recommended 2.24, you might play with the seating depth to see if they get better.

That's good to know...I have had a hard time getting secant ogive bullets to shoot well (Berger VLDs in a .260Rem).

Both my .223 rifles shoot the 55 grain very well (I've shot one .40 MOA five shot group at 100 yards) so I don't want to mess it up.

And I do have about 1000 of these bullets already so I guess I'll stick with them for now and when I run out maybe I'll check out the 53gr version to see how it goes.

Thanks.