most destructive .22 cal bullet

21 February 2002, 22:13

This may be an uninteresting to some but I'd like your input. I've been loading 38.2 gr. of Varget behind a 50 gr. Hornady V-Max in my Weatherby SVM .22-250. I've used this load to flatten hundreds of groundhogs for the past two spring/summer shooting seasons. This load will consistently place 5 shots @ 100 yds. under a 1/2 inch. I've also loaded the 50 gr. Nosler BT as well as the 50 gr. Sierra Blitzking behind the same charge. My question is, has anyone noticed that the V-Max is extremely more destructive that either the Nosler or the Sierra? I routinely take head shots only from 100 yds. to 350 yds. and when the hogs are hit w/ the V-Max, they rarely have what once resembled a head. Not so with the Noslers or Sierras. Does Hornady use a different jacket and has anyone had similar results?

22 February 2002, 01:02

<jd_1>

Try a speer TNT, they are even more explosive in my experience. Watched a buddy shoot a half grown ground hog once with my rifle through 10x binos. The thing was there one minute and after the shot it was just gone...
We walked down to where we remembered the critter to be and after searching for @ 15 minutes I ran up on about 1/3 of a back leg. This was in an open field with mabey 4" grass and at least 50 yards from the closest hole.

22 February 2002, 12:19

<THUNDER>

BUBSTER, Another very explosive varmit bullet is the Remington Power- LOKT. Also quite accurate. Note: This is not the Rem. Soft Point. T

22 February 2002, 15:47

DannoBoone

quote:
Originally posted by jd_1:
Try a speer TNT, they are even more explosive in my experience. Watched a buddy shoot a half grown ground hog once with my rifle through 10x binos. The thing was there one minute and after the shot it was just gone...
We walked down to where we remembered the critter to be and after searching for @ 15 minutes I ran up on about 1/3 of a back leg. This was in an open field with mabey 4" grass and at least 50 yards from the closest hole.

Holy Nitroglycerin, JD ! What cartridge
was your friend using????

22 February 2002, 16:59

<Boyd Heaton>

Try a 69gr MatchKing on a hog if you wanna see a destructive bullet.Try it and you'll see what I'm talking about.

------------------
I HUNT LONG RANGE.AND YES I USE MATCHKING'S.

22 February 2002, 17:22

<Sooner>

Oh yeah, I noticed it too. I made the switch to V-max as well. I used to use noslers and while out shooting p-dogs with a buddy, I noticed that dogs I shot would sort of puff up but my buddys v-maxes made parachutes out of them. I switched to V-max and now we both make prairie dog parachutes! I don't know if they use a different jacket or what but I likes 'em!!!

Sooner

22 February 2002, 17:52

<Jeff in ND>

#1 - Busters, but good luck getting them.
A very close #2 - Starke RPVB's, Very explosive.

I have shot a fair number of PD's with Speer TNT's also, Sometime you get a WOW and then sometimes you would think you just shot that PD with a FMJ.

BT's just don't shoot as good as the Starke's in my 223REm and cost more then the TNT's so I don't use them much.

Good Hunting
Jeff in ND