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Anyone use the 53gr Vmax yet??

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17 April 2011, 19:56
steven g
Anyone use the 53gr Vmax yet??
I can't find these bullets in stock anywhere. Roll Eyes For those of you that have purchased some of these...are they really as good as Hornady hyped them to be? A .290 BC = true story?? I did find a box of the 53gr vmax superformance varmint(expensive) but have not had a chance to shoot it yet.
What powder have you had good luck with?
I'm just wondering if you are overall satisfied with the performance and accuracy of these bullets?
19 April 2011, 01:00
DPollard
I use the 55gr in my 22-250. I am very happy with them. A dime will cover my 5 shot groups at 100 yards. I use them for small ground squirrels and it vaporizes them. I highly recommend the vmax.
19 April 2011, 07:52
Zoboomafoo_dude
I have also only seen these available locally as the superformance. Online the 53gr are a good bit more expensive than the 55gr, so I haven't tried them yet.

I have a hard time believing they will produce significantly different results than what Hornady already offers, but would love for someone to post their results and prove me wrong.
21 April 2011, 02:46
steven g
zo dude,
me too, but i guess not??
22 April 2011, 07:21
219DW PDK
steven g,
I got a box of 53gr V-Max from Graf and Sons back in Jan. hopeing that they would shoot in my 14" twist barrels. Both barrels shoot 55 NBT's but they won't stabilize the 53's.

The 53gr V-Max is .020 longer than a 55 NBT and as you can see they made oblong holes at 3650 fps out of a 14" twist barrel. I've read on other forums that they have shot well out of 12" or faster twist barrels.
Dave
22 April 2011, 09:04
steven g
thanks for that dave,
Yup, Hornady recommends a 12" twist or faster for the 53gr vmax. Afterall, its claimed to have a .290 BC, which means its a pretty long bullet. I have a 24" 1-9 twist AR that i am hoping the 53gr vmax will shoot well out of...or at least better than the 52gr amax.
22 April 2011, 09:33
steven g
well what do ya know, midwayusa has them in stock right now and i just ordered a few boxes. can't wait to try them out.
01 September 2011, 10:47
Kenati
quote:
Originally posted by Zoboomafoo_dude:
I have also only seen these available locally as the superformance. Online the 53gr are a good bit more expensive than the 55gr, so I haven't tried them yet.


Well, it looks like they "fixed" the price problem by making them all equal... equally expensive that is. MidwayUSA currently lists the 50, 53, & 55 grain bullets all for $17.99.

Components prices are increasing exponentially it seems.

Anyway, has anyone tried these yet? The B.C. of .290 is noteworthy if true.
21 February 2012, 18:49
Kenati
quote:
Originally posted by steven g:
well what do ya know, midwayusa has them in stock right now and i just ordered a few boxes. can't wait to try them out.


Have any luck with these, steven g?

I'm thought I'd give them a shot in my 1 in 12" varmint gun barrel. I am loading some up this afternoon with Ramshot TAC, Vihtavouri N133, and Hodgden Benchmark.
22 February 2012, 06:58
armadillo
I tried them in a 12" twist .223. They shot as well as most bullets at 100 and 200 yds. At the distances I shoot, I get the best groups from the Hornady 53 gr. Match bullet.
18 March 2012, 06:49
steven g
Kenati,
I loaded them up with H335. They shot fine out of my AR-15, but nothing spectacular as far as real small groups.
I would think they can cut through the wind very good due to their design, but I have only shot them at 100 yards so I have not had a chance to compare wind drifts between them and a 55gr vmax at longer distances.
20 March 2012, 15:54
seafire/B17G
tried them in a Ruger VT the other day in 223..

one in 12 twist...warm load with BLC 2, for a long range load for the 223..

very tight groups for 100 yds...

this Ruger usually shoots good...

with this load of BLC2, I need to chronograph them.. as the manuals are giving different MVs with their data...