Hi, Of the guy or gals that shoot the 55VMAX in their 223, what powder did you find works the best? I'm thinking of using Benchmark, H335 or H322, Also, what are your accuracy results with this bullet? I'm shooting a 700VS, BTW. Thanks for your input, Jay

I've shot the 55gr V-Max in a CZ-527. Though it was Black Hills moly coated, not a handload. Taking that into account, the accuracy was great. I was hitting all sorts of steel stuff, out to 440 yards. Paper at 100 was great too.

I shoot a lot of 50 grainers and have excellent results with Varget in my CZ. Benchmark also works quite well, but is not quite as accurate as Varget. That's too bad, Benchmark is much easier to meter than Varget. I shot a lot of H335, but with 40 grainers.

I get more accuracy from 28 gr IMR4895 [8% overload, 1.75"@ 200m] than I do from 28 gr H335 [11% overload, 4"@ 200m] with 55 gr Vmax, but the H335 gives better trajectory at 200 m [2.7" higher point of impact].
They both seem to be easy on brass life.

IMR website: .223 Rem, 55 gr, IMR 4895 26.0 gr, 3120 fps, 51100 psi


Hodgdon website: 223 Rem, H335, 25.3 GR. 55 GR. SPR SP, 2.200", 24" barrel, 3203 fps, 49,300 CUP

Test: Ruger #1, CCI 400 small rifle primers, LC brass once fired processed from Scharch and prepped by me, 55 gr Vmax moly, H335

pic left to right: unfired, 28, 29, 30, and 31 gr.



unfired, extractor groove .329"
28 gr, extractor groove .329", 11% overload
29 gr, extractor groove .329", 15% overload
30 gr, extractor groove .3295", 19% overload
31 gr, extractor groove .3320", 23% overload

[ 08-19-2003, 19:01: Message edited by: Clark ]

I used BENCHMARK this spring prior to coming to Iraq and was extremely please with the accuracy and velocity I was getting in my .223 w/55 gr V-Max. FYI, this is also the powder Hornady loads their Varmint Express .223 with. Give it a try, I think you will be more than pleased.

Good Shooting,
Ben H

N133. Too much of it. But, my-oh-my, she stacks 'm up. FWIW, Dutch.