What is the minimum speed necessary for a Ballistic tip or a V-Max to explode a varmint?

Or at what range have you guys observed vermin explode from a 22-250?

I'm trying to determine my max "fun" range. Please help

Because of the unique area I can shoot prairie dogs at I have an answer. Using my 22-250 and my handloads, 50 gr. Vmax starting at 3800 fps I rarely see them "come apart" much past 300 yds.This is not to say they don't die a violent death...large holes and instantly fatal but no lift off or vaporization past that.

quote:

Originally posted by skb2706:
Because of the unique area I can shoot prairie dogs at I have an answer. Using my 22-250 and my handloads, 50 gr. Vmax starting at 3800 fps I rarely see them "come apart" much past 300 yds.This is not to say they don't die a violent death...large holes and instantly fatal but no lift off or vaporization past that.

I agree with the above and would add that past 200 yards you blow them open or cut them in half but nothing like when you hit them at say 100 yards.

I shoot ground squirrels which are half the size of prairie dogs and what we see with the 22.250's is:

The explosive 100-150 yard shots give you the red rain.

At 200-300 yards it's more like chunks and a lot that get blown in half.

Past 300 it's more backflips and pieces missing.

About 35mph in my Mazda MX-3 (rolling on Bridgestone p-215s) for groundhogs. Would like to have a deuce and 1/2 for the ones hiding on the other side of the guard rail on the intersate.

So what is the maximum effective range?

My load does 2000 FPS at 500 yards.

Question #1.....2450FPS using 120VMAXs or 120 Balistic Tips in an XP-100 7mmBR will render a pretty damn hapless mess of a varmint!!
Question #2......204, .224.,243.,257, VMAXS, BT's will render varmints prety darn "DRT"...."dead right there" at ranges out to ?????????????500-1200 yards seems to work pretty good!
Now if you want "launches and lobs"....try the 110VMAXS out of a 300SAUM at 3650fps!!!! Launches and lobs and pieces flying hitherto!!!
Back to the 22-250 and the Vmaxs or BT's...VMAXS offer more "explosions" than BT's!! A better varmint bullet up and down the line(17's to 30's) than the VMAX's hasn't been brought out yet if you like "blood and guts" and a few acrobatics mixed in!! The BT's are DEADLY ACCURRATE!! Explosions on contact are subject to mass connected with!!! The only BT I count on anymore is the 6.5mm 100 grainer and that's for deer from a .260!!! You want blow ups, one time to the next? Go with the VMAXS!!! GHD

Maximum effective range is certainly well beyond 600 yds. for any of the higher speed .224" caliber guns. I have a confirmed kill at 551 yds. on a pd with my .221 FB...I have not spent the time to figure out how fast the bullet was going at that moment but two things come to mind. Bullet started at 3400 fps and ended in a very dead prairie dog.....40 gr. Vmax. He did not fly apart or 'red mist' but rolled over dead.

Your bullet impacted at about 1350 FPS. How big was the hole?

Ralph, I wasn't there to witness skb's great shot at 551 yards with the .221(WAY TO GO SKB!!!!!! Great SHOOTING!!!) but i would bet that he probably had to look for the entrance hole and there wasn't an exit!! The little VMAX did what it was supposed to do.....#1 hit varmint! #2 dissapate it's energy into varmints body!!! Obviously it did it!! The VMAXS are super varminter bullets period!!! I've been known to use the "AMAXS" on varmints at real far off distances and even on a few "large varmints"(whitetails) at long distance and the results have always been what they were supposed to be...."DRT" dead right there!! GHD