I am currently using 55g hornady Vmax in the AR for hunting. I am very happy with it. Are there any heavier grained loads that produce like the Vmax out there? I would like a 69-77 grain varient of this product. I've killed a coyote and hog with the 55 Vmax and both were DRT, but the hog was only ~200lbs. Also i've looked at heavy grain HP boat tails but have no experince with them. What effect can you expect with the HP BTs and soft points in heavier loadss? Thanks
Hunting & Fishing Experienced .223 Hunters
- Thread starter Rediculous
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Re: Experienced .223 Hunters
I have shot lots of deer and hogs with 69and 75 grainers. I have a buddy that shots 55 gr. soft points with hogs. Most all our shots are neck and head shots. The plate is to thick and big for 22 cals on bigger hogs. Main thing is what shoots good in your guns. I have Rock Rivers and he has S&W M&P and a Rock River.
Look up hog hunting with ARsn youtube. Good luck
I have shot lots of deer and hogs with 69and 75 grainers. I have a buddy that shots 55 gr. soft points with hogs. Most all our shots are neck and head shots. The plate is to thick and big for 22 cals on bigger hogs. Main thing is what shoots good in your guns. I have Rock Rivers and he has S&W M&P and a Rock River.
Look up hog hunting with ARsn youtube. Good luck
Re: Experienced .223 Hunters
I've only used 223 Barnes bullets on deer and have found no reason to look elsewhere.
I've only used 223 Barnes bullets on deer and have found no reason to look elsewhere.
Re: Experienced .223 Hunters
+1 for the barnes bullets. Expensive but they work great
+1 for the barnes bullets. Expensive but they work great
Re: Experienced .223 Hunters
+1 for 55gr Hornady
+1 for 55gr Hornady
Re: Experienced .223 Hunters
Hornady 75 A-Max's seem to work pretty well on varmint.
Hornady 75 A-Max's seem to work pretty well on varmint.
Re: Experienced .223 Hunters
It's all in what you are trying to do and how far away you want to do it. I play with the 68/69 grn hollow points, but in both of my "go to" predator guns (223 & 22-250) the 55 grn Hornady softpoints have never let me down and are typically what's in 'em when I grab one.
Cheers,
Breeze
It's all in what you are trying to do and how far away you want to do it. I play with the 68/69 grn hollow points, but in both of my "go to" predator guns (223 & 22-250) the 55 grn Hornady softpoints have never let me down and are typically what's in 'em when I grab one.
Cheers,
Breeze
Re: Experienced .223 Hunters
I don't see a need to run a HP when Barnes TSX work so well. Also try fusions or Win. 64gr sp.
I've used v-max before and killed them, but Barnes are awesome in penetration. Also used a special run of American Eagle 63gr SP with excellent results. I had over 18" of penetration with these.
I don't see a need to run a HP when Barnes TSX work so well. Also try fusions or Win. 64gr sp.
I've used v-max before and killed them, but Barnes are awesome in penetration. Also used a special run of American Eagle 63gr SP with excellent results. I had over 18" of penetration with these.
Re: Experienced .223 Hunters
to make this question more applicable: What heavy grained .223/5.56 round is going to stop a larger animal? Say a whitetail or >300lbs hog.
to make this question more applicable: What heavy grained .223/5.56 round is going to stop a larger animal? Say a whitetail or >300lbs hog.
Re: Experienced .223 Hunters
Your 223 is more than adequate to stop any whitetail, with reasonably good shot placement. We cull a trailer or two full of whitetails every year, most shot with a .223, DRT with good shot. And they can run off with a poor shot from a 300WM, so take care to make a good shot. Also, most of those are Vmax 55 grain.
For larger pigs, the Vmax isn't good. Use a heavier Barnes, IF... IF your rifle has enough twist to stabilize it. Personally, I'd recommend buying a 6.8 upper and using that instead, especially if recovering the hog is in your plans. You can kill them with a .223 as these were, but they weren't too big. Plus, you can stop the pigs a big faster - turns out I got a couple more that we didn't find for a couple days.......
Your 223 is more than adequate to stop any whitetail, with reasonably good shot placement. We cull a trailer or two full of whitetails every year, most shot with a .223, DRT with good shot. And they can run off with a poor shot from a 300WM, so take care to make a good shot. Also, most of those are Vmax 55 grain.
For larger pigs, the Vmax isn't good. Use a heavier Barnes, IF... IF your rifle has enough twist to stabilize it. Personally, I'd recommend buying a 6.8 upper and using that instead, especially if recovering the hog is in your plans. You can kill them with a .223 as these were, but they weren't too big. Plus, you can stop the pigs a big faster - turns out I got a couple more that we didn't find for a couple days.......
Re: Experienced .223 Hunters
My AR is 1:8 twist; enough for the heavy stuff and that basically answered my ?. I notice that the 55g Vmax would not penetrate well on a heavy boned wide hog. I'll probably try some PSP and maybe a HP BT over 65g.
Thanks for the responses
My AR is 1:8 twist; enough for the heavy stuff and that basically answered my ?. I notice that the 55g Vmax would not penetrate well on a heavy boned wide hog. I'll probably try some PSP and maybe a HP BT over 65g.
Thanks for the responses
Re: Experienced .223 Hunters
I have used 55 grain SGK bullets with good luck on deer. The hogs normally just get the 55 gr or 62 gr FMJ and it performs really well. I have shot about 25 hogs and haven't had one get away yet. The FMJ will penetrate through any pigs "armor" there is.
I have used 55 grain SGK bullets with good luck on deer. The hogs normally just get the 55 gr or 62 gr FMJ and it performs really well. I have shot about 25 hogs and haven't had one get away yet. The FMJ will penetrate through any pigs "armor" there is.
Re: Experienced .223 Hunters
Does anyone know where I can get loaded ammo with heavier barnes bullets in them?
Does anyone know where I can get loaded ammo with heavier barnes bullets in them?
Re: Experienced .223 Hunters
Barnes are your friends! Kills everything dearer then hell. I think it even been known to kill certin high ranking members of terrorist organizations... If you get my drift.
Barnes are your friends! Kills everything dearer then hell. I think it even been known to kill certin high ranking members of terrorist organizations... If you get my drift.
Re: Experienced .223 Hunters
77 SMK
77 SMK
Re: Experienced .223 Hunters
Corbon lists the 62 grain TSX as one of their offerings.
good luck!
Corbon lists the 62 grain TSX as one of their offerings.
good luck!
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