223 Performance with 40 & 50 Grain V-Max

[Bob Roach]

I have some varmint hunting to do. I need an accurate 223 load that also blows up on smaller varmints.

Rifle: Savage Axis II Pro in 223 Rem.

Looking at 40 V-Max and 50 V-Max Bullets. I believe that I may have some 50 V-Max on my shelf. I will need to track down lighter weight bullets. I could try other bullets as well.

My shooting will be from 100 thru 200 yards on the long end. Mainly due to needing 100% Hits on small targets.

I realize that what your rifle shoots well may not shoot in mine. However we might be able to rule out some bullets as not wanting to shoot in the 223 Axis II due to Twist Rate.

I have a very accurate 204 Ruger, but it is in an AR15 Platform. The M-Loc Handguard chews up my Gun Rack in my Jeep. That makes it less than idea for a packing around in the Jeep Rifle. The Axis II works much better, with no gun rack damage.

Bob R

[sharpshooter]

Was there a question in there?

[charlie b]

You need to try some and see. Mine has a 1:9 twist and prefers 69 and 77gn SMK's. Some 55's shoot ok but not near as well. Have not tried lighter.

[Bob Roach]

My Question is will the Axis II in 223 shoot 40 or 50 grain V-Max bullets accurately.
I have been shooting 60 Grain V-Max Bullets out of it so far.
I do have some 50 Grain V-Max bullets on hand. I would need to locate and buy 40 Grain V-Max. If however they will not shoot well, no since loading any light bullets in the first place.

My White Oak Barreled 204 shoots very well, and I am sure the bullets will blow up. The issue with it is the M-Loc Handguard eating up my gun rack.

Right now I am trying to clean up a valley for a new Tower Stand before the trees leaf out. Which will be any day now. That is eating up my spare time, not load development.

Bob R

[jpx2rk]

I shoot 50g vmax with varget but a 12T, and shoot 55g Varmageddon's in a 9T with Varget. Pdogs and sage rats don't like either load out to 400 yds or so.

The 17HMR will work good out to 125 yds IMO, some shoot it further and have clean kills on larger animals.

[sharpshooter]

There is no reason they won't shoot accurately. Just because the twist is faster, doesn't mean it won't shoot lighter bullets. I've shot about everything from 50 to 70 gr. bullets in < .5 moa.