.223 40gr Hornady v-max - The Firearms Forum

wyoredot · 12-16-2009, 06:02 PM

Have any of you out there had the pleasure of shooting the 40gr Hornady v-max in a Ruger mini14 16 in. barrel version? I was curious what powder is preferred and how the bullets performed.. The weapon I may purchase has a 1 in 7 twist, per Ruger technical, and even though I don't have to use the 40gr. , I have a great place to shoot at prairie (sp?) pups and like the potential speed. Thanks!

FTK87 · 12-16-2009, 07:10 PM

I've used the 55 gr. V-max in my .223 howa, and I have liked the performance, Not sure how they will perform in the 1-7 twist barrel tho, they may be too light to stabilize, but i'm not sure.

LDBennett · 12-17-2009, 07:41 AM

Short light 223 bullets may explode on their way to the target if propelled out of a 1 in 7" barrel. My 1 in 8" barrel on my AR clone did that to 52 grain Speer hunting bullets. Only reducing the velocity and going to a better made match bullet allows me to be able to shoot those light short bullets. I stepped up to 75 gr HPBT Match bullets for the fast twist barrel and all is fine. I suggest that for a fast twist barrel you stay with the bullets designed for it, not varmint bullets designed for 1 in 10" barrels.

Stabilization:

Longer (not necessarily heavier) bullets need a faster twist to assure they are fully stabilized. You can shoot shorter (often lighter) bullets in the faster twist if the bullets are made uniformly enough so as to have their center of mass coincide with their physical center of shape. Voids and poorly formed jackets can make that not true. The centrifugal forces can get so high with poorly made bullets (although quite adequate at slower rotational speeds) that they literally fly apart. Only shooting them will for sure reveal their deficiencies.

Note that the Greenhill formula gives guidance as to the required twist rate for various bullets. Bullet weigh is not in the formula but bullet length is as well as bullet diameter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifling

LDBennett

wyoredot · 12-17-2009, 12:46 PM

Thanks for the great words of advice, I will go to the recommended website and seek information. Hornady said they would stabilize but gave no further info.

12-16-2009, 06:02 PM	#1
wyoredot Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Montana Posts: 553	.223 40gr Hornady v-max Have any of you out there had the pleasure of shooting the 40gr Hornady v-max in a Ruger mini14 16 in. barrel version? I was curious what powder is preferred and how the bullets performed.. The weapon I may purchase has a 1 in 7 twist, per Ruger technical, and even though I don't have to use the 40gr. , I have a great place to shoot at prairie (sp?) pups and like the potential speed. Thanks! -->

12-16-2009, 07:10 PM	#2
FTK87 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chouteau, Oklahoma Posts: 481	Re: .223 40gr Hornady v-max I've used the 55 gr. V-max in my .223 howa, and I have liked the performance, Not sure how they will perform in the 1-7 twist barrel tho, they may be too light to stabilize, but i'm not sure. __________________ I NEED .22-250 BRASS!!! http://www.OklahomaSportsmen.com

12-17-2009, 07:41 AM	#3
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,719	Re: .223 40gr Hornady v-max Short light 223 bullets may explode on their way to the target if propelled out of a 1 in 7" barrel. My 1 in 8" barrel on my AR clone did that to 52 grain Speer hunting bullets. Only reducing the velocity and going to a better made match bullet allows me to be able to shoot those light short bullets. I stepped up to 75 gr HPBT Match bullets for the fast twist barrel and all is fine. I suggest that for a fast twist barrel you stay with the bullets designed for it, not varmint bullets designed for 1 in 10" barrels. Stabilization: Longer (not necessarily heavier) bullets need a faster twist to assure they are fully stabilized. You can shoot shorter (often lighter) bullets in the faster twist if the bullets are made uniformly enough so as to have their center of mass coincide with their physical center of shape. Voids and poorly formed jackets can make that not true. The centrifugal forces can get so high with poorly made bullets (although quite adequate at slower rotational speeds) that they literally fly apart. Only shooting them will for sure reveal their deficiencies. Note that the Greenhill formula gives guidance as to the required twist rate for various bullets. Bullet weigh is not in the formula but bullet length is as well as bullet diameter. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifling LDBennett

12-17-2009, 12:46 PM	#4
wyoredot Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Montana Posts: 553	Re: .223 40gr Hornady v-max Thanks for the great words of advice, I will go to the recommended website and seek information. Hornady said they would stabilize but gave no further info.