110 grain v-max anyone?
- Thread starter skeetlee
- Start date
kyotekiller25
Well-known member
I would use the 125g or 150g NBT. Better BC for the longer range shots.
One thing to remember about long range is this. Light bullets suck, and heavy bullets rule. Thats the rule of thumb anyways. Dont get to caught up with speed, it means nothing in Long Range. Heavy bullets may start out slower, but by the time they get to 500 yards, they either match the speed of the lighter ones, or exceed them. They also buck the wind A LOT better. Not to mention they hit harder as well..
One thing to remember about long range is this. Light bullets suck, and heavy bullets rule. Thats the rule of thumb anyways. Dont get to caught up with speed, it means nothing in Long Range. Heavy bullets may start out slower, but by the time they get to 500 yards, they either match the speed of the lighter ones, or exceed them. They also buck the wind A LOT better. Not to mention they hit harder as well..
bowhunter57
Well-known member
skeetlee,
Welcome to Predator Masters! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
I used a Hornady V-Max 110gr. with 46.6gr. of IMR-3031 at 3040 f.p.s. I was shooting this load out of a Remington 788 and it would give me a "clover leaf" group at 100 yards. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
I loaded the "Max" load recommended in the manual and stepped up the load by .5 grains, until the primer showed signs of pressure (getting flat or loose in the pocket). Then I backed off by .5 grains and loaded 3 rounds and shot them for a group at 100 yards. I backed off of that load at .2 grains and shot 3 rounds each until I found a good grouping load.
As it turns out the 46.6 grains of IMR-3031 was the best grouping and fastest load for MY rifle. This load may or may not work well with YOUR rifle. This is NOT a fur friendly load, but it kills with authority.
Good hunting, Bowhunter57
Welcome to Predator Masters! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
I used a Hornady V-Max 110gr. with 46.6gr. of IMR-3031 at 3040 f.p.s. I was shooting this load out of a Remington 788 and it would give me a "clover leaf" group at 100 yards. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
I loaded the "Max" load recommended in the manual and stepped up the load by .5 grains, until the primer showed signs of pressure (getting flat or loose in the pocket). Then I backed off by .5 grains and loaded 3 rounds and shot them for a group at 100 yards. I backed off of that load at .2 grains and shot 3 rounds each until I found a good grouping load.
As it turns out the 46.6 grains of IMR-3031 was the best grouping and fastest load for MY rifle. This load may or may not work well with YOUR rifle. This is NOT a fur friendly load, but it kills with authority.
Good hunting, Bowhunter57
Gander D. Bander
New member
I use 125 gr TNT with great success on coyotes. I wouldn't recommend it if you are keeping fur but they work great out of my Howa 308.
You didn't mention what you considered "long range". So, it's a bit difficult to tell if such a combination would work for your purposes. I started out with a 30/06 using a 110 grain bullet and it was terrible in the wind. Worked pretty good to about 200 yards and killed groundhogs with authority. The primary problem with it was the light bullet seemed to follow the slightest breeze. I switched to a 125 grain bullet, and while it was wind sensitive too, it wasn't as bad as the 110 grain bullet.
It's not a good choice for a varmint rifle if you have the option to get another caliber. There are considerably better varmint calibers out there that are still big enough for deer, .243, 25-06, etc. But, it can work effectively within it's limitations.
It's not a good choice for a varmint rifle if you have the option to get another caliber. There are considerably better varmint calibers out there that are still big enough for deer, .243, 25-06, etc. But, it can work effectively within it's limitations.
t/c223encore
New member
I'm not that far yet, I got to resight in my 308 and then start working up a load. I don't understand why its said 110 grains is too light cause 223's are a lot lighter.
t/c223encore.
t/c223encore.
At the risk of over simplification, it's because of the effects of the wind on the bullet. A short, light weight (for it's diameter) bullet will drift more in wind of any given speed than a bullet of the same weight, but longer and significantly smaller diameter.
Go to your reloading manuals and check how how they determine winddrift. Check the wind drift of a 110 grain 30 cal. bullet and the wind drift of a .224 cal. 69 or 70 grain bullet, both at the same MV in a 15mph. cross wind at increasing distances.
Do the math and you will understand the reason long range shooters don't use 110 grain bullets in their 30 cal. guns.
Go to your reloading manuals and check how how they determine winddrift. Check the wind drift of a 110 grain 30 cal. bullet and the wind drift of a .224 cal. 69 or 70 grain bullet, both at the same MV in a 15mph. cross wind at increasing distances.
Do the math and you will understand the reason long range shooters don't use 110 grain bullets in their 30 cal. guns.
SuperSeal110
New member
I loaded some of the 110gr vax out of my .308. Can't remember the load off hand, I believe it was 49gr or 50gr of Varget. Was getting 1/2" @ 100yds. I only bought one box, they're getting pretty pricey, IMO. Gun store last night wanted $28.99 for 100 of them. Yikes!
I just bought a 1000rds of the Speer 125gr TNT's for a prairie dog trip. Haven't shot any of the TNT's before. All the reviews I said they were really accurate.
I just bought a 1000rds of the Speer 125gr TNT's for a prairie dog trip. Haven't shot any of the TNT's before. All the reviews I said they were really accurate.
Christopher
New member
t/c223encore,
The reasons they are saying the 110 grainers are too light are a couple:
First these bullets are very short and stubby for a .308 caliber bullet. Some rifles will not shoot them well at all due to either the long jump from case to throat or the twist ratio of the rifling may not stabilize, or both.
Second, with a short, light bullet for caliber they don't hold course in the wind or trajectory nearly as well because the Balistic Coefficient is so low. Yes, a 55 grain 223 is a lot lighter but the BC would probably, I'm not taking the time to look it up right now, be much higher. And, the 55 grain bullet is an optimum weight for that caliber. That leads to a better flight path.
It's not that a 110 grain VMax won't knock the snot out of a coyote when it hits it but it is harder to hit it at longer distances with this bullet.
The reasons they are saying the 110 grainers are too light are a couple:
First these bullets are very short and stubby for a .308 caliber bullet. Some rifles will not shoot them well at all due to either the long jump from case to throat or the twist ratio of the rifling may not stabilize, or both.
Second, with a short, light bullet for caliber they don't hold course in the wind or trajectory nearly as well because the Balistic Coefficient is so low. Yes, a 55 grain 223 is a lot lighter but the BC would probably, I'm not taking the time to look it up right now, be much higher. And, the 55 grain bullet is an optimum weight for that caliber. That leads to a better flight path.
It's not that a 110 grain VMax won't knock the snot out of a coyote when it hits it but it is harder to hit it at longer distances with this bullet.
t/c223encore
New member
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif thanks guys 308 has more surface area for wind to enact upon than a 223, I gotcha. Kinda like that fluted barrel cooling thing.
t/c223encore.
t/c223encore.
Last edited:
Quote:
skeetlee,
Welcome to Predator Masters! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
I used a Hornady V-Max 110gr. with 46.6gr. of IMR-3031 at 3040 f.p.s. I was shooting this load out of a Remington 788 and it would give me a "clover leaf" group at 100 yards. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
I loaded the "Max" load recommended in the manual and stepped up the load by .5 grains, until the primer showed signs of pressure (getting flat or loose in the pocket). Then I backed off by .5 grains and loaded 3 rounds and shot them for a group at 100 yards. I backed off of that load at .2 grains and shot 3 rounds each until I found a good grouping load.
As it turns out the 46.6 grains of IMR-3031 was the best grouping and fastest load for MY rifle. This load may or may not work well with YOUR rifle. This is NOT a fur friendly load, but it kills with authority.
Good hunting, Bowhunter57
That's considerably better than I got using the 110 grain bullets available at the time in my 30/06.
One thing you must never do when you have a Rem. 788 shooting as well as did Bowhunter57's, is to sell it to buy a Hungarian horse bow. lol (inside joke)
skeetlee,
Welcome to Predator Masters! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
I used a Hornady V-Max 110gr. with 46.6gr. of IMR-3031 at 3040 f.p.s. I was shooting this load out of a Remington 788 and it would give me a "clover leaf" group at 100 yards. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
I loaded the "Max" load recommended in the manual and stepped up the load by .5 grains, until the primer showed signs of pressure (getting flat or loose in the pocket). Then I backed off by .5 grains and loaded 3 rounds and shot them for a group at 100 yards. I backed off of that load at .2 grains and shot 3 rounds each until I found a good grouping load.
As it turns out the 46.6 grains of IMR-3031 was the best grouping and fastest load for MY rifle. This load may or may not work well with YOUR rifle. This is NOT a fur friendly load, but it kills with authority.
Good hunting, Bowhunter57
That's considerably better than I got using the 110 grain bullets available at the time in my 30/06.
One thing you must never do when you have a Rem. 788 shooting as well as did Bowhunter57's, is to sell it to buy a Hungarian horse bow. lol (inside joke)
t/c223encore
New member
I havent even pulled the trigger on on of my 110 grain Vmax loads for my 308 and I'm, already wondering if I screwed up. I'll have to heal some more and take it to the range and hope my 308 barrel likes it.
t/c223encore.
t/c223encore.
t/c223encore
New member
so my 308 is only good for 200 yards with the Vmax? I can do that with my 223, my 308 was supposed to be for days I feel like trying to drop em at 300+. I guess if he 110 grain Vmax's don't work good i'll just throw em in th trash.
CDR thanks for the over simplification, thats what I need to understand some things.
t/c223encore.
CDR thanks for the over simplification, thats what I need to understand some things.
t/c223encore.
CatShooter
New member
Common campers...
... you guys are just plain guessing!
Run the damn numbers!
At 300yds with a 10 mph direct cross wind (which is a stiff wind), the difference in wind drift between the 110 V-Max and the 125 BT is a whoppin TWO INCHES!!!
At 600 yds, the difference is a whoppin 12 inches.
So cut the crap - if you don't really know, then stop guessing.
Plus the 110 V-max is much more explosive, and at 600 yds, you will need it.
.
... you guys are just plain guessing!
Run the damn numbers!
At 300yds with a 10 mph direct cross wind (which is a stiff wind), the difference in wind drift between the 110 V-Max and the 125 BT is a whoppin TWO INCHES!!!
At 600 yds, the difference is a whoppin 12 inches.
So cut the crap - if you don't really know, then stop guessing.
Plus the 110 V-max is much more explosive, and at 600 yds, you will need it.
.
Tac223
New member
As stated above if you want your 308 to reach out there and touch em you will need a higher BC.
Starting at probably 150gr and that's why guys shooting way out there (1000yards or so) like the SMK or AMAX's at about 175gr or so.
But I wouldn't count on them to expand reliably everytime being match bullets.
I have used 150gr SP and NBT.
NBT or as I like to call em "nosler ballistic grenades" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif seem to group good and detonate on impact out to 500-600yards.
Just see what your gun likes and go from there but 308's that make their living at longer distances like heavier bullets.
But lately to reach out there I've fallen in love with my .243 and it has better ballistics than the 308.
Don't get me wrong though, the 308 is a very versatile caliber.
I just prefer my .223 or .243. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Starting at probably 150gr and that's why guys shooting way out there (1000yards or so) like the SMK or AMAX's at about 175gr or so.
But I wouldn't count on them to expand reliably everytime being match bullets.
I have used 150gr SP and NBT.
NBT or as I like to call em "nosler ballistic grenades" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif seem to group good and detonate on impact out to 500-600yards.
Just see what your gun likes and go from there but 308's that make their living at longer distances like heavier bullets.
But lately to reach out there I've fallen in love with my .243 and it has better ballistics than the 308.
Don't get me wrong though, the 308 is a very versatile caliber.
I just prefer my .223 or .243. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Quote:
Common campers...
... you guys are just plain guessing!
Run the damn numbers!
At 300yds with a 10 mph direct cross wind (which is a stiff wind), the difference in wind drift between the 110 V-Max and the 125 BT is a whoppin TWO INCHES!!!
At 600 yds, the difference is a whoppin 12 inches.
So cut the crap - if you don't really know, then stop guessing.
Plus the 110 V-max is much more explosive, and at 600 yds, you will need it.
.
I guess that's the reason that the 110 grain bullet is so popular in mid range matches in the .308 Win. lol lol
Common campers...
... you guys are just plain guessing!
Run the damn numbers!
At 300yds with a 10 mph direct cross wind (which is a stiff wind), the difference in wind drift between the 110 V-Max and the 125 BT is a whoppin TWO INCHES!!!
At 600 yds, the difference is a whoppin 12 inches.
So cut the crap - if you don't really know, then stop guessing.
Plus the 110 V-max is much more explosive, and at 600 yds, you will need it.
.
I guess that's the reason that the 110 grain bullet is so popular in mid range matches in the .308 Win. lol lol