natesatt and other interested parties--I guess I'll resurrect this old topic because I have been experimenting with the 53 gr. V-Max in my Tikka Master Sporter that has a 1 in 12 twist SS Brux barrel on it. I realized that the 53 gr. V-Max is a long-shanked bullet and that I might have problems stabilizing the 53 grainers. However, that BC of .290 made it seem worthwhile to try to make them work in my 1 in 12 twist barrel. I'm using neck turned Lapua brass, CCI 200 primers (these were purchased in 1986 and still work fine!!!), and the bullets are coated with hBN and seated .020" off the lands.
I tried a number of CFE 223 loads and didn't find any that looked promising, but I had been using IMR 8208 XBR with the 50 gr. Z-Max bullets in this rifle and had a load of that working just great. So, I decided to try 8208 XBR with the 53 gr. V-Max bullets. I couldn't find any load data for the 53 gr. V-Max in the .22-250 so I used the load data for the 52 gr. A-Max and started well below the max and worked up.
Here's the target from the tests I did a couple days ago using 35.3 gr. of 8208 XBR. I used three-shot tests just to get an idea of the capability of these loads and shot them over my chronograph.
There were two other loads that showed some promise accuracy-wise, but the velocity was between 3,700 fps and 3,730 fps I wanted accuracy and a bit more velocity which the load of 35.3 gr. gave me in the earlier test. Do I loaded up 10 rounds with 35.3 gr. of 8208 XBR and tested them this morning. Here's the first group which was fired from a cold barrel that had 21 shots down the tube for testing done on Monday. Remember, this was a cold barrel on the first shot today.
Here's the picture of the second group. Yes, shots 1 and 2 did go through the same hole. I could only see one hole in the target from my shooting position 100 yards from the target, so I walked down to the target and unless the second bullet completely missed the target and the 3 foot by 2 foot box I had the target taped to, it went through the same hole as shot #1. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!!
I can't wait to see what these 53 gr. bullets do to prairie dogs!!! Can you say MAJOR ACROBATICS!?!?!?!
My testing with the 53 gr. V-Max and 8208 XBR has been done while temperatures have been between 51º and 56º outside. I plan on using these 53 gr. V-Max loads for everything from prairie dogs to coyotes so temperatures might range from -30º F on up to +105º F. I believe that 8208 XBR is not very sensitive to temperature changes, but since 35.5 gr. of 8208 XBR is listed as the maximum load for the 52 gr. A-Max and this load I worked up is only .2 of a grain below that max I'm also going to retry a load of 35.1 gr. of 8208 XBR and another test will try 35.2 gr. of 8208 XBR just in case the 35.3 gr. load shows pressure signs when it is hot out.