Field Performance V-Max vs. Nosler Silvertip ?

Lionhunterco

Lionhunterco

New member
I have always used Hornady V-Max bullets for my calling rilfes. I recently mixed up a new batch for the 22-250 with 55 grain Nosler/Winchester Combined Technology Balistic Silvertips. These are the same bullets found in the Winchester's factory suppreme ammo line. The have a lubalox type black coating with a silver balistic tip.

Can anybody give me a idea how they perform in the field ? Are they effective on yotes? My load shoots very well, Im concerned about thier performace on animals.

Heres a link

http://nosler.com/index.php?p=3&bullet=10

Thanks
 
My understanding is that the only difference between the CT Ballistic Silvertips and the regular Nosler Ballistic Tips is the lubalox coating on the Silvertips.
 
Please, the name Nosler should speak for itself! Why heck yes they get the job done and with authority! Both V-max and Nosler are fine bullets. But if I am not mistaken, Nosler is more exspensive, especially the molly coated ones!
 
Actually, the 100 round boxes were almost the same price!

May seem like a silly question, I just have never had any expierence with the silvertip varrity.

Thanks for the replys
 
I shot a Rem VSSF in 22/250 for a short while. A load of 41.5g of Win 760 with Rem brass and a Win primer clocked 3850 out of this 26" barrel shooting 1/4"-3/8" groups with a 8-32 Burris Black diamond on it.

I only shot a hand full of coyotes with it, but I can tell you that the 55g Silver tip bullets performed fantastic on yotes as you can well imagine with the speed. Every yote was DRT, and bullets gave complete penetration with very small exit wounds.

I will usually mash on the animals and the insides sounded like a the internal organs had been put through a blender.

The coating on these bullets demand that you use a little more powder than naked bullets, and in my experience the coated bullets are a little tougher than naked bullets (I have shot them in other calibers). Lot# can vary in as far as jacket hardness so you just have to try your lot # and see for yourself.

My buddy bought the rifle from me on the way home from the hunting trip, I think that he would get rid of his wife before he sold the rifle.

I have not shot any 55g V max on animals. I have been doing some accuracy tests with a custom 223 and 223 AI with the 55g Hornady Sp with the cannalure. So far, the accuracy with this bullet is less than 3/8" with both of these rifles, I am very happy to find a cheap bullet that is a little tougher and will not rip a coyote to shreds.
 
Most of the 55gr V-max loads I have used in the past were brutal. I shot one facing me in the chest, went in and never came out. When I skinned it I found jacket material on the side of its hip, it traversed its whole body DRT

Im exited to try the CT noslers out
 
I shoot them out of my 22-250 VLS. They knock the coyotes down really well. They are a solid base bullet and tend to penetrate further than a coyote is wide. You'll definitely be sewing holes. However, I've found that if I shoot something within 35ish yards, I don't have as much penetration. Usually a one hole job. I'm not sure why that is, might even be a coincidence, but that is what I've noticed. I've never had a splash with the NBST either. I've made some long shots (250+ yards) and hit the shoulder and didn't have any reason to complain on performance. I've always been a little mystified at their ability to penetrate. When ever I shoot a rockchuck they seem to expand very quickly. Pieces flying everywhere! It's like a grenade went off in their belly. I've been really pleased with them in my 22-250.
 
You cant go wrong with the nosler ballistic silvertips. I shoot the 50gr pills out of my 22-250 vssf ll and i shoot the 55gr out of my browning 243 both for yotes. Then i use the 95gr silver tip pills for deer. shot my deer at 380 yrds two years ago with the 95gr silvertips he went 20 yrds and fell face first. last year shot my buck at 396yrds with the 95gr silvertips he went 60 yrds and fell. both had a heavy blood trail. I shoot factory ammo winchester and have been very happy with the b/s/t bullets. only lost one deer with them. she took a step and i hit her a little to far back it happens to all of us. The yotes i have shoot have been at 100yrds plus. the 55gr bullets did exit on all of the dogs i have layed down. Have not had to track one yet. They all have hit the dust hard. Leaves a exit hole about the size of a half dollar and a few that was the size of a silver dollar. Just bought the 22-250 so i havent shoot a yote with it yet. But im sure the results will be close to the 243 shooting the 55gr bullets.
 
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I just loaded some up last night for my .243 for my kids. I'll try to pop a deer or two to see how they do first. I used to shoot the 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip in my 30.06 for deer and they were terrible IMHO as they would open up the side of the deer and organs would be hanging outside the deer as it ran away. Since switched to the Remington PSP Ultra and have more meat to eat.
 
Yeah I recently "brewed up" some of the Combined Technology bullets for my AR-15 as well for hunting yotes. I haven't been able to get down to the property to try them out yet but they are accurate as all get out at the range. I was very pleased with the groupings I got and the lubalox coating should keep the barrel in better shape.
 
In my experience, the Vmax will come apart faster and has resulted in more splash hits on the shoulder joints, than a Btip. The Btip appears to give more penetration in that situation. My son uses the 60gr Vmax in his 223wssm at about 3700+ fps, with normally good results.
 
maybe it's a regional thing. while in ariz the gun store i hung around(in the east valley of phx metro) sold more nosler 55grn b-tips than any bullet carried and they carried all brands. i noticed this caused i helped re-stock when the staff was busy. here in new mexico the hornady v-max seems to be more popular. i personally use the speer 50grn tnt. kinda like primers.
 
I've shot many 55gr Vmax out of a 16"bbl AR.
It has poor performance at the 200 yards range. Way too many craters and splashes whether front shoulder of frontal chest. They flop and go down but too many get up and boogie. Sometimes you find them and sometimes you don't.
It is so bad in my opinion that when I pop a dog at 200 I stay on it ready to shoot again instead of going after dog #2 if multiples come in. I hate seeing them recover and run off.

There may be something magical between a 16" bbl and 20" bbl and makes a difference but in the 16 I quit shooting them. a 60 grain vmax may just be the ticket. I have not tried them.

I went to a 55 gr Nosler BT in Ultramax. It is very reliable on the 200 yard shots. It tears up coyotes though.

I shoot Sierra 55 gr BTHP out of my 22-250 and it is rare to get a runner.
 
My experience with the Noslers was not as good as the 55 gr vmax. I had a nosler blow up on a coyotes shoulder and not penetrate. I used to trap quite a bit and when I caught a mangy one in a trap, I'd experiment with different loads. The 55 gr vmax moly is my go to load on predators. I load it down a little on the .22-250 to about 3200 fps, around 36 gr of H380 if my memory is correct and it is a real killer load. Always drt and never exits. I have shot several bobcats with the load and never got an exit on them either.
 
I Have shot a lot of yotes with both. I prefer Nosler, They always seem to group better for me when shooting of the bench. Results on fur!! Just do not hit bone, Or your needle might get dull sewing it up. I have found the Vmax to be more explosive in my findings.
 
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