53 Gr Hornady VMax in 223

[matt20]

Just started reloaiding this projectile in my 223 and wondering what others results have been with this and what final load they settled on? I have settled on 25gr 2206H with a CCI primer behind this projectile and shoots sub MOA at 100m. Load is for foxes mainly so wondering how others have found the 53gr VMax on foxes?

[Wapiti]

Following with interest...
Also how does the 53gn compare with the 55gn on foxes, and I wonder why the two different weights only 2gns apart?

[deye243]

Simple do some research might only be 2 grains but it's a boat tail on the 53 and a flat base on the 55 but look at the difference in BC for varmint bullets it's all about impact velocity the 53 is the king of 3 to 4 hundred yards on small critters and still having explosive expansion .
if you only going to be shooting foxes out the 200 to 350 yards you may as well buy the 40 grainers and send them at 3,800 feet per second Plus and no they're not hot loads at that but they shoot bloody flat

[bigrich]

Following with interest...
Also how does the 53gn compare with the 55gn on foxes, and I wonder why the two different weights only 2gns apart?

i'm guessing here , but with a lot of 222's with 14 twist 53's are getting close to max bullet weight . on paddock rats 55vmax in 223 are okay, but 60 vmax hit a little harder . i'm not shooting over 200 though. much bigger animal than a fox too .

with 40 vmax, a 222 i had years ago was a one holer at 100, and as flat as a lazer to 200 , which is as far as i load tested . i haven't had much to do with foxes, but their a lot lighter than the grey rats so the 53's would probably work fine i reckon . the 17rem was a popular fox round years ago with light projectiles . as dye says a 40 vmax with high velocity would zap them good . what's the twist rate in the OP's rifle is my next question

edit - i was using 2205 with my 222 40 vmax load , super accurate, fast and flat . if the OP wants to try 40's a faster powder might work better than 2206h . in my 12 twist tikka 223 a 55 vmax and 25.3gn of 2206h is extremely accurate and pushing velocity

[jezzab]

I wanted to try lighter than 55gr projectiles on my 1:8" twist but was told it wouldn't end well and they could spin themselves apart from spinning way too fast?

[Tinker]

I use 26.0gr 2206H and CCI primers in my CZ527, which gives about 3270 fps velocity and under 0.5MOA. That's a full case in ADI brass.
The CZ has a 1:12 twist. Devastating on foxes.

[Wapiti]

Thanks for the constructive replies guys.
I wasn't interested if they were a different construction, nor a higher speed number, but their effect on game.
I will stick to the 55, as if I get any more expansion than that on the animals I would put in the 223 category then that wouldn't be a good thing.
And I can't hold good enough on these small kill zones past a true measured 200m or so with field positions anyway.