"Explosive" Varmint Bullets

[Uncle Duke]

In light of this thread I've been looking around online for what people deem to be their favorite bullet for varmints. There doesn't seem to be a consensus - everyone has their favorite pet load and caliber, although there are a few standouts that show up over and over for 22 caliber pills:

40 gr VMax
50 gr VMax
53 gr Vmax

50 gr TNT
50 gr Blitzking

There are some people who go lighter than 40, but there is a lot of love for 40 and 50 gr varmint bullets for 22 caliber.

With good reason. Despite the heavy bullet for caliber craze of more recent years, there are a LOT of rifles with barrel twists more appropriate for the lighter (and shorter and faster) bullets that have historically been excellent performers in 22 caliber varmint rifles.

 

[trickg]

A lot depends on the target. The rest, for me, depends on the case I'm putting them in. Bigger case, I typically go light for the speed. I love me some 40s in a 22-250ai. Things downrange, they don't love them so much.

When I was tooling up for this rifle to put together varmint loads for it, I know I went down the rabbit hole reading about various bullets and bullet weights - there must have been some reason other than price I settled in on the 50 gr VMax, but I can't remember why....

I just remembered. I told my friend if he'd hook up the prairie dog outing I'd supply the ammo, so I wanted to pick a bullet that would potentially perform well out of an AR because that's what he was going to be shooting.

I should try some 40 gr - I bet my rifle would like them, and I know I'd like the added velocity.

There's some interesting reloading data in the Hornady manual for the 40 gr VMax, specifically showing a max load of 27.8 gr of AA2460 for a velocity of 3800 fps from the same barrel I use - 26", 1:12 twist. I wonder what accuracy is like with AA2460.

 

[4g64loser]

When I was tooling up for this rifle to put together varmint loads for it, I know I went down the rabbit hole reading about various bullets and bullet weights - there must have been some reason other than price I settled in on the 50 gr VMax, but I can't remember why....

I just remembered. I told my friend if he'd hook up the prairie dog outing I'd supply the ammo, so I wanted to pick a bullet that would potentially perform well out of an AR because that's what he was going to be shooting.

I should try some 40 gr - I bet my rifle would like them, and I know I'd like the added velocity.

There's some interesting reloading data in the Hornady manual for the 40 gr VMax, specifically showing a max load of 27.8 gr of AA2460 for a velocity of 3800 fps from the same barrel I use - 26", 1:12 twist. I wonder what accuracy is like with AA2460.

Can't tell you about 2460. I can tell you that in a 12 twist 26 inch tube I had that 3800 is very achievable with benchmark. And that sub 20fps ES was the norm for most loads across the charge spectrum. I'll probably forget by the time I get home tonight but if you want the data, you have my number, just shoot me a text. I may still have it lying around. I sold that rifle to a coworker who shot it and fell in love.

 

[Uncle Duke]

When I was tooling up for this rifle to put together varmint loads for it, I know I went down the rabbit hole reading about various bullets and bullet weights - there must have been some reason other than price I settled in on the 50 gr VMax, but I can't remember why....

I just remembered. I told my friend if he'd hook up the prairie dog outing I'd supply the ammo, so I wanted to pick a bullet that would potentially perform well out of an AR because that's what he was going to be shooting.

I should try some 40 gr - I bet my rifle would like them, and I know I'd like the added velocity.

There's some interesting reloading data in the Hornady manual for the 40 gr VMax, specifically showing a max load of 27.8 gr of AA2460 for a velocity of 3800 fps from the same barrel I use - 26", 1:12 twist. I wonder what accuracy is like with AA2460.

DO indeed try some 40's! I have a couple of slower twist rifles that love the 40 grain. And yes, notable velocity gains in .223 Remington!

Come to think of it, just as there is a trend of more recent years toward "heavier than typical" for caliber bullets, the reverse is also a thing. One in particular that I've been fooling with a bit is 55 grain bullets in .243 Winchester, a cartridge having the usual historical domain of 75-105 grain bullets. They've been very accurate, with velocities up in between .22-250 and .220 Swift range. That's stepping pretty good! They're even factory loaded in more recent years.

 

[trickg]

DO indeed try some 40's! I have a couple of slower twist rifles that love the 40 grain. And yes, notable velocity gains in .223 Remington!

Come to think of it, just as there is a trend of more recent years toward "heavier than typical" for caliber bullets, the reverse is also a thing. One in particular that I've been fooling with a bit is 55 grain bullets in .243 Winchester, a cartridge having the usual historical domain of 75-105 grain bullets. They've been very accurate, with velocities up in between .22-250 and .220 Swift range. That's stepping pretty good! They're even factory loaded in more recent years.

My uncle was a big fan of the 243 - he liked it both as a varmint gun and a deer rifle. It's only been in the last year or so that I looked up the ballistics of the 243 with lightweight bullets to realize how danged fast it could be.

I think part of why I've never really considered the 243 for anything is because my uncle is a sterling plated a-hole.

 

[Uncle Duke]

My uncle was a big fan of the 243 - he liked it both as a varmint gun and a deer rifle. It's only been in the last year or so that I looked up the ballistics of the 243 with lightweight bullets to realize how danged fast it could be.

I think part of why I've never really considered the 243 for anything is because my uncle is a sterling plated a-hole.

Definitely a long time versatility cartridge for the guy who wanted one rifle for varmint and deer both. .243 Winchester was my 3rd rifle purchase as the perfect "tweener" between my .223 and my .30-06. Funny how and what one can rationalize when it comes to the reasons behind firearms purchases. But a whole other topic.

One of the downsides to putting large amounts of powder behind small bullets in overbore cartridges is barrel life. Don't want to go down that whole other rabbit hole of whys and wherefores today. But you won't have that concern with 40 grain in the smaller .223 Rem. You can have some fun with that one. In fact, it arguably makes more sense than a number of other cartridges would.

 

[85MikeTPI]

Pulled BlitzKings:

223 40gr BlitzKing - 500ct

223 40gr BlitzKing - 500ct

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