[greg_r]

I have a few sets of Lyman. I look at them as equal to RCBS

 

[greg_r]

Just broke out the ‘ole reloading calculator. Using data from Hodgdon and figuring on 40 grain Hornady V-Max you can reload 1 round of 5.7x28 for .55 cents. Assuming you discount any cost for brass. The ammo in the @ajole shared costs .91 cents for 1 round. A savings of .36 cents per round. A set of Hornady New Dimension dies cost $60. Therefore the ROI for the dies is met with the loading of 167 rounds. Again that’s taking into account the Kirk only needs the dies, I am pretty sure he has everything else he needs.

 

[greg_r]

I'm not sure I have the appropriate powder and I know I don't have anything in .223 lighter than 55 gr. But those are consumables and I might be able to find a load for powder that I already have.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

Hodgdon says AA #5 is good, I just happened to have some on hand. It is out of stock, but they say Ramshot True Blue is a good powder too. And it is in stock. Just have to find a shop that Carrie’s it.

You can save another .12 or .14 cents per round by using 22 Hornet bullets. I figured they would not fee, but they are in the load data as a component.

 

[greg_r]

All I see on their online data is No. 5, No. 7,

No. 5 and No. 7 are now owned by Hodgdon, but are branded Accurate Powder, hence AA

The 40 gr. Sierra?

I just bought five 100 count boxes of Speer 40 grain Spire Point for use in my 22 Hornet and 22 TCM. Thought it was a good price at $14 per hundred. Here is the page from Midway USA. Like I said, I didn’t think it would feed, but Hodgdon evidently recommends recommends the profile.

Speer Bullets 22 Cal (224 Diameter) 40 Grain Spire Point Box of 100

Speer offers a variety of reloading bullets ideal for hunters, plinkers and varminters. Speer Spire point bullets feature a soft nose that expands...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[greg_r]

But hey, that polymer tip will surely aid in slipping the bullet through armor, right?

Turns a groundhog to pink mist at 22 Hornet velocity. Doubt it will penetrate much of anything.

 

[greg_r]

Surprisingly I get that question a lot.

I have had several people ask me what would happen if I grabbed a Vmax mag instead of a FAFO mag. I try to explain to the delicate ones how frangible varmint ammo works and that I am aware of the fact that a frangible round isn't going to penetrate anything other than maybe soft armor and I'm okay with that because I was trained to aim for faces and joint spaces on enemies wearing body armor.

For the other folks I just shrug and say, turn you in to a glitter bomb for the coroner...

Guess i should of read all the replies before i opened my mouth

 

[greg_r]

So, yes, 35gr. and 40gr. V-Max might penetrate soft armor depending on the rating, manufacturing method, and, most importantly, velocity. The closer you can push it to 2K the more it's going to reliably penetrate IIIA.

Don’t know Kirk. It’s an awful thin jacket on the V-Max bullet. The bullet will almost expand if you drop it on the floor!
Hornady says they have a hollow core too.

a case full of AA1680 will push the 40 grain V-Max out the barrel of my 22 Hornet Handi Rifle at over 2700 fps. I have had that bullet turn to gray puffs when it encounters grass or twigs between it and the target. Actually, that is the point of the bullet, it just does not penetrate even a groundhog. Which is the reason that I use the bullet for varmints. It fragments when it hits something and will not ricochet. I honestly do not think that is the bullet to use if you want to shoot through something.

 

[greg_r]

Can't speak to the efficacy of the lighter bullets, but the 53's and 55's?

I shoot the 53 grain V-Max out of Virdie, which is a 20" DMR that I built in memory of my dad. 3031 gives me just under 3200 fps. (Got to find me another load though, out of 3031 and I replaced it with CFE223.) That bullet behaves just like the Hornet 40 grain. The V-Max bullets are excellent for groundhogs and coyote, which are all we have for varmints around here, unless you count crows. Again, I like them because the bullet goes in but does not come out.

Groundhogs are going to sleep for the winter, I will re-site Virdie with the Sierra 65 grain Game King for larger game this winter. There is a bullet that stays together!

 

[greg_r]

Oh yeah. The Vmax are fantastic for keeping hides clean on fur bearers, but I have had pass-throughs on several yotes and prairie dogs, and once on a fox. Normally I'm pretty good at pinning a shoulder on the runners, but I've had a few blow right through the rib cages and the occasional gut shot that usually brings some viscera along for the ride.

I did tumble a running yote a few years back that spawned the glitter bomb comment. I wanted to see what it did internally and it just souped the heart and lungs. They're like tiny chaff grenades. I found the polymer tip in with the glitter juice as it soaked in to the dirt.

I've listened to guys bragging about taking antelope and deer with them, even though it isn't legal. They call it AR-chery.

I'm not going 2-legged varmint hunting with V-Max on purpose, but you'll still f*** up somebody's day with it if thats what you have. We do kind of qualify as CXP1.5 game... 😉

I'm working on LT30 loads since I'm finally out of Viht.

I don’t ever remember having a pass through with any of the 22 caliber VMAX, although I have had some with the 110 grain .308 vmax out of my 300 BLK. I attribute that to more lead and less velocity in the 30 caliber.

Won’t ever use a 22 caliber VMAH on deer. Slip one in between the ribs and I imagine you will soup the deers innards. Hit a rib and I see a wide shallow wound.

On CPX 1.5 critters I would expect the same. And agree, hit a rib or not, it should take the fight out of said critter.

 

[greg_r]

When I get around to buying reloading gear for this, I'm leaning toward Hornady, I'm planning on buying the Lee Case Length Gauge & Shell Holder set* because I've got the Lee cutting stud and have been using that system successfully for everything else. But I don't know if I need the Factory Crimp Die* or if I should just stick with what the Hornady die will do for me. What do you think?

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

*Off site link to referenced item

Late to this one, but I have always bought Hornady Lock Rings, I think they are the best on the market, although I will say the Lee Ultimate Lock Rings are excellent too. I have always been a fan of RCBS and they are my preferred dies. The Hornady New Dimension dies I just started using a few years ago. Specifically in 6.5 Grendel and 25-06 Remington. I will say they are excellent dies, probably better than the RCBS dies, but not enough better to make me run out and replace my old dies.