53gn V-Max

[Treebone]

Elliot just a warning mate if you are anything like i think you are, your quest for accuracy wont stop when you have found the most accurate load combination, the next step is a custom barrel with minimum spec chamber, more load developement and bench rest reloading tools/techniques!!!

TB.

[DedIdick]

Sounds promising, I've read that they were specifically made for 1/12 twist barrels so I'm hoping for similar results.

What powder are you using Dick?

For my serious shooting I use Varget in a Lapua case.. For 53gn .223 short-range stuff; Recovered RG powder (1984) in an RG case.

[Elliott]

Elliot just a warning mate if you are anything like i think you are, your quest for accuracy wont stop when you have found the most accurate load combination, the next step is a custom barrel with minimum spec chamber, more load developement and bench rest reloading tools/techniques!!!

TB.

I can see it happening TB!

[Charlts]

I can see it happening TB!

It took 6 months in my case!

[sir-slots-alot]

I tried these bullets but I was unable to get really good consistant accuracy.
This was dispite trying several powders and spending alot of time trying to develop a good load for 400 yrd vermin shooting.

The 53 grn Vmax never produced accuracy as good as the 55 grn Sierra SBK's, so i was happy to go back to using bullets with a slightly lower BC but had better accuracy and were field proven a 1000 times. I also know quite a few rifle men who tried them when they first appeared , but have since gone back to their original bullet.

I did wonder whether a 9 or 10 twist would be better suited to this bullet.



ATB
Alan

[Elliott]

I tried these bullets but I was unable to get really good consistant accuracy.
This was dispite trying several powders and spending alot of time trying to develop a good load for 400 yrd vermin shooting.

The 53 grn Vmax never produced accuracy as good as the 55 grn Sierra SBK's, so i was happy to go back to using bullets with a slightly lower BC but had better accuracy and were field proven a 1000 times. I also know quite a few rifle men who tried them when they first appeared , but have since gone back to their original bullet.

I did wonder whether a 9 or 10 twist would be better suited to this bullet.



ATB
Alan

Thanks Alan, I'll give them a try but it doesn't sound very promising. Sierra 55gn SBK's are on list to try.

[Treebone]

Having been a dedicated user of 55g Berger FB varmints in my 22BR, i decided to try Sierra 55g Blitzking after i was given a box.
Wow!! i was impressed, accuracy is as good as the Bergers and the splat factor is also excellent, together with 2/3 rds the price they are now a keeper.
I also tried 20 53g V max a mate give me with the same recipe for the 55s, trial 5 shot group was as good as the Blitzkings and all rabbits aimed at and shot were killed out to 470 yds, however with this small amount of use i cannot comment on the bullets inadequecies like those that have given them a thorough testing.
Go for the Blitzkings i can reccommend them.

TB.

[Elliott]

Having been a dedicated user of 55g Berger FB varmints in my 22BR, i decided to try Sierra 55g Blitzking after i was given a box.
Wow!! i was impressed, accuracy is as good as the Bergers and the splat factor is also excellent, together with 2/3 rds the price they are now a keeper.
I also tried 20 53g V max a mate give me with the same recipe for the 55s, trial 5 shot group was as good as the Blitzkings and all rabbits aimed at and shot were killed out to 470 yds, however with this small amount of use i cannot comment on the bullets inadequecies like those that have given them a thorough testing.
Go for the Blitzkings i can reccommend them.

TB.

Sold a few rabbits today so I nipped into town with a few quid to the local gunshop. They had Sierra bullets but only the Spitzer and not the Blitzking. Ended up picking up some 55grn V-Max.

I was watching one of Alan's videos the other day and they seemed to group equally as well as the Blitzkings in his rifle. Got to be worth a shot. I've got quite a bit if testing ahead of me - really looking forward to it

[Alycidon]

Just spotted your groups Elliott, and I suspect your loads are too low to fully stabilise the longish Amax. Work up, say at half a grain at a time, and I think your groups will tighten up considerably.
I too think the advertised BC of the 53gn Vmax is improbably high, so I'd simply pick the bullet that shoots best in your rifle and not worry too much about manufacturers blurb.
My own rifle hangs on well to around 500 yards, but unpredictable weirdness happens at 600 probably caused as the bullet drops into the transonic zone.

Half a grain is to fast IMHO, .2 of a grain would be wiser.

A

[Ka-Boom!]

Half a grain is to fast IMHO, .2 of a grain would be wiser.

A

Towards the latter stages of development I would certainly agree, but the image shows the max load was merely 22.0gn which is pretty low. I suspect decent performance would start from around 2gn higher, so small steps all the way would make for a lot of wasted time and consumables. However I do understand the reluctance for a newish reloader to take bold steps, so working fairly expeditiously with initial 0.5gn increments might be a good compromise.
In my experience a chrono is very useful whilst working up to give a guide to performance.

[Si-snipe]

I tried these bullets but I was unable to get really good consistant accuracy.
This was dispite trying several powders and spending alot of time trying to develop a good load for 400 yrd vermin shooting.

The 53 grn Vmax never produced accuracy as good as the 55 grn Sierra SBK's, so i was happy to go back to using bullets with a slightly lower BC but had better accuracy and were field proven a 1000 times. I also know quite a few rifle men who tried them when they first appeared , but have since gone back to their original bullet.

I did wonder whether a 9 or 10 twist would be better suited to this bullet.



ATB
Alan

I was one of these people you refer to wasn't I Al? �� I could never get consistent accuracy out of those 53's. No where near the consistency of 50/55 SBK.

[severnsider]

Now here's a good use for your N133!
I use 24.5gn in neck sized Lapua brass (25ish grains for thinner brass) and seat these out to 2.290" to fit the T3 mag giving ~3250fps out of my 20" barrel. I load the 52gn Amax the same and get quite astonishing accuracy and expansion for both.

This sounds worth a try. I have found that 23.8gn N133 under 52gn Amax or 52gn SMK gives 3140 fps out of my 1:12 20" Sako barrel with good accuracy at up to 200 yards. I shall have to try that combination at longer range (now that I have a suitable 'scope). From what I've now read on here I think I might avoid the 53gn Vmax.

[Ka-Boom!]

This sounds worth a try. I have found that 23.8gn N133 under 52gn Amax or 52gn SMK gives 3140 fps out of my 1:12 20" Sako barrel with good accuracy at up to 200 yards. I shall have to try that combination at longer range (now that I have a suitable 'scope). From what I've now read on here I think I might avoid the 53gn Vmax.

You may well be right about the 53gn Vmax. I always had good luck with it until the last BBS shoot, where my known accurate load was all over the target. Switched back to Amax and was spot on again.
Will test that Vmax load again later today.

UPDATE:
Tested the same batch of 53gn Vmax loads last week, and they were fine. Zeroed a new scope with a sub half MOA 5 shot group at 100 yards, then pushed out to 600 yards for plinking.