Bad Luck w/ 40gr. Hornady

[MDHogHunter]

Hello All-

I'm shooting a .204 in a Remington Model 7. 20" barrel and 1:12 rate of twist.

I chose the 40gr. VMAX for my hunting purposes. (Hogs, fox, and the occassional coyote) When sighting in, I was getting 1.5-2" groups!

Went to the closest sporting goods store and picked up a box of the WInchester 34gr. HallowPoints, and now I'm back into MOA.

My question is this, with the short barrel, is my gun not going to like any heavier loads? Or was this just not the round for my gun?

I'd like to try the Federal's with the 39gr. BK's next.

Anyone shot the Model 7 in .204 and have any suggestions on favorite rounds? I'm excited to see what these hallow points are going to do on a hog this weekend, but am fearful they might damage a fox beyond pelt salvage.

Sorry my first post is a rant, I'll follow up with a picture post next!

Many Thanks
-Sam

[YoteSmoker]

My rifle does not like 40 grain v-max at all either but it does like 40 ballistic tips. It does not shoot the 32 ballistic tip well but shoots the 32 V-max bullet very very well. Just have to find the bullet it likes the best.

[Rick in Oregon]

Sam: When it comes to 40gr bullets, more often than not, we hear the most complaints against the 40gr V-Max. Some rifles shoot it well, many don't. Like Yotesmoker sez, you just have to try different bullets.

A majority of posters here have very good luck with the Sierra 39gr BK, including both of my rifles, a 12 and an 11 twist rig.

Those WW 34gr HP's don't have as good as a BC as the poly-tipped offerings; neither of my rifles shoot them well, but shoot the tipped bullets just dandy.

Good luck with the new rig.

[greystone]

Here's a pic of how my first 204 shot the Hornady 40 grainers. This target was set about 20' from the end of the gun. At 100 yds I absolutely did not know where they were hitting. The gun-an H&R Handi Rifle-shot everything else kind of alright sort of.

[Hotshot]

greystone,

Don't shoot Hornady 40 gr bullets!

[jo191145]

greystone,

Don't shoot Hornady 40 gr bullets!

I don't know Might work great for inhome defense
Too bad the HR is a single shot tho.

[Captqc]

I agree with Rick, try the 39's and see how your rifle likes them. It's amazing that such a small difference in weight can make such a big difference in some rifles! Gary

[Rick in Oregon]

Captqc is right, but actually, it's not just bullet weight that's different by a small amount, but the bearing surface is different, the boatail and the ojive are also different, and no doubt the jacket thickness varies between the two, so all these tiny variances factor in to why the 39's seem to shoot better in most 12 twist 204's.

One thing for certain, you'll never know which bullet is the best in your rifle unless you try as many as possible, then dink around with seating depth for the best one(s).

[Glen]

RIO said it best. If he doesn't mind I would like to add that the twist rate has been shown to be a little bit off with the 12" being in the center. You might have a 1 in 12 1/4" twist & don't realize it.

[badhop]

My Remington M700 VTR with it's 20" barrel doesn't like the 40gr V-max bullets or the 39gr sierra's, but loves the Hornady 45gr sp's. It also loves 35gr bergers with 25.5gr of H-322, and does real well with Midway Dogtowns and 28grs of Varget. 40gr V-max groups look like a shotgun pattern, the 39gr sierra are a little better, but a waist of effort on this particular gun. I thought at first it was the heavier weight of the bullets but the 45gr SP gives me a half inch group. So I have an opinion that my gun doesn't shoot the boat tail type of bullet well for what ever reason I'll never know.

[jo191145]

badhop

Its the length of the bullet that determines required twist, not the weight.
There can be a lot of other factors involved but for the most part length is key. Weight means nothing.

[Big Nick]

I've not had very much luck with the 40 gr. V-max but my AR shoots the 39 Sierras between .625"-.75" on a good day.