Use of Hornady 40g V-Max

[ehkempf]

I have a question concerning Hornady’s 40 g V-Max. I own a Rem 700 VLS and a Rem XR-100 both in .204 Ruger with 1-12 twist, and a friend of mine has a Savage Model 12 also with a 1-12 twist. None of these three rifles will shoot the Hornady 40g V-Max. The 32 g shoot fine and handloads with Sierra 39 g BK work great. I have not tried the Nosler 40 g BT yet. Why is it that I have read on this board and others that the Hornady’s have so much trouble with 1-12 twist? What were they designed for twist rate wise? The Nosler 40 g BT are slightly shorter than the Hornady, will they have the same problem?

Thanks,

Ed

[wirelessguy2005]

the 33 grain vmax was the original bullet used when designing the 204 ruger, Some time after they redesigned that bullet and made it a 32 grain which is what we see available on the market today. The 40 grain bullet to my knowledge was something they started making well after the 204 hit the market. The problem started there, all the manufacturers were building the 204 rifles with a factory 12 twist barrel which was easily sufficient to stabilize the 32 grain bullets. I have found a few savage and CZ rifles that would stabilize with the 40 grain vmax bullets, however they are few and far between. The 40 vmax are just long enough that they seem to be on the ragged edge of stabilizing in a factory barrel, if you upgrade to an 11 or 10 twist barrel you will find that they perform exceptionally. The Nosler 40 grain bullets are in fact a little bit shorter than the 40 vmax and they do seem to perform better than the 40 vmax in the guns that i have tested them in, However the king of the heavier bullets is still the 39 SBK. I hope this helps answers your question.

Brad

[Rick in Oregon]

As Brad stated above, it's a length/bearing surface issue with the 40gr V-Max.

Out of four 204R rifles I own, only my 11-twist will shoot the 40's well, but all of them shoot the 39gr SBK supurbly. Most "groups" shot with the 40's out of 12-twist rifles look more like shotgun patterns, but once the twist is increased at least one turn, this is the typical result:



Not the best group the rifle has shot, but illulstrates how twist really matters in regard to these bullets. Don't fret if your 12-twist won't shoot the 40's.....most of ours won't either.

[bow shot]

When I had my Savage 12 VLP, For both the 32 and 40s, I was able to get regular 0.5" groups, and 0.3" when I was shooting well (always bag and bipod). I think I was the exception, though.

[boomer84]

My REM 700 SPS varmint barrel with the 1-12 twist shoots the 40g nosler BT with ADI AR2206H ( Hodgdon 4895 ) just as good as as my Sierra 32s under .5s but the Sierra 39s are unbeatable in this rifle with 10x.

Boomer

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[ehkempf]

First off I want to thank all of you that replied to my post. My question is why hasn't Hornady redesigned the 40 g so that it work in more of the 1-12 twist rifles out there. What I also find crazy is the fact that Remington sells a 40 g Accu-Tip (basically the Hornady 40 g load) and their own rifles won't shoot it with any degree of accuracy.

Ed

[Ohlsen]

First off I want to thank all of you that replied to my post. My question is why hasn't Hornady redesigned the 40 g so that it work in more of the 1-12 twist rifles out there. What I also find crazy is the fact that Remington sells a 40 g Accu-Tip (basically the Hornady 40 g load) and their own rifles won't shoot it with any degree of accuracy.

Ed

Ed, I'd like to here an answer to your question to.

Tom

[Bodei]

My Howa 1:12 likes the V-max 40 grainers. There are so many variables involved that its hard to say what the problem is. Usually its easier to find a quick solution than tinker with something that wont work. If a 39 gr. solves the problem, then go with it. I would speculate that the issue is more to do with a combination of bullet design and rifling. The rifling doesn't change so that's what you'll have to adapt to. Good luck and share your results.

[leeloader]

i have a savage model 25 and it hates allmost every 40 grainers out there. the 204 in 1:12 twist is made to shot 32 grainers but u know how that 6 of one half a dozen of the other who knows got to try it all to find a great load for your gun good luck

[clint85]

I don't know the exact answer to your question, but I'm going to give Hornady the benefit of the doubt and say that maybe they designed the 40 v-max for the faster twist barrels. If Hornady changed the design it might not shoot as well for the people who are shooting the 10 and 11 twist barrels. I like having lots of options and if Hornady redesigned the 40 v-max to be more similar to the 39 BK what would be the point. You can just shoot the 39 BK to begin with. Just my thoughts.

[sakofan]

I think its about time remington, ruger. savage, sako etc started offering us rifles with faster twists.

[Bill K]

My Howa 1:12 likes the V-max 40 grainers. There are so many variables involved that its hard to say what the problem is. Usually its easier to find a quick solution than tinker with something that wont work. If a 39 gr. solves the problem, then go with it. I would speculate that the issue is more to do with a combination of bullet design and rifling. The rifling doesn't change so that's what you'll have to adapt to. Good luck and share your results.

My Howa shoots the 40 v-max just fine.. X-terminater powder at around 25.3 works for my rifle. Bill K

[futuretrades]

My Howa, also a 1:12 twist, will shoot the 40gr. Vmax. Have some groups around .500. But the only powder I have found that this bullet likes in this gun is H4895. Seems to thrive on 39 SBK's and RE10x tho, so That's what I mainly shoot. Also likes 32 gr Vmax and Benchmark!