Hornady .224 35 gn VMAX

Ike666 · June 16, 2013, 12:22 PM

I was checking in a box (big box with lots of little boxes) where I keep remainders of bullets I'm loading, kind of like searching an ashtray for an unburnt roach (

). Getting a little desperate for cartridge precursors.

I found an unopened box of HNDY .224 35 grain VMAX. I've checked Hornady's 8th and 9th and the website and there is no such listing. The new manual lists a 35 grain NTX but with a very different bullet shape than the VMAX.

I cannot remember why I bought these bullets but it would have been in the last two years. Does anyone know of any load data for them? I'd be shooting them out of a CZ 527 American with a 22 inch barrel.

m&p45acp10+1 · June 16, 2013, 12:48 PM

Are they lead free, or standard bullets that makes a huge differance.

If they are lead free then load them with powder charges for 40 or 45 grain bullets depending on thier length. Start at the starting load, and work up carefuly.

Acurate Arms list for a 35 grain VMax. That is the only listing I have found so far. They list 4 powders:

1680
5744
2015
2230

Brian Pfleuger · June 16, 2013, 01:36 PM

Are these being loaded in .223Rem or one of the various other .224 cartridges?

Ike666 · June 16, 2013, 02:10 PM

I bought them with intent to load for .223, but they may well be unsuitable for that. .223 Rem is the only cartridge I load with .224 bullets.

Brian Pfleuger · June 16, 2013, 09:58 PM

No reason at all they'd be unsuitable for that. The v-max is a traditional cup and core, copper jacket lead core bullet. You can use data for other bullets of the same weight and construction. Data for the 40gr V-max or similar bullet would be fine.

Rimfire5 · June 17, 2013, 06:36 AM

Over the last few weeks a range buddy has been shooting the 35 grain Hornady # 22252 V-Max .223 bullets in his Savage 10 FCP-K to see how they do in a 1:9 twist barrel. They sure are little bullets and won't seat out at the normal 2.250 overall length for a 2.250 because they fall out of the cartridge neck.

He was using Benchmark powder with loads from 24.7 to 25.1 grains at overall lengths from 2.090 and 2.200. The most accurate load in his rifle was 24.7 at 2.200 that shot to an average of 0.566. That isn't as good his average group size with most of his loads with bullets from 40 to 69 grain bullets.

10 Spot Terminator · June 17, 2013, 11:30 AM

I can see where the minimal bullet seating vs. jump to the lands could be a bit troublesome with these little pills in the .223 Remington . I would think they would be better suited for the .22 Hornet . I think I would try to trade them rather than burn up primers and powder for loads that most likely wont perform well and that you wouldnt be able to duplicate later as the bullets appear to be discontinued .

Ike666 · June 17, 2013, 12:59 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. I also found a box of 40 gn VMAX and I think I'll load those instead. I'll just hang on to the 35 gn bullets (they are tiny) and see what comes.

Roughedge · June 18, 2013, 05:26 PM

I use 35 and 40 gr. for loading 5.7x28, Seems lite for the AR

June 16, 2013, 12:22 PM	#1
Ike666 Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2009 Location: SW VA Posts: 491	Hornady .224 35 gn VMAX I was checking in a box (big box with lots of little boxes) where I keep remainders of bullets I'm loading, kind of like searching an ashtray for an unburnt roach (). Getting a little desperate for cartridge precursors. I found an unopened box of HNDY .224 35 grain VMAX. I've checked Hornady's 8th and 9th and the website and there is no such listing. The new manual lists a 35 grain NTX but with a very different bullet shape than the VMAX. I cannot remember why I bought these bullets but it would have been in the last two years. Does anyone know of any load data for them? I'd be shooting them out of a CZ 527 American with a 22 inch barrel. __________________ ___________________ "I'm your huckleberry."

June 16, 2013, 12:48 PM	#2
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	Are they lead free, or standard bullets that makes a huge differance. If they are lead free then load them with powder charges for 40 or 45 grain bullets depending on thier length. Start at the starting load, and work up carefuly. Acurate Arms list for a 35 grain VMax. That is the only listing I have found so far. They list 4 powders: 1680 5744 2015 2230 __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you. Last edited by m&p45acp10+1; June 16, 2013 at 12:54 PM.

June 16, 2013, 02:10 PM	#4
Ike666 Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2009 Location: SW VA Posts: 491	I bought them with intent to load for .223, but they may well be unsuitable for that. .223 Rem is the only cartridge I load with .224 bullets. __________________ ___________________ "I'm your huckleberry."

June 17, 2013, 12:59 PM	#8
Ike666 Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2009 Location: SW VA Posts: 491	Thanks for the suggestions. I also found a box of 40 gn VMAX and I think I'll load those instead. I'll just hang on to the 35 gn bullets (they are tiny) and see what comes. __________________ ___________________ "I'm your huckleberry."

June 18, 2013, 05:26 PM	#9
Roughedge Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2011 Location: Monroe,NC Posts: 669	I use 35 and 40 gr. for loading 5.7x28, Seems lite for the AR __________________ The man that die's with the most stuff win's!

June 16, 2013, 01:36 PM	#3
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	Are these being loaded in .223Rem or one of the various other .224 cartridges?

June 16, 2013, 09:58 PM	#5
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	No reason at all they'd be unsuitable for that. The v-max is a traditional cup and core, copper jacket lead core bullet. You can use data for other bullets of the same weight and construction. Data for the 40gr V-max or similar bullet would be fine.

June 17, 2013, 06:36 AM	#6
Rimfire5 Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 922	Over the last few weeks a range buddy has been shooting the 35 grain Hornady # 22252 V-Max .223 bullets in his Savage 10 FCP-K to see how they do in a 1:9 twist barrel. They sure are little bullets and won't seat out at the normal 2.250 overall length for a 2.250 because they fall out of the cartridge neck. He was using Benchmark powder with loads from 24.7 to 25.1 grains at overall lengths from 2.090 and 2.200. The most accurate load in his rifle was 24.7 at 2.200 that shot to an average of 0.566. That isn't as good his average group size with most of his loads with bullets from 40 to 69 grain bullets.

June 17, 2013, 11:30 AM	#7
10 Spot Terminator Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2008 Location: Central Oregon Posts: 348	I can see where the minimal bullet seating vs. jump to the lands could be a bit troublesome with these little pills in the .223 Remington . I would think they would be better suited for the .22 Hornet . I think I would try to trade them rather than burn up primers and powder for loads that most likely wont perform well and that you wouldnt be able to duplicate later as the bullets appear to be discontinued .