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95 gr V-Max and big hog - Printable Version

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95 gr V-Max and big hog - 603 Country - 01-26-2023

Rather than resight the rifle for the 123 gr SSTs, I just went with what I had, which was the 95 gr V-Max loads, and planned a CNS shot. Well, things don’t always work the way you plan, and I guess I missed the spine. After my thinking he was dead, he leaped up and I plugged him again, and he made it 10 yards into the woods. Dang hogs. He’s an easy 200 pounds, but I’m not gonna weigh him for an exact number.

So I’ll stick with the 95 grainers till I run out.

95 gr V-Max and big hog - Stugotz - 01-28-2023

603 Country Wrote:Rather than resight the rifle for the 123 gr SSTs, I just went with what I had, which was the 95 gr V-Max loads, and planned a CNS shot. Well, things don’t always work the way you plan, and I guess I missed the spine. After my thinking he was dead, he leaped up and I plugged him again, and he made it 10 yards into the woods. Dang hogs. He’s an easy 200 pounds, but I’m not gonna weigh him for an exact number.

So I’ll stick with the 95 grainers till I run out.

Shooting those bullets, I would be sticking them in the ear or just below...

95 gr V-Max and big hog - Double Naught Spy - 01-28-2023

I haven't had good luck with V-Max 95s on larger hogs. If they work for you, that is great.

You said that rather than sighting in with the SST, you are just going to stick with V-Max. I understand hesitance. I use a lot of different bullets and loads and hate rezeroing. However, I have found that a LOT of the ammo I shoot tends to keep the same 100 yard zero, or be close enough to not bother adjusting the sights.

This is far from universal. Every now and then I will find a bullet and load that may be 3-4" off. Some are more like 1-2" off. Some are just fine. For example, I don't have any trouble going from Federal Speer TNT 90 gr. to Factory Hornady SST 123 gr. (or Druid Hill Armory loaded 123 gr. SST) on my guns.

I would think that for bullets of different weights and vastly different velocities, this would not work, but it seems to work just fine. I would also think that bullets of the same weight and similar velocities would necessarily work better, and while sounding logical, does not always reflect reality.

95 gr V-Max and big hog - 603 Country - 01-28-2023

While resighting the Wraith yesterday, once it was set for the 95 grainers, I shot some factory Hornady 123 SSTs. They were 2” high and 1” right. Easy to correct for. Regarding other bullets I could use, that are on hand, I have 123 gr SSTs and Nosler 100 gr and 120 gr Ballistic Tips. I really want to use the 100 gr BTs, but at present they can’t be replaced once I run out. Considering that, maybe I’ll just go to the 123s.

Sure wish Nosler could ramp up production.

95 gr V-Max and big hog - Popeye212 - 01-28-2023

A bullet I was really impressed with is the was the Barnes 115 TAC-TX. As soon as I can find em again going grab more than a few.

95 gr V-Max and big hog - 603 Country - 01-28-2023

You said it was a great bullet, but it isn’t an inexpensive bullet. You gave me a half box, which I much appreciated, and I need to see where they print.

95 gr V-Max and big hog - Double Naught Spy - 01-29-2023

603 Country Wrote:While resighting the Wraith yesterday, once it was set for the 95 grainers, I shot some factory Hornady 123 SSTs. They were 2” high and 1” right. Easy to correct for.

Well, I would have hoped for them to be closer than that. At least now you know the correction if you want to switch between them.

95 gr V-Max and big hog - LRRPF52 - 01-30-2023

I was running a long range course towards the end of last year, and shooting the same factory load, but from 2 different lot numbers, we saw a huge POI difference between the 2 lots.

This was with 6.5 PRC factory 143gr ELD-X.

Guy thought something was wrong with his rifle, and I checked the lot numbers on the boxes since it’s something we used to track in all the Sniper Sections in the 3 Recon Platoons I was in.

One lot shot perfectly, even grouping .75 MOA between the 2 of us shooting his rifle at the same dot at 100yds.

Switched to the other lot of ammo, and the POI shifted down and to the right, didn’t group well either. It was 4” from POA, so very noticeable.

So I’m also a big believer in constantly checking and confirming zero with the lot of ammunition you’re shooting.

95 gr V-Max and big hog - 603 Country - 01-30-2023

Well, except for the Grendel, I haven’t shot a round of factory ammo in 40 years. I bought the very expensive factory Hornady 123 gr SSTs for hunting and for the brass. Looks like my idea didn’t work out too well on reuse of that brass. Since then I’ve acquired some Lapua and I have some Starline enroute. Anyway, my point is that I don’t have to worry about lot numbers. That said, I’m holding the remaining factory Hornady for the grandson and his Grendel, and it’ll work fine for hunting. I’m about to start working up loads for my Grendel, if I can quit flip flopping on what bullet to use. Once that’s done, if I have POI shifts, it won’t be the ammo.

Also worthy of mention is that I recently replaced the muzzle brake on the Grendel with a good old fashioned A2 birdcage flash hider. The POI shift was significant, though I didn’t measure it. A change in barrel harmonics, I suppose. That muzzle brake about blew my ears out when I sent 3 rounds at a big hog. Hit him with 2 and he hit high gear about when I sent the 3rd. Didn’t go far though.

95 gr V-Max and big hog - lazyengineer - 01-30-2023

Double Naught Spy Wrote:I haven't had good luck with V-Max 95s on larger hogs. If they work for you, that is great.

You said that rather than sighting in with the SST, you are just going to stick with V-Max. I understand hesitance. I use a lot of different bullets and loads and hate rezeroing. However, I have found that a LOT of the ammo I shoot tends to keep the same 100 yard zero, or be close enough to not bother adjusting the sights.

This is far from universal. Every now and then I will find a bullet and load that may be 3-4" off. Some are more like 1-2" off. Some are just fine. For example, I don't have any trouble going from Federal Speer TNT 90 gr. to Factory Hornady SST 123 gr. (or Druid Hill Armory loaded 123 gr. SST) on my guns.

I would think that for bullets of different weights and vastly different velocities, this would not work, but it seems to work just fine. I would also think that bullets of the same weight and similar velocities would necessarily work better, and while sounding logical, does not always reflect reality.
Just my own seconding of this. In my own experience, I have found the same. For whatever reason, in 6.5 Grendel, I tend see that darned near everything will have practically the same POI at 100 yards, if zero'd for 100.

As to 95's I also have finally come to the conclusion that I just don't care for that bullet so much.