SX / Blitz bullets in fast-twist barrels

[redial]

Has anyone tried these in faster twist barrels (1-7, 1-8, 1-9 inch) ? I have several .223's - both bolt guns and AR pattern - wearing such tubes and the SX's look great for the smaller pests and varmints I typically shoot.

I'm concerned they may not withstand the quick spin and disintegrate. In the past, I've been able to run frangible bullets WAY past their stated velocity parameters in 1-12 and 1-14" twist .22-250s by mollying the bullets.

Just wondering. Anybody tried it?

Thanks!

Redial

[varmit_master]

hi my friend shoots the 50gr SX out of his 22 250 with out molly coating them and he loads them with 37.5 of varget powder he has been shooting paper with the load But havnt try it out on a varmint yet like a crow :shock:

[redial]

Thanks VM

To follow up, Sunday morning I did some penetration tests in water jugs with a .223 and 50gr V-Max's. I hunt pastures on the valley floor here in the Bitterroot and am never out of sight of a neighbor's house. Frangible bullets are VERY important to me.

The load is 24gr of IMR 4895 and the 50 Hornady. It shoots tiny groups at about 3050 in my rifle. I used a standard plastic 1 gallon milkjug and a 1 gallon orange juice jug that's about 5" thick, placing a piece of plywood scrap behind both, shot one jug at a time. At 50 yards, the bullet made only a wide, shallow dimple in the back wall of the orange juice jug. NO exit. Same with the milkjug, but didn't even reach the back wall. The bullet fragments I recovered were no bigger or heavier than your average fingernail clipping.

I was out of OJ jugs for the 100 yard testing but I doubt it would have mattered - the bullet didn't exit the milkjug at 100 either.

Conclusion - the 50 V-Max is a very frangible bullet, appropriate for "developed" areas. Unfortunately, this raises another question - is it TOO light for coyotes? Oh well....

Redial

[BobMachus]

I have used some of my 28 gr H335 / 50 gr SX in my Bushmaster which has a 1/9 twist.  They seem to hold together for me, and that is a pretty speedy load for a .223 w/ a pretty fast twist.  They were coming apart when loaded in a friends 220 Swift, though.  I use 'em on prairie dogs and coyotes.

[redial]

Excellent advice and timely too! A friend and I started discussing the annual prairie carp slaughter and carnage expedition just last night and I need to load up for the trip.

Regardless of the surroundings, I would REALLY prefer to shoot a bullet that doesn't bounce. The SX sounds like it'll fit the bill.

Redial

[Hawkeye]

I just rebarreled my 22-250 w/a 1-9 twist barrel in 26". I was shooting the 55grn Hornady SPSX w/37grns H380 in my old 1-14 twist. I was having trouble getting groups. My buddy that was shooting with me said my gun sure was smoking. NO WAY. We started shooting at a 25 yd target and was getting scrapnel all over the target. They would come apart at about 15 yards. I went to the Ballistic Tip for 55grn and now I have found the 60grn Sierra HP shoots the best from the 1-9 barrel.
I guess if you pushed the bullets hard enough a .223 might make them come apart.

Mike

[Ron T.]

Redial…

The SX and Blitz bullets are meant to be used in the lower velocity varmint rifles like the .222.   They were never designed for the .22-250 or the .220 Swift.  They are made to be EXTREMELY frangible on PURPOSE which gives EXPLOSIVE results on varmints woodchucks and crows out to 225 yards in lower velocity (3200 fps) varmint rifles like .222’s.  Normally, SX and Blitz bullets VIOLENTLY DISINTEGRATE inside the varmint & NEVER come out of the varmint at those ranges.

When I got the MV up to around 3350-3400 fps, I began getting “bullet-disintegration” using the SX bullets… they just turned into little “puffs” of gray dust at about 40 yards while shooting at a 100 yard target.

As long as you keep your muzzle velocity below 3350 fps or so, you should be ok using the SX or Blitz bullets in your .223’s, but the only sure way to find out is to try them with your loads in your rifle(s).

As far as if they are “ok” for coyotes, I dunno.  I think if the SX or Blitz bullets get “inside” a coyote’s hide, they might be VERY fatal, but I seriously doubt that they will penetrate very far into a varmint… they’re not designed to do that.


Strength & Honor…

Ron T.

[Johnly]

Has anyone tried these in faster twist barrels (1-7, 1-8, 1-9 inch) ? I have several .223's - both bolt guns and AR pattern - wearing such tubes and the SX's look great for the smaller pests and varmints I typically shoot.

I'm concerned they may not withstand the quick spin and disintegrate. In the past, I've been able to run frangible bullets WAY past their stated velocity parameters in 1-12 and 1-14" twist .22-250s by mollying the bullets.

Just wondering. Anybody tried it?

Thanks!

I've fired  the 50 gr. Remington PLHP out of a 1/12, 1/9, and 1/7 barrels for my AR-15 match rifles. I got nice groups with the 1/12 and 1/9 barrels, but the bullets fired out of the 1/7 twist barrel wouldn't always make it to the 100 yd. target.