Federal .223 Remington 53gr Hornady V-Max Polymer Tip Ammo Ballistics
Brass Case • V-Max
Federal .223 Remington 53gr Hornady V-Max Polymer Tip Ammo Ballistics
Brass Case • V-Max
Solved from this product's advertised 3400 fps, 53gr bullet and G1 BC 0.290, with the sight 1.5" over the bore at standard conditions. Compare every zero for .223 Remington.
How to read it: filled circles are the near and far zero, where the bullet's path crosses the line of sight;the triangle is the peak (max ordinate). The shaded band is the 8" vital zone, ±4" either side of the line of sight. The dashed line marks the edge of the hold-dead-on window. The chart is zoomed to where the zero matters; the tables below run to 500 yards.
.223 Remington 53gr with a 36-yard zero
Zeroed at 36 yards with a 1.5" sight height, this load crosses the line of sight at 36 and 226 yards, peaks +1.8" at 134 yards, and is -4.5" at 300 and -15.9" at 400 yards.
| Range (yd) | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) | Drop (MIL) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Wind drift, 10 mph (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -1.5" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3,400 | 1,361 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -0.4" | -1.58 | -0.46 | 3,308 | 1,288 | 0.1 |
| 50 | +0.5" | +0.88 | +0.26 | 3,219 | 1,220 | 0.2 |
| 75 | +1.1" | +1.43 | +0.42 | 3,132 | 1,155 | 0.5 |
| 100 | +1.6" | +1.50 | +0.44 | 3,046 | 1,092 | 0.9 |
| 125 | +1.8" | +1.36 | +0.40 | 2,963 | 1,033 | 1.4 |
| 150 | +1.8" | +1.11 | +0.32 | 2,881 | 977 | 2.1 |
| 175 | +1.5" | +0.79 | +0.23 | 2,800 | 923 | 2.8 |
| 200 | +0.9" | +0.42 | +0.12 | 2,721 | 871 | 3.7 |
| 225 | +0.0" | +0.01 | 0.00 | 2,643 | 822 | 4.8 |
| 250 | -1.2" | -0.45 | -0.13 | 2,567 | 775 | 6.0 |
| 275 | -2.7" | -0.93 | -0.27 | 2,492 | 731 | 7.3 |
| 300 | -4.5" | -1.44 | -0.42 | 2,418 | 688 | 8.8 |
| 325 | -6.8" | -1.99 | -0.58 | 2,345 | 647 | 10.5 |
| 350 | -9.4" | -2.56 | -0.74 | 2,273 | 608 | 12.3 |
| 375 | -12.4" | -3.17 | -0.92 | 2,203 | 571 | 14.3 |
| 400 | -15.9" | -3.80 | -1.11 | 2,134 | 536 | 16.5 |
| 425 | -19.9" | -4.47 | -1.30 | 2,066 | 503 | 18.9 |
| 450 | -24.4" | -5.17 | -1.50 | 2,000 | 471 | 21.5 |
| 475 | -29.4" | -5.91 | -1.72 | 1,935 | 441 | 24.4 |
| 500 | -35.0" | -6.68 | -1.94 | 1,871 | 412 | 27.4 |
53gr G1 .290 at 3,400 fps, 1.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight. Source: Manufacturer's advertised velocity and BC.
.223 Remington 53gr with a 50-yard zero
Zeroed at 50 yards with a 1.5" sight height, this load crosses the line of sight at 50 and 169 yards, peaks +0.7" at 111 yards, and is -7.3" at 300 and -19.6" at 400 yards.
| Range (yd) | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) | Drop (MIL) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Wind drift, 10 mph (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -1.5" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3,400 | 1,361 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -0.7" | -2.46 | -0.72 | 3,308 | 1,288 | 0.1 |
| 50 | 0.0" | -0.01 | 0.00 | 3,219 | 1,220 | 0.2 |
| 75 | +0.4" | +0.55 | +0.16 | 3,132 | 1,155 | 0.5 |
| 100 | +0.7" | +0.62 | +0.18 | 3,046 | 1,092 | 0.9 |
| 125 | +0.6" | +0.48 | +0.14 | 2,963 | 1,033 | 1.4 |
| 150 | +0.4" | +0.23 | +0.07 | 2,881 | 977 | 2.1 |
| 175 | -0.2" | -0.09 | -0.03 | 2,800 | 923 | 2.8 |
| 200 | -1.0" | -0.46 | -0.14 | 2,721 | 871 | 3.7 |
| 225 | -2.1" | -0.88 | -0.26 | 2,643 | 822 | 4.8 |
| 250 | -3.5" | -1.33 | -0.39 | 2,567 | 775 | 6.0 |
| 275 | -5.2" | -1.81 | -0.53 | 2,492 | 731 | 7.3 |
| 300 | -7.3" | -2.33 | -0.68 | 2,418 | 688 | 8.8 |
| 325 | -9.8" | -2.87 | -0.84 | 2,345 | 647 | 10.5 |
| 350 | -12.6" | -3.44 | -1.00 | 2,273 | 608 | 12.3 |
| 375 | -15.9" | -4.05 | -1.18 | 2,203 | 571 | 14.3 |
| 400 | -19.6" | -4.69 | -1.36 | 2,134 | 536 | 16.5 |
| 425 | -23.8" | -5.35 | -1.56 | 2,066 | 503 | 18.9 |
| 450 | -28.5" | -6.06 | -1.76 | 2,000 | 471 | 21.5 |
| 475 | -33.8" | -6.79 | -1.98 | 1,935 | 441 | 24.4 |
| 500 | -39.6" | -7.57 | -2.20 | 1,871 | 412 | 27.4 |
53gr G1 .290 at 3,400 fps, 1.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight. Source: Manufacturer's advertised velocity and BC.
.223 Remington 53gr with a 100-yard zero
Zeroed at 100 yards with a 1.5" sight height, this load crosses the line of sight at 87 and 100 yards, peaks +0.0" at 93 yards, and is -9.2" at 300 and -22.2" at 400 yards.
| Range (yd) | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) | Drop (MIL) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Wind drift, 10 mph (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -1.5" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3,400 | 1,361 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -0.8" | -3.08 | -0.90 | 3,308 | 1,288 | 0.1 |
| 50 | -0.3" | -0.62 | -0.18 | 3,219 | 1,220 | 0.2 |
| 75 | -0.1" | -0.07 | -0.02 | 3,132 | 1,155 | 0.5 |
| 100 | 0.0" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3,046 | 1,092 | 0.9 |
| 125 | -0.2" | -0.14 | -0.04 | 2,963 | 1,033 | 1.4 |
| 150 | -0.6" | -0.39 | -0.11 | 2,881 | 977 | 2.1 |
| 175 | -1.3" | -0.71 | -0.21 | 2,800 | 923 | 2.8 |
| 200 | -2.3" | -1.08 | -0.31 | 2,721 | 871 | 3.7 |
| 225 | -3.5" | -1.49 | -0.43 | 2,643 | 822 | 4.8 |
| 250 | -5.1" | -1.94 | -0.57 | 2,567 | 775 | 6.0 |
| 275 | -7.0" | -2.43 | -0.71 | 2,492 | 731 | 7.3 |
| 300 | -9.3" | -2.94 | -0.86 | 2,418 | 688 | 8.8 |
| 325 | -11.9" | -3.49 | -1.01 | 2,345 | 647 | 10.5 |
| 350 | -14.9" | -4.06 | -1.18 | 2,273 | 608 | 12.3 |
| 375 | -18.3" | -4.66 | -1.36 | 2,203 | 571 | 14.3 |
| 400 | -22.2" | -5.30 | -1.54 | 2,134 | 536 | 16.5 |
| 425 | -26.6" | -5.97 | -1.74 | 2,066 | 503 | 18.9 |
| 450 | -31.4" | -6.67 | -1.94 | 2,000 | 471 | 21.5 |
| 475 | -36.9" | -7.41 | -2.15 | 1,935 | 441 | 24.4 |
| 500 | -42.9" | -8.18 | -2.38 | 1,871 | 412 | 27.4 |
53gr G1 .290 at 3,400 fps, 1.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight. Source: Manufacturer's advertised velocity and BC.
Product Overview
Federal markets its Varmint & Predator line for varmints and predators, from prairie dogs to coyotes. This load uses Hornady's 53-grain V-Max, a polymer-tipped varmint bullet, with a G1 BC of .290 and a muzzle speed of 3,400 fps. Zeroed at 100 yards, it drops about 9 inches at 300.
Compared with Hornady's Varmint Express 55-grain V-Max, the 53 starts 160 fps faster and kicks about the same in the same rifle. At 300 yards, a steady 10 mph wind blowing across the range pushes the 53 about 9 inches sideways and the 55 about 11. Compared with Federal's 50-grain Varmint & Predator JHP, the 53 starts 75 fps faster and handles wind far better: the same wind pushes the JHP about 14 inches at 300 yards.
Buy the 53-grain V-Max if you shoot varmints at longer range; it drifts and drops less than Hornady's Varmint Express 55, Federal's 50-grain JHP and Winchester's 40-grain Varmint-X. Pick the Hornady Varmint Express 55 only if you prefer the heavier 55-grain V-Max, since the 53 matches its recoil and beats it on speed, wind and drop. Pick the Federal 50-grain JHP if you want a hollow point with softer recoil. For hunting, Barnes markets its 55-grain VOR-TX TSX as a hunting load with an all-copper bullet.
- Zeroed at 100 yards, it drops about 9 inches at 300, against about 11 for Hornady's Varmint Express 55-grain V-Max
- A 10 mph crosswind pushes it about 9 inches at 300 yards, against about 13 for Winchester's 40-grain Varmint-X
- At 400 yards it is still moving 2,134 fps, against 1,655 for Federal's 50-grain Varmint & Predator JHP
- Leaves the muzzle at 3,400 fps against 3,600 for Winchester's 40-grain Varmint-X
- Kicks about 64 percent more than Winchester's 40-grain Varmint-X in the same rifle
- Kicks about 16 percent more than Federal's 50-grain Varmint & Predator JHP in the same rifle
All Federal .223 Remington 53gr Hornady V-Max Polymer Tip Ammo Prices
| DEALER | QTY | PRICE | SHIPPING | TOTAL | PRICE/RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Ammo | 20 | $20.98 | $12.99 | $33.97 | $1.70 |
| Sentry Ammo | 20 | $26.45 | $11.99 | $38.44 | $1.92 |
| Black Basin Outdoors | 20 | $28.20 | $10.99 | $39.19 | $1.96 |