Hornady Varmint Express .223 Remington 55gr V-Max Ammo Ballistics
Brass Case • V-Max • MPN: 8327
Hornady Varmint Express .223 Remington 55gr V-Max Ammo Ballistics
Brass Case • V-Max • MPN: 8327
Solved from this product's advertised 3240 fps, 55gr bullet and G1 BC 0.255, 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 55gr with a 36-yard zero
Zeroed at 36 yards with a 1.5" sight height, this load crosses the line of sight on the way up at 36 yards, peaks +1.6" at 122 yards, crosses back down at 203 yards, and is -6.9" at 300 and -21.2" 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 | 3,240 | 1,282 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -0.4" | -1.57 | -0.46 | 3,140 | 1,204 | 0.1 |
| 50 | +0.5" | +0.85 | +0.25 | 3,043 | 1,131 | 0.3 |
| 75 | +1.1" | +1.36 | +0.40 | 2,947 | 1,061 | 0.6 |
| 100 | +1.4" | +1.38 | +0.40 | 2,855 | 995 | 1.1 |
| 125 | +1.6" | +1.18 | +0.34 | 2,764 | 933 | 1.7 |
| 150 | +1.4" | +0.87 | +0.25 | 2,674 | 874 | 2.5 |
| 175 | +0.9" | +0.49 | +0.14 | 2,587 | 818 | 3.5 |
| 200 | +0.1" | +0.04 | +0.01 | 2,501 | 764 | 4.6 |
| 225 | -1.1" | -0.45 | -0.13 | 2,417 | 714 | 5.9 |
| 250 | -2.6" | -0.99 | -0.29 | 2,335 | 666 | 7.4 |
| 275 | -4.5" | -1.57 | -0.46 | 2,254 | 620 | 9.0 |
| 300 | -6.9" | -2.18 | -0.64 | 2,174 | 577 | 10.9 |
| 325 | -9.7" | -2.84 | -0.83 | 2,096 | 537 | 13.0 |
| 350 | -13.0" | -3.54 | -1.03 | 2,020 | 499 | 15.4 |
| 375 | -16.8" | -4.28 | -1.25 | 1,946 | 462 | 18.0 |
| 400 | -21.2" | -5.07 | -1.47 | 1,873 | 428 | 20.8 |
| 425 | -26.3" | -5.90 | -1.72 | 1,802 | 397 | 23.9 |
| 450 | -32.0" | -6.78 | -1.97 | 1,733 | 367 | 27.3 |
| 475 | -38.4" | -7.71 | -2.24 | 1,666 | 339 | 31.0 |
| 500 | -45.6" | -8.70 | -2.53 | 1,601 | 313 | 35.0 |
55gr G1 .255 at 3,240 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 55gr with a 50-yard zero
Zeroed at 50 yards with a 1.5" sight height, this load crosses the line of sight on the way up at 50 yards, peaks +0.5" at 102 yards, crosses back down at 152 yards, and is -9.6" at 300 and -24.8" 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 | 3,240 | 1,282 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -0.6" | -2.43 | -0.71 | 3,140 | 1,204 | 0.1 |
| 50 | 0.0" | -0.01 | 0.00 | 3,043 | 1,131 | 0.3 |
| 75 | +0.4" | +0.50 | +0.15 | 2,947 | 1,061 | 0.6 |
| 100 | +0.5" | +0.52 | +0.15 | 2,855 | 995 | 1.1 |
| 125 | +0.4" | +0.32 | +0.09 | 2,764 | 933 | 1.7 |
| 150 | 0.0" | +0.01 | 0.00 | 2,674 | 874 | 2.5 |
| 175 | -0.7" | -0.37 | -0.11 | 2,587 | 818 | 3.5 |
| 200 | -1.7" | -0.82 | -0.24 | 2,501 | 764 | 4.6 |
| 225 | -3.1" | -1.31 | -0.38 | 2,417 | 714 | 5.9 |
| 250 | -4.8" | -1.85 | -0.54 | 2,335 | 666 | 7.4 |
| 275 | -7.0" | -2.43 | -0.71 | 2,254 | 620 | 9.0 |
| 300 | -9.6" | -3.04 | -0.89 | 2,174 | 577 | 10.9 |
| 325 | -12.6" | -3.70 | -1.08 | 2,096 | 537 | 13.0 |
| 350 | -16.1" | -4.40 | -1.28 | 2,020 | 499 | 15.4 |
| 375 | -20.2" | -5.14 | -1.50 | 1,946 | 462 | 18.0 |
| 400 | -24.8" | -5.93 | -1.72 | 1,873 | 428 | 20.8 |
| 425 | -30.1" | -6.76 | -1.97 | 1,802 | 397 | 23.9 |
| 450 | -36.0" | -7.64 | -2.22 | 1,733 | 367 | 27.3 |
| 475 | -42.7" | -8.57 | -2.49 | 1,666 | 339 | 31.0 |
| 500 | -50.1" | -9.56 | -2.78 | 1,601 | 313 | 35.0 |
55gr G1 .255 at 3,240 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 55gr with a 100-yard zero
Zeroed at 100 yards with a 1.5" sight height, this load touches the line of sight at 100 yards without ever climbing above it (a tangent zero), and is -11.2" at 300 and -27.0" 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 | 3,240 | 1,282 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -0.8" | -2.94 | -0.85 | 3,140 | 1,204 | 0.1 |
| 50 | -0.3" | -0.52 | -0.15 | 3,043 | 1,131 | 0.3 |
| 75 | 0.0" | -0.01 | 0.00 | 2,947 | 1,061 | 0.6 |
| 100 | 0.0" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,855 | 995 | 1.1 |
| 125 | -0.3" | -0.19 | -0.05 | 2,764 | 933 | 1.7 |
| 150 | -0.8" | -0.50 | -0.14 | 2,674 | 874 | 2.5 |
| 175 | -1.6" | -0.88 | -0.26 | 2,587 | 818 | 3.5 |
| 200 | -2.8" | -1.33 | -0.39 | 2,501 | 764 | 4.6 |
| 225 | -4.3" | -1.82 | -0.53 | 2,417 | 714 | 5.9 |
| 250 | -6.2" | -2.36 | -0.69 | 2,335 | 666 | 7.4 |
| 275 | -8.5" | -2.94 | -0.85 | 2,254 | 620 | 9.0 |
| 300 | -11.2" | -3.56 | -1.03 | 2,174 | 577 | 10.9 |
| 325 | -14.3" | -4.21 | -1.23 | 2,096 | 537 | 13.0 |
| 350 | -18.0" | -4.91 | -1.43 | 2,020 | 499 | 15.4 |
| 375 | -22.2" | -5.65 | -1.64 | 1,946 | 462 | 18.0 |
| 400 | -27.0" | -6.44 | -1.87 | 1,873 | 428 | 20.8 |
| 425 | -32.4" | -7.27 | -2.11 | 1,802 | 397 | 23.9 |
| 450 | -38.4" | -8.15 | -2.37 | 1,733 | 367 | 27.3 |
| 475 | -45.2" | -9.09 | -2.64 | 1,666 | 339 | 31.0 |
| 500 | -52.8" | -10.08 | -2.93 | 1,601 | 313 | 35.0 |
55gr G1 .255 at 3,240 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
Hornady Varmint Express 55-grain V-Max is a polymer-tipped .223 Remington load made for varmint shooting. The V-Max carries a lead core and a boat tail under a polymer tip pressed into the nose. It leaves the muzzle at 3,240 fps with 1,282 ft-lbs and a G1 BC of .255.
From a 50-yard zero it drops 9.6 inches at 300 and 24.8 inches at 400. A 100-yard zero puts it 27.0 inches low at 400.
If you're cross-shopping, Federal's 53-grain Hornady V-Max loads the same bullet design 160 fps faster, on a G1 BC of .290, and from a 50-yard zero it drops 19.6 inches at 400. Federal's Varmint & Predator 50-grain JHP is a plain hollow point, 85 fps faster at the muzzle on a G1 BC of .204.
- A higher G1 BC than Federal's Varmint & Predator 50-grain JHP, .255 against .204
- Carries 55 ft-lbs more at the muzzle than Federal's Varmint & Predator 50-grain JHP
- The heaviest bullet of the .223 varmint loads compared, at 55 grains
- Drops 5.2 inches more at 400 yards than Federal's 53-grain Hornady V-Max from a 50-yard zero
- Kicks about 17 percent more than Federal's Varmint & Predator 50-grain JHP in the same rifle
- A lead-core bullet, so it can't be used where lead-free ammunition is required. Barnes' VOR-TX 55-grain TSX is the copper load at this weight
All Hornady Varmint Express .223 Remington 55gr V-Max Ammo Prices
| DEALER | QTY | PRICE | SHIPPING | TOTAL | PRICE/RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucky Gunner | 20 | $28.00 | $18.43 | $46.43 | $2.32 |
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