Hornady 22272 V-Max Varmint 22 Cal .224 55 gr V Max 100 Per Box

Hornady V-MAX 22272: The Apex Predator of Varmint Bullets – A Comprehensive Guide for Precision Reloaders and Hunters

For serious varmint hunters and precision reloaders who demand uncompromising accuracy and devastating terminal performance, the Hornady 22272 V-MAX bullet stands as a benchmark. This comprehensive guide delves into every aspect of this renowned .22 Caliber, .224 diameter, 55 grain V-MAX projectile with cannelure, revealing why it’s the preferred choice for those seeking to maximize their rifle’s potential against small game and predators.

Whether you're battling elusive coyotes across open plains, controlling prairie dog populations, or aiming for pinpoint accuracy on groundhogs at extreme distances, selecting the right bullet is paramount. The Hornady V-MAX is meticulously engineered to address the specific challenges of varmint hunting, delivering a combination of flat trajectories, minimal wind drift, and rapid, explosive expansion that ensures humane, ethical kills and minimizes ricochet potential.

Unpacking the V-MAX Difference: Design and Performance

What sets the Hornady V-MAX bullet apart from conventional projectiles? It's a masterful synergy of innovative design elements, each contributing to its legendary performance.

The Signature Polymer Tip: Precision Meets Devastation

At the heart of the V-MAX bullet's effectiveness is its distinctive red polymer tip. This isn't just for aesthetics; it's a critical component of its advanced design:

• Aerodynamic Superiority: The sleek, pointed polymer tip creates a highly aerodynamic profile, reducing drag and contributing to an exceptionally flat trajectory. This translates into less bullet drop over long distances, making those challenging shots on small targets far more manageable.
• Enhanced Ballistic Coefficient: The tip's design optimizes the bullet's Ballistic Coefficient (BC), a measure of its ability to overcome air resistance. For the 55 grain V-MAX, with a Coefficient of .255, this means greater retained velocity and energy downrange, crucial for extending your effective hunting range.
• Initiator of Explosive Expansion: Upon impact, the polymer tip drives rearward into the bullet's core, initiating rapid and dramatic fragmentation. This explosive expansion ensures virtually instantaneous energy transfer within the target, leading to swift, humane kills on varmints. This characteristic makes the V-MAX particularly effective for fragile targets where overpenetration is undesirable or where maximizing impact energy is key.

The Match-Grade Gilding Metal Jacket: The Foundation of Accuracy

Beyond the tip, the bullet's jacket plays a pivotal role in its precision:

• Concentricity for Maximum Accuracy: Hornady manufactures the gilding metal jacket with an incredibly high degree of concentricity. This means the jacket's thickness is uniform around the entire circumference of the bullet. Why does this matter? Perfect concentricity ensures superior rotational stability as the bullet flies, minimizing wobbles and maximizing accuracy at all ranges. For the discerning reloader, this translates directly into tighter groups on target.
• Controlled Fragmentation: While the jacket is designed for strength, its specific composition and thickness work in harmony with the polymer tip and core to facilitate the desired fragmentation upon impact. It's strong enough to maintain integrity during flight but engineered to peel back and fragment violently at the moment of truth.

The Specially Designed Lead Core: Energy Transfer at Its Best

Nestled within the jacket and interacting with the polymer tip is a carefully formulated lead core:

• Optimized for Explosive Energy Release: Unlike bullets designed for deep penetration, the V-MAX's lead core is designed to readily deform and fragment upon the impact initiated by the polymer tip. This design ensures that the bullet expends virtually all its energy within the target, resulting in the "dramatic fragmentation" that Hornady is famous for. This is ideal for varmints, where quick, decisive incapacitation is preferred without excessive pass-through.
• Consistent Weight and Sectional Density: The 55 grain weight, combined with a Sectional Density of .157, is specifically chosen to provide a balance of velocity, stability, and terminal performance for popular .22 caliber cartridges. This consistency in core material and weight is vital for reloaders aiming for repeatable ballistic performance.

The Practical Advantage of the Cannelure

The inclusion of a cannelure (a shallow groove around the bullet's circumference) on this Hornady 22272 V-MAX bullet is a significant benefit, particularly for reloaders and for cartridges destined for semi-automatic rifles:

• Secure Crimp for Reliability: The cannelure provides a dedicated groove for applying a secure crimp during the reloading process. This crimp helps to prevent bullet setback into the case under recoil or during feeding in magazine-fed firearms. A consistent crimp ensures uniform chamber pressure and improved reliability.
• Enhanced Bullet Retention: For cartridges that experience heavy recoil or are subjected to repeated cycling through a magazine, the cannelure helps to firmly hold the bullet in place, preventing it from moving forward or backward in the case. This maintains overall cartridge length and ensures consistent feeding and chambering.

Performance Under Pressure: How the V-MAX Delivers

When you combine these design elements, the Hornady V-MAX 55 grain bullet offers unparalleled performance characteristics for varmint hunting:

• Flat Trajectories: Thanks to its high BC and aerodynamic polymer tip, the V-MAX provides a remarkably flat trajectory, simplifying holdover calculations for long-range shots. This is a game-changer for hitting small targets like prairie dogs at distances where even minor bullet drop can result in a miss.
• Maximum Accuracy at All Ranges: The match-grade jacket concentricity ensures superior stability in flight, leading to exceptional accuracy whether you're shooting at 100 yards or pushing the limits beyond 400 yards. This inherent precision makes it a favorite among those who value consistent, tight groups.
• Explosive Expansion and Dramatic Fragmentation: This is the hallmark of the V-MAX. Upon impact, the polymer tip drives into the core, initiating rapid and violent fragmentation. The result is massive hydrostatic shock and near-instantaneous energy transfer, leading to quick, ethical kills on varmints and minimizing the chances of them escaping.

Ideal Applications: Who Benefits Most from Hornady V-MAX 22272?

The Hornady 22272 V-MAX bullet is specifically tailored for hunters and reloaders with particular needs.

Varmint Hunters Seeking Ethical Kills

• Prairie Dogs & Groundhogs: Its flat trajectory and explosive fragmentation make it perfect for rapid, decisive kills on these small, often numerous, targets, minimizing ricochets in open fields.
• Coyotes, Foxes, & Bobcats: While primarily designed for smaller varmints, its high energy transfer can be effective on larger predators at appropriate ranges, ensuring a humane outcome. The dramatic fragmentation helps prevent overpenetration, which can be a concern when hunting in areas near livestock or structures.
• High Volume Shooting: For events like prairie dog safaris where hundreds of rounds might be fired, the consistent performance and reliability of the V-MAX make it an excellent choice.

Precision Reloaders and Handloaders

• Customizing Loads for Optimal Performance: With 100 bullets per box, reloaders have ample supply to develop and fine-tune loads for their specific rifle, twist rate, and desired velocity. The consistency of Hornady components simplifies the load development process.
• Cost-Effective Shooting: Handloading with high-quality components like the V-MAX can significantly reduce the cost per round, allowing for more practice and more hunting trips.
• Achieving Sub-MOA Accuracy: Many reloaders find that the inherent accuracy of Hornady V-MAX bullets allows them to achieve sub-minute-of-angle (MOA) groups, pushing the limits of their rifle's precision.

Reloading with Hornady 22272 V-MAX: A Guide to Success

For those embarking on the journey of handloading, the Hornady 22272 V-MAX provides an excellent foundation for creating highly effective .22 caliber ammunition.

• Selecting the Right Powder: Consult reputable reloading manuals (like the Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading) for recommended powders and charge weights for the 55 grain .224 bullet in your chosen cartridge (.223 Rem, .22-250 Rem, .220 Swift, etc.). Powders with a faster burn rate are often preferred for lighter varmint bullets to achieve high velocities.
• Primer Choice: Small rifle primers are generally suitable for .22 caliber cartridges. Experimentation with standard versus magnum primers might be beneficial for optimizing ignition and consistency, especially in colder temperatures.
• Case Preparation: Ensure your brass is clean, trimmed to length, sized, and deburred. Consistent case preparation is crucial for consistent velocity and accuracy.
• Seating Depth and Crimp: Utilize the cannelure to apply a light to medium crimp, ensuring the bullet is securely held without deforming the jacket. Pay close attention to the Overall Cartridge Length (OAL) specified in your reloading manual, as this impacts pressure and feeding reliability.
• Safety First: Always start with minimum powder charges and work up incrementally while watching for pressure signs. Never exceed maximum recommended loads.

Frequently Asked Questions about Hornady V-MAX Bullets

Here are some common questions hunters and reloaders ask about the Hornady V-MAX, answered directly:

• Q: What makes the Hornady V-MAX the best bullet for prairie dog hunting?
  A: Its combination of a high Ballistic Coefficient for flat trajectories, the polymer tip for explosive expansion, and match-grade concentricity for pinpoint accuracy ensures humane, instantaneous kills on small, fragile targets, even at extended ranges. The dramatic fragmentation also minimizes ricochets.
• Q: How does the polymer tip contribute to the bullet's performance?
  A: The polymer tip serves multiple functions: it creates an exceptionally aerodynamic profile for flat trajectories and reduced wind drift, and upon impact, it initiates the rapid, dramatic fragmentation that is the hallmark of V-MAX bullets, transferring maximum energy into the target.
• Q: Can I use the 55 grain Hornady V-MAX for coyote hunting?
  A: Yes, the 55 grain V-MAX is highly effective for coyote hunting, especially with precise shot placement. Its explosive expansion ensures rapid energy dump, often resulting in swift, humane kills. For larger coyotes or longer ranges, some hunters might opt for slightly heavier V-MAX bullets or alternative bullet designs, but the 55 grain remains a popular choice.
• Q: Why is a cannelure important on a bullet like this?
  A: The cannelure allows for a secure crimp during the reloading process, which is critical for maintaining consistent overall cartridge length (OAL) under recoil or during feeding in semi-automatic firearms. This enhances reliability and contributes to consistent chamber pressures, leading to better accuracy.
• Q: Is the Hornady V-MAX known for its accuracy?
  A: Absolutely. Hornady V-MAX bullets are renowned for their exceptional accuracy, largely due to their match-grade gilding metal jackets and precise manufacturing tolerances. Many reloaders report achieving sub-MOA groups with these bullets.
• Q: What's the difference between the Hornady V-MAX and other Hornady bullets like the A-MAX or ELD-M?
  A: The V-MAX is specifically designed for rapid, explosive fragmentation on varmints, prioritizing energy transfer and minimal penetration. A-MAX and ELD-M bullets are primarily designed for extreme long-range precision target shooting and hunting, emphasizing high ballistic coefficients and controlled expansion (ELD-M) or consistent upset (A-MAX) for larger game at range.
• Q: How many bullets come in a box of Hornady 22272 V-MAX?
  A: Each box contains 100 bullets, making it convenient for reloaders to buy in bulk for extensive load development or high-volume shooting.

Why Choose Hornady V-MAX 22272 for Your Reloading Bench?

When the stakes are high, and every shot counts, the Hornady 22272 V-MAX 55 grain .224 bullet offers an undeniable advantage. Its meticulous design, focusing on aerodynamic efficiency, pinpoint accuracy, and devastating terminal performance, makes it the gold standard for varmint hunting. With its innovative polymer tip, concentric gilding metal jacket, and convenient cannelure, this bullet empowers reloaders to craft custom ammunition that performs flawlessly in the field.

Investing in Hornady V-MAX bullets means investing in a legacy of precision and performance. These bullets are not just components; they are a promise of consistent, ethical results, shot after shot. They are engineered to give you the confidence to make those challenging long-range shots and to ensure that your time in the field is productive and rewarding.

You can find the Hornady 22272 V-MAX with Cannelure .22 Cal .224 55 gr V-Max 100, identified by UPC 090255222722, along with a wide selection of other premium reloading components, at DEGuns.com.

Hornady V-MAX 22272 Specifications