Hornady’s .22-250 Remington ammunition, specifically the 50-grain V-MAX Superformance load, delivers a blistering muzzle velocity of 4,000 fps and ,1776 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. Designed primarily for predator and varmint hunting, this load offers a laser-flat trajectory with rapid, explosive expansion upon impact. With a 200-yard zero, shooters will experience less than 4.5 inches of bullet drop at 300 yards. Its effective range on medium predators like coyotes easily extends past 400 yards, making it an elite choice for open-country hunting.
Ballistics Chart
The following data reflects the Hornady .22-250 Remington 50-grain V-MAX Superformance factory ammunition fired from a 24-inch test barrel.
| Range (Yards) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lbs) | Bullet Drop (inches) |
| Muzzle | 4000 | 1776 | -1.5 |
| 50 | 3760 | 1570 | -0.1 |
| 100 | 3533 | 1385 | +0.9 |
| 150 | 3316 | 1221 | +0.9 |
| 200 | 3108 | 1072 | 0.0 |
| 250 | 2910 | 940 | -1.8 |
| 300 | 2720 | 821 | -4.3 |
| 400 | 2362 | 619 | -13.5 |
| 500 | 2034 | 459 | -29.8 |
Assumed Zero: 200 Yards. Sight height: 1.5 inches above bore. Atmospheric conditions: Sea level, 59°F.
Overview
The .22-250 Remington has long held the crown as the king of commercial varmint cartridges. Hornady elevates this platform by pairing it with their proprietary Superformance powder technology and the legendary V-MAX bullet. This factory ammunition pushes the limits of standard cartridge pressures to deliver velocities previously reserved for handloaders.
The core of this load is the 50-grain V-MAX bullet. Built with a specialized polymer tip, the V-MAX features a swaged lead core and an Advanced Manufacturing Process (AMP) copper jacket. Upon impact, the polymer tip is driven rearward into the hollow cavity of the core, creating catastrophic expansion and fragmentation even at extended ranges.
Hunters and precision shooters choose this specific load for dedicated predator platforms. Chambered in heavy-barreled bolt-action rifles or high-end AR-10 builds, the Hornady .22-250 offers unparalleled performance for coyote hunters, prairie dog shooters, and livestock protectors who demand extreme precision and immediate terminal performance.
Velocity Performance
Muzzle velocity is the defining characteristic of the .22-250 Remington, and Hornady pushes this metric to a staggering 4,000 feet per second. This exceptional speed is achieved using Superformance propellants, which increase velocity by 100 to 200 fps over standard ammunition without generating unsafe chamber pressures or increasing felt recoil.
Velocity retention downrange dictates the cartridge’s effectiveness. At 200 yards, the bullet is still traveling at 3,108 fps—faster than most standard centerfire cartridges travel at the muzzle. This high-speed travel dramatically reduces flight time. For a predator hunter tracking a trotting coyote across a field, shorter flight time means less required lead and a much higher probability of a lethal hit.
Speed also serves as the primary driver for terminal ballistics in varmint bullets. Because frangible bullets rely on hydraulic pressure and rotational speed to fragment, maintaining high velocity out to 400 yards ensures the V-MAX performs exactly as designed upon impact.
Energy Performance
At the muzzle, the Hornady 50-grain V-MAX generates 1,776 ft-lbs of energy. While this looks comparable on paper to some deer hunting cartridges, the energy transfer mechanism is entirely different. Traditional big game bullets use heavy mass and controlled expansion to punch deep through bone and tissue. The V-MAX uses extreme velocity and a thin jacket to dump 100 percent of its energy in the first few inches of penetration.
Retained energy remains high enough for ethical predator hunting at long distances. At 300 yards, the bullet carries 821 ft-lbs of energy, which is more than sufficient to ethically anchor a coyote or bobcat. The explosive expansion creates immense hydrostatic shock, instantly disrupting the central nervous system of small-to-medium targets.
This rapid energy dump also serves a crucial safety function. Because the bullet shatters upon encountering tissue or the ground, the risk of dangerous ricochets is drastically reduced. This makes the load exceptionally useful in flat, agricultural environments where livestock or equipment might be over the horizon.
Trajectory & Bullet Drop
The trajectory of the Hornady .22-250 50-grain V-MAX is incredibly flat, creating a very forgiving maximum point blank range (MPBR). By utilizing a 200-yard zero, a shooter maximizes the flat-flying characteristics of the bullet.
Between the muzzle and 200 yards, the bullet never rises more than 0.9 inches above the line of sight. At 250 yards, it drops a mere 1.8 inches. At 300 yards, the bullet drops just 4.3 inches. For a hunter aiming at the center of a coyote’s chest—an 8-inch vital zone—they can hold dead-on from the muzzle out to nearly 300 yards without dialing turrets or calculating holdovers.
Wind deflection is the only major trajectory concern. The lightweight 50-grain bullet features a G1 ballistic coefficient (BC) of 0.242. While the extreme speed allows it to beat the wind at short to medium ranges, crosswinds will push the bullet significantly past the 400-yard mark, requiring the shooter to practice accurate wind reading.
Effective Hunting Range
The effective range of the Hornady .22-250 depends entirely on the target species.
Coyotes and Bobcats
This cartridge is devastating on medium-sized predators. The ethical range for coyotes extends to roughly 450 to 500 yards, dictated primarily by wind drift and the shooter’s ability rather than the bullet’s terminal performance.
Prairie Dogs and Groundhogs
For small varmints, the effective range stretches as far as the shooter can accurately place the bullet. Hits at 600 yards are entirely possible on calm days, providing explosive terminal results due to the frangible nature of the V-MAX.
Whitetail Deer
The .22-250 Remington is frequently debated as a deer cartridge. While some hunters use heavy, controlled-expansion bullets for deer, the 50-grain V-MAX is explicitly a varmint bullet. It lacks the mass and structural integrity required to reliably penetrate the shoulder blade of a deer, often resulting in superficial surface wounds. It is not recommended for deer hunting.
Wild Hogs
Similar to deer, wild hogs possess thick gristle plates and dense bone. The 50-grain V-MAX will fragment before reaching the vitals on body shots. While some specialized hunters use the .22-250 for precise ear-hole shots on hogs, it is not an ideal general-purpose hog hunting cartridge.
Accuracy
Hornady’s V-MAX bullets are known for match-grade accuracy. The combination of an AMP jacket with virtually zero wall-thickness variation and a highly uniform polymer tip results in exceptional in-flight stability.
In a high-quality bolt-action rifle, this ammunition routinely produces sub-MOA (Minute of Angle) groups at 100 yards. Many shooters report factory performance hovering around 0.5 to 0.75 MOA out of rifles from brands like Tikka, Remington, and Ruger.
Barrel twist rate plays a critical role in accuracy. Standard .22-250 rifles traditionally feature slow twist rates of 1:12 or 1:14 inches. The 50-grain V-MAX is optimally designed to stabilize in these slower twist barrels. Shooters attempting to use heavier 75-grain bullets often encounter keyholing with standard .22-250 barrels, making this 50-grain load the sweet spot for vast majority of production rifles.
Best Uses
- Coyote Control: Immediate knock-down power with minimal tracking required.
- Prairie Dog Towns: High-volume shooting where explosive terminal performance is desired.
- Bobcat and Fox Hunting: Effective, though close-range shots may cause significant pelt damage.
- Livestock Protection: Flat trajectory allows for fast, reactive shots across open pastures.
- Precision Varmint Competitions: Consistent factory-loaded velocities yield predictable long-range accuracy.
Advantages
- Extreme muzzle velocity of 4,000 fps minimizes required lead on moving targets.
- Forgiving maximum point blank range allows dead-on holds out to 300 yards.
- Rapid bullet fragmentation drastically reduces the risk of over-penetration and ricochet.
- Virtually no recoil allows the shooter to spot their own impacts through the optic.
- Standard 50-grain weight stabilizes perfectly in traditional 1:14 and 1:12 twist barrels.
Disadvantages
- High velocities accelerate throat erosion and barrel wear over thousands of rounds.
- Low ballistic coefficient makes the bullet susceptible to wind drift past 300 yards.
- Frangible design destroys meat, making it unsuitable for harvesting edible small game.
- Too light and explosive for reliable, ethical use on big game like deer or elk.
- Factory Superformance ammunition carries a premium price tag compared to standard bulk loads.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the muzzle velocity of Hornady 22-250 50gr V-MAX?
The Hornady 50-grain V-MAX Superformance load boasts a muzzle velocity of 4,000 feet per second out of a 24-inch test barrel. Shorter barrels, such as those found on 20-inch predator rifles, will typically see velocities closer to 3,850 to 3,900 fps.
Is Hornady V-MAX 22-250 good for deer hunting?
No. The V-MAX is a highly frangible varmint bullet designed to explode upon impact. It lacks the penetration capabilities required to reliably reach the vital organs of a whitetail deer. Using it on deer often results in horrific surface wounds and unrecovered animals.
How far is the .22-250 effective on coyotes?
With the Hornady 50-grain V-MAX, the .22-250 is highly effective on coyotes out to 500 yards. At that distance, the bullet retains enough velocity to expand and enough energy to anchor the animal, provided the shooter can accurately calculate wind drift.
Does Hornady make a 22-250 load for big game?
Hornady occasionally produces .22-250 ammunition featuring their controlled-expansion bullets, such as the CX (Copper alloy eXpanding) or InterLock lines, designed for deep penetration. However, many states mandate larger calibers (.243 or above) for big game, so always check local hunting regulations.
How much does the 22-250 drop at 300 yards?
When zeroed at 200 yards, the Hornady 50-grain V-MAX drops approximately 4.3 inches at 300 yards. This flat trajectory allows shooters to hold dead-center on a coyote’s chest at 300 yards without making turret adjustments.
Is the .22-250 legal in straight-wall cartridge states?
No. The .22-250 Remington is a heavily bottlenecked cartridge. States that mandate straight-wall cartridges for hunting require calibers like the .350 Legend, .450 Bushmaster, or .45-70 Government. The .22-250 does not meet these legal criteria.
What is the ballistic coefficient (BC) of the 50gr V-MAX?
The 50-grain V-MAX bullet has a G1 ballistic coefficient of 0.242. While relatively low compared to heavy, high-BC bullets used in the 6.5 Creedmoor, its extreme initial velocity overcomes the low BC at standard hunting distances out to 400 yards.
What twist rate do I need for Hornady 50gr V-MAX?
The 50-grain V-MAX is highly versatile and will stabilize in standard .22-250 barrel twist rates, including 1:14 and 1:12 inches. It does not require the fast 1:8 or 1:9 twist barrels needed to stabilize heavier 75-grain or 80-grain .22 caliber bullets.
What is the recoil like on a 22-250?
The .22-250 Remington produces exceptionally mild recoil, typically generating less than 7 ft-lbs of recoil energy in an 8-pound rifle. This allows the shooter to stay comfortably on the scope during the shot, watch the bullet impact, and easily manage follow-up shots.
Why choose Superformance over standard Varmint Express?
Hornady’s Superformance ammunition uses proprietary propellant blends to achieve 100 to 200 fps faster velocities than conventional ammunition like the Varmint Express line. This translates to a flatter trajectory, less wind drift, and harder impacts downrange without increasing chamber pressure.
Final Verdict
The Hornady .22-250 Remington 50-grain V-MAX Superformance represents the pinnacle of factory-loaded predator ammunition. By combining a time-tested cartridge case with cutting-edge powder technology and a highly disruptive polymer-tipped bullet, Hornady has created a load that completely outclasses traditional varmint rounds.
Its defining feature is absolute speed. Generating 4,000 fps at the muzzle creates a trajectory so flat that ranging targets inside 300 yards becomes largely unnecessary. While it is strictly a varmint and predator tool—unsuitable for deer or large game—it performs its intended job flawlessly. For the dedicated coyote hunter or high-volume prairie dog shooter looking for match-grade accuracy, devastating terminal ballistics, and off-the-shelf convenience, this specific Hornady load is a top-tier choice that justifies every penny of its price tag.