87gr Vmax vs 80gr Eld-vt

Hondo1

Sergeant USMC
Full Member
Minuteman
Supporter
  • Jun 2, 2014
    1,821
    647
    Colorado
    Have any of you had the opportunity to compare the 87gr Vmax to the 80gr VT yet? B.C.’s look very close between the two. Just curious if it is worth jumping from the 87 to the newer shinier 80. Looking at shooting them out of a 6mm Creedmoor at prairie dogs and coyotes.
     
    Interested too. @Ledzep said the ELD VT's should expand down to 1900fps, but I'm sure the Vmax will expand at lower velocities. I'm excited for the factory 80 VT loadings in 6 ARC and Creed for sure
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Hondo1
    I'd run whichever shoots better in your barrel/rifle. Both are solid 6mm options within typical varmint ranges (I'd expect extremely similar terminal results), but the BC/ballistic nod will favor the 80gr. 7gr lighter (faster) with a slightly higher BC and a heat-shield tip. The faster you push the 87, the more aerodynamic heat deformation you'll get. BC numbers may drop accordingly.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: rlsmith1 and Hondo1
    Interested too. @Ledzep said the ELD VT's should expand down to 1900fps, but I'm sure the Vmax will expand at lower velocities. I'm excited for the factory 80 VT loadings in 6 ARC and Creed for sure

    Since both are tipped, shouldn’t they both terminally expand at the same velocity? Or will that be hampered in the VT since there’s a cavity between the back of the tip and the front of the lead core?
     
    I'd run whichever shoots better in your barrel/rifle. Both are solid 6mm options within typical varmint ranges (I'd expect extremely similar terminal results), but the BC/ballistic nod will favor the 80gr. 7gr lighter (faster) with a slightly higher BC and a heat-shield tip. The faster you push the 87, the more aerodynamic heat deformation you'll get. BC numbers may drop accordingly.

    Any idea when 6 ARC and 6 Creed ammo will start shipping with the 80 ELD VT?
     
    I picked up 6 ARC and 6.5 Creedmoor today at Scheels.
     

    Attachments

    • IMG_7150.jpeg
      IMG_7150.jpeg
      435.5 KB · Views: 98
    • Like
    • Love
    Reactions: rlsmith1 and Hondo1
    Bumping this up. Has anyone got their hands on bullets to load. I’d like to know how much more speed I could get with the 80’s. I tried the 87’s and got 3400fps with very little effort
     
    Tikka T3x SA Carbon6 20” 6 Creedmoor XLR MG 4.0 NF NX8 2.5-20

    Factory Hornady Varmint express 87g vmax 3050 avg vel SD 17 ES 40

    Factory Hornady 80 ELDVT 3150 avg vel
    SD 12 ES 25

    87g vmax shot very nice repeatable 7-10 shot groups inside of 5/8” at 100 yds. Just now thinking if I took the time and measured bullet holes to center they would probably be 3/8-1/2” groups technically. Either way dead targets.

    80g eld vt not as repeatable for me. 1.25” 10 shot groups at 100 yds. I wanted this bullet to work but it’s getting dropped for now.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: rlsmith1
    I shoot the 108 eldm out of a 6 creedmoor. They shoot great! They have higher Bc than the new 80 eld vt. My question is Why would a guy want the 80 grain eld vt over the 108 eldm?
    Because the 80 ELD VT has a flatter trajectory and goes splat much better on varmints. I’m getting 3150fps with factory 6 Creed 80 ELD VT’s out of my 22” Proof carbon barrel which is crazy flat to 500 yds (even 700 if needed).

    I was going to start hand loading the 87 vmax until the factory 80 came out
     
    • Like
    Reactions: 260284
    Because the 80 ELD VT has a flatter trajectory and goes splat much better on varmints. I’m getting 3150fps with factory 6 Creed 80 ELD VT’s out of my 22” Proof carbon barrel which is crazy flat to 500 yds (even 700 if needed).

    I was going to start hand loading the 87 vmax until the factory 80 came out
    Yea makes sense. When I want speed I reach for the 22-250 shooting 3650.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: rlsmith1
    Because the 80 ELD VT has a flatter trajectory and goes splat much better on varmints. I’m getting 3150fps with factory 6 Creed 80 ELD VT’s out of my 22” Proof carbon barrel which is crazy flat to 500 yds (even 700 if needed).

    I was going to start hand loading the 87 vmax until the factory 80 came out

    In my case this rifle is only for killing prairie dogs and coyotes. I want flat, fast, and explosive.
    Yea makes sense on speed. I use a 22-250 for coyotes and it’s going 3650 FPS.

    In my mind if want to go long range with the 6 creed I feel like the heavier 108 bullet is gonna shoot better and buck the wind better than an 80 grain?
     
    • Like
    Reactions: chevy327
    Yea makes sense on speed. I use a 22-250 for coyotes and it’s going 3650 FPS.

    In my mind if want to go long range with the 6 creed I feel like the heavier 108 bullet is gonna shoot better and buck the wind better than an 80 grain?
    The 108 is a turd on p-dogs. On paper the 80 is the best of both worlds. Explosive performance on soft tissue, speed, and enough BC to have fun at distance. Time will tell if it works out as advertised.
     
    Ok guys and gals I have a defiance tenacity with a 20in mullerwrks 10 twist barrel with .130 freebore and it will shoot the 87gr vmax into one hole and I do mean one hole some times a hole and a half. I’m pushing them 3300 on the money however it will not shoot the 80gr eld-vt bullets wat so ever they key hole and sound like they splash because it has a loud crack sound. I shoot suppressed and I have tried lots of powders also. I even bought a box of the factory hornady 80gr eld-vt bullets and it wouldn shoot those it didn’t help that they was stuck in the lands were I don’t have the sammi spec .183 freebore so if anyone has any idea or info on how to get these to shoot out of a 10 twist let me know :)
     
    Ok guys and gals I have a defiance tenacity with a 20in mullerwrks 10 twist barrel with .130 freebore and it will shoot the 87gr vmax into one hole and I do mean one hole some times a hole and a half. I’m pushing them 3300 on the money however it will not shoot the 80gr eld-vt bullets wat so ever they key hole and sound like they splash because it has a loud crack sound. I shoot suppressed and I have tried lots of powders also. I even bought a box of the factory hornady 80gr eld-vt bullets and it wouldn shoot those it didn’t help that they was stuck in the lands were I don’t have the sammi spec .183 freebore so if anyone has any idea or info on how to get these to shoot out of a 10 twist let me know :)

    Ok guys and gals I have a defiance tenacity with a 20in mullerwrks 10 twist barrel with .130 freebore and it will shoot the 87gr vmax into one hole and I do mean one hole some times a hole and a half. I’m pushing them 3300 on the money however it will not shoot the 80gr eld-vt bullets wat so ever they key hole and sound like they splash because it has a loud crack sound. I shoot suppressed and I have tried lots of powders also. I even bought a box of the factory hornady 80gr eld-vt bullets and it wouldn shoot those it didn’t help that they was stuck in the lands were I don’t have the sammi spec .183 freebore so if anyone has any idea or info on how to get these to shoot out of a 10 twist let me know :)
    They are to long, you will need a 1:8”