Best ground Squirrel bullet? (graphic image inside)

[tamalpias]

I tried doing a search for the best all around 22cal bullet on varmints but the search results are so long I am can't find what I am looking for. I am in search for the ever elusive "red mist" bullet. You know, the one where when you hit a varmint with it there is nothing left but a red mist. Is there any mythbusters in the forum who can confirm or dispute this myth? If so Please give me a hand and point me in the right direction of finding and reloading myself some of these magical bullets!

Ok this picture was taken from last year when i went on a ground squirrel shoot. The bullet is a V-Max 55 gr. bullet from hornady loaded with 34.6 grains of Varget powder. Supposed velocity is close to 3,600fps andupon hitting a ground squirrel at 75 yards this was the end result:



As you all can see, this is not a red mist. I am handloading some sierra hollowpoint bullets and will post the results as soon as i get back from this years hunt (hopefully I will leave sometime mid week).

But if anybody else has experience with a 22 caliber 50-55 gr. bullet that has this "red mist" effect please help me find it! Thanks!

[andrew cochran]

I think the V-max is the best you will get.

[Brad Y]

the only bullets that will do it are the 50-55gr vmax, nosler ballistic tip, or sierra blitzking in the ballistic tip range. Apart from that check out the speer TNT,s but beware the 50gr bullet wont handle 22-250 or 220swift speeds. The 55gr model is made for those velocities. Red mist isnt achieved all the time, you probably need to hit them in a certian spot. Like hitting things low usually makes them fly off. When you see videos of red mist, remember that hundreds of shots have probably gone into making the 10 or so you see.

[TNRICK55]

A ROCK

[tamalpias]

Originally Posted by Brad Y

the only bullets that will do it are the 50-55gr vmax, nosler ballistic tip, or sierra blitzking in the ballistic tip range. Apart from that check out the speer TNT,s but beware the 50gr bullet wont handle 22-250 or 220swift speeds. The 55gr model is made for those velocities. Red mist isnt achieved all the time, you probably need to hit them in a certian spot. Like hitting things low usually makes them fly off. When you see videos of red mist, remember that hundreds of shots have probably gone into making the 10 or so you see.

Thanks for the list. I was so sure a dead center of mass hit like the one i made would have caused that with the v-max bullet, the others you listed all follow identical concepts in bullet manufacturing and that is with a plastic polymer tip. I would have thought i would need a hollow-point to achieve such performance.

Since i handload all my bullets I will just handload a couple hundred rounds of each type you listed for next year's shoot. Hopefully I will have the desired results and show them to you all.

Thanks again for your advice.

[Brad Y]

These plastic tip bullets are essentially a hollow point, with a plastic tip to help initiate expansion as soon as they hit. The TNT hollow points are very thin jacketed (fluted i believe inside) that will do similar effect. The ballistics of the plastic tip bullets are better and they are more accurate for me.

Occasionally I get the red mist effect, when i blow holes out the other sides of foxes. But more often than not, it either just exits leaving a massive hole, or sometimes they dont exit on longer shots. It seems that going for an area with lots of blood carrying organs/vessels is the go. Like i said what you see on TV may be the result of hundreds possible thousands of shots and where specifically selected. If you want fun, aim for the point just above where the feet touch the gound with your 55gr vmax. I have sent rabbits a good six feet hight doing it.

[irish murphy]

In addition to brads findings,ive also used 52gn speer HP through my 22/250 and they will make red mist.But like brad said you have to hit them right.What ive found is the texas heart shot works well or a head on shot at the chest.The middle of body shot does work but not as much as either end into the whole body.The rifle ive found to be best for red mist is my 300wm.I shot a bunny not long ago with a 180gn rem CL and it dissapeared.Head tail and leg was all that was left.The best thing was the look on my mates face who was driving and had never seen hi power varminting before.His mouth was open for a long time hahahahhahhahahah.

[Brad Y]

Agreed murph, i got my first cat out at wandering fair up the clacker and it red misted beautifully. Came out his chest and it was a 55gr vmax too, probably around 3600fps as well... There you go tamalpias stay with your current load and shoot either end to come out of the other end.

[irish murphy]

Ill post some older pics just to show you some bunny sauce ive made.A few of you have seen some of these.Hope its not to gross for you others who havent.

300winchester magnum 180gn rem core/lokt





300winchester magnum with highland 150gn sp doing around 3150 fps.A centre shot not TH or head on.



Mates 22/250 with 55gn nosler shots going quick.



hare stung up the back side while running away at high speed.55gn balistic tip from 222.



Just for a bit of fun,i was using the old sxs for spotlighting and accidently loaded a couple of solids.The rabbit didnt feel a thing but my shoulder did hahahahah



55gn nosler BT out of my 22/250



same shot different pic



55gn balistic tip shot up the clacker from 22/250

[tamalpias]

That is alot of cool pics, I think I am a bit underpowered now!


That first picture that is amazing to see what little was left over. I wonder has anybody here tried a 25-06 round on ground squirrels. I was told that to is a devastating round because it is going out so fast. The only problem I have is even with just my 22-250 it bucks quite a bit so it is hard to see the carnage at the moment of impact. I have about 500 rounds of the 55gr v-max left from last years shoot, I will have to compare it with the 40gr. hollow points and see what the results of those will be. I'll reassess the performance afterwards and hopefully have pictures to show off when I come back. I might just stick with the v-max but my only problem is I cannot find 55gr. v-max with the boat-tail. do they even make such a thing and if so who might carry it because cabela's doesn't.

[Seven©]

"Red mist?" wtf? Dead is dead.

The pics posted in this thread are nothing more than cannon fodder for the anti's.

[Magnumsrule]

Has anyone used the new Varmit grenade? Those are some sweet pics lol. Not quite what my 17 Hmr or 22lr will accomplish but the ol 22 wiht stingers or the 17 with hollow points still blows a good hole threw em.

[irish murphy]

Originally Posted by Seven©

"Red mist?" wtf? Dead is dead.

The pics posted in this thread are nothing more than cannon fodder for the anti's.

If you dont like it DONT LOOK.There was a warning for you soft %$#@*


Ive used the varmint grenades in my 222 so far and will try them very soon in my 22/250.They want to go a bit quicker than i loaded them in my 222.

[Brad Y]

I didnt like the varmint grenades personally. If you have trouble seeing hits and stuff with the 22-250 then there is no point going the 25-06. You would probably want a 204 or 223.

[Jimmy243]

Always thought "red mist" was that observed finely spraying from an enemy's head when shot by a sniper from a LONG distance.
Seems varminters have pirated the term to refer to exploding fluffy bunnies with overpowered rifles. (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)

[irish murphy]

Im not a sniper and i dont shoot PEOPLE.I like to hunt critters and blow them to bits.Yes i know im a sick twisted man. ahhahahhahahhahahha

[petemi]

Hey Murph, sick and twisted ye may be, but we still admire thee!

[Dookiebutt]

You guys do have a lot of bunnies in Australia.

[meatloaf]

Originally Posted by irish murphy

Im not a sniper and i dont shoot PEOPLE.I like to hunt critters and blow them to bits.Yes i know im a sick twisted man. ahhahahhahahhahahha

Snipers got the name snipers buy hunting snipes not people. For red mist IDK .50 bmg? I hate bunnies hehehehehe.

[Hemmingway]

I wonder if "graphic image inside" has made anyone NOT open this thread...