5.45x39 V-Max is here!

Quick picture of the V-Max rounds in the middle. On the left is Russian surplus 5.45x39, on the right is Wolf Military Classic 124 gr. HP. A few of my favorite things...

V-Max 7.62x39 and 5,45x39 ballistics gel shots at Hornady TAP

I hadn't realized that Hornady has listed the V-Max 7.62x39 and 5.45x39 loads on their TAP Law Enforcement side website. Cool to see them marketing these loads to LE. But stumbling upon this I also discovered that they have gel shots of 7.62x39 and 5.45x39 (too bad it still won't be here until July). If you like to see jello shots of your favorite rounds like me, these are great because ComBloc rounds testing are always rare.

EDIT:

It looks like they cut the corner on the 5.45x39 testing, it is identical to the 60 Grain .223 load. Granted they should be all but identical in since the 5.45x39 is just slightly thinner bullet at the same weight but it isn't really an 5.45 shot at this point.

5.45x39 Custom loads- Frangible, Soft Point, and Incendiary

As I discussed about the V-Max delay (which Hornady has confirmed that it won't be produced until July), 5.45x39 is pretty limited because FMJ is common in surplus and a lot of the commercial hollowpoint doesn't actually expand, although there is a report that by looking a bullet construction by "Jack-O' that the Barnaul Hollowpoint and Wolf Military Classic 70 grain loads may fragment/expand (no gel tests yet).

Clark Custom Cartridge http://clarkcustomcartridge.com/ is offering frangible 55 grain and soft point 70 grain ammo, along with a incendiary load (those aren't my cup of tea though). They also have some interesting expanding options for 7.62x54r. I'm trading emails with Chris Clark now to get more info.

Hornady 5.45x39 V-Max Delayed

After going past the 4/1/10 arrival date, MidwayUSA updated the arrival date of this load to 7/23/10.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=390432

http://www.hornady.com/store/5.45X39-60-gr-V-MAX-Steel-Case/

I've been waiting for the 60 gr. Hornady steel cased with a V-Max bullet to come out for awhile now. Honestly, the promise of that load was the tipping point for me to actually get a 5.45x39 rifle. I figured at with that load it would be a good "urban" load similar to their TAPs ammo and the AK74 would become my home defense carbine. I'm still somewhat hesitant to use the 7.62x39 V-Max load in my 1950s subdivision. I'm just as hesistant to use the MilSurp 5.45x39 since the bullet holds together so well.

Well it looks like I'll be waiting a little longer to transition to that AK74. I might try to do a 7.62x39 vs. 5.45x39 test in late Spring/Early Summer similar to the one over at 230 Grain:

http://230grain.com/showthread.php?t=65428

(I'll edit for links later, I'm on my iPhone with this aweful Blogwriter app, and it slows me down enough to where I won't be able to get them in before my wife is ready to leave for Easter Service!)