V-Max or ELDs, Which do you prefer?

[Alchase]

As the title says, I am curious to your opinions of the Hornady V-Max vs the ELDs, in .223 Rem.
I have been shooting V-max off and on for awhile. I shot a few hundred of each today, granted I was not shooting past 100 yards, so my experience of how they perform at longer ranges is limited.

[Yondering]

Prefer for what use? The Vmax is a lighter range of bullets intended for varmint shooting. The ELD is a heavier range with high ballistic coefficient intended for long distance target shooting.

[b23]

I've shot the .22 Caliber 53gr Vmax and .24 caliber 75gr Vmax the most, but I've also shot quite a few of the old 52gr Amax, which I believe is the same bullet as the new 52gr ELD-M just with their new "Heat Shield" tip.  Shot some 175gr ELD-X in my 7mm Blaser mag but only a very few of them and only on paper.  I'm using 80gr ELD-M in my new 224 Terminator but so far, only on paper.

The Vmax, Amax, and the ELD-M/X have all shot very well in everything I've loaded them in so I can't really say I like one over the other.  I think a lot of it is creative marketing on Hornady's part so they can have a line of bullets that checks every box.

My biggest bitch with Hornady has always been their bullets seem to have a good amount of variance in them from one to the other.  Doesn't seem to affect how well they shoot, but it does kind of annoy me.  The new Hornady aluminium tip bullets they have out called the A-Tip is definitely in a whole different league than the rest of Hornady's bullets because these new A-Tip have next to no variance in them and are easily the most consistent bullets I've ever put a set of calipers on.  Unfortunately, it doesn't appear they're going to make any in 22 caliber, only 24 cal and up.

[Alchase]

Prefer for what use? The Vmax is a lighter range of bullets intended for varmint shooting. The ELD is a heavier range with high ballistic coefficient intended for long distance target shooting.

Don't laugh too hard.
I am on a quest to find "one bullet" to use for both Home defense and at times extend out to 300 yards for the occasion pig. The biggest problem is finding a range here that extends to 200 or 300 yards.

[b23]

Prefer for what use? The Vmax is a lighter range of bullets intended for varmint shooting. The ELD is a heavier range with high ballistic coefficient intended for long distance target shooting.

Don't laugh too hard.
I am on a quest to find "one bullet" to use for both Home defense and at times extend out to 300 yards for the occasion pig. The biggest problem is finding a range here that extends to 200 or 300 yards.

I'd think something in 300 Blackout would be much better than 223 then.  If you have to stay with the 223, I probably pick the heaviest bullet my guns twist would shoot.

If your 223 is an AR platform it likely has a pretty fast twist barrel so you'll be able to shoot some of the heaviest ELD-M's.  If it's a bolt gun it probably has either a 1-12 or 1-9 twist so you'll be more limited.  If you do have at least a 1-9tw maybe take a look at Hornady's 70gr GMX bullet.

[Alchase]

Prefer for what use? The Vmax is a lighter range of bullets intended for varmint shooting. The ELD is a heavier range with high ballistic coefficient intended for long distance target shooting.

Don't laugh too hard.
I am on a quest to find "one bullet" to use for both Home defense and at times extend out to 300 yards for the occasion pig. The biggest problem is finding a range here that extends to 200 or 300 yards.

I'd think something in 300 Blackout would be much better than 223 then.  If you have to stay with the 223, I probably pick the heaviest bullet my guns twist would shoot.

If your 223 is an AR platform it likely has a pretty fast twist barrel so you'll be able to shoot some of the heaviest ELD-M's.  If it's a bolt gun it probably has either a 1-12 or 1-9 twist so you'll be more limited.  If you do have at least a 1-9tw maybe take a look at Hornady's 70gr GMX bullet.

IT's a 1-9 twist AR. It shoots the 55 gr VMAX and ELD-Ms very well. Will have to try the 70gr GMXs

[CaNINE]

The ELD line will be better at penetrating and stopping thin skinned game animals

[Alchase]

The ELD line will be better at penetrating and stopping thin skinned game animals

Thanks, that would rule out wild pigs then 

[gadwall]

Prefer for what use? The Vmax is a lighter range of bullets intended for varmint shooting. The ELD is a heavier range with high ballistic coefficient intended for long distance target shooting.

Yep   

The ELD also does well on deer size game but I have no intel on how it performs on elk.  That damn thing flies as good as any bullet out there though.