HRNDY 220 SWFT 55GR VMAX 20/200

Description

Hornady’s Varmint Express line is built around a single purpose: reliable, fast-expanding performance on varmints at the ranges where a flat-shooting cartridge like the .220 Swift earns its keep. The 55-grain V-MAX bullet is Hornady’s polymer-tipped design, and the tip serves a mechanical function rather than a cosmetic one — it initiates expansion consistently on impact across a wide range of velocities, which matters when shots range from close to several hundred yards and impact velocity varies considerably. That rapid, controlled fragmentation is what makes it effective on small targets where energy dump and minimal exit are both desirable.

The V-MAX also carries a G1 ballistic coefficient of 0.255, which helps the bullet hold velocity and resist wind deflection better than a blunt or flat-based projectile of the same weight. Sectional density of 0.157 is appropriate for the caliber and application — deep enough penetration for clean kills on prairie dogs, ground squirrels, and similar quarry without overbuilding a bullet that would resist the rapid expansion the design is meant to deliver.

Hornady loads this ammunition on brass cases they produce themselves, selected for dimensional consistency and the ability to handle repeated chambering cycles if you reload. Primers and propellant are matched to the specific load rather than selected generically, which keeps pressure and velocity consistent from lot to lot — a practical concern for anyone doing load development or trying to confirm a zero across different boxes. Muzzle velocity is 3,680 feet per second, making it among the faster factory loads available for the cartridge and a good match for the .220 Swift’s reputation as a high-velocity varmint round.