Norma Hornady V-MAX (Norma-loaded) 39 gr

.204 Ruger · 39 gr · Hornady V-MAX (Norma-loaded) · #20156502. Maker-published figures, velocity measured in a 24″ barrel. Below: the drop chart, the wind, the energy, and how far it is an ethical hunting load — then shoot it.

Shoot this load through the glass →Hunt with it

G1 BC: 0.275maker G1
Muzzle velocity: 3,806 fps24″ test barrel · ~25 fps per inch
Muzzle energy: 1,254 ft·lb39 gr at 3,806 fps
Transonic: 800 ydMach 1.2 — where the solver stops being sure
500 yd: 1.8 mil363 ft·lb on arrival
Twist: 1:9typical factory twist for the solve

Drop chart · 100 yd zero · 10 mph full-value wind

Range yd	Elev mil	Elev MOA	Drop in	Wind mil	Wind MOA	Wind in	Vel fps	Energy ft·lb	TOF s
50	0.3	1.1	-0.6	0.1	0.4	0.2	3,593	1,118	0.04
100	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.2	0.8	0.8	3,390	995	0.08
150	0.0	0.1	-0.2	0.3	1.2	1.8	3,197	885	0.13
200	0.2	0.6	-1.2	0.5	1.6	3.3	3,013	786	0.18
250	0.4	1.2	-3.2	0.6	2.0	5.3	2,836	697	0.23
300	0.6	2.0	-6.3	0.7	2.5	7.8	2,666	616	0.28
350	0.8	2.9	-10.6	0.9	3.0	11.0	2,503	542	0.34
400	1.1	3.9	-16.3	1.0	3.5	14.7	2,345	476	0.40
450	1.5	5.0	-23.6	1.2	4.1	19.2	2,193	416	0.47
500	1.8	6.2	-32.7	1.4	4.7	24.4	2,047	363	0.54
550	2.2	7.6	-43.9	1.5	5.3	30.5	1,906	315	0.62
600	2.7	9.1	-57.4	1.7	6.0	37.5	1,772	272	0.70
650	3.2	10.8	-73.8	1.9	6.7	45.5	1,645	234	0.79
700	3.7	12.7	-93.3	2.2	7.5	54.6	1,526	202	0.88
750	4.3	14.8	-116.6	2.4	8.3	65.0	1,416	174	0.98
800	5.0	17.2	-144.2	2.7	9.1	76.5	1,316	150	1.09
850	5.8	19.9	-176.9	2.9	10.0	89.4	1,227	130	1.21
900	6.6	22.8	-215.3	3.2	11.0	103.6	1,152	115	1.34
950	7.6	26.2	-260.3	3.5	12.0	118.9	1,091	103	1.47
1000	8.7	29.8	-312.6	3.8	12.9	135.3	1,041	94	1.61

Orange rows are transonic (Mach 1.2–1.0), red subsonic. Elevation is the come-up; wind is the bullet's drift for 10 mph at 90°, so halve it for 5 mph and for a 30° wind. The app builds this for your barrel length, your altitude and today's weather, and lets you true the MV against what you actually hit.

Energy on the animal

Max ethical range, vitals shot

Coyote / varmint600 ydKeeps 250 ft·lb and expansion velocity to 600 yd. Behind the shoulder only — not a bone-breaking bullet.

PronghornWrong bulletTarget / varmint construction — not for this animal.

Whitetail deerWrong bulletTarget / varmint construction — not for this animal.

Mule deerWrong bulletTarget / varmint construction — not for this animal.

Wild hogWrong bulletTarget / varmint construction — not for this animal.

Black bearWrong bulletTarget / varmint construction — not for this animal.

ElkWrong bulletTarget / varmint construction — not for this animal.

MooseWrong bulletTarget / varmint construction — not for this animal.

Energy floors: Coyote 250 · Pronghorn 800 · Whitetail 1,000 · Mule 1,000 · Wild 1,000 · Black 1,200 · Elk 1,500 · Moose 1,500 ft·lb (see the sources on each animal in the app). Expansion floor from the bullet family's published minimum impact velocity. A bone-breaking shoulder shot wants a bonded, partition or monolithic bullet regardless of energy.

Same cartridge

All .204 Ruger factory loads · best for coyote · best for whitetail · best for wild · best for elk

Source: https://www.norma-ammunition.com/products/hunting/hornady-v-max/hornady-v-max-204-ruger-39gr---20156502 · 24" barrel per product page ("zeroed with a 610 mm / 24 in barrel"); maker bullet descript