Hornady A-Max vs. Sierra Matchking

[Bear2000]

Hey,

I've been using Sierra Matchking 168/175 bullets exclusively for loads for my Tikka .308 Varmint with pretty good success. Does anyone have any thoughts, though, on A-Max vs. Matchkings?

Thanks,
Bear

 

[Horsemany]

Here's what a fellow benchrest shooter and myself have found out about the 168 grain Matchking and A Max. The A max varies less in weight, length, and meplat uniformity. The A Max also varies less on the target. The Matchkings are very good, but produce a slight flier every 5th round or so for me. I have shot A Max's in the .1s and .2's several times with a bone stock 700P. I don't think the A max's have ever shot over .5 in that gun. Yeah I like A max's. The 162gr A max in .284 cal is one of the best too IMO.

 

[Hutch]

Horsemany, how would your rate the Lapua Scenar, the Berger VLD, and the Nosler J4? I've been loading the 168SMK for my 700VS, but I'm starting to develop an interest in 1000yd shooting. I'm told that the .308 can't keep the 168 above transonic to that range, so I'm back to the drawing board.

 

[Horsemany]

I haven't shot most of the other bullets you mentioned but have shot with people who did. The Scenars and VLD'shave quite a reputation and I've seen great groups from both. I'm not familiar with the J4's. The VLD's like to be loaded right into the lands for optimum performance in most cases. This can be problematic in some guns by not leaving enough bullet in the neck of the case. IMO you won't do much better than the A-Max. THe ballistic coefficient is rediculous as the ogive is basically straight from the tip to the cylindrical portion of the bullet that touches the rifling. That is to say the ogive has almost no curvature if that makes sense.

There are several people at my club that switched from MK's to A Max's and I can see why. Of course every gun is different and maybe yours will like the Sierra's better.

WHat powder are you running? I have taken a liking to 44 grains of Varget and CCI BR primers with a .010" jump to the lands with A Max's.

 

[BsChoy]

I loved 30 cal 168 Amaxes in my old 308...they are very consistent

 

[Bear2000]

Thanks for the info. I will definitely be giving the A-Maxs a try. The 178s should be fine in my 1:11, 23.6" Tikka heavy barrel, correct?

 

[Hutch]

Horsemany, I stumbled across a load a friend had developed, which was 47.1 of H380. It chronos almost exactly 2600fps with the 168SMK. It shoots great (<.5moa at 100), but the experienced 1k shooters tell me that bullets start to stray as they pass thru the transonic speed zone. My hope is to find a really slippery 155 gr bullet that'll stay supersonic to at least 1k. Lapua has a great rep, but if Hornady can work, they have better availability. Cheaper too, from what I can see on the Midway site.

 

[Horsemany]

Hutch

All the 1000yd shooting I'm familiar with use bullets on the heavier end. THat's not to say the theory of keeping things transonic is a bad one either. But I'm sure there's a reason the 1000 loads you see on benchrest forums almost always are loads using extrememly heavy bullets. I always thought the heavier bullets while slower initially, retained more velocity over the long haul and usually were faster at those extreme ranges. I may be wrong though I've never chronoed anything that far. I'm sure someone with more experience than myself at long range can help with the numbers.

 

[JFettig]

The deal with the Scenar is that its a light bullet with a super high BC, other light bullets don't have that high of a BC. You need the BC to get them there supersonic. Heavier bullets have a high BC, this is why they are used over light bullets. I've seen some high bc 175s hit the 1k mark at 1200fps out of a 7.62, its ideal but hard to get an accurate 2700+fps load with that heavy of a bullet thats accurate.

Jon