Need 52 Gr. AMAX load using various powders

[Sam Adams]

I am in the process of testing loads for my Bushie AR. I am comparing 2 bullets, the 52 gr. Sierra Match King and the 52 gr. Hornady AMAX. I am using 3 different powders: Win 748, IMR 4064 and Varget. I have the current Sierra loading manual, so I have the range of safe loads for the SMKs, but the only Hornady manual I have is so old that the AMAX line wasn't even out yet. Can someone please provide me with the minumum and maximum loads from the current Hornady manual for the 52 gr. AMAX using these 3 powders?

Of course, if someone who has loaded the AMAX over any of these powders can tell me their most accurate load, that would help immeasurably in narrowing the range of powder weights that I'd have to test, thereby saving me lots of time, powder and bullets.

Thanks, in advance, for any help or suggestions that any of you provide. I will post results sometime after Thanksgiving weekend, assuming that my range doesn't wash away from all of the rain that we've gotten and are forecast to receive over the next week.

 

[Sam Adams]

Anyone? Bueller?

 

[Sam Adams]

Last try...anyone? Bueller?

 

[Zak Smith]

A friend of mine used a polymer tip 52gr with a max load of Benchmark with good success at the ITRC this year.

-z

 

[Sam Adams]

Zak

Can you please try to get some details from your friend about the load, i.e. the exact type of bullet, the C.O.L. and the amount of powder. I don't have Benchmark, but I can get it if it is that good (and I was undecided between Benchmark and Varget, so I don't need a lot of convincing). Thanks much.

 

[Zak Smith]

Yeah, I'll get the specifics and post them here.

 

[Zak Smith]

It turns out it was for 55gr BT's and Blitz Kings:

Here is the load. XM193 brass (all LC 02 &03), 25.2 grains Benchmark, 55
grain nosler Ballistic tip, WSR primers, 2.260 O.A.L. No crimp. It
shoots sub MOA in all the AR's I've tried it in. Velocity out of a 16"
barrel is 2925 fps. I have substituted the 55 grain sierra blitz king
and got the same results.

The 52 and 55 are so close, you could take this one and possibly bump it up a couple tenths.

 

[Sam Adams]

Many thanks. When I get the Benchmark, I'll let you know the results. In the meantime, I'll also post results whenever I get to the range in the next week or so.

 

[GooseGestapo]

My best load for my bushmaster was with 55gr Sierra BTSP over 21.5gr of IMR4198. It would show .800" five shot groups.

With 748 I used 26.9gr (measure threw this), and accuracy was nearly as good. Several B/A rifles I've had preferd this to the 4198's. A Rem788 would make 55gr Hornady (w/o cannulure) all touch for ~0.5" groups.

Varget is OK with the 52-55gr bullets, but is better with 68gr and heavier. I just can't get anywhere near the max load in a case for 55gr or lighter bullets. Ditto RL-15, which I prefer over Varget or VV-N135.

25.0-26.0gr of H335 is just as good as the 748. Most manuals list 25.3gr of H335 as max but I have used 26.0 with satisfaction.

Your rifle will have its own preferences but the above were the best loads I've tried. 26.0gr of H4895 was good in one friends rifle too. I could never get IMR 3031 to deliver it's promises either, but is a "fair" powder.

All the above were seated to 2.260" OAL in order to function through the magazines.

My Rem mod-7 has a very much shorter throat than the mil-std. chamber and requires a Sierra BT or HP to be seated to 2.223" oal maximum. The V-max 55 and 60gr bullets can be seated to 2.225" oal for a .005" off the lands in the little Remington. It has a 1/12" twist, but shoots 63-65gr Sierra's very accurately (at or under 1" at ~2,850-2,900fps)
I prefer Federal 205-M's, but Win SR work nearly as good.

I found that the .223 gives best accuracy at or near the published max's. Especially with the Hodgdon data.
With your Bushmaster, OAL to touch the lands will be over 2.3" so will require that they be single loaded. I found that my Bushmaster gave near equal accuracy with ammo loaded to max to function through magazine which is 2.26"oal.

I had a M-A parts flat-top upper with 20" Wilson HEAVY match barrel that would shoot .5" with most any premium bullet and the 26.9gr of either BL-C2 or Win748. Berger, Sierra, Hornady, it didn't matter!!!

 

[Zak Smith]

I've also got the "Camp Perry" loads from this year if anyone wants them.

 

[Sam Adams]

Goose - thanks very much for the data. I'll have to try out loads near the max published amounts, after working up to them of course.

Zak - Send along the Camp Perry info - those guys (maybe including you?) surely have lots more experience loading for ARs than I have.

 

[Zak Smith]

Nope, I've just got a friend who's in the HP scene.

Here's the data