Some A-MAX range results for anyone wondering if Hornady bullets are any good.

[MCMXI]

DISCLAIMER: The intent of this post is not to start a huge argument as to who makes the best bullets. This is simply to show what might be expected from a specific brand, type and weight of bullet. In the last few months I've switched from Sierra to Hornady bullets for .223 Rem, .308 Win and .300 Win Mag. Last weekend during load development I shot these two 5-shot groups from my .300 Win Mag following the OCW "round-robin" method. The loads were 208gr A-MAX (Hornady) bullets seated 0.020" (left target) and 0.010" (right target) off the lands, 71.6gr of Reloder 22, CCI 250 primers and W-W Super cases (third loading and neck-sized only). The first measures 5/8" but if I hadn't screwed up on the last shot it could have been less than 3/8". The second group measures 3/8". These were both shot from the prone position with an AI bipod but no other form of support. I shot these same bullets at 600 yards on Sunday but added 0.1gr of powder with the bullet 0.020" off the lands with good results. I'm sure that any errors were my doing and not the fault of the bullet or loads.

 

[NCsmitty]

I would suspect that you're pretty happy with those results.
It's really gratifying when the time spent working up one load then another finally culminates in a group with all holes touching, and you then are able to consistently duplicate the results.
There's nothing like that confidence that you get knowing that this is the load.
It also proves that one needs to give other brands a chance instead of using the crowd favorite's.
As most people know, not all rifles will shoot the same bullet well.
Nice shooting!

NCsmitty

 

[Horsemany]

1858

Great shooting. I too am a big fan of Amax's. I've shot the Amax's in 308 and 7mm. They've both offered much better consistency than the equivalent Matchking. They have a more uniform meplat, less weight variation, and greater accuracy than MK's every box I've bought. Several competitors at our 300yd matches are using them, including me.

 

[MCMXI]

NCsmitty and Horsemany, thanks ... I'm very pleased with the results and the consistent performance of the A-MAX bullets. I'm now shooting 208gr, 178gr and 80gr A-MAX bullets in .300 Win Mag, .308 Win and .223 Rem and they've proven to be outstanding with high BC numbers. I'm not sure if they make good hunting bullets or not ... that sure would be an added bonus.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Pretty sweet 10 yard group - now let's see the 25 yard groups! (you didn't say at what distance).

 

[Gewehr98]

As bullet prices continue to climb...

It's never a bad idea to shop around.

I have always been a big user of Sierra MatchKings, especially those .308" versions in 155gr Palma and 168gr HPBTM.

Sierra's prices have risen considerably, making me look at alternatives.

Besides my stash of the excellent Lapua Scenars and D46 bullets, I've recently purchased a bunch of the Hornady A-Max and 168gr HPBTM bullets, at a considerably better price than their Sierra counterparts.

I can't wait to get the loaded rounds out to the range, and compare them to the Sierra MatchKing loads. Something tells me I'll have a smile on my face that would mimic 1858's after shooting the groups pictured above.

 

[MCMXI]

Pretty sweet 10 yard group - now let's see the 25 yard groups! (you didn't say at what distance).

If you look at the target on the right you'll see that the range is shown as 100 yards ...

I have always been a big user of Sierra MatchKings, especially those .308" versions in 155gr Palma and 168gr HPBTM.

Me too ... and they're excellent bullets. I've been using the SMK HPBT 168gr for years along with the SMK 190gr and 77gr bullets more recently and I have absolutely nothing but good things to say about their quality, consistency and accuracy.

As for the targets above, I also shot two other 71.6gr loads with the bullets seated 0.005" and 0.015" off the lands on the same day. The 0.005" load was basically CRAP and the 0.015" load was decent but still not as good as the 0.010" and 0.020" loads though. I was interested to see a different point of impact between the 0.010" and 0.020" groups. I've read here that higher velocity loads hit lower on the target (assuming the same point of aim). That left me wondering if moving the bullet out 0.010" reduced the velocity a little.

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

I've read here that higher velocity loads hit lower on the target (assuming the same point of aim). That left me wondering if moving the bullet out 0.010" reduced the velocity a little.

What? No Chronograph information?

Prone? Well done!

What rifle? Barrel? Rate of twist?

I shoot Sierra's and Speers in my hunting rifles. I don't shoot the A-Max, but there is the Hornady 190gn BTSP that my 30-338 has a liking for.

-Steve

 

[MCMXI]

What? No Chronograph information?

I already got chronograph data a few weeks prior for the 71.6gr load with the bullet seated 0.020" off the lands. The average velocity was 2853 fps and I didn't feel like setting up the chrony again to see if there's a difference with the bullet seated 0.005", 0.010", 0.015" and 0.020" off the lands.

Prone? Well done!

Prone with a bipod ... but thanks.

What rifle? Barrel? Rate of twist?

AI clone (700 long action) with a Krieger 26" barrel with a 1:10 twist.

 

[RavenVT100]

I get similar results to the OP using A-Max bullets and would recommend them. They're quality.

 

[kelbro]

AMax bullets shoot very well in my 308 and a couple of 223s.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

I bought some Amax but haven't loaded any yet. I did load and shoot with great results the .310 Vmax in my Mini30. my handload w/them shoot as good as the Lapua match.

 

[Sam Adams]

Fantastic results. I've got a bunch of AMAXs at home, mostly 168s and 178s, though also some in 52 grain. I haven't done much reloading with them, but a friend of mine that's reloaded hundreds of thousands of rounds and who shoots regularly at 600 yards swears by the AMAX (and he likes the SMK).

Anyone have loads for the 178 in .308 cases for a boltie (Rem 700 preferred)?? I'm looking to compare them to the 175 SMKs, for which I've already got a few good starting loads. I have Win 748, Varget and RL15 available, along with Fed 210M primers and fire-formed brass.

 

[Poper]

I'm not sure if they make good hunting bullets or not ... that sure would be an added bonus.

It is my understanding that the A-Max construction is similar to the Spire Point with the Interlock design.
Because of the violent initiation of expansion often associated with tipped bullets, you might be better served to use Hornady's Interbond bullet. It is essentially the A-Max with a bonded core-to-jacket design. I use them in my .300WSM with no complaints. I have found weight matching the Interbonds helps duplicate the consistency of the A-Max.

I hope this is helpful.

Poper