Cooked up a new load (at least or me) tonight.
I got a box of 155gr Hornady A-MAX bullets from a close out sale, so I thought I would load them up.
Rifle is a Bushmaster LR-308 (new style, DPMS manufactured receiver) with a 16" barrel, 1/10 twist.
Assorted range brass, most on the 5th-6th cycle through the LR-308
Varget powder, loaded a range of 10 each from 44 grains to 46.5 grains.
Anyone else shoot this bullet? Where's the sweet spot?
308, A-MAX 155gr and Varget
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markthenewf
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Re: 308, A-MAX 155gr and Varget
I had a carbine-length (16-inch) 308 AR at one point for which I started loading up both the AMAX and Nosler BT rounds (110, 155, and 168 gr). However the rifle jammed all the time and I got rid of it so I really didn't get much of a chance to experiment with it. I THINK the Nosler 150 grain ballistic tips and Barnes 150 grain SPBT grouped 1 MOA or better with a charge of 47 grains of Varget. I didn't have a chrono at the time, so I can't say what the velocities were.
The AMAX and VMAX bullets are used in the Hornady TAP ammo, so I'm in the process of working up some equivalent loads using Varget as well. As a go-by, I did some initial measures of TAP factory ammo. I took 2 boxes of each weight and randomly pulled rounds out, measured them, and then took the average.
Hornady TAP 308 FPD, 110 gr (VMax Bullet)
Overal length: 2.751"
Length over ogive: 2.178"
Weight: 329.4 gr
Published info
Muzzle velocity (24" BBL) 3166 fps
Drop @ 100 yd 1.4
Drop @ 200 yd 0.0
Drop @ 300 yd -6.9
Drop @ 400 yd -20.9
Drop @ 500 yd -44.1
Hornady TAP 308 FPD, 155 gr (AMax Bullet)
Overal length: 2.802"
Length over ogive: 2.178"
Weight: 358.9 gr
Published info
Muzzle velocity (24" BBL) 2785 fps
Drop @ 100 yd 1.9
Drop @ 200 yd 0.0
Drop @ 300 yd -8
Drop @ 400 yd -23.3
Drop @ 500 yd -47.3
Hornady TAP 308 FPD, 168 gr (VMax Bullet)
Overal length: 2.801"
Length over ogive: 2.175"
Weight: 373.9 gr
Published info
Muzzle velocity (24" BBL) 2700 fps
Drop @ 100 yd 2
Drop @ 200 yd 0.0
Drop @ 300 yd -8.4
Drop @ 400 yd -24.3
Drop @ 500 yd -48.9
I now own an 18" DSA FAL, so I'm not looking at accuracy, though! It's a billion degrees here in Texas, so I don't know when I'm going to actually get out to do some shooting. First thing I have to do is shoot a few of the TAP rounds in order to provide my baseline.
My last experience with the AMAX is shooting the 168 gr. in my CMP Garand using 42 grains of varget and CCI-200 primers. Was a bit slow of a round, but shot fantastic (~1.5 MOA).
The AMAX and VMAX bullets are used in the Hornady TAP ammo, so I'm in the process of working up some equivalent loads using Varget as well. As a go-by, I did some initial measures of TAP factory ammo. I took 2 boxes of each weight and randomly pulled rounds out, measured them, and then took the average.
Hornady TAP 308 FPD, 110 gr (VMax Bullet)
Overal length: 2.751"
Length over ogive: 2.178"
Weight: 329.4 gr
Published info
Muzzle velocity (24" BBL) 3166 fps
Drop @ 100 yd 1.4
Drop @ 200 yd 0.0
Drop @ 300 yd -6.9
Drop @ 400 yd -20.9
Drop @ 500 yd -44.1
Hornady TAP 308 FPD, 155 gr (AMax Bullet)
Overal length: 2.802"
Length over ogive: 2.178"
Weight: 358.9 gr
Published info
Muzzle velocity (24" BBL) 2785 fps
Drop @ 100 yd 1.9
Drop @ 200 yd 0.0
Drop @ 300 yd -8
Drop @ 400 yd -23.3
Drop @ 500 yd -47.3
Hornady TAP 308 FPD, 168 gr (VMax Bullet)
Overal length: 2.801"
Length over ogive: 2.175"
Weight: 373.9 gr
Published info
Muzzle velocity (24" BBL) 2700 fps
Drop @ 100 yd 2
Drop @ 200 yd 0.0
Drop @ 300 yd -8.4
Drop @ 400 yd -24.3
Drop @ 500 yd -48.9
I now own an 18" DSA FAL, so I'm not looking at accuracy, though! It's a billion degrees here in Texas, so I don't know when I'm going to actually get out to do some shooting. First thing I have to do is shoot a few of the TAP rounds in order to provide my baseline.
My last experience with the AMAX is shooting the 168 gr. in my CMP Garand using 42 grains of varget and CCI-200 primers. Was a bit slow of a round, but shot fantastic (~1.5 MOA).
Cheers!
Mark
___________________________
Let's see, Texas checklist: Good wife, chevy pickup, dog, big TV. Done!
CHL sent in on 08/16/09 - PIN recieved 09/15/09 - Approved status 11/09/09 - Plastic in hand 11/16/09 = 90 Days
Mark
___________________________
Let's see, Texas checklist: Good wife, chevy pickup, dog, big TV. Done!
CHL sent in on 08/16/09 - PIN recieved 09/15/09 - Approved status 11/09/09 - Plastic in hand 11/16/09 = 90 Days
Re: 308, A-MAX 155gr and Varget
Thanks Mark.
I did get to the range with these and yes they shoot great. We had a really tough side wind that was gusting 15-30 mph the day I shot the batch. I shot from prone to get the best platform I could under those conditions. Even with the wind, shot groups at 200 yards were good, all +/- 1-1/2" on elevation and +/- 6" on windage. (to be expected I think)
I did get to the range with these and yes they shoot great. We had a really tough side wind that was gusting 15-30 mph the day I shot the batch. I shot from prone to get the best platform I could under those conditions. Even with the wind, shot groups at 200 yards were good, all +/- 1-1/2" on elevation and +/- 6" on windage. (to be expected I think)