80 Grain Amax projectiles

[mike H]

I started a new barrel with 80 grain Amax`s, had my share of out of group shots. Bedding and pressure certainly contributed. With the projectile seated 16 thou into the lands, the junction of the boat-tail and body, is level with the neck/shoulder of the case. I was told by another gunsmith and shooter, that the body of the bullet should be foward of the neck/shoulder area. I was going to get the throat lengthened , but after some bedding work, and reducing the powder charge, it will be left alone for a while. I have yet to chronograph the current loads, but they hold up at 8oo metres. Experience with two other barrels, and 80 grain Sierra`s, showed that it didn`t take long for the throat to wear. Now that it is working I will keep a close eye on the throat. This is the first time I have seated into the lands, loaded rounds extract readily without de-bulleting, something that should be considered.

Make sure that the projectile body is foward of the case shoulder, and go from there.and sometimes it takes a little while to work out the best approach.
Mike.

[richmac]

Hi Mike
Just a matter of interest...what barrel are you using....I am using a 7 in 1 twist 6 groove True flite.

[Malcolm Hill]

Hi Bob
The rings and deformation near the tips of the Amax's is common, I've seen it often. People using compressed loads and/or tight neck tensions will more than likely experience it at sometime. The Amax is very thin and soft in the jacket in that area and the seating sleeve needs to be a perfect fit. The ones in the Redding seaters that most use don't seem to have the right profile and cause this problem. I made a new one to overcome the problem and spoke to Redding regarding the issue. They sent me a specially polished seating stem which also didn't mark the bullets. I also have been having issues with fliers in groups in the last few months with the Amax with the offending shots ending up about 2 minutes out of otherwise tight groups. Barrel is a 1 in 7 Krieger. Seems like I'm not the only one.
Regards Malcolm

[Chris Thomas]

My Lapua - 80 Amax groups are shocking . Remington cases and Amax are a lot better but i also get un explained fliers with the Amax. Might have to give the SMK's another run

[KHGS]

That will leave more A-Max's for me!!!
Keith H.

[Chris Thomas]

Keith

Can you tell us about your Reamer specs then so we all can get the Amax's flying straight

Regards

Chris

[mike H]

Hi Mike
Just a matter of interest...what barrel are you using....I am using a 7 in 1 twist 6 groove True flite.

1 in 7 twist Lawton. Projectiles moly-coated. Now using Lapua cases, bought in a rash moment, before I checked the price. Happy with the cases and the barrel, all I would do next time is make sure the throat is a bit longer, when the barrel is first chambered. I like the Amax`s, I also use the 208 grain, 308 calibre ones, in Match rifle.
Mike.

[KHGS]

Keith

Can you tell us about your Reamer specs then so we all can get the Amax's flying straight

Regards

Chris

Nice try! There is a little more to it than just specs though.
Keith H.

[Chris Thomas]

I'm also using a Lawton but mine is a 7.5 twist

[RDavies]

How do these long pills work in 8" twist barrels? I am hoping to have mine up and running soon.

[KHGS]

The A-Max 80 grn bullets will work well in TRUE 8" twist barrels. I believe 8" twist to be close to borderline & if the barrel happens to be 8.250" twist as some 8" twist barrels are, then they may not be happy. Better to go for a 7" or 7.5" twist to be safe. But if you already have an 8" twist it will be well worth trying & will probably work fine, so long as the chamber is right.
Keith H.

[justinp]

Resurrecting an old thread here but I am about at my wit's end with the 80gr a-max. When they shoot, they shoot really well but I cannot cure the flyer problem - and these aren't just out of group fliers, they are WTF!? flyers, most commonly about 2-3moa out of the group.

I've noted the base to ogive variance on the lot I have (#228326, Oct 08 mfg) is over 10thou in ES, with weight variations up to .4gr.

I have .100 of freebore on the 8"twist true-flite barrel currently on the gun I'm shooting, which should be adequate for this projectile. I use Lapua brass and CCI 450 primer under a load of 25.8 gr of 08'

It seems like Hornady QC is terrible, or was when these were made. It's ironic that I measured a bunch of 50gr Hornady v-max and they had significantly better runout than these A-Maxes

Real pity as in BC terms, the a-max is the only projectile available to us 'little bore' fellows that can hold a candle to the Dyer .308 155gr

[bobeager]

I had same batch 228326, same problem. Tried everything cases, primers, loads, moly etc...no go, still got 1 to 2 moa flyers. My box manufactured in October '08 measured all over the place. Gave up...went to Sierra MK and shot a 60.8 at 600 metres. (using a 7 twist kreiger). I have a second box manuf. later in the month and they appear to be a little better but I would not use them except at club level shoots.
Maybe the later manufacture AMax's are better?

[justinp]

I might try to get a box of current lot A-Max to see if there is any difference.

Not going to pursue the current 08 lot I have any further. Waste of time and money. Will e-mail Hornady and give them the straight news and ask if they had any problems around that time. If they're stand-up, I might get a reply out of them.

[Barry T]

Hello fellow A-MAX 80 gr users,my box of 600 a-max lot# is2090207, the first number is worn off a bit so i am guessing it is a 2. i will be glad to see the last of these projectiles, 200 + left to go, i am very glad i got them cheap. they are only good for shang high shooting and then they would be no good.next week is their last chance.then i am using nosler's or opening my wallet a lot more and buying sierra's.i have never used a projectile that is so bad. i should pull the red tips out and make them hollow points, that's . from barry t