80 grainers

[littlebang556]

Sierra 80 grainers are tried and tested and have for some time been atop the list of projectile of choice for 5.56 shooters.

Does anyone have any thought on the Nosler and A-Max 80 gr progys?

Is there anyone out there getting good scores with them and if so what loads are they using (is load more or less powder?...more or less jump?...and so on)

Mainly asking because of 53% increase in Sierra prices otherwise I would stay with what I know.

Cheers

Rob Alman

[Malcolm Hill]

Rob
Most shooters over my way have changed over to the 80gn Amax for performance reasons and not cost. We all used to get an odd unexplained flyer with Sierra's that don't seem to happen with the Amax. Accuracy is at least equal to the Sierra and probably better and you don't have to measure and batch them like Sierra's. Have just returned from the National F class Teams at Bendigo where they performed very well with all of our teams 223's holding good elevation. As a matter of interest to the 223 users, in both the 1000 yard ranges the highest individual scores were shot with the 80gn Amax showing that the long range performance can match the new Dyer HBC. Most of our shooters are using around 25gns 2208 with 10 to 15 thou jump with good results.
Regards Malcolm.

[littlebang556]

Cheers Malcolm,

Around 25 grains of 2208 you say....In your opinion, is this less powder than was used with Sierra's or are we staying within the max safe loading data (even if it is outdated and often for shorter barrels.

I personally, as I know many others, push loads @ around 25.4 gr (what I call the inch load) for more reasons than amount of powder.

I suspected that lump would not alter much at all.

May I also ask what barrels and twist rates are common within teams?

Cheers

Rob Alman

[Malcolm Hill]

Rob
Pressures between the Sierra's and Amax's don't seem to differ much and loads that work with one work ok with the other in the same rifle. Maximum loads come down to the individual rifle with some happy to digest 25.5gns of 2208 while others don't like any more than 24.8. It just depends on chamber and bore dimensions as to where to draw the line. We are having good results with the 1 in 7 twist Kriegers which seem to hold better elevation at the longs than the 1 in 8's but the trade off may come with shorter barrel life with the faster twist.
Regards Malcolm.

[littlebang556]

I'm somewhere inbetween with twist rates, having a 7.7T kreiger.

But I will try them out this weekend and let you know results.

Now having posession of the A-max 80's I am wondering if, because of different shape, they will sit further or less into the case neck...guess I will have to do some measuring!!!!

Cheers

Robert.

[littlebang556]

Well, I tried some Nosler projectiles and was quite happy with the grouping .........until......bang...and no bullet splash...what happened to it is anyones guess but enough for me to stop using them...cant afford a possible 5 points in a comp.

Amax held a very tight group not dissimilar to Sierra and I will have to do some more testing on these as I was getting some vertical spread and have since discovered and rectified (for now) a bedding problem that was sufficient to warrent another run.

Having said this, I am still more than pleased with my Sierra over winchester brass w/rem primers running the inch load of 2208 in 7.7 twist 30." Sure, the other options are much more cost efective (bang for your buck) but Sierra have my vote for now...lets just hope that as the AU dollar rises against the green back prices also return to a more affordable option.

Regards

rob A

[Matt P]

The price rise has more to do with a greedy importer than the dollar, the price difference between the SMK and the Amax in the US is about $1.20 per 100 !!!! not the $12-14 we pay here.
The NRAA should see what deal they can get on the 155 Amax and cancel the SMK until the suppiler can do a better deal !!!!!

Matt P

[littlebang556]

I think Australia is just a small fish in the pond but good on you for posting your honest thoughts.

I too am batteling to see the price reasoning but do understand that there are expenses getting them into the country and having said that, the NRAA does a pretty good job ensuring a constant supply.

Regards

Rob A

[Matt P]

Rob
I don't have a problem with the NRAA (although I hope they have at least tried getting a better deal) or Sierra, I lay the blame at the feet of Highland Sports the importer of Sierra.

Matt P

[littlebang556]

So why is it that the NRAA dont import them directly to do away with the "middle man" so to speak?

Regards

Rob A

[johnk]

So why is it that the NRAA dont import them directly to do away with the "middle man" so to speak?

Sierra won't agree to that.

[timothi3197]

Gidday I was trying out my .223 with 80 grainers (only at 200m)and have found with a .010" jump I am compressing 2208 at 24.8 grains, I loaded from 23.5 right up to 25.0 grains and there were no excess pressure signs but accuracy started improving at 24.0 grains with no real difference or indeed pressure signs up to 25 grains.

Does anyone else have to compress the load?

[Chris Thomas]

At 25.4 grains grains my seating die leaves a ring around the A max so it must be compressed but at 25 it's fine.

People have told me the 80 Amax wont shoot tight groups at 100m and 200m they need some distance and 300m is when they should start to tighten up.

Is this true with VLD bullets

Regards

Chris Thomas

[Simon C]

At 25.4 grains grains my seating die leaves a ring around the A max so it must be compressed but at 25 it's fine.

People have told me the 80 Amax wont shoot tight groups at 100m and 200m they need some distance and 300m is when they should start to tighten up.

Is this true with VLD bullets

Regards

Chris Thomas

Try chucking the seating plug in a drill press and using 800 grit W/D paper and some machine oil, remove the sharp lead into the cone. You wont get the little rings in the jackets then...not that I think they make much of a difference. I had the same problem in my 6mm with A-Max's..this solved it with no change to runout for better or worse

[IanP]

Gidday I was trying out my .223 with 80 grainers (only at 200m)and have found with a .010" jump I am compressing 2208 at 24.8 grains, I loaded from 23.5 right up to 25.0 grains and there were no excess pressure signs but accuracy started improving at 24.0 grains with no real difference or indeed pressure signs up to 25 grains.

Does anyone else have to compress the load?

I tried out the 80gr Amax's yesterday for the first time. I shot at 600yds in light wind and was very impressed with the accuracy. I was using 25.0gr of 2208 which was the same load I used with the Sierra MKs. I am using the same Lapua brass for both bullets.

I found the OAL using a Hornady bullet comparator was 2.940" for the Amax and 2.970" with the Sierra MKs. The 80gr Amax bullets are longer than the MKs and seat deeper into the neck of the case. I found the load to be lightly compressed with the Amax bullets because they were seating deeper into the case to achieve the same 0.006" jump as the MKs.

I am contacting PT&G about a reamer for the Amax projectiles that will allow the bearing surface of the bullet to stay in the neck and not go back into the case. The chamber is cut at the moment to suit the MKs and the accuracy is very good with the Amax.

It will be interesting to see what Dave Kiff recommends! At the moment I'm staying with the Amax projectiles and a little powder compression does not seem to be creating any issues.