140 amax vs 142 smk - which one?

[lte82]

I'm looking at picking up some 140 amax or 142 smks to load my 260 rem and 6.5 creedmoor with, but I'm looking for recommendations on which one to go with. I'm tempted to just buy both and test, but if you guys have already done testing and can recommend one that would be awesome.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Niles Coyote]

I have had better luck with A-max BUT that is not to say your rifle will be the same... mine is a 260

 

[42769vette]

Like Niles I have better luck with the AMAX. On paper the SMK is a little better, but the diffrence is so little that its going to come down to what your gun likes. My 260 doubles a hunting rifle so thats why I chose the AMAX, but if you like the SMK better thats not the wrong choice either.

 

[leadbullet]

in my 260, the SMk shoot a hair better than the Amax's at 1000 yds. both are very good and in these days, I buy whatever i can find.

 

[Ring]

ive used the 142, 140smk, 140amax, and 140 BTHP hornady...

all shot very well... i use the amax now for 2 reasons...
cost and effectiveness on "soft" targets... all the other BTHP's suck compared to the amax if you hit something "fleshy"...

but since most are hard to find, i just ordered 1000 123amax ...

 

[STR]

I have also used both in my .260, and it was really hard to tell any difference worth mentioning. They both shot great.

 

[TRAAV]

In the past I always used Amax. I put 4000 rounds through a 6.5x47 with 140's and they did great. However after putting on a new barrel I haven't been able to get the Amaxes to shoot. Some of my buddies have also tried Amaxes lately and haven't been able to get them to shoot. I know some barrels dont like certain bullets but I just find it odd that we have three of them that wont shoot Amaxes. Its almost like they have something going on with there die or something.

 

[triceratops3]

I'd say use the SMK, so that not everyone is using the crappy Amax. just kidding.

I would suggest just testing both then using the one that shot the best. I've never tried anything other than the 140amax but it shot to my satisfaction and is relatively cheap compared to similar bullets.

 

[turbo54]

I've found the 142, like most all sierras, to be extremely forgiving and easy to load for.

I've found amaxs tend to, like most secant ogive bullets, to be a bit more fickle.

In terms of external ballistics, they are really, really close.

You can point the 142. I've found they're about .2mrad flatter @ 1000 yards, @ 2830fps MV when pointed.

 

[Rob01]

Shoot lots of 140 AMAXs in factory Creedmoor ammo and they always shoot great. But that said I would try both and see which works best in your rifle. You save about $6/100 shooting the AMAX so hopefully they shoot for you.

 

[2Shots]

I usually shoot the 142's but have shot both, they seem to perform pretty well the same for me, BC almost identical. Usually your rifle dictates the one you'll shoot.

 

[flounderv2]

I think you will be fine with either so get what you can find. Ive personally never had a rifle that wouldnt shoot the any caliber of the SMK's great with a quality barrel and the correct twist. With that being said, I just picked up 4000 142smks for the new 6.5 CM so Im hoping for similar results.

 

[nfoley]

Have had better luck with the Amax as well in my 6.5 CM. The 139 scenar shoots very well in my rifle as well.

 

[thrusty]

Try them both and test. I had better results with the 142SMK...it was like splitting hair differences though - one-hole groups vs a little bigger than one-hole groups.

 

[tylerw02]

I prefer the 140 gr. Berger Hybrids. They shoot very good and have a good BC.

 

[scudzuki]

If you can get the Nosler Custom Comp 140s to shoot in your rifle, they are less expensive and available.

Joe

 

[wrhunter]

Sinclair recently had 140 Amax.