123 AMAX

[Ratbert]

What's the story on the 123 AMAX? I've read it had a different ogeive length than the 120 to make it better for grendel chambers, but different in what way? It appears to have a much better BC than the 120 and I'm wondering why I wouldn't want to use it anywhere (eg 260) that I'd normally run a 120.

If I were to guess, I'd say they probably moved the ogeive forward to get it closer to the lands in the mag-length restricted grendel? If so, any reason I couldn't load it long in my 260 and use a throat reamer to push the lands far enough back to give it just a little bit of jump? Or do I have it all wrong?

 

[bohem]

Re: 123 AMAX

I shoot them from a 260 upper with fantastic success. The BC isn't what a 140 has, but for up close shots (inside 600y) they're very nice.

IMR4350 works well with them and fills the case up for 2.800" COL's so I get low ES and SD's.

They are made for the Grendel supposedly, but I shoot them to a jump in my LR260, and ply1951guy's LR260 upper does well with them.

EDIT: They're jump tolerant, I don't know how long your throat is, I've never gotten Amax's to shoot well touching or jammed, before you remove any material from the throat, you might try finding it, then seating about 10 thou off the lands to start.

 

[Ratbert]

Re: 123 AMAX

Yeah, the BC isn't as high as the 140 but if what they publish is as accurate as what they list for the 140 then the extra speed should make it match drift and drop pretty closely.

I'm going to try and run some experiments shooting 140's and 123's out of a 20" and 26" barrel and see what kind of results I get.

 

[bohem]

Re: 123 AMAX

I haven't tried the 140's I have sitting on the shelf yet, just the 123's.

The experience is that Hornady's BC's are somewhat over stated, but I haven't had the chance to double check the 123's at distance yet.

At 600y on a breezy day it was not difficult to stay on a 6" plate with these.

 

[mavrick10_2000]

Re: 123 AMAX

IIRC the Ogive is set out a little further/more forward than on the 120's or the 140 design.

My Grendel AR likes them so far.