178 Amax in 700

[Savage15]

So I've done load development with my 308 and I have settled on 45.0 grains of Varget and a O.A.L. of 2.964 (.020 into the lands)this load shoots quarter minute consistently. The problem is that the throat on my 700 is so long that even .020 off the lands still wont load into the internal magazine.

What should I do? Continue using my gun as a single shot and have consistent quarter minute groups or load them to around 2.800 which is a .144 jump into the lands.

 

[tylerw02]

Re: 178 Amax in 700

Drop your load by 10%, seat at mag-length and start working up again.

The A-Max should be "jump tolerant". If the gun doesn't cycle, its useless as a tactical rifle. Additionally, nothing ruins your day like trying to extract a live round and pulling the cartridge apart, leaving the bullet in the lands.

For functionality, I load 175 BTHPs and have found that they shoot just as well jumping as in the lands. My load is 43.8 gr Varget, CCI BR-2, 2.800". YMMV.

 

[vinsonr]

Re: 178 Amax in 700

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Savage15</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So I've done load development with my 308 and I have settled on 45.0 grains of Varget and a O.A.L. of 2.964 (.020 into the lands)this load shoots quarter minute consistently. The problem is that the throat on my 700 is so long that even .020 off the lands still wont load into the internal magazine.

What should I do? Continue using my gun as a single shot and have consistent quarter minute groups or load them to around 2.800 which is a .144 jump into the lands.
</div></div>

I loaded 178 Amax in my Rem 700 to 2.81 OAL and they shot very well. If you want to load longer then you'll have to replace your bottom metal or the entire stock with a new chassis. I went with an AICS when I started loading the 178 BTHP's longer than the internal box magazine would allow.

 

[Savage15]

Re: 178 Amax in 700

Thanks guys I was just wondering how the amax would perform with a large jump like that.

I also had a node at 43.5 grains of varget so i will just start there.

Surprisingly I am just using regular federal 210 primers and they are giving me great results.