Range Report Hornady 155 gr A-max Match?

[peteyen86]

Hey guys,
Should be getting my hands on my new rifle in the next few months. Barrel will be a .308 Lilja 11" twist finished at 23".

Will need to order in some ammunition (case of 200) as our shops don’t stock much Match grade stuff. Had good luck with Hornady in the past so will start there. I don’t reload, don’t have the room or time at the moment.

Was set on trying Hornady's 168gr A-max but then seen their 155gr a-max Match rounds. Haven’t heard much about guys using these and their opinions. So what are your thoughts?

Longest distance i will be shooting would be no further than 800 yards at the moment. Not hunting either, just target.

I know the 168gr A-max is very popular, so how is their 155 gr A-max?

Link;
http://www.hornady.com/store/308-Win-155-gr-Match/


cheers

Pete

 

[Rarebreed93]

Re: Hornady 155 gr A-max Match?

I think that you'll find the 168 Amax to be more accruate than the 155 at those ranges.
Tried the 155's then 168's, went with the 168 Amax and never looked back.
Buy the 168's,,,you'll be glad you did.

 

[peteyen86]

Re: Hornady 155 gr A-max Match?

Thanks mate, thats what im after, bit of reassurance.

Pete

 

[chpprguy]

Re: Hornady 155 gr A-max Match?

I have ran 155's to just beyond 1000 yards....
(I am at 7300 ft ASL)

They have been very accurate in my rifle....

 

[okiefired]

Re: Hornady 155 gr A-max Match?

Well you know what opinions are like so I'll give you mine. I dont know why everyone likes the 168's so much. In my experience, they have never impressed me over the 155's or the 178's in any way. Out to 500 they're all pretty close in my two LR rifles but past there, I'll take the 178's everytime. I'm looking forward to trying the new match 178's from Hornandy, they're supposed to have an even higher BC than the Amax's.

okie

 

[peteyen86]

Re: Hornady 155 gr A-max Match?

hey okie,

I wouldnt mind trying Hornady 178's too, but im abit worried about availability down here in Aus though. Dont want to be waiting 6 months for my order to come in. I'll ask when i place my order. 168's are easier to get you hands on down here, but mainly just wanted peoples experiences with the loaded 155gr A-maxs

Pete

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: Hornady 155 gr A-max Match?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: okiefired</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Well you know what opinions are like so I'll give you mine. I dont know why everyone likes the 168's so much. In my experience, they have never impressed me over the 155's or the 178's in any way. Out to 500 they're all pretty close in my two LR rifles but past there, I'll take the 178's everytime. I'm looking forward to trying the new match 178's from Hornandy, they're supposed to have an even higher BC than the Amax's.

okie </div></div>

I agree, not enough to gain over the other two, velocity or bc.

 

[peteyen86]

Re: Hornady 155 gr A-max Match?

"I agree, not enough to gain over the other two, velocity or bc"


Which one you referring too sorry.


Pete

 

[okiefired]

Re: Hornady 155 gr A-max Match?

Yeah, sorry Pete. I probably shouldn't have posted because of the three, I have the least experience with the 155's. Did'nt take me long to figure out that I liked them better than the 168's and not as well as the 178's. Like I said, out to 5 or maybe 6 hundred they're as good as the others (IMO, better than the 168's) but after that, the 178's blow on by. Just my experience anyway.

okie

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: Hornady 155 gr A-max Match?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Pete86</div><div class="ubbcode-body">"I agree, not enough to gain over the other two, velocity or bc"


Which one you referring too sorry.


Pete </div></div>

Sorry I was agreeing with okiefired's opinion on the 178's

In my 308's I can load the 155 about 150-175fps faster than the 168 which yields less drop and almost the same wind drift. The 178's bc makes up for the 50 fps slower it leaves my barrels and equals out with one exception. I shoot steel plates out to 1k and it always seems the 155 and 168 stop performing well after 900. I get considerable more hits with the 178.

I’m shooting at 980'ASL

But since your looking at factory ammo only, it appears 178's are not a option. I know either of those two (155 or 168) will be fine out to 800. The only gain I can see would be if you were shooting unknown distances where the slightly flatter trajectory of the 155 may be to your advantage. Your best bet would be to get a box of each to try out first and find which one shoots the best between those two then order a case or more...

But if you can get the superforce in either 168a-max or 178bthp down under, both would out do the standard loadings of the 155/168.


hope this helps

 

[peteyen86]

Re: Hornady 155 gr A-max Match?

Thanks guys, that helps me out.

I'll get in touch with the shop and see what they have and dont have, more then likely the later of the two..lol. and what they can get for me.

Sucks having to order a case of 200 just to try out different types, the only match ammunition mainly kept in stock is federal down here. On the bright side, i wont be running out of ammunition too quicky..haha

Reloading is in the near future i think.

Thanks again.

Pete

 

[Grump]

Re: Hornady 155 gr A-max Match?

If you're going to only 800 yards, either 155s or 168s will do just fine down to sea level. Since AUS don' gots no below sea level stuff like California or Israel (Netherlands don't count, they're barely underwater in their low spots), no problem for the 168s.

I've never shot or reloaded them.

The 155s, on the other hand, were plenty accurate for my rifle's limits, and shot 2803 fps with not just single-digit standard deviations for velocity, but toal extreme spreads that would lead to accusations of lying if I posted them.

That's from a 22-inch barrel. QuickLOAD says that with my cases and my actual velocities, there really isn't a powder out there that will let me get more than 2830 without being over spec.

Those 155-gr A-Max match rounds would be my first choice for factory ammo usage if I had even the remotest plans/possibilities of shooting to a full 1,000 yards, especially if under 5,000 feet above sea level. I'll take a little flatter trajectory to smooth over ranging errors, at the cost of a little more correction needed for windage.

800 and in? Use whichever one is more accurate from your rifle...but you're wanting to stock NOW before testing. Tough call you gotta make there.

 

[peteyen86]

Re: Hornady 155 gr A-max Match?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Grump</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you're going to only 800 yards, either 155s or 168s will do just fine down to sea level. Since AUS don' gots no below sea level stuff like California or Israel (Netherlands don't count, they're barely underwater in their low spots), no problem for the 168s.

I've never shot or reloaded them.

The 155s, on the other hand, were plenty accurate for my rifle's limits, and shot 2803 fps with not just single-digit standard deviations for velocity, but toal extreme spreads that would lead to accusations of lying if I posted them.

That's from a 22-inch barrel. QuickLOAD says that with my cases and my actual velocities, there really isn't a powder out there that will let me get more than 2830 without being over spec.

Those 155-gr A-Max match rounds would be my first choice for factory ammo usage if I had even the remotest plans/possibilities of shooting to a full 1,000 yards, especially if under 5,000 feet above sea level. I'll take a little flatter trajectory to smooth over ranging errors, at the cost of a little more correction needed for windage.

800 and in? Use whichever one is more accurate from your rifle...but you're wanting to stock NOW before testing. Tough call you gotta make there.</div></div>

Thanks for the info Grump. Your right, where im located is only a bee's dick ASL.

None of this would be a problem if i had the range of ammunition like you guys have to choose from. I'll see what they have in stock and go from there. If they have stuff all i might 'bite the bullet' and order in the 155's, the flatter trajectory will be good.

Like people have said, there isnt much difference in the 155's to the 168's in this case, just have to hope i pick the one my rifle will like to shoot the best out of the two, so knowing my luck, that will be the opposite to what i order in..lol.

The 155's will alow me to shoot in local f-class matches if i choose to as well, so thats a positive.


Have a good one.

Pete