Hornady AMAXs vs Sierra Match Kings

[ReaperDriver]

I've been trying to work up some loads using 175 SMKs for use at 5-600 yds in my 20" SPS-T. Just for shits and giggles - I ran a side by side test over two days using the 175 SMKs and against 168 AMAXs that I just happened to pick up on a whim at a local store.

Anyway, the results somewhat surprised me. At 100yds, the 168 AMAXs were just slightly better, shooting around .55-.70" avg while the 175SMKs were grouping around .7-.9" in fairly breezy conditons on the 1st day. I suspected that I was underloading the 175s a bit, so I was able to chrono them both today using a friend's gucci chronograph. I was pushing the 175SMKs right around 2490-2510 with pretty small E/S's using 42.8, 43.0 and 43.2 of RL-15. The 168 AMAXs were loaded to 45.0 of RL-15 and we chrono'd them right at about 2640.

I re-shot all the loads I tested on Monday but this time I was able to try them at 300, 400 and 550 yds. I expected the 175 SMKs to do better at range but in truth the 168 AMAXs kicked the shit out of the SMKs. I suspect the issue is the 175SMKs are probably going too slow - since most of the group size was horizontal stringing. I was probably only getting maybe 2.5" of verticle from both types of bullets - but the 175s were moving a LOT more due to wind.

My question is: Should I stick with the 168 AMAXs (I'll have to buy more) or just get my 175 SMKs going faster and use them since I have a whole crap laod of them? What's a reasonable MV that I should shoot to get to with the 175s? I was really surprised at how slow the 43.0 grains of RL-15 with a 175 is with this gun. I expected it to be roughly 100fps faster with that load based on some of the other Hide members using that as a pet load.

Thanks!

On a side note - what do folks think of the 178 AMAX? Would it have any advantage over the 168 version at 600yds?

 

[81sfo]

Re: Hornady AMAXs vs Sierra Match Kings

The reason youre getting those velocities is becuase of your 20" barrel. No doubt Amax bullets are good, but the Sierra match kings are a great bullet aswell.My advise is try to tinker with one bullet at a time till youve found the best load then move on to the other.Ive learned the hard way by testing multiple bullets in my rifles at one time,too many diffrent variables too many things go wrong.168 amax and 178s are great target and hunting projectiles,the 175smk i will only redcommend for target.So if you have plans to hunt and target shoot id invest in some Amaxes instead.Just make sure you sort thru the amaxes with a comparator,they tend to vary too much within the same lots.
good luck.

 

[desertHK]

Re: Hornady AMAXs vs Sierra Match Kings

Should you decide to venture beyond 600 yards in the future, the 175 SMK is going to kick ass. Your 175 SMK is a bit slow, in my opinion. I would try to push it up more in the 2600's.

 

[ReaperDriver]

Re: Hornady AMAXs vs Sierra Match Kings

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DesertHK</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Should you decide to venture beyond 600 yards in the future, the 175 SMK is going to kick ass. Your 175 SMK is a bit slow, in my opinion. I would try to push it up more in the 2600's. </div></div>

I am definitely going to work out to >600 yds in the near future and that was the whole point of the 175 SMKs. Anyone have any good accuracy loads for RL-15 or IMR-4895 that would get me into the 2600's?

 

[ReaperDriver]

Re: Hornady AMAXs vs Sierra Match Kings

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 81sfo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The reason youre getting those velocities is becuase of your 20" barrel. No doubt Amax bullets are good, but the Sierra match kings are a great bullet aswell.My advise is try to tinker with one bullet at a time till youve found the best load then move on to the other.Ive learned the hard way by testing multiple bullets in my rifles at one time,too many diffrent variables too many things go wrong.168 amax and 178s are great target and hunting projectiles,the 175smk i will only redcommend for target.So if you have plans to hunt and target shoot id invest in some Amaxes instead.Just make sure you sort thru the amaxes with a comparator,they tend to vary too much within the same lots.
good luck. </div></div>

Yeah, I figured the 20" barrel was getting me slow - but I didn't think I'd be 100fps slower with that load.

And yes, paper and steel is all I'm doing right now. I'm working to get proficient at 5-600 yards right now with my gun because that's what distances my range has to shoot right now. But the goal is to try some 800-1000 yd steel out in the desert soon. Its nice to be able to actually shoot at that distance and have it only 25 min from the house.

 

[81sfo]

Re: Hornady AMAXs vs Sierra Match Kings

The above three mentioned bullets will all work for long range work,i think the best would be the 175 smks and 178amax for 1k.I found that the best load for my 19.5" Rock barreled 308 was 175smks with 44grns of Varget at 2.80 OAL.210m primers and once fired Blackhills brass.I dont have any velocities for this load but its very accurate at 600yds.Im going to try to get to the 1k range soon to see what it does.
Just keep testing and start low and work up,youll eventually find the right combo.If youre testing the charge keep the bullet seat lenght all the same,if your testing the OAL then keep the charge the same,work one at a time.

 

[sormi]

Re: Hornady AMAXs vs Sierra Match Kings

Try some IMR 4064 as well.

 

[Rob01]

Re: Hornady AMAXs vs Sierra Match Kings

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DesertHK</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Should you decide to venture beyond 600 yards in the future, the 175 SMK is going to kick ass. Your 175 SMK is a bit slow, in my opinion. I would try to push it up more in the 2600's.</div></div>

That's why they make a 178 AMAX

I really like the 178 AMAX and Varget combination and from my 20" custom tube I am getting about 2690fps but with a factory tube it might be harder to get that high but I would recommend trying them out.

Also with the 12 twist it might not like the heavier bullets but play around with the loads some and see if you can get them to work.

 

[Jedi]

Re: Hornady AMAXs vs Sierra Match Kings

Hmmmmm
AMAX is a good bullet
308 is hard pushed to shoot 175 in a 26" barrel IMHO

155AMAX will work out to 1k
light n fast

 

[kwild]

Re: Hornady AMAXs vs Sierra Match Kings

I use 175 smks and reloader15 too. The two loads I found that grouped well were 42.5 and 44.5. I ended up going with the 44.5 as everyone says more was better with re15. I have had good luck with it so far.

 

[desertHK]

Re: Hornady AMAXs vs Sierra Match Kings

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ReaperDriver</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DesertHK</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Should you decide to venture beyond 600 yards in the future, the 175 SMK is going to kick ass. Your 175 SMK is a bit slow, in my opinion. I would try to push it up more in the 2600's. </div></div>

I am definitely going to work out to >600 yds in the near future and that was the whole point of the 175 SMKs. Anyone have any good accuracy loads for RL-15 or IMR-4895 that would get me into the 2600's? </div></div>

With IMR 4064, I am pushing the 175 SMK out of my AIAW (1:12" twist)at about 2750 fps. It's sub MOA. Bottom line is you don't know if your stick may like the 175 SMK or the 178 AMAX until you try it out.

 

[ReaperDriver]

Re: Hornady AMAXs vs Sierra Match Kings

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kwild</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I use 175 smks and reloader15 too. The two loads I found that grouped well were 42.5 and 44.5. I ended up going with the 44.5 as everyone says more was better with re15. I have had good luck with it so far. </div></div>

What length barrel and what kind of MVs are you getting out of that 44.5 load? That's exactly where I was planning on going. I've been as high as 43.4 of RL-15 with 175s but that was still only getting me to 2510-2520 or so. I was planning on shooting a 44.0 and 44.5 load this week and see what that gets me.

 

[ReaperDriver]

Re: Hornady AMAXs vs Sierra Match Kings

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DesertHK</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ReaperDriver</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DesertHK</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Should you decide to venture beyond 600 yards in the future, the 175 SMK is going to kick ass. Your 175 SMK is a bit slow, in my opinion. I would try to push it up more in the 2600's. </div></div>

I am definitely going to work out to >600 yds in the near future and that was the whole point of the 175 SMKs. Anyone have any good accuracy loads for RL-15 or IMR-4895 that would get me into the 2600's? </div></div>

With IMR 4064, I am pushing the 175 SMK out of my AIAW (1:12" twist)at about 2750 fps. It's sub MOA. Bottom line is you don't know if your stick may like the 175 SMK or the 178 AMAX until you try it out. </div></div>

Thanks - that gives me hope that I can make the 175s work. I think I'm going to simplify the process and just work up the 175 SMKs since I have about 400 of them left instead of going out and buying more 168 or 178 AMAXs and chasing too many variables.

 

[josephberry]

Re: Hornady AMAXs vs Sierra Match Kings

my best 1k groups ever were with Varget and 178 A-max.