Hornady TAP 168 A-MAX

[eleaf]

My rifle seems to really like the Hornady TAP 168 A-MAX ammo. Does anyone know which powder they use for those loads?

Hornady seems to gush about the accuracy of both IMR 4064 and Varget in the manual, so I would bet that it is one of those, but I'm not sure.

Anyone?

Thanks

 

[DustyJacket]

Re: Hornady TAP 168 A-MAX

Is the TAP A-Max 168gr the same as the 168gr A-Max Match?

If not have you tried both?

My rifle likes the 168gr A-Max Match and I am thinking of taking up reloading again if I can match that.

 

[jdgray]

Re: Hornady TAP 168 A-MAX

Heard from a guy, that heard from an employee that works for Hornady, that 44grs of Varget is used in the 168gr amax load of Tap ammo. I personally get great results with 43grs, with 168 SMKs.(168gr A-Maxes, shoot the same in my Savage,as 168 SMKs)

 

[918v]

Re: Hornady TAP 168 A-MAX

You heard wrong.

I pulled apart a box of 168gr TAP and it contained anywhere from 44.2-44.6 grains of what looks like Varget and a WLR primer. I rebuilt them with 44.4grs. of Varget, WLR, and Winchester brass and got the exact same group size (.4") and POI, so I think I found their secret.

 

[eleaf]

Re: Hornady TAP 168 A-MAX

When you write WLR, I assuming you mean Winchester Long Rifle?

Thanks for the tip on the Varget. I would imagine that they don't put a particular weight, but go for a particular velocity depending on the powder lot (like M118LR).

I'll be busting out my bottle of Varget soon enough, and throw put some of these together (I have Winchester primers, Varget, the bullets and virgin Lapua brass - I also have quite a few once fired Hornady Brass).

 

[EddieP]

Re: Hornady TAP 168 A-MAX

I think he means winchester large rifle

 

[918v]

Re: Hornady TAP 168 A-MAX

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: eleaf</div><div class="ubbcode-body">When you write WLR, I assuming you mean Winchester Long Rifle?

Thanks for the tip on the Varget. I would imagine that they don't put a particular weight, but go for a particular velocity depending on the powder lot (like M118LR).

I'll be busting out my bottle of Varget soon enough, and throw put some of these together (I have Winchester primers, Varget, the bullets and virgin Lapua brass - I also have quite a few once fired Hornady Brass). </div></div>

In virgin Lapua brass, 44.2 grs is the sweet spot; 44.4grs in virgin Win/BHA/Hornady, but you need 45 grains in once fired Win/BHA/Hornady brass. Interestingly 44.4grs is the sweet spot in fireformed Lapua brass, in my rifle anyway.

 

[jdgray]

Re: Hornady TAP 168 A-MAX

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 918v</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You heard wrong.
. </div></div>

Yeah...must have

.2 of a grain is a mile off

 

[Rob01]

Re: Hornady TAP 168 A-MAX

Max listed load with the 168grn bullet and Varget is 46grns so there is some room to play from the 44grn area. I don't load the 168s but shoot the 168 AMAX factory loads in my .308 for practice and it's very accurate.

I use 44.4grns with the 178 AMAX in Lapua/Hornady cases and 45grns in the BH/Win cases. The 178 AMAX is a better long range bullet but the 168 AMAX will make 1000 with a decent velocity behind it.

 

[918v]

Re: Hornady TAP 168 A-MAX

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jdgray</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 918v</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You heard wrong.
. </div></div>

Yeah...must have

.2 of a grain is a mile off </div></div>

.4 on average

 

[eleaf]

Re: Hornady TAP 168 A-MAX

I did too. Typo.

 

[mgd45]

Re: Hornady TAP 168 A-MAX

Ok....I actually called Hornady a few years ago and spoke to one of their Reps about their load data for the 168 grain TAP ammo. He told me if I wanted to duplicate it, to use either 44 grains of Varget or 43.5 grains of IMR-4895....with WLR primers, and the 168 AMAX bullets.

This is what I make my handloads with & they shoot great!

 

[eleaf]

Re: Hornady TAP 168 A-MAX

For now the 168s will work well. I only have access to a 300 yard range so the extra range from a 178 is useless at this point. When I have access to a larger range, I'll buy some and work up a couple of loads to try my hand at. My gun seems to love these Hornady TAP loads, and at $25+ a box, it's tough to keep buying them. It's like shooting out 5 quarters with every squeeze of the trigger rather than a bullet.

 

[eleaf]

Re: Hornady TAP 168 A-MAX

Excellent. Much appreciated. It's a good thing that I have everything necessary for a duplication.

WLR Primers (check)
Hornady Brass (check)
Varget (check)
AMAX Bullets (check)

Now I just have to get off of my lazy ( | ) and set up my bench. I'm sure that I will have issues with the first set, but with all of the proper info on the load, it should be more a matter of learning some technique than trying to figure out the details.

I know that these bullets are used as match rounds, but does ahyone know if they are useful as hunting rounds? The ballistic tip should expand pretty well I would think, and if these are being used in LE loads, I would imagine that dropping a target shouldn't be an issue.

Good shootin' BTW!

 

[Rob01]

Re: Hornady TAP 168 A-MAX

Echo6Sierra here on the Hide has used some factory 168 AMAX ammo I gave him on deer and he said they drop right there. The AMAX works well on game.

 

[jackinfl]

Re: Hornady TAP 168 A-MAX

Sorry for digging this post up. But I would like some advice/help.

I just loaded my first 23 rounds. I was very careful and measured everything I could.

I used:
168 AMAX
44.0gr Varget
Federal 210M primer
I FL sized the once fired Hornady brass. Trimmed to 2.010 (Brass was originally TAP 168 AMAX rounds)
COAL 2.810

I am trying to replicate the factory ammo. My Hornady manual says 44gr. max for Varget under 168's. I read above that 44.4 with WLR primers are the ticket, but I only have the 210M primers.

Has anyone shot similar to what I loaded?

As I progress, first wanting to replicate the factory ammo; I will then try to improve by finding the lands...

ANY ADVICE IS APPRECIATED!!!
Jack

 

[jeeptrash]

Re: Hornady TAP 168 A-MAX

Well, what did you find out??

 

[Pink_Mist]

Re: Hornady TAP 168 A-MAX

Heres the idea.. Once fired brass likes + .5 powder charge. If you use a magnum primer you download by .5 grains. I have the identical reload you just listed. Try 44, 44.5 and 45 grains. Youre going to find the sweet spot somewhere in there.

 

[Beef82]

Re: Hornady TAP 168 A-MAX

Weird, my rifle shot the 168 Amax match (TAP appears identical reading everything but the price on the box) really well (.4"), then when I started reloading it shot the 168 Amax w 44gr of Varget and WLR quite well (.7-.9"), strange how you stumble onto things. It did even better with a CCI primer (.3-.5"). The 210M I believe showed some vertical stringing when I tried it. 5 shot groups @ 100yds, some variance is doubtlessly me, and some the weather. 44gr of R15 and a WLR also performed very well with this bullet COAL 2.815, the hell with finding the lands on a late model M700.

 

[Pink_Mist]

Re: Hornady TAP 168 A-MAX

what are your MV details? I'm at 2612fps with 23" barrel 80 degrees. 30.09 inHg . I think I am too slow for 600 and beyond.