.308 178 grain A-Max

[mil-dot]

Does anyone load the 178 A-Max for their Savage 10 .308cal?

I just bought 100 rounds after hearing everyone leaving SMK's and making the move to Hornady A-max.

I loaded my test loads starting at 38grains and working up to 40grains of RL-15. If no pressure at 40 I'll work up more, if needed. What do you all use?

Jesse

[earl39]

This is not really an answer to your direct question but i still use SMK's for my 175 load and i use Lapua for my 155 load. The biggest reason for the move does not seem to be that one is better than the other but the almighty dollar as the A-MAX is a little cheaper.

[racinready300ex]

I've been using the 178 Amax behind 44 gr. of varget with pretty good results. Shot a 194 in a 600 yard F-T/R match the other day. Could have been better, but missed a condition change.
I haven't sorted them by weight or length either.

I am considering switching to 155 lapua's, or similar. As on paper at least they should have less wind drift due to there higher BC and higher velocity. The lower recoil may make it easier to shoot also.

[lal357]

do the 178 amax like being jammed into the lands or off?

[mil-dot]

I guess after shooting the loads i got, I might make the plunge and try using Varget. It seems everyone is using it.

I heard some people loading them .10" from the lands. I figured i would try the powder first, then mess with length. I might try loading with Varget also and compare....what the heck, its just time and money right!!!!

Jesse

[racinready300ex]

My gun seemed to like to jump with the 178's. I'd have to look in my book and see where I ended up, but I think it's like .03 jump. Something like that anyway.

[chesty for president]

I load my 178 A-Max's against the lands with 44.5 grains of Varget....Shoots very well out of Criterion 1-10 twist barrel.

Respectfully

[darkker]

I used to load them, but didn't like the consistency in the jackets compared to the SMK's.
Non-The-Less, despite the popularity of Varget, I have had MUCH more consistent results with 748. SD, and ES is much smaller than my Varget loads.

[mil-dot]

Well....40grains RL-15....@2.800"....W/178A-Max is 2520fps
.... at 100.. my 3 shot group was. 397".

I loaded some more up to shoot at further distance.

Jesse

[darkker]

Here is my Hornady 168 hpbt and 175 SMK loads.
The Hornadys seemed less slick... FWIW


LC match brass
WLR primers
168 gr. HPBT Hornady
43 gr Win 748
light crimp
900 ft elevation. 78 deg 23% humidity
2590 fps
2.913" COAL touches at 2.928"
Primers flat, not a problem. But DNE!

175 SMK
LC match brass
43.5 gr Win 748
WLR primers
Switching with BR2's show no velocity/pressure change, but E.S. Lowers to 8 fps from 16 fps
Light crimp
900 ft elevation, 70 deg 35% hum, starting to rain
2635 fps
2.896" COAL. touches at 2.920"
primers show a little more room may be possible

[Dennis]

Well....40grains RL-15....@2.800"....W/178A-Max is 2520fps
.... at 100.. my 3 shot group was. 397".

I loaded some more up to shoot at further distance.

Jesse

I am glad to see the above. I loaded several with 43.0+ RL15 and they were hot in my 308!

Please fell free to discuss your experience with 178 A-Max's and your 308!

Dennis

[sniper15545]

I've found the Sierra 165 game kings shoot as good or better than the 168 smk's

[barrel-nut]

I like 43.5 RL-15, 168 A-MAXs, with Lapua brass and CCI primers, .030 off the lands. Gives 2700-2710 fps in my 24" factory 10FP, and roughly MOA at 600 yds in good conditions. I have not experimented much with this load, as I don't compete at this distance and was happy with what I got. It could probably be tweaked to be better, though.

I do agree with the statement that the A-Max's don't seem to be as consistent dimensionally or in weight, however, they seem to do as well as the SMK'S or better in my rifle. Maybe a better rifle or shooter would reveal an edge for the SMK'S, but for my purposes the A-Max's make me smile.

[fastex500]

Rifle: Savage 10FP, 24" factory heavy barrel, 1-10 twist, crowned muzzle.

Atmosphere: 686 ft asl, 54.5 F, 29.8 in hg, 66% humidity, chrono at 10ft

Loads in mil 308 brass (TOAA 08 - LC 08 equivelent)
Trimmed to 2.005" Lee trimmer, deburred, full length sizing die.

Bullet: Hornady 178gr A-Max

COAL: 2.830 in (best seating for rifle and accuracy)

Primer: Federal Match

Powder: RL-15

Load 1: 43.2gr
Spread: 2553 - 2574
Median: 2562

Load 2: 43.5gr
Spread: 2574 - 2596
Median: 2586

Load 3: 43.7gr
Spread: 2582 - 2620
Median: 2613

Load 4: 44.0gr
Spread: 2604 - 2622
Median: 2615

Load 5: 44.2gr
Spread: 2620 - 2642
Median: 2626

The pressure signs from previous loads of 43.2 (some primer flattening) seem to have disappeared with moving the COAL out from 2.80 to 2.83 on the same load and is keeping accuracy (.5/.75 MOA). I've seen suggested loads all the way up to 45.5 of RL-15 in LC brass, but don't think I would try that much, it's already filling the case up to the shoulder of the neck.

From seeing other numbers, It looks like my velocities are missing the corresponding load capacity by .8 gr. I'm seeing people with 43.3/43.5 matching the velocity of my 44.2

I am not crimping the bullet, it shoots fine, is accurate out to 850 yds.... but I'm just perplexed by needing so much powder to reach the low 2600 velocity range. My groups were 10 rounds each, and I do have some primer deformation (mild flattening), but no extractor marks or hard bolt lifts.... so am I just being picky, or am I missing something?

Also, I just measured the cartridge overall length with a 178 a-max and it was 2.901" to the lands.... Which is really long isn't it?

Quickload estimates the peak pressure at appx. 56000psi.. which is within limit, but at the high end for 308. Thanks guys!

-Disclamer... I am not a professional reloader, or manufacturer. My results are just that.. my results and not meant to be used as a guide. Your results may vary. Use published reloading manuals and work your loads UP FROM MINIMUM- DJ