Predator max 1 243 zero and break in

[Newbee]

Took my new 243 predator max to range for first shots. Was very pleased with the accuracy out of the box. Shot federal fusion 95 gr at .75 moa. Was very surprised that hornady gmx 80 gr shot < .50 moa. The gmx would frequently get two of three shot groups in same hole. I would have expected the lead to do better than gmx. Given it seemed to like the hornady Ammo, going to try the 95 gr ssts. I would expect the SSTs to shoot at least as good as the GMX.

[JCalhoun]

Cool.

Do you reload?

[stmcelroy]

Very cool.

I'm thinking about picking one of these up as a dual purpose long range and hunting gun. Hoping that it likes the 105gr A-max for 1,000 yard shooting.

[Newbee]

No, I don't reload, but I am thinking about starting . Especially with ammo so hard to come by these days. I was using factory federal fusions and hornady gmx s for the break in.

[stangfish]

According to studies...It' is now officially broke in. Shoot away.

[pdog06]

I took the few hijacked posts out of this thread and put them into their own topic of conversation, that way it doesnt interfere with yours.


Sounds like another good shooting Savage you got there. Congrats

[Westcliffe01]

Sorry about the hijack, but I couldn't see any way that a 105 Amax was going to work in the standard barrel. That was the reason why I went to the 1:8 with Ackley chamber. It sounds like I was not clear enough about my reasons for posting about my barrel. It seems that there is basically no way to get a 1:8 or faster twist from the factory, so one has to choose your base rifle and go from there. Looks like I need to be sure to put the "why" in as well as the "what".

[fishead]

I just got my new predator 243 out of the box and did the break in , the questions I have befor I reload is what do the 55 gr bullets do in this rifle and where can I get an extended mag ?, can I bed this composite stock ? I ended my break in with some 100 gr federal power shock, with an unimpressive 1 3/4 three shot group. I have some Nosler 70 gr BT varmit bullets also.

[Stockrex]

Good shooting and thanks for sharing factory ammo performance.

[wbm]

A bullet I found that shoots great in the .243 is the 95gr Sierra Match King. I used to shoot the 105 Amax in the standard twist 1-9.25 Savage barrels...no problems. Once I found the 95 Sierra and coupled it with Hodgdon Hybrid 100V, it shot bug holes and was moving at 3000fps out of 22" barrels. So I just quit loading for anything else except the 85gr Sierra HPBT for deer hunting. In years of hunting and lots of deer I never had one go further than 20 yards after being hit with that bullet.

[mjbgalt]

yup. and for varmints i shoot a 60 grain sierra hollowpoint. ridiculous velocities and great accuracy

[stmcelroy]

A bullet I found that shoots great in the .243 is the 95gr Sierra Match King. I used to shoot the 105 Amax in the standard twist 1-9.25 Savage barrels...no problems. Once I found the 95 Sierra and coupled it with Hodgdon Hybrid 100V, it shot bug holes and was moving at 3000fps out of 22" barrels. So I just quit loading for anything else except the 85gr Sierra HPBT for deer hunting. In years of hunting and lots of deer I never had one go further than 20 yards after being hit with that bullet.

Have you shot the A-max at long distances out of a 1-9.25 Savage? If so what were your results like?

[Newbee]

Match king or game king?

[Westcliffe01]

I found a neat link to an analysis of the 105gr Amax here : http://www.appliedballisticsllc.com/105Amax.html

They show clearly that even in a "real" 1:9 barrel the stability ranges from 1.34 (best case) to 1.01 (worst case) with a Nominal of 1.17. Acceptable stability requires a value of 1.4

So I would have to guess that a 105gr A max out of a 9.25 twist Savage barrel is going to provide unreliable performance, even if one can get it to "just" work under certain conditions (mid summer, 95% humidity).

There are many stories of the 105gr Amax NOT grouping from 9.25 twist barrels. Those who do get them to group are probably operating at dangerous pressure levels to drive them fast enough.

Get an 8 twist barrel and you should be fine.

[Newbee]

I have not tried a-max. I think a 1:8.25 twist should deliver a 1.41 stability value for the 105 amax.

[bama1]

I use the 105 amax and 105 berger in my predator max out to 1,000 yds. I use HV100.
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b545/334possum1/D7562D1B-1CC1-4883-9372-D78242BFCCA2-1753-0000016089A633EC_zpseaaace1a.jpg
This was with a 105 target bullet I tried to see if it would work. It works. I now shoot the 105 hunting vld with 1/2 grain less powder and a higher fps.

[wbm]

Have you shot the A-max at long distances out of a 1-9.25 Savage? If so what were your results like?

I have. The techs at Hornady give it 600 yards in that barrel before they "wobble" but I don't know. Never shot them past 400.
In any case, the 95 Sierra moves faster has a fairly good BC and is very accurate.

[bama1]

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b545/334possum1/48C87A26-CE0D-4DBC-B054-225BECF39DEC-8683-0000066CC9613351_zps1d38f25e.jpg
Here is my data. Yes it is confirmed and yes it makes Remington builders mad.

[stmcelroy]

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b545/334possum1/48C87A26-CE0D-4DBC-B054-225BECF39DEC-8683-0000066CC9613351_zps1d38f25e.jpg
Here is my data. Yes it is confirmed and yes it makes Remington builders mad.

Is yours a 24" Predator Max 1 with factory .243 barrel?

I'm ready to order a .260 remington, but if I can get the .243 to fly like that i'd lean towards it.

[Westcliffe01]

Have you tried that load in winter yet ? The increased air density has quite a big impact on stability. I need a load that works at 20F or lower at at 1000ft elevation. Obviously at 8000 ft it will work better, but I don't hunt at that altitude yet. How about clarifying the altitude at your location ?