80gr Amax

[Bigt240]

Hi everyone, wondering if anyone has any starting points for the hornady 80 gr amax. I built a 223 with a bison gun works 1/7 25 in barrel specifically for the heavies. I've searched all over the net and can't find load data in any of my books. This will be single loaded and I've already got my "jam" dimension using the hornady tool. Powders I have available are reloader 15 and varget. Appreciate any help.

[Robinhood]

R15 start near 23.3 and work up to the first node above that.

[bc83]

It tried RL 15 and varget had better luck with 8208 xbr

[earl39]

I would start with starting loads for the serria 80 grainers and work up.

[Texas Solo]

I would be very cautious using an 80gr bullet in a .223Rem chamber. You have to seat the bullet quite far in and that leaves no margin for error in your charge weight. Loading to safe velocity will only give you around 2400 fps, way too slow for my purposes. All that being said, I use the 80gr A Max in a .223 WYLDE chamber with 25.0gr Varget. Seated -.005" off the lands, I get 3020 fps and .250 groups. Single feed only of course, but perfect for F/TR
Pay attention to the listed OAL's in the load data. You'll find their longer with an 80gr and just might not fit your chamber.

[Texas10]

Texas Solo;
I'd sure like to know what kind of Pixy Dust your using to get 3020 fps with an 80 grain and 25.0 Varget. That's amazing, or maybe I'm just not getting it. I'm not meaning to call you out on those numbers, it's just that I'm loading a 69 grain TMK over 25.9 g of Varget and getting 3140 fps out of a 26 inch 8 twist, which is about 100 fps faster than book. Still, nowhere near the performance you're getting with those 80's. (Hogdon says 2860 fps with 25 gr.) What's your secret? Grain for grain, you're kicking butt!

OP says he's set up his barrel for the heavies, so presuming he's got a throat cut for the 80's or 90's, and can seat long, he should be looking to stuff more powder in the case than book values and get more velocity without excessive pressures. Do I have the right, or have I learned nothing?

Seriously, I'd/we really appreciate your input. Thanks in advance for any help.

[BoilerUP]

Aren't F/TR barrels 30"?

[Texas10]

Typically 25 fps per inch, right, without adjustment for twist?

BTW: You fly a Citation?

[BoilerUP]

Used to...drive a widebody now.

[Fotheringill]

Aren't F/TR barrels 30"?
Mine is.

I also have short throat issues with anything over 75 gr.

[earl39]

I would be very cautious using an 80gr bullet in a .223Rem chamber. You have to seat the bullet quite far in and that leaves no margin for error in your charge weight. Loading to safe velocity will only give you around 2400 fps, way too slow for my purposes. All that being said, I use the 80gr A Max in a .223 WYLDE chamber with 25.0gr Varget.

And a wylde chamber is better than a chamber cut for the heavy bullets how? Chamber cut for heavies should have a long throat.

[Texas10]

Used to...drive a widebody now.

Not quite the same, I bet.

"what do you fly?

I'm glad you asked. I don't anymore, but my last ride was a Pitts S-2B. Also had some Citabrias, Decathlons, a few Cessnas . Had a flight school specializing in Aerobatic training, and had contracts with some of the Majors to keep pilots profecient in emergency situations. Sold it in '97

An interesting aside, I had a C-152 on lease back with the N-number N757AF. In case you don't recognize it, it's now D. Trumps N-number. The owner got a call one day with an offer to buy his N-Number for $5000.00. I suspect it was actually Boeing, or maybe someone making a quick buck selling numbers to Boeing. He took the offer and I painted a new number on his Cessna. Looooong story behind that N-number and this is not the place, but it ain't a lucky number!

[BoilerUP]

Sounds like quite a bit of fun! Goodness knows the flight school business ain't quite what it used to be.

Colleague has a Citabria for rent, would love to get checked out in that thing...tailwheel is one area my logbook is lacking.

Nice story about the registration number, too!

[Texas Solo]

And a wylde chamber is better than a chamber cut for the heavy bullets how? Chamber cut for heavies should have a long throat.

The Wylde chamber IS cut for the heavies. It's throat is longer than a 223Rem, but shorter than a 5.56.

[Texas Solo]

Texas Solo;
I'd sure like to know what kind of Pixy Dust your using to get 3020 fps with an 80 grain and 25.0 Varget. That's amazing, or maybe I'm just not getting it. I'm not meaning to call you out on those numbers, it's just that I'm loading a 69 grain TMK over 25.9 g of Varget and getting 3140 fps out of a 26 inch 8 twist, which is about 100 fps faster than book. Still, nowhere near the performance you're getting with those 80's. (Hogdon says 2860 fps with 25 gr.) What's your secret? Grain for grain, you're kicking butt!

OP says he's set up his barrel for the heavies, so presuming he's got a throat cut for the 80's or 90's, and can seat long, he should be looking to stuff more powder in the case than book values and get more velocity without excessive pressures. Do I have the right, or have I learned nothing?

Seriously, I'd/we really appreciate your input. Thanks in advance for any help.

Sorry it's taken so long to answer. First, I admit it is a hot load. I get slightly flattened primers, so I know I'm pushing it, but it works best for velocity & groups.
It's probably my barrel....28" Shilen Select Match 1/7. I use only Hornady brass & WSR primers. I'm seated to .005" off the lands.
I don't know if there's actually "pixie dust" involved, I can't find any right now. But my figures don't lie, nor do two different chronos.
I'm ALWAYS over the listed book velocities. I always attribute that to the 28" barrel.
Also, the Hodgdon specs are not at all relevant to me. They tested with a 1/12 twist and a 24" barrel.
Case: Winchester

Twist: 1:12"

Primer: Winchester SR, Small Rifle
Barrel Length: 24"
Trim Length: 1.750

You can get away with tweeking the load specs, we all do. But just because there's room to "stuff" more powder into the case doesn't necessarily make it smart...or safe. We have to consider ALL the factors that affect pressure before deciding how much we can play. For example, Hodgdon load data shows 25.0 Varget as a compressed load in .223. Well, at their OAL of 2.550 I guess it would be! You'd need a pry bar to seat the bullet. My OAL is 2.665" with the V Max (due to the plastic tip) and 2.600 with Berger 80 VLD's. I'm nowhere close to compressed. OAL's don't mean squat. It's the CBTO that's important. That's the only way to know what your bullet jump is, and every barrel is different.

In comparison, I just worked up a load for a buddies 12FV using 69gr Nosler CC, 25.0 Varget & WSR. Also seated .005" off, he's getting 3010fps from a 26" factory barrel.
So given the same powder charge, + 11 grains in bullet weight, and two more inches of barrel that I have, it smells about right. His 3010fps to my 3020fps.

If I can find some pixie dust, I'll send you a link ! Nice chatting with ya :)

[Cyclops]

We have a Savage Model 12 VLP DBM .233 1:7 twist 26" barrel.

We, my son & I, shoot FTR with this rifle out to 1000 yards using 80 gr A-Max, in Norma cases with 24.7 gr Varget and Winchester Small Rifle primers. Measured 2840 fps for this load and rifle.


Have put about 3000 rounds through this rifle in two seasons.