168 A-Max

[BeerBaron]

Hi, I know the .308 cal 168 grain sierra matchking doesn't have the greatest reputation as a 1000 yard bullet, but what about the 168 grain a-max? I have been having decent results with these over 45.5 grains of varget out of my remington 700 sps varmint, and am looking to possibly start stretching the range out as soon as I can find somewhere safe to do so. Does anyone have any long range experience with these bullets?

Thanks!

 

[b72471]

Rather than getting into the pros & cons of that bullet. When you've found a range where you can shoot 1000m. Try it out and then try the Sierra 155 Palma and the 175 Mk. It may just depend on what your rifle likes. Bill

 

[2bad4u2]

Great bullet. Load em' up and go get some experience with the rifle. How far have you shot this combination out to?

 

[gushulak]

The 168gr. SMK runs out of steam at about 900yards as it hits subsonic, and starts to tumble, accuracy going all to hell.

The 168gr. A-AMAX has an even worse BC than the MK so I'd imagine that at distance you'd have the same problems. Past 800yard shooting, the king of the hill is the 175gr. SMK, but I also have had outstanding results with the 178gr. A-AMAX at extreme ranges. The 168gr. pill is too light, has too poor of a BC and the velocity isn't high enough for it to get out to 1000yards reliably.

Even my Rem700P spits out the A-MAX's at over 2700 fps and that's not enough velocity for when it hits the wall at 900yards.

168gr. A-MAX's are outstanding bullets from 0-600yards.

Hope this helps.

 

[p-17]

We use 155s routinely at 1,000 yards. In fact, that is what the Palma rules require. The 155 Sierra is therefore by far the most common 1,000 yard bullet for .308 competitive shooting. It is followed by the 155 AMAX, 154 Lapua Scenar and 155 Nosler, in no particular order. I use the Nosler, myself.

The 175 Sierra is used where the rules allow a heavier bullet. It has an excellent reputation, too.

 

[watsknew]

The 168gr. SMK runs out of steam at about 900yards as it hits subsonic, and starts to tumble, accuracy going all to hell.

The 168gr. A-AMAX has an even worse BC than the MK so I'd imagine that at distance you'd have the same problems. Past 800yard shooting, the king of the hill is the 175gr. SMK, but I also have had outstanding results with the 178gr. A-AMAX at extreme ranges. The 168gr. pill is too light, has too poor of a BC and the velocity isn't high enough for it to get out to 1000yards reliably.

Even my Rem700P spits out the A-MAX's at over 2700 fps and that's not enough velocity for when it hits the wall at 900yards.

168gr. A-MAX's are outstanding bullets from 0-600yards.

Hope this helps.

Actually the 168 gr a-max has a higher B.C. of .475 and the MK is .462 (website states different B.C. at diff velocities)...so the a-max should do slightly better..

 

[gushulak]

Actually the 168 gr a-max has a higher B.C. of .475 and the MK is .462 (website states different B.C. at diff velocities)...so the a-max should do slightly better..

I am basing my answer on a BC of .488 for the 168gr. SMK (which I found from several reloading books as well as several online calculators), the 168gr. A-MAX is at .475 like you said, from the results from my gun at distance, I'd still say the SMK has an edge at any distance over 500yards.

As others had mentioned, bullets are bullets and have nothing to do with how your rifle is going to shoot them, some brands will shoot better than others, for me, SMK outshoot A-MAX's although when comparing 175gr. SMK and 178gr. A-MAX's, I would give a slight nod to the A-MAX, my rifle just shoots them into tinier holes (and I like that).

Hope this helps.

 

[tiriaq]

My long range experience is mainly limited to TR shooting, where the rules mandate bullet weight. The 154/155 Sierra, Nosler, Amax and Lapuas are all effective. In my experience, the differences in zero settings for the Sierra, current AMAX and Nosler are slight, suggesting very similar performance; the Scenar requires less come up, and less correction for wind, suggesting in practical terms that it is ballistically superior. The first version AMAX also shot flatter, and better in the wind, but this longer version was discontinued a number of years ago because the tips tended to break off in M-14/M1A NM rifles. Elevation requirements for known distance target shooting aren't a major issue, but wind performance is important.
If bullet weight is not an issue, the 175/178 and heavier bullets would be the way to go. Accuracy from your rifle is critical, and grouping ability at 300 and less isn't really a good test. Rifles are individuals, you will have to find what works best in your rifle - and then you will have to learn how to steer the bullets to where you want them to go at long range.