75 Gr A-MAX - Long range potential....range results

lapadat

lapadat

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Factory Savage 12 BVSS, 1:9 twist, shot prone with bipod and rear bag.

I'm shooting 75 gr A-Max, Varget, Win cases, at COAL 2.50...not sure the velocity,

My notes show that I've shot five groups at 100 yards (4 shot groups) measuring: .716, .686, .993, .653, .1.009, .231, .204....this bullet can shoot!....at close range

I selected the .204" loading (20 gr Varget) and went to town at 494 lasered yards.

Below is the 2 groups shot today...the first 4 round group measures 5.525" while the 5 shot group at 11.5" with some nasty vertical stringing. This is my first attempt beyond 100 yards with this particular round.

At 100 yards, I had the best groups with 20 gr of Varget, I also had good groups at 22-23 gr Varget. Could it be that I'm not pushing them fast enough and that the slower loads were good at 100 but are de-stabilizing at 500?

Should I re-start my load testing at longer range? .....or just stick to my 69 SMK which shoot like a house on fire. I think the 75 A-Max should out-perform the 69 SMK's at long range.....but.....???

Help please.....flame away.

lap

001-1.jpg
 
Lap you have to step-up load to get good results with Varget and 75gr A maxs
25gr and go up in 1/10s
A lot of fellows shooting same gun as yours some 1/9 and some 1/7 twist.
They all have given -up on 75 Amax's. 1/9 twist really shine with 75gr Bergers,Varget of Rl 15 and Vt 540 powders.
I have seen many sub 1" groups at 300y 5 shots.
The 1/7 ywist seem to like 80gr sierras or Bergers with Varget
manitou
 
Vertical stringing can suggest velocity variations. Both groups in the photo show more vertical than horizontal. Lateral spread looks to be not much more than a minute.
Your loads seem to be on the light side.
 
If the barrel is a slow 9, it will not stabilize the AMax or berger very well.

The loads I shot with 75gr Amax and Varget were in the upper 23/24gr range. Velocity was right in there with what load manuals suggest.

Visit my website and I have some load tuning tips that will help - in the Rifle tech section.

Do your testing at 200 to 300yds, it wil be obvious about vertical stringing. I would expect you get to a nice consistent 1/2 min accuracy 5rds at 200yds. Some groups will be smaller but not much bigger. Tune for a 'flat' group.

When you get that bullet shooting, it will make the 69's look like baseballs instead of spears.

I have never shot past 1 mile with this bullet....

Jerry
 
A number of things come to mind:


Your load looks to be under-powered.

Powder looks fast. try RL15 and load up till you get smallest group or pressure.

Twist is not the issue. If it is stable at 100, it will gain stability as it slows down, downrange.

In my experience 100 yards is a total waste of time in predicting longer rnage performance. I test at 300 or 500 yards.

Try the berger or Sierra 80. They will stabalise in a 1:9 if shot fast enough. See if you can get a throating reamer to push the throat out a bit to take the longer bullet.
 
lapadat said:
Factory Savage 12 BVSS, 1:9 twist, shot prone with bipod and rear bag.

I'm shooting 75 gr A-Max, Varget, Win cases, at COAL 2.50...not sure the velocity,

My notes show that I've shot five groups at 100 yards (4 shot groups) measuring: .716, .686, .993, .653, .1.009, .231, .204....this bullet can shoot!....at close range

I selected the .204" loading (20 gr Varget) and went to town at 494 lasered yards.

Below is the 2 groups shot today...the first 4 round group measures 5.525" while the 5 shot group at 11.5" with some nasty vertical stringing. This is my first attempt beyond 100 yards with this particular round.

At 100 yards, I had the best groups with 20 gr of Varget, I also had good groups at 22-23 gr Varget. Could it be that I'm not pushing them fast enough and that the slower loads were good at 100 but are de-stabilizing at 500?

Should I re-start my load testing at longer range? .....or just stick to my 69 SMK which shoot like a house on fire. I think the 75 A-Max should out-perform the 69 SMK's at long range.....but.....???

Help please.....flame away.

lap

001-1.jpg
Click to expand...

Have you had any luck yet getting the 75 gr A-Max to shoot out past 100? Let us know.
 
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