Who all uses these and how far do they like to be off the lands? I like the price of the bullets, and they are grouping pretty good for my skill level at long range, but I'm only getting 1-1.5 inches at 100 yards. I'm using the 105 grainers in a 6mm AI and a 1-10" twist. They look to be stabilizing well, and can hit a clay bird at 300 yards all day long, and a headshot on a human sized silhouette at 400 yards is easy, but the 100 yard grouping just isn't there for whatever reason.

What are they grouping at 300tds? Your twist rate might be just abit slow for the looong A-max. I shoot the 140gr in my 260ai w/ 1-8 twist. Its just as accurate @ 100 as 300, about 1/2moa.

At 300 yards 2-3 inches. I'm sure I don't have excellent form while shooting, but I figure if I'm shooting under MOA at 300 I should get close to MOA at 100. Sometimes I get a real odd flier that is way out of the group, but I have no signs of keyholing, and the bullet shoots MOA out to 600, as far as I've shot.

Tyler, It sounds as though you may be just barely stablizing the bullet and a small addition to velocity, or if you are not currently loaded into the lands, that might help initial alignment. Awesome cartridge, and I'll bet you have some serious fun with it.

that boattail bullet hasn't settled
down and [gone to sleep]at 100
it still yawing and then settles down
at longer distances, if you want to shoot well at 100 or just a bit better use a plain base
bullet. it is shorter and more compatible
with your bbl's twist rate

1-10" twist. No way I'm going for a flat base bullet, BC drops a ton, and I use this gun for longer range stuff.

Currently I'm using 49 grains 7828 with the 105 grain Amax. I may try 50, my primers looks good, and pockets are tight, but some of my brass is a bit soft, I had a previous topic about it.

I plan on 7828SSC next, should meter much better.

it can be the paralaz adjustment @ 100 yrds that is throwing the group off. had that happen to me one time, couldnt understand it till i tried a different scope on the gun. was 1.5" @ 100 yds but was 1.75" @ 200 yds. i was in a quandry for a while till someone mentioned the paralax on another forum.

i shoot and hunt with the 168 .308 A-Max at 2550 MV from a 20" steyr.

.5-.6" groups are not uncommon and terminal performance on SE whitetail is certain. i killed a nice buck last season w/ an amax from a 16" ruger frontier.

It's an AO scope, so parallax isn't the problem, although I have had that issue before. Ever since then I check for that.

I've had good luck with the Amaxes in several rifles loaded just off the lands(.001-.003).

I don't buy into the yawing theory, feel like there are some other issues taking place. Paralax coul be the culprit, just because your scope is PA, doesn't mean the factory settings on the dial are dead on.

I've said this many times, I've loaded for and shot a pile of really accurate set-ups and to this day have never seen any or witnessed any rifle shooting better groups at long range than short. Not saying it doesn't happen, just don't buy into the "going to sleep" theory. That subject gets debated from time to time on many forums.

Have a Good one,

Reloader

my 280ackley likes 162gr A-maxs loaded 15thou into the lands. many others shoot them with the bullet pushed into the rifling, worth a try. actually its pretty fussy regarding seating depth.

to check parralax, have your rifle on something steady where it will remain perfectly still, and while looking through the scope move your head around, if the crosshairs move in relation to the target just move the parallax adjuster till the crosshairs remain perfectly still

couldnt be easier.

sounds like they shoot alright.

A comment on the occasional flyer - I have been looking at the bearing surface of a lot of bullets this winter. Mostly match bullets, but some hunting bullets too. I've been using a Tubbs comparator, so I can really sort through a lot of bullets in a relatively short time.

In looking back through my notes on the Hornady Amax, I see that I culled out about 8%. The 92% that I kept were within .003, I believe. The cull group had an extreme spread of .009. I believe the fliers you are seeing are coming from the outer edges of production tolerences.

I don't mean to sound like the Hornadys are not capable of great accuracy. I have had some luck with them and know of at least one notable 1000 yd record shot with them. What I am saying is that they probably do need to be sorted. Use the culls for foulers, or whatever.

Tyler, I wonder if you are barely stabilizing the bullet...

work up the load, but try to work up to 46 grains of RL 19 with the 105 A Max.. in my 6mm Rem that gives an MV of 3250 fps.. regular primer... that extra velocity might help stabilize that 105 just a little better...

1 in 9 twists ARE a hair better for that bullet..107 Sierras definitely want a one in 9, and preferably a one in 8...

Alright, next time I need some powder I'll try RL19. Will this work for 87 grain V-Maxes and 95 grain Bergers as well? Money's getting tight, girls+highschool+car+not enough working=broke

I shot them in my 280 rem.162g .010 off, so/so groups.
But my in my M-96 sweed 140g .025 off, great groups. Daveo

quote:

Originally posted by Tyler Kemp:
Money's getting tight, girls+highschool+car+not enough working=broke

You'll need high school to get a better job which will allow you to buy more components, more rifles, more hunts. Otherwise, real riflemen don't need cars or girls...priorities, young man!

quote:

Originally posted by Paul from nz:
my 280ackley likes 162gr A-maxs loaded 15thou into the lands.

Could you explain the 15thou bit. Is your neck tension enough to push the bullet that far into the lands?

I have noticed when trying to measure where a bullet touches the lands there is some movement between a light touch and a heavy one. Is this the 15thou measurement?

quote:

Originally posted by JAL:

quote:

Originally posted by Paul from nz:
my 280ackley likes 162gr A-maxs loaded 15thou into the lands.

Could you explain the 15thou bit. Is your neck tension enough to push the bullet that far into the lands?

I have noticed when trying to measure where a bullet touches the lands there is some movement between a light touch and a heavy one. Is this the 15thou measurement?

i cant say for sure if they are actually going 15thousands of an inch into the lands, all i know is that it like it that way.

I just seated the bullets out 15tho from where they started touching the lands. for all i know they are only going in 5thou... it feels like a bit of a crush fit when loading them into the rifle