123gr vs 120gr AMAX...why?

[cobramech]

I am working up some loads for my newly barreled Mauser in 260 Remington... 1:8.5 twist McGowen barrel. I like AMAX's and use 140 gr in my Swedish Mauser. What I was wondering is why Hornady makes two bullets so close in weight as the 120 AMAX and the 123 AMAX. Is it more than weight alone or is this something related to imitating the Lapua 123 Scenar? TIA

 

[15Tango]

Pretty much what Dave said. It was also intended for the 6.5 Grendel. From my experience loading the 123 versus the 120, the ogive of the 123 is the same profile as the 140 so I can actually seat the 123s and 140s at the same COAL and land contact is the same. The 120 you couldn't do that. It's sort of like how the 130 VLD and 140 VLD are the same bullet but the 130 has less lead inside it making it lighter, I say sort of because the 123 AMAX is still shorter than the 140, it just has the same ogive.

I don't see a point in messing with the 120 AMAX anymore given the 123's BC is much better, perhaps the 120 might be more accurate in shorter ranges than the 123 in some rifles though?

Wayne