80 AMAX vs. Berger 80.5 / 82 -Ease of load development

[jameydan]

Members,

If you have experience with loading these .223 bullets could you let me know how easy they were to develop a load with? I am specifically looking to use these bullets in an AR15 for XTC at 600 and LR at 800yds. It would be particularly helpful if someone has experience loading the AMAX and the Berger 80.5 or 82. I am not fond of spending a lot of time tinkering and working up a load, and therefore a finicky bullet is not what I want. Nor, do I want to be chasing the lands through out the season, if I can avoid it.

I have extensive experience loading the Berger 185 LRBT in my M1A for 600-1000yds, and I always liked how easy it is to load in 4 different barrels in two rifles. I am hoping to find the equivalent in one of the three above mentioned bullets for use in the AR15.

AR15: 20" Service Rifle, Saturn Barrel, 1 in 7 twist, and Wylde chamber.


Thanks!

 

[MrMajestic]

Hit the 80 gr. A-Max in my 8tw .223 AI first try but loading with Varget is kind of a no-brainer! OBT will reduce load development, it really does work!

 

[memilanuk]

B82BT over RE-15 seemed to work fine out of my WOA 26" spacegun... don't remember the exact charge (been a few years since I've even fired that gun) but it was in the 24.2-24.5gn range, jumping 0.020" from a hard jam.

B82BT over N150 works *great* out of my Sav 12 F/TR 30" barrel... soft-seated 0.010" past hard jam, over approx. the same amount of powder.

 

[Roarke]

I'm shooting the Berger 80.5's out my stock rock river national match rifle with loads based on LC brass, wolf primers, and either RL15 or Varget with weighed charges. Jump in both loads is 0.020 and it easily holds ten ring elevation. I haven't used any of the other bullets you mentioned. There are some great articles on these bullet comparisons over at the nationalmatch.us forums.