Hornady A-Max 168 load

[Slapp]

Quick back ground, I am new to loading, I will be shooting this out of a Savage FTR rifle (30 inch barrel)
On hand I have some Varget powder, CCI large primers, 168 grain A-max bullets and Hornady, Norma, Perfecta and Lake City brass.
I have have loaded so far 20 rounds of the Hornady brass with the above components using 42grains of powder and an overall length of 2.8 inches, no crimp.
My question is; is this a good load (according to the book I have it should be) but, what do you all think or recommend? While I have your attention, how should move forward and what what should I look for when test firing?
I plan on hitting the range on Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning so at this point I have a little time to change things up.
Thanks in advance.

 

[StevenDzupin]

I've had great results with W-W brass, Federal 210 match primers and 44.0 grains of

Varget powder under those .30 cal. A-Max. Oh and I seat them .015" off the lands.

YMMV

Regards and good shooting,

Steve

 

[MrMajestic]

I'll bet your off the Lands a good piece yet. I run them just off but jamming works also.

 

[Rugg_Ed]

I am having excellent results with 44grns Varget and the 168grn Amax combination using: FC case, CCI LR.
Rifle is a Savage 24" BBL, set the COAL 2.850 + / - .025 off the lands.
Most of my shooting is from 200 yrds then it gets a long ways out.

 

[nastynatesfish]

My ftr rifle had a short throat. I couldn't get 2.900 without it jammed. Also look at a slower powder in the 30" barrel. I was running 155skm with imr4007sc at almost 3k using lapua blue box brass

 

[Dshooter]

+1.... Only mine are .030 off the lands. .020-.030 shot identical. 22" CBI screwed on a trued stevens action...

I've had great results with W-W brass, Federal 210 match primers and 44.0 grains of

Varget powder under those .30 cal. A-Max. Oh and I seat them .015" off the lands.

YMMV

Regards and good shooting,

Steve

 

[d.id]

I started with the 168 then had to switch to the 178 after a dry spell when I could not get the 168. I never went back but both of them liked about twenty thousandths jump, vaget in lapua/fed210m. My 178 is 43.0 and my 168 was 44.0 @2.825" ,both great loads.

 

[Road_Clam]

Never tried the 168's but I did some testing with the 178 AMax's and here's my top loads shot from my R700 Varmint .308 :

Win 748 , 42gr LC brass , avg fps 2534 , shot a .690" group at 200 meters. AWESOME load.

Win 748 , 42.3gr. LC brass , avg fps 2609 , shot a 910" group at 200 meters.

 

[Slapp]

For all those who assisted me with their advice I have now found the best load for my rifle; Hornady 168 grain A-Max, 42.4 grains of Hogden Varget powder and Hornady Match grade brass with a Winchester large rifle primer (LWR).
After some extensive testing this load gives me a .216 grouping at 200 yards and .293 at 300 yards.
Heading out to a 800 yard range middle of March will let you all know my results then.
Again thanks.

 

[nastynatesfish]

The ftr rifle I had had a short throat. Id recomend a slower powder. The 30" barrel on mine absolutely loved imr4007sc. I shot 175gr noslers. Id look into someh4895 or maybe some rl17 if you can find it. They don't make 4007 anymore and that sucks

 

[Danattherock]

Been many years and I'm soon recreating that load. But my $500 Walmart Weatherby 300 wouldn't shoot minute of Apple with various factory loads. My buddy and I worked up a 168 gr Amax load with IMR-4350 that shot 5/8". Just bought 1000 bullets from Cabelas and got a jug of powder a while back. Look forward to recreating that magic load.


Dan