American Eagle 50g Tipped Varmint ammo (223 Rem), p/n AE223GTV has been the best shooting off-the-shelf ammo I've used in my Savage Model 12BVSS. Although I prefer to roll my own, I keep this as a reference load in case I'm having trouble developing a load and want to eliminate the gun as the source. It has shot 3 and 5 shot groups in the zeros at 100 yds, although often prone to flyers in many 5 shot groups, never opening up to more than 1/2 moa.
Recently, however it has become extremely scarce, so I put a call into Federal to get some answers.
First off, this ammo never appeared on Federal's website. Information and specifications were not to be found in years past all the while being very affordable and available for a good while. It also performed amazingly well. Intrigued, I contacted Federal several years ago to get a spec sheet, and my efforts were quickly rewarded with a spec sheet arriving a few days later, which if I could put my hands on would publish here. But here is what I remember.
50g projectile made by Hornaday (V-Max)
CCI-41 magnum primer
Lake City brass with asphalt sealant in the neck.
Ball Powder, probably H335
According to a call I got from Federal yesterday, this ammo has been discontinued. It was previously made under contract with the Lake City plant, but is being re-engineered to use an in-house bullet like the V-Max.
They hope to get it to shoot as well and the old ammo.
No timeline on the availability as of yet.
I still have several untouched boxes on hand, but will covet those until the new stuff hits the shelves.
Recently, however it has become extremely scarce, so I put a call into Federal to get some answers.
First off, this ammo never appeared on Federal's website. Information and specifications were not to be found in years past all the while being very affordable and available for a good while. It also performed amazingly well. Intrigued, I contacted Federal several years ago to get a spec sheet, and my efforts were quickly rewarded with a spec sheet arriving a few days later, which if I could put my hands on would publish here. But here is what I remember.
50g projectile made by Hornaday (V-Max)
CCI-41 magnum primer
Lake City brass with asphalt sealant in the neck.
Ball Powder, probably H335
According to a call I got from Federal yesterday, this ammo has been discontinued. It was previously made under contract with the Lake City plant, but is being re-engineered to use an in-house bullet like the V-Max.
They hope to get it to shoot as well and the old ammo.
No timeline on the availability as of yet.
I still have several untouched boxes on hand, but will covet those until the new stuff hits the shelves.
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