Varmint bullet for 22-243 Improved

[eggman]

I am having trouble finding the right varmint bullet for my 8" twist 22-243 Improved. I am needing a bullet that will hold up to the 22-243"s velocity and still have terminal performance on long range groundhogs. The Sierra 80 gr. SMK shoots very well but has very unpredictable results when I connect on a groundhog . Sometimes it blows them to bits and sometimes just pencil through and they run into their hole after being solidly hit. Iwas thinking of trying the Berger 77 gr. BT. What are other's using for a varmint bullet for this cartridge ?

Rodney

 

[vmthtr]

Rodney,
Try the Amax, I use the 75g in my 220 Swift AI.

Mike

 

[WAMBO]

I 2nd the 75gr A-Max.
A friend of mine is using the 75gr A-Max in a 1-8" twist Savage 22-243 AI and it's devastating on coyotes out to 500yds, the farthest he's killed one ).
The load he's using is only going 3430 fps but it's extremely accurate, .25moa at 100yds and sub .5 at 600yds, has the capability to go 3600 fps+ but not as accurately.
Hope this helps some.
Wayne aka WAMBO

 

[eggman]

Thanks for the recommendation of the 75 gr. AMax . I've got some 80 gr. AMaxs but no 75 gr. right now .I need to pick some up and see what they will do and may just try the 80 gr AMaxs and see what they will do ...who knows they may work well ?

Rodney

 

[reedmosser]

The 80 grain a-max has worked very well in the four 22-243 ackleys slowsest 3450 fps 25inch barrel, fastest 3650 fps 30 inch tube. They have also been working in the rechmabered savage 9 twist barrels at the 22-243 ackleys velcioty.

 

[eggman]

The 75 gr. A-Maxes are shooting great in my 22-243 Rocket. I picked up a couple of boxes already moly coated at Widener's and the first load I ran on Quickload/Shockwave shot so well at 100yds and 562 yds. Running around 3500+ fps on a hot day and 3480fps on a cool day. I haven't loaded anything else but will try some 80 gr. A-Maxs that I moly coated myself. . So, thanks guys for the advice on the A-Max bullet and I hope to see how it performs on a groundhog this week. Its very accurate but haven't connected with a groundhog long range as I haven't got the windage figured out yet but it will come the more I shoot this rig.

Rodney

 

[cheyenne19]

I'm going to have a 22-243 built, and I can't decide if I should go the AI route. I was under the impression that most bullets wouldn't stand the velocities. Are you guys having any problems running the amaxes hot? And how much more speed will you get out of the AI version?

 

[Preacher]

I ran those 75 gr Amax's in my old 22/6mm Ackley and never had a problem other than burning the barrel out really really quick. I suppose the 3800+fps had a lot to do with that 'O) Very impressive hits on ground hogs out as far as I could hit em....
I never had one come apart because of the added speed, but dusted a lot of the old 80 gr Bergers in that barrel........