600 yard load for Hornady 75 & 80gn A-Max

[Twinson]

Does anyone have any published loads for the 75 & 80 grain Hornady A-Max shot at 600 yards? I am looking for IMR 4895, RL15, 2460, Varget. Thank you, James.

[Parashooter]

First, let's presume you're asking about loads for 5.56mm NATO (.223 Rem) in AR-15 type service rifles.

Not a recommendation, but I have used the 75 A-Max (Moly) over 25.7 grains RL-15 for long-range competition (Palma and 1000-yard). In a 20" 1-8" twist service configuration barrel, MV was 2890 fps and it was supersonic and stable out to 1000. This is a compressed load with bullets seated as far out as possible - and cases are junk after 1 or 2 firings. The Berger 75 VLD is a bit more accurate in my rifle with the same charge. (Shooting a service mousegun at 1000 yards in the Camp Perry wind is a dicey game requiring some extreme handloading to be competitive.)

A reasonable maximum charge of RL-15 is the 24.1 grains listed by Alliant for the 77 grain Sierra seated to magazine length. The A-Max, seated farther out for accuracy, will allow this charge without the excessive pressure generated by my 25.7 grain charge and should be fine at 600 yards.

It's worthwhile measuring your A-Max's with a good .0001" micrometer. The batch I have go .2248", perhaps explaining why my .2240" Bergers shot a bit better.

[NuJudge]

http://radomski.us/njhp/

[hagar in SC]

Is that a typo, or do you use 25.7 grains of RL15? That is ONE HOT LOAD..:icon_scratch:

I use 24.7 grains of RL15, with a LC case and a Remington 7.5 primer. In my 22 inch flattop upper I chronoed it at 3040 feet/sec average, and it shoots well at 1000 yards. It goes about 2850 in my NM AR.

[Parashooter]

No typo. Like I said -

"Not a recommendation. . . This is a compressed load with bullets seated as far out as possible - and cases are junk after 1 or 2 firings."

I've observed considerable lot-to-lot variation with RL-15 over the years. A marginally excessive load with my batch might be poison with yours.

[John Kuhns]

I'm currently loading 24.2g Varget with a Winchester case and a Remington 7-1/2 primer for both the 75 and 80 Amax. It's a good load in my 1x7 Krieger barrel.