50 AMAX or 53?

SporterII

Full Member
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 23, 2006
2,050
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Central Fl. USA
I have shot a lot of P Dogs with 50gr. amax and ballistic tip B.H. loads. A lot. Remington 12 twist factory rifles.[223].
My current rifle is a 24" 9 twist 5r. I am loading my own now and have been shooting 69 Sierras, honing my skills loading.
My question is should I be looking at rthese new 53's with the little boat tail or stick with the flat base bullets. I would like to find a accurate load 3200fps.
Sure have enjoyed terminal ballistics to 300 or so with the 50's just not sure which to try to hunt down. That is a new calculation I [we] have not had to concider before.
 
Midway had some 53gr V-Max's on blemish. Picked up 500 to give it a try. Currently use the 50gr Z-Max/V-Max and it works pretty well for me. The extra 50 points in BC will add some to its ability to buck the wind a little longer.
 
53 AMAX's are very accurate out of my AR-15 SBR. I put a scope on it just to accuracy test and they ran about 1/2" at 100 yds. Might as well give them a try and see. The Z-max's on the other hand gave acceptable accuracy, but not exception.
 
Since you have an acceptable twist for them, I say go with the 53gr. Slightly lower velocity, with slightly greater BC...but a lot nicer to seat the bullets with the boat tail! That's what clinched it for me.

I made the switch from the other side, 55gr v-max to the 53gr. Performance on prairie dogs was the same amazing effect you've come to love about v-maxs (it's only 2 grains after all). Now, it might very well have just been the fact that I KNEW it had a better BC (albeit not much) so I THOUGHT I observed it doing better, but there seemed to be less wind drift. I shot all 55s one year, came back with all 53s the next, and there was several times the first day where I overcompensated for the wind. That could also be attested to just being out of practice.

Anyways, you will lose nothing by switching, but gain easier seating while loading.
 
I'm talking 100 to 300 yrd. shoots mostly & I have no prejudices against the Flat-backs & accuracy . The 50 Vmax's have always treated me good on the varmint . I tried-53's out . I know the vmax 53's have & do carry a little bit better on holdover & windhold . but I really I think I get better accuracy with the 50 vmax . They have always been pretty easy to blaze with the Vel. & stack tight groups .
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