Preparing for my first loads..

[insidious_calm]

Ok. I'm getting ready for my first loads but I don't know what powder to use yet. The manuals I have list quite a few different ones so I thought I'd ask what others prefer to start with.


I will be loading Hornady 178gr. AMAX Moly coated in Hornady match grade brass(new) with federal match primers. The rifle is an AR-10T with 24" barrel. What powder should I buy to start with? Also, I have some questions about the AMAX bullets. I ran a few surplus cases through the resizer and loaded an AMAX bullet(no primer or powder) to check OAL. It looks like 2.825 is about the max that the magazine will take.

One of the things I noticed during this testing was that it looked like the ballistic tips on the AMAX's were getting damaged during chambering. The tips were getting knocked VERY slightly to the side. You could just barely see a crack were it had seperated a bit on one side. How detrimental will this be to accuracy. Should I not use the AMAX's in an autoloader?

Suggestions? Thanks again all.



I.C.

 

[dakotasin]

to help w/ the battering, you might want to seat the a-max's just a touch deeper. they are extremely long bullets... but they shoot so nice! the plastic tip is there because it won't deform like lead ones... so, short answer is don't worry too much about the tip of the bullet being a little deformed - it won't hurt ya.

i've had best accuracy in 308 w/ varget (and 168 a-max's) - but never ran it thru an auto loader. i think it will do fine, though.

don't know what manuals you have, but the speer #13 is an easy to use manual. they way it orders the powder (by top velocity getter) is almost always the way you'll come out accuracy wise, too. this is my go-to manual.

sierra's manual is pretty nice, too. it displays everything for you, then tells you the best load for accuracy, or the best load for hunting. nosler's manual is much the same. if you have one of those 3 manuals, you'll be in fine shape. the other manuals i've worked w/ i don't like nearly as much.

and good luck at the bench! soon as i finish my coffee, i have some 22-250 load development to get started on.