Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles 52 grain Amax

Picked up a few boxes of these on the classifieds, and they are labeled for 1 in 14 twists.
I have a couple 14 twists in a .222 and one in a .223


Anybody got any experience loading for either one?

Thanks in advance.

Tom,

I have shoot a couple 500 of them or so...

granted in one in 12 twists... my usual load for them is the same I use on the 53 V Max... which is 25 grains of H 322...

They are real accurate, but I prefer the 53 V Max.. which is both even more accurate and is also flatter shooting at longer distances due to a higher BC...

and it won't stabilize in a one in 14 twist either...( the 53 V Max)...

52 anything in 223=
25.8 grains Benchmark for 3400 out of a 14 or 12 twist.
Accuracy load is 23 grains of LT32
Max of 335 also works
Max of Vargay also works
Max of H-380 works but is a pooch for speed
H-322 works
AA2015 works
Bunch of others, but don't have access to my records right now.
I actually prefer 52 SMK and 52 Custom Comps . Hope it helps you a little.
Oh, BM and LT 32 will work real well in the duece also.

Thanks guys!

Keep the tips coming!


I currently have IMR 4895, IMR4064,IMR4198, and H335 on hand...( try to limit the # of powders I use, but Im not very good at it...)

I shoot 19 grains of 4198 with 52's in my dueces.

of the powders listed I bet 335 will give you the best speeds and accuracy inthe 223. I'd try between 25 and 26 grains.

It would be well worth picking up some benchmark and trying it. In my 223 normals and AI I have found nothing better with bullets 60 grains and under. Plus benchmark doesn't have the temp. issues 335 does

Nor the fouling issues.

25.5 of 335 was kinda poochy in both my 12 & 14 twist 223's. 3100 or so. 24 inch tubes.
Out of the ones listed then yes 335 would be the best.
This time of year I would be going 27- 28 grains and with a hotter primer and hit 3350 - 3400 out of them.
YMMV but I do not shoot this loading above 70 degrees as it can hold some surprises.

right on about the fouling too.
not to mention benchmark doesn't smell like cat pee when you touch it off or blind you in low light

I've been getting really good accuracy with H4895 behind the 53 Vmax's might be worth a try with your 52 gr Amax's, but as said Benchmark works great with the 52's, LT32 sounds interesting!

You experience mirrors mine...19 grains of 4198 is my go to load in the deuce with 50 grainers.


And yeah, H335 gives me the speed...and the temp issues....

Swifty I'll be doing a LOT of shooter over 70 degrees....that leaves H335 out....Ive found the ambient temp isn't as big a deal as the barrel temp, load it into a hot barrel ( and they frequently are hot on the killing fields...) and you will have a problem.

I'd be gunning 4198 in a 222 and 4895 in the 223....

Wonderful accuracy with the 52 A-Max in several 222's, and especially in the 222 Magnums.

But I'm kind of partial to 40's in the 222; if I had to run a 50, 52/53 or 55, I've never had issues with a 1-14, ever.

Sounds like the direction Ill be heading...its what I do for the other bullet...4198 in the deuce and 4895 in the 223s...

And that's why I don't use 335 much anymore. Benchmark doesn't have that problem.

I had the best accuracy in my deuce with 52 grain bullets and RL7. Benchmark didn't suck either.

just a thought Tom...

I get more velocity without sacrificing accuracy, out of a 223, using a charge of 22.5 grains of 4198, vs a max charge of 4895...

but one reason I have been leaning toward H 322, besides all the accuracy hubbub ya hear about it, I get some pretty decent velocity out of a charge of 25 grains ( most never data lists max at about 23.5 while I have some older data hanging around listing the 25 grain charge).. plus it is Temp Insensitive...

and it is evidently not as popular as it use to be, so I have been lucky to find some 8 lb jugs of it, and the stores have been telling me it hasn't been moving much...many folks think it is some odd ball powder since its not on the newswire much these days...

Just tried them in the new 1 in 14 LVSF....looks like 22.0 grains of IMR 4198 is the ticket, though its hard to discern the difference between that and 26.0 Grains of IMR 4895


The rifle LOVES them!

after you run thru those, try out some 53 grain V Maxes, and check out the differences in hot flat shooting the 53 V Max is in comparison...

That and the 40 grainers are pretty much my standard 223 fare nowadays...

I shoot them in my .22-250 behind RL15. 3/4" groups at 200 yards and splatters PD all over the prairie. Rifle is a Savage stainless varmint.

Also use them in .223 for my R700 with some H335 and again, excellent accuracy.

Buddy uses them on coyotes and anchors them.

I'm going to give these a try again. Last time I tried Varget with them and the results left me disappointed.

What COAL you guys at?