Hornady A-Max for elk?

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stevedigs04

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Hello,

Some of you may recognize me from a post asking for advice on my .300 mag R1..

Well as mentioned in that post the 180 grains I have tried didn't agree with the gun, the 150's on the other hand shot amazingly.

For something new I picked up a box of Hornady A-MAX 178 Grain MATCH bullets, as I really don't like the idea of limping into an Elk, Black bear, Mule deer with 150 grain bullets.

The gun loves them, however I have read some mixed reviews on using "target" bullets in hunting applications.

Anyone have experience using these A-MAX on big game ?

Based on AB.boy's answer ( thanks) anyone have some favorite factory ammo? as mentioned the gun doesn't like cheaper 180's but hoping maybe something a little higher end will work.

Also wouldn't mind shooting 165's if they are enough.

Thanks,

-Steve
 
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I used a155gr Amax in a .308 on whitetail deer and found that the jacket separated from the lead core. A bonded hunting bullet might be a better choice on bigger game. YMMV.
 
The only difference between a 165 SST and a 168 A-Max is that the A-Max tends to be more accurate. I preferred 168 A-Max over 155 A-Max from my 308's on sika and red deer. Never shot an Elk.
In my 300wm I used 178 A-Max last season dropping 8 Sika deer from 80yd to 800yd. Very happy with them. My take is the A-max will expand at slow speed, 308 up to 500m. This means they can over expand at short range or when hitting bone. I tend to shoot head neck under 200m or if the position is not stable a high heart lung shot behind the front leg. Avoid shoulder shots. Quartering to shot on the shoulder at short range can be a problem.
edi
 
I have used 168 grain AMAX on deer and elk and they all died with 1 shot, usually in very short order.
Shot placement is everything.
I have had them pass through deer with a 1.5" hole on the other side. I have had them rest on the other side of an elk, just under the skin, intact and expanded.
I have also hit bone and had them grenade into 10 or more pieces.
I have had some small pieces of the jacket come off but it usually seems to stick together and retain most of the mass.
I used them for the same reason, my rifle shot them very well, I knew and logged my ballistics/DOPE so I was most comfortable with it.
I placed more emphasis on accuracy, predictability and was more comfortable shooting those projectiles so that's what I went with.
I have dropped 2 deer and 1 elk in place, on the spot with the AMAX. But with that said I have also shot a buck through the heart and had it run 120m before face planting.

Mainly, the AMAX will expand, usually stays together but won't when you hit a shoulder. In my opinion it is perfectly viable.
Bonded bullets are better but I think knowing your rifle and DOPE is just as, if not more important so you can hit the spot you are aiming for. To me this is similar to the caliber/cartridge debate....doesn't matter if you send it through the heart.

That being said I'm pretty sure Hornady makes 178 grain Eld for hunting as I believe the AMAX is discontinued.
 
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I have hunting buddies and acquaintances who've put a pile of meat in their freezers over the years, using various AMaxs, and now ELDs. Their experiences have been largely positive, out of medium capacity type chamberings. Positive enough that I've been using them the last few years. At moderate velocities, I can't tell the wounds from any standard, 'acceptable' cup and core. For the most part, they penetrate very well, like most heavy for caliber projectiles. I'll be filling my elk tag this year using the 147ELD.

They would not be my first choice out of a magnum or higher velocity chambering, but I know a few guys shooting 180ELDs out of assorted 7Mags and they've been very happy with them. So, mileage varies, as usual.
 
LittleBoyLefty said:
I have hunting buddies and acquaintances who've put a pile of meat in their freezers over the years, using various AMaxs, and now ELDs. Their experiences have been largely positive, out of medium capacity type chamberings. Positive enough that I've been using them the last few years. At moderate velocities, I can't tell the wounds from any standard, 'acceptable' cup and core. For the most part, they penetrate very well, like most heavy for caliber projectiles. I'll be filling my elk tag this year using the 147ELD.

They would not be my first choice out of a magnum or higher velocity chambering, but I know a few guys shooting 180ELDs out of assorted 7Mags and they've been very happy with them. So, mileage varies, as usual.
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Your buddies must be using a different batch of bullets. The ones I shoot blow apart when going through a 3/8 plywood target board, But I guess everyone has a buddy that can leap tall buildings....
 
@littleboylefty

I get what you’re saying for sure. More than anything, shot placement counts. You and your friends practice a lot with moderate chamberings and can probably shoot a lot better than the average joe (myself included). A 300 win is not moderate (again average Joe) and from what I gather from this thread and one other the OP is not a high volume shooter. To hedge your bets I’d say stick with a tougher bullet that would maybe give you a larger margin for error if you happen to plant one on the shoulder or any other major bone. I use a tougher bullet in higher velocity chamberings for that reason myself, but that’s just my opinion.
 
fiddler said:
Your buddies must be using a different batch of bullets. The ones I shoot blow apart when going through a 3/8 plywood target board, But I guess everyone has a buddy that can leap tall buildings....
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LOL. How do you catch the bullets that have 'blown apart on 3/8 ply' for examination?
 
Slimbo said:
I get what you’re saying for sure. More than anything, shot placement counts. You and your friends practice a lot with moderate chamberings and can probably shoot a lot better than the average joe (myself included). A 300 win is not moderate (again average Joe) and from what I gather from this thread and one other the OP is not a high volume shooter. To hedge your bets I’d say stick with a tougher bullet that would maybe give you a larger margin for error if you happen to plant one on the shoulder or any other major bone. I use a tougher bullet in higher velocity chamberings for that reason myself, but that’s just my opinion.
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Good points S. I agree with your overall message for sure. I didn't see his previous thread, and perhaps should have dug it up before commenting.
 
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stevedigs04 said:
Based on AB.boy's answer ( thanks) anyone have some favorite factory ammo? as mentioned the gun doesn't like cheaper 180's but hoping maybe something a little higher end will work.

Also wouldn't mind shooting 165's if they are enough.

Thanks,

-Steve
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Try a 180 gr. Nosler Accubond. Most guns seem to like them. Hornady also makes an Interbond, definitely a better choice than the A-max as an all around hunting bullet on elk.
 
I used the SST after being recommended them by a dealer here for elk. Shot one with a lung shot inside 200yrds with a 308 and recovered just the copper jacket on the opposite side of the hide. All the lead was gone. I avoid them now
 
AB.boy said:
I used a155gr Amax in a .308 on whitetail deer and found that the jacket separated from the lead core. A bonded hunting bullet might be a better choice on bigger game. YMMV.
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Amax are a bullet designed to fragment, cause big traumatic wound. Pencil hole in, grapefruit out. Dont hit the shoulder ball or you get a shallow ....splat wound.

To Op. Check out Nathan Foster, terminal ballistic studies, gives caliber/projectile/wound information. Guy loves the Amax.
 
Thanks for the reply's.

I do realize that these are target bullets hence the question (i'm not overly familiar with bullet types and how they perform ect as i'm primarily a bow guy), however I did ask for some recommendations so everyone just saying no or agreeing with the dude who said no...

Any opinions on ammo I should use? As mentioned gun does typically like 180's i think 165's would also be enough for elk out of the .300 win, Barnes TTSX BT 165 grain good ?
 
The Amax would work well at impact speeds below 1800 fps, so if you're expecting shots to be in the 700 yards + range, they'd be one worth using. Inside 700 yards I could think of a couple dozen more suitable bullets, including some 150 grain weights
 
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