Hornady A-Max for elk?
- Thread starter stevedigs04
- Start date
- Location
- London, ON
Wow thats a beaut Tod,
what do you mean by 165/168 ?
what do you mean by 165/168 ?
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
Depends on range/velocity.
A very strong bullet at slower speeds/longer range can pencil right through acting like a FMJ bullet.
A thin jacket or weaker bullet may explode before penetrating at short distance/high velocity yet still penetrate and break apart a bit at slower longer distances.
So just remember what particular bullet styles may do at particular velocities...
Hollow point/target
hollow point/hunting
fragile/ballistic tip type
cup and core standard
cup and core locked
partition
bonded
mono metal expanding
mono metal solid
fmj/steel core
This is just my way of saying there is a bazillion ways things can happen at differing velocities with different bullets.
But yes, in the end you must choose a projectile for intended purpose.
He means a 165 or 168. I'd be so bold as to include a 150 for a tsx, ttsx or gmx.
I know that a lot of guys love the Amax, ELD, Bergers etc but they stick to broadside and longer range shots and are not slinging them at .300 Win Mag velocities. A favorite factory load of mine is the federal Fusion line up, because enough different rifles and cartridges have shot them well for me. As others have said a tougher bonded bullet, partition, monometal all would give me more confidence than a target bullet, even if they shot a little larger groups.
Elk is a mighty big animal, maybe there are better bullets out there than a-max. At longer range the A-max will also perform well on an Elk I presume. I have shot a 1 ton bull for a farmer with a-max and about 20 Sika per year. Av. distance depending on weather/year between 150 and 250m.
This is a Sika stag in the rut, exit wound. Dropped to the shot at 300m with 168 A-max from 20" 308 at 2600fps muzzle.
BTW. the newest fad in Europe are fragmenting mono metal bullets. (for example. Sax Bullets)
edi
This is a Sika stag in the rut, exit wound. Dropped to the shot at 300m with 168 A-max from 20" 308 at 2600fps muzzle.
BTW. the newest fad in Europe are fragmenting mono metal bullets. (for example. Sax Bullets)
edi
fingers284
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta Cowboy Ranges
I carried a .300 win mag for years and used 150's exclusively in it, mostly run -of -the-mill Hornady bulk hunting bullets and never had anything "limp" away from it...deer & coyotes from 30 yrds to 800 yrds. elk & moose & caribou...use the slug that shoots "best" in that gun.
I've used the A-max 162gr, for many years, in my 7x57, taken around 50-60 Sika, Red deer and Thar, never lost an animal, and don't recall any that went anywhere, but straight down, always had an exit, and often two to three large fragments, found in wound channel
Having said that, I've also seen one abysmal fail, with that bullet, 7mm mag at about 25-30 yards, blew up on the shoulder, (sika stag) my though, is that they are a great bullet at moderate to slow speeds, (2500-1600) but a poor choice for magnum chamberings, especially at close range and high impact speeds.
Having said that, I've also seen one abysmal fail, with that bullet, 7mm mag at about 25-30 yards, blew up on the shoulder, (sika stag) my though, is that they are a great bullet at moderate to slow speeds, (2500-1600) but a poor choice for magnum chamberings, especially at close range and high impact speeds.
Last edited:
I’ve told this story here before,
I tried the 208 Amax in a 300wsm for a season. Shot a 2 point mule deer at 350 meters, bullet hit perfect on the ribs and did not penetrate the chest. The bullet exploded on the hide and rib bones. After dressing it out the best comparison is like looking at roadkill, it looked like it was hit by car. The front shoulder was dislocated and the whole front half was jelly.
I hit another 4 point at 150 meters, again perfect shot, the bullet created a 1 1/2” entrance hole and the exit was a massive hole!
I now use hunting bullets.
I tried the 208 Amax in a 300wsm for a season. Shot a 2 point mule deer at 350 meters, bullet hit perfect on the ribs and did not penetrate the chest. The bullet exploded on the hide and rib bones. After dressing it out the best comparison is like looking at roadkill, it looked like it was hit by car. The front shoulder was dislocated and the whole front half was jelly.
I hit another 4 point at 150 meters, again perfect shot, the bullet created a 1 1/2” entrance hole and the exit was a massive hole!
I now use hunting bullets.
I do not see any advantage in using a target bullet on a game animal.
It is only a matter of time till a shot is "off" slightly, bigger bone is hit,
and the bullet fragments without penetrating.
When the selection of bullets specifically designed to kill game animals
is so vast, it is easy to find one that shoots well, in even a "fussy" rifle.
We have several choices of monometals: [TTSX, LRX, GMX, etc, etc]
The choice of bonded bullets is also quite generous: [Accubond, Scirocco IIs,
Interbonds, Etc, Etc]
Add to that dual-core bullets, A-Frames and the venerable Partition........
I think it is obvious.
Even quite a number of "hunting" C&C bullets are better choices than the match
or target types.....
I will gladly sacrifice ½-¾ moa to be shooting a bullet that I know will reach the
vitals, even if the presentation is not perfect. Dave.
It is only a matter of time till a shot is "off" slightly, bigger bone is hit,
and the bullet fragments without penetrating.
When the selection of bullets specifically designed to kill game animals
is so vast, it is easy to find one that shoots well, in even a "fussy" rifle.
We have several choices of monometals: [TTSX, LRX, GMX, etc, etc]
The choice of bonded bullets is also quite generous: [Accubond, Scirocco IIs,
Interbonds, Etc, Etc]
Add to that dual-core bullets, A-Frames and the venerable Partition........
I think it is obvious.
Even quite a number of "hunting" C&C bullets are better choices than the match
or target types.....
I will gladly sacrifice ½-¾ moa to be shooting a bullet that I know will reach the
vitals, even if the presentation is not perfect. Dave.
- Location
- London, ON
Update:
For anyone who read my previous thread about my .300 you know it wasn’t much a fan of the Remington, fusion or blue box 180’s I put through it, (we’re talking 4-5” groups @100 at the better end)
But I also know that some rifles don’t like some bullets so keep trying right? Got a box of the Barnes TTSx 180’s today and same result maybe a bit tighter 3-4” group.
The gun does love 150’s though so I’ve donated the 2 boxes of 180 (I got it for a steal of a price today) to my dad and his bolt .300, and ordered a box of 165 TTSX’s assuming they perform that’s what I’m going to run with for my elk hunt.
Thanks for all the advice really appreciate it!
-Steve
For anyone who read my previous thread about my .300 you know it wasn’t much a fan of the Remington, fusion or blue box 180’s I put through it, (we’re talking 4-5” groups @100 at the better end)
But I also know that some rifles don’t like some bullets so keep trying right? Got a box of the Barnes TTSx 180’s today and same result maybe a bit tighter 3-4” group.
The gun does love 150’s though so I’ve donated the 2 boxes of 180 (I got it for a steal of a price today) to my dad and his bolt .300, and ordered a box of 165 TTSX’s assuming they perform that’s what I’m going to run with for my elk hunt.
Thanks for all the advice really appreciate it!
-Steve
Best to do is line up 5 or 6 4l plastic water jugs and shoot them. A 300wmwill put an average hunting bullet into the rth or 5th jug. Each jug will show the entrace and exit wounds and youll catch whats left and what has been lost in the closer jugs. See for yourself. Try at 30 yards 70 yards and 100 yards. Further if you can. Take those results into account. Ive done it. I use bonded bullets in my 300wm
I think there's one bullet no one here will argue its ability to take down game... Nosler partition. Its the bench mark, 180 grain partitions will get things done for you.
Having said that, the accubonds perform well and have great ballistics, lots of folks use those, and there is the 200 grain option for reloading which retains energy well and performs but you may be throwing a lot of mule deer away if you hit bone up close.
I would not worry too much about the lighter bullets except for shooting elk, folks are knocking down animals with lighter and slower moving rounds at distances these days with proper shot placement.
Having said that, the accubonds perform well and have great ballistics, lots of folks use those, and there is the 200 grain option for reloading which retains energy well and performs but you may be throwing a lot of mule deer away if you hit bone up close.
I would not worry too much about the lighter bullets except for shooting elk, folks are knocking down animals with lighter and slower moving rounds at distances these days with proper shot placement.
That would, or will, have me back hunting with TSX/TTSX.
Thanks for the info Chuck. I didn’t think the ELDx would blow apart that bad. Interesting though, when I was researching loads for my 7x65R I looked at what Brenneke was doing as well as S+B for bullets. Seems the Europeans like bullets that fragment violently and design them to do just that. The tips blow apart and the base remains intact for penetration. Specifically, I am referring to the Brenneke TUG and TIG bullets as well as the SPCE from Sellier and Bellot. Isn’t it strange there are such differences in bullet performance expectations?
