.308 30 cal 168 gr a-max

[Bronco Boy]

I was given a box Hornady .308 30 CAL 168 GR A-MAX.

I am BRAND NEW to reloading. Just learning.

What applications would I use this bullet for?

Any suggested loads? (Shooting a .308 Rem 700 SPS)

 

[chise]

What type of powder do you own

 

[Katana]

A-Max are Hornady's match grade target bullets and good ones at that. Not the best choice for hunting although people say they do work.

 

[LloydM]

My understanding is that Hornady's A-Max bullets are not match bullets, but they do perform close to match bullets in terms of acuracy. I have heard a ton of people saying that they are no good for hunting, but I am one of the few who would use them. They do not expand explosively like some people like, but they do expand. If I could only develop one load it would be with an A-Max - near match accuracy but hunting legal. My 2 cents

 

[Bronco Boy]

My understanding is that Hornady's A-Max bullets are not match bullets, but they do perform close to match bullets in terms of acuracy. I have heard a ton of people saying that they are no good for hunting, but I am one of the few who would use them. They do not expand explosively like some people like, but they do expand. If I could only develop one load it would be with an A-Max - near match accuracy but hunting legal. My 2 cents

So they are a really accurate bullets that are OK but not great for hunting?

They sound like kind of a compromise to me?

 

[Bronco Boy]

What type of powder do you own

I have H1000 and IMR4064; I am not opposed to buying more if I need it to load these puppies.

I am not planing on hunting with them; just shooting things at long range for fun; maybe some yotes if I get the chance.

 

[rnbra-shooter]

They are very good match bullets. They'll outperform a Sierra 168, wind-drift wise. They might be somewhat fussier (than a Sierra) to get a really great load established.

H1000 is too slow for a .308 Win case and a 168 bullet, but IMR 4064 is great (in fact it's pretty much a classic combination). Other good choices are the 4895s, Varget, Re-15, N140, W748 (i.e. pretty much any mediu burn rate rifle powder). I would suggest that you go to Hodgdon's website, and have a look at their data for IMR 4064 and 168 grain match bullets; work up your load from their published min to published max, and see how things go. I would suggest loading your bullets to 2.800" overall length (i.e. standard .308 Win "magazine length") to start you load development. You'll likely find that this will shoot reasonably well in your rifle. As you get up to max safe loads, you are basically approaching what "168 grain factory match ammo" is; most .308 rifles shoot that very well.

 

[gushulak]

My custom 700P loves AMAX bullets, either the 168's or 178's shoot better than any SMK, Lapua or Berger bullet I have tested over the years. For some reason, the 178's will give me half inch groups all day long with 43gr. of Varget.

IMR4064 is another good powder I have used in .308Win, its good, but I like the temperature insensativity of Varget.

 

[LloydM]

So they are a really accurate bullets that are OK but not great for hunting?

They sound like kind of a compromise to me?

I don't think of them as a compromise, I think of them as either the best hunting bullet or the best all-around bullet. If I only had one load it would be with an A-Max. I am not a trophy hunter, I hunt for meat, so I don't want too much expansion in a hunting bullet. Too much bullet expansion/fragmentation is a good way to waste meat, and if the animal does not drop on the spot it only makes it a few steps anyway, so it is humane enough for me. As far as expanding ammo goes, A-Max is the most accurate that I have found. I shoot a lot of groups on paper, for that I insist on a different bullet, but we are talking about very small differences (fractions of MOA). Plus, with the plastic tips on the A-max you don't have to put up with squashed lead tips.

 

[Bronco Boy]

OK. I want to load some of these babies (168 GR A-MAX) to shoot out of my 700 SPS.

I am torn between starting with:

40 grains of 4064

or

38 grains of 4895

Thoughts?

I am interested only in accuracy; I will not be hunting with this round.

I have once fired brass and CCI large rifle primers if that makes any difference.

 

[rnbra-shooter]

Either powder is a good choice. Use whichever one you'd prefer. IMR 4064 is quite long grained, and a bit more difficult to meter; it is also exceptionally clean burning.

The loads you suggest are quite mild; Hodgdon's online data indicates starting loads somewhat higher. Nothing wrong with starting where you suggest, but you'll likely find that it is both safe as well as more accurate to work your way up to hotter loads.

 

[matty86suk]

41.8gr imr 4895 with the amax was my best load for 2 rifles, for what its worth...

 

[Bronco Boy]

Thanks for the info guys.

 

[Cappy]

The Hornady A-max is a target bullet and a very good one at that. The 168gr version shoots very well in my .308.

Contrary to the experiences of Loyd it is generally a very explosive bullet. With the plastic tip initiating expansion and the the large hollow tip and lack of any bonding between cup and core usually resulting in the jacket peeling almost inside out and core going somewhere else. It was for a time recommeded by Hornady staff for antelope. I have seen it result in a few no step dead right there shots on deer, but the shot was very carefully selected. If you are not patient enough to wait for the shot required for this bullet to work successfully there are better options

 

[Bronco Boy]

If you are not patient enough to wait for the shot required for this bullet to work successfully there are better options

Ya, I have no intentions of hunting with this bullet. Why bother when there are so many other options?

This load will be solely for entertainment shooting, just like my 700 SPS, a fun load for a fun gun.

Yotes may be an option if I get a chance but mostly targets and long range snipe attacks on pumpkins!