a-max for hunting

[Why not?]

The 75 gr .224 A-Max does a very good job on deer and black bear.

Ted

 

[archie_james_c]

You can use a .223 for big game where you live?

Yes.


WhyNot- I'd imagine they would . I find it strange when this topic pops up, that an Amax is "too fragile" for animals, but Core-Lokts, Federal SP's, Winchester PSP's, SST's, Ballistic Tips, Game Kings, Hunting VLD's are great.

 

[Tikka6xc]

Can't in Alberta. That's all.

Out west here .243 is pretty much the smallest round legal.


......... Big maby that's because bigger game requires bigger bullets

 

[archie_james_c]

......... Big maby that's because bigger game requires bigger bullets

There ya go

 

[bearkilr]

I find it strange when this topic pops up, that an Amax is "too fragile" for animals, but Core-Lokts, Federal SP's, Winchester PSP's, SST's, Ballistic Tips, Game Kings, Hunting VLD's are great.

Why strange? An Amax is a dedicated match bullet, which the manufacturer admits shouldn't be used for hunting. At least Hornady isn't trying to sell it as a dual purpose bullet, like Berger with their VLD match/hunting bullets. If Berger took the effort to make a bonded core, high VLD bullet, they may change their tune as well, but I suppose it's more profitable to keep only one machine running.

Have a look at some dissected pictures of various bullets, and you'll quickly see how an Amax is differently constructed than the other bullets you mentioned, the obvious being jacket thickness.

But hey, for those who like trimming meat and blood trailing game, have at 'er.

 

[KodiakHntr]

Can't in Alberta. That's all.

Out west here .243 is pretty much the smallest round legal.


......... Big maby that's because bigger game requires bigger bullets

Legal out here more West than you in BC as well, so maybe that ain't it.....(grin)

 

[archie_james_c]

But hey, for those who like trimming meat and blood trailing game, have at 'er.

The same can be said for all the bullets I just listed Bearkilr...They are also labelled from the companies as "dedicated hunting bullets".

 

[clatartar]

Shoot it in the neck with a .224 soft point and its ok, no wasted meat.... shoot her in the neck with a 168 grain amax and you're fine, maybe a little more work cleaning then the .224

 

[bearkilr]

The same can be said for all the bullets I just listed Bearkilr...They are also labelled from the companies as "dedicated hunting bullets".

Just my experiences. I'm not a huge fan of SST's or BTips either, especially in high velocity calibers. The current trend seems to be in using match bullets to obtain the flattest trajectory possible, a bad idea for hunting in my books.

Why don't more manufacturers come out with a solid copper VLD? Should be easier to manufacture a high BC bullet, after all, copper is lighter than lead. Years ago, everyone #####ed about Barnes bullets being too long and taking up too much case space. Now it seems the longer the better.

Perhaps it has to do with price or lead jacketed bullets are inherently more accurate. Barnes makes the LRX now, gonna try those soon.

 

[mmattockx]

Why don't more manufacturers come out with a solid copper VLD? Should be easier to manufacture a high BC bullet, after all, copper is lighter than lead.

You have that backwards, it is harder to get a high BC with copper. Ballistic coefficient basically consists of a form factor which compares the shape of the bullet to that of a reference bullet and the sectional density.

The Barnes bullets suffer on both of these fronts, because the bands cut into the body of the bullet cause extra shock waves to form, adding drag compared to the reference shape and the copper is low density, reducing the weight (and sectional density) for any given volume of bullet. That is why the Barnes bullets are so long compared to conventional lead cored bullets for any given weight.


Mark

 

[archie_james_c]

Bearkilr and Mmattock, I see valid points on both fronts.

For instance the 62 grain TTSX for .223 could have been make a lot more "sleek" for lack of better terms and likely upped the BC. Same goes for them all. The solid coppers suffer a poor BC regardless of shape though.

What I'd really like to see is a VLD-type bonded and locked core bullet with a thick jacket on the lower-end of the pill, along the line of the Swift Scirrocco II. Then you'd truly have the best of both worlds.

 

[bearkilr]

You have that backwards, it is harder to get a high BC with copper. Ballistic coefficient basically consists of a form factor which compares the shape of the bullet to that of a reference bullet and the sectional density.

The Barnes bullets suffer on both of these fronts, because the bands cut into the body of the bullet cause extra shock waves to form, adding drag compared to the reference shape and the copper is low density, reducing the weight (and sectional density) for any given volume of bullet. That is why the Barnes bullets are so long compared to conventional lead cored bullets for any given weight.


Mark

OK, well I've never claimed to be a ballistician or metallurgist.

My understanding was that BC was a coefficient of mass & diameter (SD) and drag, in layman's terms how streamlined or aerodynamic a bullet is. My thinking was that a solid copper bullet has to be longer and can consequently be made more streamlined/aerodynamic than one of the same weight with a lead core.
The bands like Barnes has could be eliminated to increase BC, but my understanding is that this leads to higher pressures and more fouling, due to the low density.