168 Amax

[Jaybo]

I was just wondering if anyone has ever hunted with the 168 Amax. I have a 300 Win Mag shooting the 168 max was wondering how it would do on whitetail deer

 

[gilmillan1]

Works great! Dont hesitate to use them. Thats all i shoot in my 7 rem mag. I have shot about 10 deer with it. Works flawless every time.

 

[MrMajestic]

Great long range bullet however expect lots of meat loss at the closer ranges. Hits like a hammer on deer and hogs though.

 

[fredo]

If the performance of the 168Amax mirrors that of the 162Amax (in .284"), then you'll be very happy!

This is a 162, recovered from the offside shoulder of a whitetail.

Shot was slightly quartering away, impact velocity ~2100fps at 685yds. Recoverng an Amax has not been the norm, as we usually get a broadside pass-thru, even at that range...

Given the MV of a .300WM, I'd keep any "close" shots with a 168 off of heavy bone. Just zip one thru the ribs, same as where you'd put an arrow, and go collect your deer...

Good luck & have fun!

 

[Jaybo]

I appreciate it guys i believe I'm going to try them out . Thanks

 

[SG4247]

I shot a buck last year with a .308 and the 168 Amax. Distance was only 70 yards. I refused to even dress the buck, because there was so much damage to the meat.

No exit hole, basically fragged the entire side of the deer. Might as well have used a 10 gauge shot gun.

Donated the deer to hunters against hunger, and kept the horns and head as a European mount.

I will never use that bullet again for deer.

 

[AckleymanII]

Sounds like it is a great long range bullet, not so good for short range.

 

[284winner]

That's a text book recovered round from any big game animal. I shot a whitetail at exactly 300 yards with a 140 Amax from a 6.5- 284 and it blew apart just like a Berger does. Dropped the deer on the spot. That's the bottom line. They fragment at higher impact speeds. Sounds like the 2000 fps impact velocity is there target speed. I'll keep that in mind. Building a 284 win and will likely use the 162 Amax if they are available when I'm shopping. Shoot straight.

 

[mic2377]

They work great for moderate impact velocities and especially if a heavy for caliber bullet is used. Think 1800-2600 fps.

If I was going to use an Amax out of a 300 WM, it would be the 208 Amax. Much better SD, retained energy, and a more reasonable velocity for close impact ranges.

I have personally used the 168 Amax out of the 308, with impact velocities between 2200 and 2500 FPS. Excellent performance and quick kills, with the caveat that it is highly destructive. This is due to it propensity to fragment, which is also part of the reason it is SO lethal. I would recommend against shoulder shots due to meat loss.

 

[284winner]

Right on mic2377. Send it thru the lungs if your pushing one that fast. I've shot ground hogs at 800+ yds and they have perfect exit holes. Something any deer hunter would expect to see. Nickel to quarter size exit hole. That's a 6.5 140 amax. They do the job.

 

[jsthntn247]

Use a 208 in a 300 Win. You won't like the results from a 168.

 

[Jaybo]

Was just going to let you guys know i shot a big doe about 100 yd with the 168 Amax it killed her but it ruined so much meat and did not exit the deer . That was my first and last time I will use Amax on deer guess I will try it on varmints .

 

[Phil]

WAAAAAYYYYY to close for that bullet............

 

[mic2377]

Unfortunately 100 yds was outside of the intended velocity window of the Amax (read: too fast). At least it killed it quickly.

 

[dragman]

shot a white tail this year with my short 300WSM @ 1071 yards using a 208 amax. Bullet went it and expanded reasonably and did the damage needed deer didn't make it 20 yards.

 

[STOMP442]

No experience with the .30 Cal Amaxs but the 6.5 120's and 140's work excellent at long range. I watched a friend of mines wife take a Coues deer at 680 Yards with a 120 out of a .260 Remington and it dropped in it's tracks punched through both shoulders leaving a good quarter size exit on off side. I shot a Coues deer with a 140 out of my 6.5-284 at 1,243 with almost identical results. Mine took three steps before tumbling down the mountain, double lunged and left a nickel sized exit.

 

[BoilerUP]

Where are you guys hitting deer with this bullet - heart/lugs or shoulders?

 

[fredo]

If you guys want to shoot Amaxs @ close range, just keep the POI off heavy bone. I've used that same 162Amax load (that mushroomed perfectly in above pic) to take deer inside of 100yds at impact velocities of >2800fps , and they blew clear on thru, without blowing up & destroying a bunch of meat with a mess of shrapnel...

The difference was, I intentionally opted for a broadside shot, and placed the bullet mid-rib to make sure of avoiding shoulder/leg bones. Results were clear pass-thrus, with deer runnin' 30-80yds & spewing blood from two holes in the ribs and belching blood up out the nose/mouth. Same as you'd see from a good broadhead hit using archery tackle...

Use your heads when considering bullet, shot distance, impact velocity & point of aim/impact. Also having knowledge of your quarry's anatomy is of importance when contemplating a desired result. Critters will always die with holes punched thru their lungs. They may run a short way, but they'll always die...

 

[Nude nut]

Gday guys,
Have a read here www.ballisticstudies.com

Plenty autopsy photos and bullet performance look around this site it has a world wide following.

Cheers Trev

 

[Willoughby]

208 is one awesome hunting bullet