6.5 123gr A-max for hunting

[stork]

Just wondering if anyone has used the hornady 6.5 123gr A-Max's for whitetail deer. Called Hornady & they said they don't test the amax's for expansion/hunting, just for consistency for target use. They shoot so well in both my 260's I would like to use them for deer this fall. Don't want to use a product that's going to go to pieces or worse have no expansion. Any info on them is more than I have now. Just not sure about working up a new load for whitetails if it's not necessary.

Al

 

[venatic]

Here is a Cull buck I shot with the Creedmoor and the 123gr AMax. Dropped in his tracks. Also shot a few does for the freezer with that bullet had one make it 10 yards.

 

[6MMsteve]

They do shoot good Ina 260 and My65284

 

[stork]

Venatic, how did the bullets perform? Did they stay together or shred to pieces?
Al

 

[boltfluter]

They expand nicely on coyotes at long range. I would think you would be fine as long as you place the bullet behind the shoulder. Personally I would have no problem using them on deer or anything smaller.

Paul

www.boltfluting.com

 

[jimbo88mm]

I sat in a blind for a couple of days with 123amax in my Grendel... no deer though

Erik Cortina posted a coyote kill with the 123 amax.. looked like a lot of damage:

 

[Deton8tor]

I can't remember how many Wt's I have killed with a 123 Amax and 123 Scenar. Have not had a problem with them blowing up. My wife shots a 120 Amax with the same results. 140's do a very good job too.

 

[Riesel]

If your feeling a little uncertain about the Amax use the SST. I'm not doing .5 MOA five shot groups with it but it's MO Deer or Hog.
Complete DRT on 250 pound hogs.

 

[HTSmith]

If your feeling a little uncertain about the Amax use the SST. I'm not doing .5 MOA five shot groups with it but it's MO Deer or Hog.
Complete DRT on 250 pound hogs.

Plus one. If the buck of a lifetime steps out, what bullet would you want to be shooting? My 260 shoots the 129 Gr SST and Interbond better than either the 123 Amax or SST.

 

[sbhooper]

Plus one. If the buck of a lifetime steps out, what bullet would you want to be shooting? My 260 shoots the 129 Gr SST and Interbond better than either the 123 Amax or SST.

What powder do you like with the 129? I would never personally load another SST for game animals, but I am planning on using the 129 Interlock for deer in my upcoming re-barrel to .260. I would pick the a-max over the SST based on what I have seen from both.

If the A max shoots well and you already like that combo, then the deer probably won't notice the difference.

 

[HTSmith]

I use H4350. I previously used IMR 4350 (a little less) and it shot just as well.

 

[Riesel]

The SST has an interlock and the cannelure helps hold the thing together, a tough bullet with very good expansion based on internal (vitals) damaged
on both deer and hogs with a pass thru. However, I'm not trying to talk you in to something you don't want (won't) to do.

 

[justinp61]

What powder do you like with the 129? I would never personally load another SST for game animals, but I am planning on using the 129 Interlock for deer in my upcoming re-barrel to .260. I would pick the a-max over the SST based on what I have seen from both.

If the A max shoots well and you already like that combo, then the deer probably won't notice the difference.

Can you explain why you don't like the SST? I've heard mixed reviews on the 123 but everything I've heard on the 129 was good.

Thanks

 

[sbhooper]

I have not used the 6.5, but I loaded 150-grainers in a .308 at only about 2650fps (short barrel). They dynamited on white-tailed does. They are suppose to be Interlocks, but they are not, based on their performance. I have always had great results with standard Interlocks. There is no need to load an SST, in my opinion, when there are better choices out there.

Some people like them and that is a personal choice, but when I am shooting at an animal, I want a bullet with predictable performance. An explosive bullet may kill just fine, but I want one that stays together. I am not a real fan of amaxes either, as I am not a target shooter. I do, however, trust their performance on game more than the SST, based on results from several friends that have used them on lots of deer.

I do not like the concept of using target bullets on game, but that is just me. I don't like the shooting of animals at ranges past 500 yards either.

 

[Riesel]

If you're not gung-go on the SST then the Hornady Interlock is a dang fine choice.

 

[STOMP442]

I helped a friend and his wife a couple years back kill a Coues deer at 680 yards with a 123 Amax from a .260. She dropped that deer in his tracks one shot right through both front shoulders with a quarter sized exit wound. The Amaxs work great with performance very similar to a Berger.

 

[stork]

Thanks for the info. Only drew a doe permit this year & open lanes in my favorite area go from 30-1500 yds.

Until more load development would be done, I'd limit myself to 400 or less. All depends on how far the drag is when the shot is presented. I can always wait for something closer to the road. If nothing presents, I had a great day sitting in on a hillside, reading one of Tom Clancy's or Brad Thor's finest and not answering phones.

Al

 

[JASmith]

Yes, many hunters have reported excellent results with the 6.5 cal 123gr AMAX in rifles with muzzle velocities of 2600 fps and below.

That said, however, the SST has a higher maximum threshold in return for a higher minimum expansion velocity.

My view is that one should use the AMAX only at distances where the bullet has slowed to below 2600-2800 fps.

 

[JLT]

The 123 has performed very well for me on medium-sized game out of my 20" 6.5 Grendel. The velocity caveats mentioned in several posts warrant attention. They may not be as reliable when pushed hard.

 

[DIBBS]

I push them ahead of RL 17 in a 6.5x47 Lapua, and at 375 yards they have produced a nearly softball size exit wound on coyotes when bone is hit. For deer or similar game, I would likely choose a bullet more heavily constructed.