A-Maxs VS Varmints

[squirrelsnpr]

I was wondering if the Hornady A-Maxs expand like the V-maxs do? I from what I understand the A-max has a thicker jacket. But with the polymer tip, will it still give the devistating effects.

I was specifically thinking about going varmint hunting with a 6BR loaded with 105 A-maxs.

Opinions?

 

[1000yardstare]

The 52 AMax out of a .22-250 is dynamite on chucks. Don`t see any difference in on-flesh hits between it and the 50 VMax. And the 52 shoots smaller groups at 200 and 300.

Have also shot chucks with a 75 AMax out of an 8 twist .223. Quite destructive.

Want to try 105 AMax out of my 6AI on coyotes. The mange has thinned them out in my neck of the woods but hope for sometime this Winter.

 

[cliffy]

A-Max was not designed for Varmint Hunting! V-Max was! The copper-jackets are different and do not perform equally. Don't substitute target fare for hunting fare. A-Max has a THIN jacket quite perfect for punching holes in paper, while V-Max fare was designed to explode on contact. Both are WRONG for Deer-sized game, since InterBond was designed for subduing bigger beasties. While with enough horsepower afield, almost anything can kill, bullets are game specific for RELIABLE effect. Cliffy

 

[patchhound]

For long range, I dont think there`s a better bullet than a Amax. I use a 105 in my 6br and a 162 in my 7saum. No other LR bulllet expands as much at longer ranges that I`ve used. If your shooting inside 300yrds a regular varmint pill will give you better results. I really like the 58 vmax, shoots great in my 1:8 Krieger.

 

[Preacher]

Any one that states the A-max is not a hunting bullet never shot a critter with one of them.. I have killed a lot of deer, and hogs (the squealing kind) with them over the years along with tons of varmints to boot... mainly using a 22/250 Ackley back then.. I do it with the 162's and a 7mm these days, or a 22BR with 75's in it... but always with a A-max.................

 

[slatereno]

Have used the .224 75 amax @ 3250 mv out of a savage lrpv 1-9 26 devastating on groundhogs to 850 yards ..308 208 Amax out of a custom .300 ultra 32 HS barrel same effect on whitetails out to 1340..... they work plain and simple.

 

[Erik Cortina]

I have never used the A-Max's on game but I'm looking forward to doing so. I did some shooting at some old catalogs at 400 yards with my 6BRX using 105
A-Max, together they were 12" thick and the bullet went through all 12" and showed great expansion. The exit hole was about 1 1/2" inches. I shot it four times and all four did the exact same thing.

I'm going to shoot some hogs and javalinas first before I shoot whitetails with it to make sure it works good.

I'll post pictures, I did not take any of the catalogs but will take some when I shoot game with it.


-X3M

 

[Ogre6br]

I thought H even recommends the .224 75 A-Max for game- if they do it for one type A-max why not for other weights etc


P

 

[Skunce]

The Hornady manual lists the lighter A-max bullets as target and varmint and the heavier A-max's as target, varmint, and medium game. I haven't used then for hunting, but I'm planning on using the 162 gr 7mm A-max on rockchucks in the rifle I'm building now.

 

[chino1969]

I've shot plenty of PA groundhogs with 80 grn. A-Maxes out of a 1 in 8" Kreiger .22-250 A.I.; many of the shots were beyond 350 yds.

Chino69

 

[kkeene]

105 gr 6mm A-max's work great on pairie dogs at 6BRX velocity out to past 500 yards. Very graphic results.

Keith

 

[LWolken]

The 105 gr 6mm Amax is the VLD of choice for long range varmint work. I use them in two 243ai's and one 6mmbr. They are the only VLD that will expand reliably on PD's and rabbit sized critters. I have never used them for deer just varmints and they are great.

Lance

 

[cliffy]

Hornady V-Max; Speer T-N-T; Barnes Varmint Grenade; Sierra BlitzKing; all represent the best in exploding varmint fare, so why use a target specific bullet to substitute for the best available varmint specific bullets? Varmint Grenades are EXTREMELY accurate via my rifle's delivery. NONE of the listed are actually expensive, but designed for the job. Nosler Ballistic Tips are a bit tougher in construction but for coyote paddling, are up to the task in aces. A-Max is a target designated bullet, so violent expansion is not guaranteed by the manufacturer. Cliffy

 

[US Handgunner]

Well, here is a few pictures of 42 Gr of RE-15 and 168 gr A-Max's out of my 308. It did a pretty good number on this Ohio woodchuck.

 

[cliffy]

I'm getting the message that A-Maxs are seemingly suitable for Coyote Hunting. Okay, I'll load-up some A-Maxs and test them afield. I'm a hard-head, since Speer T-N-Ts have always been my standard coyote fare. Do A-Maxs hit harder than T-N-Ts? Since I'm here to learn as well as attempt to help other shooters use correct fare according to my exhaustive findings. Cliffy

 

[1000yardstare]

The Hornady reloading manual rates the 105 AMax as a varmint and medium game bullet as well as a target bullet. Don`t think the manufacturer would suggest a use for a bullet that wasn`t practical.

Used a 105 AMax in a 6AI on coyotes with excellent results, very explosive at the velocity of the 6AI. Used 52 AMax in a .22-250 and 75 AMax in a .223 both on chucks and they are dynamite. Several threads have appeared on this forum for use of the .30 caliber 208 AMax on elk-sized game. I plan to use this bullet in a .30-06 for moose next year.

Anyone who says that the AMax is not a suitable hunting bullet has never used one.

 

[cliffy]

No, I've never, thus far, used an A-MAX target bullet on a varmint! I have enough fare to test designed for varmints, to skew off abruptly to target-designated bullets for varmints to date. Yet, I promised to shoot at a varmint with an A-Max Target bullet soon for effect. Maybe I've been trained wrong, but bullets designated for specific targets should work best for those applications. I'm askew after reading all the A-Max reports. cliffy

 

[patchhound]

You auta see what a 7mm@3000fps does to a wabit :

 

[cliffy]

Hi Patchhound, is that performance via an A-MAX bullet? A 7mm/06 probably can use any bullet in one's inventory to croak-out a wabit posthaste. Cliffy

 

[tsiero]

I built a 22-250with a 1/7 twist barrel to shoot the 75gr A-Max bullets. Shot 1/4" groups for 4 shots and a flier at 1/2 at 200 yards load testing. I shot prarie dogs out to 600 yards with it and the A-Max perfromed like a good hollow point. After the barrel went at 1100 rounds I had it set back and removed 5" of barrel. Now it is on my coyote rifle. I have used varmint bullets on coyotes with mixed resultes. The 75 gr A-Max has not let me down. At nearly boint blank range with a 243 and a 70 gr Nosler BT I have had them blow up on the shoulder of the dog. They deliver great accuracy and dependable but not dramatic performance.

The other coyote rifle was a 7x57r and 12ga combo rifle. I used the 120gr V-Max bullet witk outstanding results and never lost a dog. You have option and both are good.