Who Else Uses The Hornady A-Max for Deer?

[hillbillybear]

Definitely not a long range shot but my first on critter test with a Hornady A-Max.


I have heard everything from its the duck's nutz on deer to its way too fragile for deer. Here's what I observed (granted its an example of one):

First the load: Caliber : .30/06: 49.0 grains of VV-N140, RP case, Fed 215 MM primer, 155 grain Hornady A-Max, Velocity is about 2800-2,805 fps.The range was about 50 yards.

The Rifle:http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...TIKKA30063.jpg

Meat Buck Pictures:

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...17-2007003.jpg


http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...17-2007004.jpg


The bullet entered just behind the buck's shoulder (about 180 lbs live weight on the hoof) on the facing side and exited the off side shoulder nearly dead center.






The entrance wound was approximately caliber (.308) size and the exit wound was about .50 caliber to one inch in diameter. Everything in between was simply demolished and the blood trail was easy to follow. The buck made about 30 yards across the top of a ridge before sliding on his belly.


In short, very impressive performance on game for a "match" bullet.


HBB

[Varmint Hunter]

On a recent North Carolina whitetail hunt I took two mature does for the venison. I was shooting my ol' 7STW and the 162gr A-Max @ 3,100 ft/sec. Both deer were shot @ 300 yards.

The first deer was quartering towards me. I held directly on the shoulder. When the shot went off the dear did a verticle drop. DRT

The second deer was standing broadside. I held just behind the shoulder and let the A-Max fly. The deer was just outside of a thicket when I shot and I lost my sight picture when the gun went off. When I walked over to where the deer was standing, there was enough blood for Ray Charles to follow. The deer walked over a small knoll and was piled up about 25 yards away. Exit hole was about 1".

I also used the same rifle and ammo on a Wyoming antelope hunts. Took a shot @ 465 yds. Bullet hit low in the chest. Lope stood for a few seconds and then piled up.

I think the A-Max is a great bullet for most thin skinned game. If I was hunting Elk or Moose I'd probably use an Accubond for the extra insurance that it provides.

[hillbillybear]

Whereabouts in Nc are you deer hunting?

[RossN]

I have been using the 162g 7mm A-Max out of my 280 Rem over a hefty dose of N560 for 2 years, and can't say enough good things about it. The longest shot on deer has been 612 yards, and countless goats have been given the good news between 20 and 550 yards- any failures have been operator error.
I like to shoot deer through the ribs behind the shoulder, and save as much meat as possible so a soft bullet suits this shot perfectly. Add a good b.c. and I don't know what there isn't to like.
I have just had a 6/250 barrel put on my Tikka 595, and will be looking to shoot the 105g A-Max out of this as a light deer/long range varmint combo.

[hillbillybear]

Thanks for the input folks. I'm probably gonna go to the 162 A-Max in my .280AI in the Spring.

[Ernie]

I have used the 6.5 140 A-Max on deer out to 200-300 yards with good success.

[Varmint Hunter]

"Whereabouts in Nc are you deer hunting?"

I was hunting on an 8,000 acre farm which is leased by the Occeneecche Lodge. They have a considerable amount of soybean inter-dispersed throughout the farm. Lots of good cover for the deer with hardwoods, swamps and river bottom. It's in Jackson, NC.