A-Max or Sierra Match king for whitetails?
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diderr
Well-Known Member
smk's work great on deer. I like bergers personally for my 300 wsm. I've taken a deer w/ a smk, and it worked well. I have never tried the a-max, sorry.
diderr
Well-Known Member
you have to ask for it through Berger. The j4 jackets work really well on game.
I have some load data for you, but it wont post right in the thread.
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NZP
Well-Known Member
A-Maxs have really impressed me, I use the 162gr in my 280ackley on deer with great results.
have heard of the 208gr 30cal ones being used on big sambar stags at close range.
have heard of the 208gr 30cal ones being used on big sambar stags at close range.
Varmint Hunter
Well-Known Member
I have very limited experience with the SMK's on game but most here seem to be satisfied with the large bore SMK's.
I have, however, shot a number of whitetails with the 162 A-Max from a 7STW. On shots out to 500yds the A-Max is not only accurate & flat shooting (high BC) but its terminal performance is impressive. Lung shots result in animals dropping within 20-30yds. High shoulder shots result in DRT kills. Many shooters have had excellent results with the A-Max at much farther distances, I just haven't had those shot opportunities so can not relay any personal experiences beyond 500yds.
I have, however, shot a number of whitetails with the 162 A-Max from a 7STW. On shots out to 500yds the A-Max is not only accurate & flat shooting (high BC) but its terminal performance is impressive. Lung shots result in animals dropping within 20-30yds. High shoulder shots result in DRT kills. Many shooters have had excellent results with the A-Max at much farther distances, I just haven't had those shot opportunities so can not relay any personal experiences beyond 500yds.
Kevin Cram
Well-Known Member
I shoot both but in different calibers. I have a .338-.378 that I push a 300g. Sierra Match King at 3073 fps. Furthest deer kill was 1515 yards with a shot that took both lungs. Deer stood there hunched up for about 1 minute, then stumbled backwards and died. Upon retrieval of the deer and after skinning, the 300g. SMK poked a small hole the size of my pinky in one side and out the other. The bullet placement was good but without striking any bone the bullet zipped straight through without opening up. I've shot several deer in the 1000-1400 yard range and have had similiar results. If you catch some bone the bullet will frag inside and really tear things up though. I shot a 154 lbs. PA black bear at 550 with a 7x300 using 162g A-max, bear ran about 20 yards and piled up. The internal damage was amazing. The year before we killed a 130 lbs. Pa black bear at 500 with a 300 Ultra using 220g SMK's. The bear got hit twice behind the shoulder and still ran 300 yards off the mountain. When we found him he had crawled into a opening in some rocks and died. Neither bullet opened up. One hit the lungs and the other took the top of the heart off. I shoot mostly a 6.5-.284 for woodchucks and found that the 142g SMK's put a hole through them but they usually scramble back to the hole. I switched to a 140g A-Max and found that most of the time they explode out the exit hole. When Hornady finally comes out with the 300g A-max I'm sure I'll switch to that for my 338-378. Both bullets work well but I think the A-max has the advatage for killing power over the SMK.
