Hunting & Fishing Hornady AMAX's(AMP) for hunting!!!!! ~ ? ~

popapi

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jul 18, 2008
490
3
Oklahoma City, Ok
Have anyone tried the new AMAX's with the AMP jackets on game??? I have a 264WinMag that I'll be loading these for and want to know how the AMAX perform on whitetail, MuleDeer, Elk etc. Thanks in advance!!!!!
 
Re: Hornady AMAX's(AMP) for hunting!!!!! ~ ? ~

I shot a whitetail this year @ < 100 yards high in the lungs with a 178amax @ 2600fps, bang/flop DRT. My experience was positive. I've also shot two coyotes this winter @ ~375 yards with the same load, both DRT as well.
 
Re: Hornady AMAX's(AMP) for hunting!!!!! ~ ? ~

I've used the 140 A-Max in a .260 on coyotes and had good results. Knocks the hell out of them and they dont go anywhere. That being said the guys at Hornady did tell me that the A-Max was designed as a target bullet and using them for hunting you might have one pencil right through without doing much damage. I've taken 10 or 12 coyotes with them and so far had good luck.
 
Re: Hornady AMAX's(AMP) for hunting!!!!! ~ ? ~

i hate to use this a firt post here but am a member of several other sites.

i shot a whitetail buck last season twice with a 123gr amax out of a 6.5 lapua. both shots had identical performance. shot's were 200 yards broadside, caliber size interance in hide opening up to 2 inch on rib cage for enterance liquified lungs and top of heart with a 4 inch exit on off side rib cage.

im unfamilier with this forums rules on graphic pics so if some can clarifie i will post pics.
 
Re: Hornady AMAX's(AMP) for hunting!!!!! ~ ? ~

used the 178 amax with amp jacket on my cow elk this year. 169 yards through both lungs recovered lacket under offside hide.she moved about 10 yrds and dropped.
 
Re: Hornady AMAX's(AMP) for hunting!!!!! ~ ? ~

well i use a hornady guage for all my rounds so i have never actually measured overall length. i know the will all fit in my mag though.ok lookin at my load data i seat the 178 amp a-max to 2.230oal amd the hornady 178hpbt amp to 2.280.hope this helps. i have used the 155 amax ,168amax,178,and 208amax to shoot the critters with and never had any live through it. so if your wondering if the amax is a good round for hunting i would be the first one to say yes.
 
Re: Hornady AMAX's(AMP) for hunting!!!!! ~ ? ~

I need to be more clearer, before you shot(reloaded) the new AMP AMAX's did you shoot the non AMP AMAX's, if so did Ur OAL change from the old to new bullets, trying to find out do the AMP jackets change seating depths compared to non AMP AMAX's.
 
Re: Hornady AMAX's(AMP) for hunting!!!!! ~ ? ~

No Ur fine I appreciate the info you gave. Reason I'm asking this ? is I want to make sure if I buy the AMP AMAX's shoot those get my data finalized and if I run out and buy non AMP AMAX's I'm hoping the OAL don't change that way I can load both without changing seating depths.......
 
Re: Hornady AMAX's(AMP) for hunting!!!!! ~ ? ~

I think all of the Amax's they are selling now have the AMP jackets. I have always wanted to use them on game but have wondered how well they would work.
 
Re: Hornady AMAX's(AMP) for hunting!!!!! ~ ? ~

Like any other bullet. Put it in the kill zone and they die. Penetration, expansion, and visual damage has been pretty large from my experience. Have shot several hogs pretty big ones and had good luck. Just shoot your elk right behind the should and they will die.
 
Re: Hornady AMAX's(AMP) for hunting!!!!! ~ ? ~

Used a super performance to the face to knock down a coyote and would have shot one at a deer but wasn't presented the right opportunity. Deciding which load I want to build up for deer this year.
 
Re: Hornady AMAX's(AMP) for hunting!!!!! ~ ? ~

Be VERY careful with the AMAX at magnum velocity's. I have found they work awesome at lower velocity. Someone on here said it best about them "The amax picks up where conventional hunting bullets start to fail".

In my 308 the 178's at 2600 fps at the muzzle work amazing but in my 7mm rem mag at 2900 fps they tend to be un predictable inside 100-150 yds. All deer have been DRT though. Just stay away from the shoulder with them in your 264 win mag at closer ranges, I would say within 200 yds at least & farther on elk. All my experience in on deer.

My A max load in my 7 rem mag is my go to load on the bean fields during permit season. Very few take a step & if they do they all fall before making it out the field.

Guess I'm saying there are better bullets for close quarter work with the win mag but after a few hundred yds the a max is awesome.
 
Re: Hornady AMAX's(AMP) for hunting!!!!! ~ ? ~

+1 B Man
I shot a deer at 20 yards with a 105 amax coming out of a 243 around 3100 fps. The bullet put a pin hole through the lungs, no expansion at all. I had to track the deer for about a mile. Just a heads up, they don't work well at high velocity.
 
Re: Hornady AMAX's(AMP) for hunting!!!!! ~ ? ~

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JWV</div><div class="ubbcode-body">+1 B Man
I shot a deer at 20 yards with a 105 amax coming out of a 243 around 3100 fps. The bullet put a pin hole through the lungs, no expansion at all. I had to track the deer for about a mile. Just a heads up, they don't work well at high velocity.</div></div>


So bullets expand less at high velocity? And you had a 105 AMAX not expand?
 
Re: Hornady AMAX's(AMP) for hunting!!!!! ~ ? ~

Whitetail was at 120 yards. Bang flop is an understatement. I looked like somebody cut his legs off with a bandsaw. He fell straight to his belly and never moved.

The antelope was bedded at 475 and never got up. Both of them had no exit.

sany0608jpg.jpg


2009season053.jpg
 
Re: Hornady AMAX's(AMP) for hunting!!!!! ~ ? ~

Shot this with a Z-MAX. First was him quartering away and the jacket came off the bullet. Second was right above the shoulder and it dropped like a sack of potatoes.

2012-03-30_11-57-04_539.jpg
 
Re: Hornady AMAX's(AMP) for hunting!!!!! ~ ? ~

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Vereor</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JWV</div><div class="ubbcode-body">+1 B Man
I shot a deer at 20 yards with a 105 amax coming out of a 243 around 3100 fps. The bullet put a pin hole through the lungs, no expansion at all. I had to track the deer for about a mile. Just a heads up, they don't work well at high velocity.</div></div>


So bullets expand less at high velocity? And you had a 105 AMAX not expand? </div></div>

No, from my experience the Amax has failure to hold together at high velocity. Thats why the 178 a max going 2600 fps out of my 308 has been a great combination. It almost always leaves an exit.
My 7mag at 2950 fps with a 162 a max has mixed results with exits. But alway DRT performance.
 
Re: Hornady AMAX's(AMP) for hunting!!!!! ~ ? ~

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kyyotestalker</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i hate to use this a firt post here but am a member of several other sites.

i shot a whitetail buck last season twice with a 123gr amax out of a 6.5 lapua. both shots had identical performance. shot's were 200 yards broadside, caliber size interance in hide opening up to 2 inch on rib cage for enterance liquified lungs and top of heart with a 4 inch exit on off side rib cage.

im unfamilier with this forums rules on graphic pics so if some can clarifie i will post pics. </div></div>

If thats the case why were two shots needed....?
 
Re: Hornady AMAX's(AMP) for hunting!!!!! ~ ? ~

CAUTIAN GRAPHIC PICS BELOW

[/quote]If thats the case why were two shots needed....?[/quote]

only the first shot was needed. I am a firm believer in quick kills, as such if an animal is still standing after the first shot them I will continue to shoot untill the animal is down.

as i originally said I shot the buck at 200 yards twice with the 123 a-max in a 6.5 Lapua. Both shots had the same performance. first round was perfect broad side. Deer jumped then ran about 20 yards and stoped. deer was wobling about to go down but was at the fence line of my property. I did not have permision to get deer if it jumped the fence so I fired second shot to put him down with second shot.

I am still not sure of the rules on hunting pics but I will post pics any way, MODS if not in compliance with rules PLEASE delete!

enterance of first shot
2011DEER013.jpg


Exit of first shot
2011DEER017.jpg
 
Re: Hornady AMAX's(AMP) for hunting!!!!! ~ ? ~

I do have 2 loads with this rifle IE: 140grn Berger VLD with 65.5 of 7828, and 140grn AMAX(AMP) with 64grns of 7828. The AMAX tend to have a better group which is what I'll go with shooting power lines here and bean fields back south!!!!! I can't WAIT!!!!!!!!

WOW kyyotestalker that 123 is devastating.........goodness. Looks like I WILL try these in my 47L when it's finished!!!!!!
 
Re: Hornady AMAX's(AMP) for hunting!!!!! ~ ? ~

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: OKbow87</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Whitetail was at 120 yards. Bang flop is an understatement. I looked like somebody cut his legs off with a bandsaw. He fell straight to his belly and never moved.

The antelope was bedded at 475 and never got up. Both of them had no exit.

sany0608jpg.jpg


2009season053.jpg
</div></div>GOOD stuff here!!!!
 
Re: Hornady AMAX's(AMP) for hunting!!!!! ~ ? ~

(Graphic)

My first test with the 140 AMAX (amp) turned out pretty good.

Shot from a 6.5x284, 2980 fps, @ 91 yards. Pig was quartering away from me, it was about 75-100 lbs. She never flinched.

I plan on doing extensive testing this year on hogs of various sizes, distances, shot placements, and angles with the 140 Amax as well as the 140 Hunting VLD. We'll see who the winner is come January.

The Amax is up, 1 to nothing.

Entrance wound
DSCF1001.jpg


Exit wound
DSCF1002.jpg


Almost severed the neck and broke both shoulders
DSCF1004.jpg


Took out the spine and damaged portions of the heart and lungs
DSCF1008.jpg