Hornady A max 168 grain 308 question

[byrdman03cars]

I have been shooting 168 grain Hornady A Max 308 bullets with 45 grains of varget in my Remington r5 rifle and it loves it. The rifle shoots lights out, however shot two deer this week and it looks like they were shot with a cannon. Bullet had to be exploding on initial contact. The deer both went down easily but I don't like that it is blowing up so quickly and does not shoot through them. My question is what bullet are you guys have luck with for hunting, I want to stay with a 168 grain if possible! Thanks Sam

[DKC]

155 gr amax

[Brute Killer]

I loaded up some of those for my 300 win mag, but haven't taken the time to shoot them.

[Agbs2k8]

Following. That's what I'm loaded with right now but I've seen nothing to shoot of late.

[byrdman03cars]

Here is the doe, shot her at 75 yards and the entrance wound was literally 2" wide, no exit on her. Shot a buck tonight with very similar results but it did go through him and he was shot right through the lungs. The Doe was a little far forward. Not that they are not doing their job but am just a little concerned due to size of entrance holes on both. I may be over analyzing the whole deal.

[scott.str]

The AMax is a match grade bullet and jacket (is very thin). It will explosively expand. Try the 168gr SST. You'll get similar accuracy with way better terminal performance. I shoot a Max for accuracy and SST for game. (Although I'm a Barnes fan now but hornady is cheaper)

[Japeatr]

At 2800fps and no exit you hit them with all that energy.

[LFD2037]

They are designed to do exactly what they did. Surprised you load your own ammo but didn't know this. They will kill thin skinned deer but there WILL be meat damage. The Sierra Gameking is a champ @ deer, along w/Accubonds.

[GTXHUNTER88]

154gr sst 162gr sst and 168gr berger vld...warning no blood trail for the vld...but then again everything I hit with them drops where it was standing. I don't shoot for speed I shoot for accuracy.

[kingranch]

Anything close range u will have that happen..just the nature of the beast with the amax ..I think they are actually a target match design not really for animals but they shoot great. Once it loses some velocity out past 300 then ur bullet will hold together more and not blow up on impact. I just killed a mule deer at 300yds with a 178 amax and it sashimi the shoulder but I killed an elk before at 500 and got a clean pass thru
Maybe try adjusting ur powder for less velocity

[Mike D]

I shoot Berger hunting VLDs. The inconsistent performance you are seeing is exactly why I don't shoot or recommend the AMAX for hunting.

I'm also a fan of Barnes TTSX bullets.

[Gummi Bear]

SST, ELDX, Interlock, Interbond - all are good hunting bullets from Hornady (the ELDX is brand new, I've only read about it, not had a chance to fool around with them)

Gameking from Sierra is the standard hunting bullet that I measure all others by.

Nosler, Berger, Speer, all make comparable quality hunting bullets.


Target bullets are not a great choice for hunting game, but excel at punching holes in paper in ringing steel. Same goes for varmint bullets.

[txfireguy2003]

I run the same loads in my 308, only with 45.5gr of Varget. It's basically a replica of the Hornady TAP load that my rifle loves. Anyway, as someone else said, at close range, they explode like a varmint bullet, but as you can see, much damage, massive blood loss and dead animals. Once you get out a little farther, which is really where the AMAX is designed to perform its best, you'll get pass through. I shot an axis doe last year with them, don't remember the exact range, but it was around or a little over 200 yards, hit the base of the neck and exited the ribs on the other side with a golf ball sized hole. Little meat damage and she dropped where she stood.

[TexZ71]

168 Barnes TTSX is what I like. I have heard good reviews on the Hornady GMX, I'm going to try them soon.

[ckat]

Another vote for the Sierra GK. A deadly bullet in the 308.