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Hey I'm bored so I thought I'd ask a question. Anyone shooting the 155 A-Max from a 308Win?
I'm picking I should be around 2700fps. They are looking to be a bullet that will shoot will ballistically well in my rifle but I was wanting feedback more around terminal ballistics at 308 speeds.
I have hunted with a fair few Amax bullets and have not had any issues. I'd be keen to hear your results if your using this one.
I've run the 155 TMK at 2850, kills reds just fine, a bit messy up close, but seems to behave about the same as a 168 Amax, not exactly what you were asking for, but in the same bored park, oops, meant ball park!
More details please.
What length barrel?
What's your intended distance?
Does it matter? I've given you a speed to work with, but anyway it's 18".Quote:
Originally Posted by Cyclops
The intended distance is as far as I can without fucking it up
Do you shoot 155 A-Max in a 308 Win?
Can you still get them?
I ran 168 for a while at 2750.....good projectile 200y+ but had a few fail to penetrate a shoulder closer than that.
Cheers Cam. That's the one thing I was concerned about. I don't want under-penetration at close range. I like shoulder shots to anchor the full front end and reduce runners. It's intended purpose is to be a brush gun that can stretch the legs if necessary. I'd started to think the 150BT was going to be my bullet but I cheaped out and went Amax. Unless there's overwhelming reports of poor performance I'll give them a go and see how my results turn out. I bought a couple boxes the other day so I guess they're still available.Quote:
Originally Posted by veitnamcam
I also run the 168gr amax not the 155gr. Shot maybe 150 plus deer with them going a slow 2520 fps from my 16 inch barrel .308. Plenty between 400 and 500 yards and wouldn't hesitate to do out to 550. After 450 she's dropping like a brick at that speed. Terminal performance is superb and the best all rounder I found in the short barrel.
Was a bit dubious about going to the 155s as I too have had a couple of shoulder blow ups in between that 100 and 200 yard mark
To be fair everything went down and nothing got away but a few required finishers.Quote:
Originally Posted by kiwijames
I have also wondered about the 155 Amax... Having said that I developed a load with the 150gr BT and haven't looked back. Have shot a lot of deer up-close in the bush with them. They break the shoulders and normal exit farside. Also stretched them out to 375yds with impressive results. This is with a MV of 2735 if i remember correctly. The Amax is definitely cheaper but for the number of rounds I go through hunting im happy paying the extra cost.Quote:
Originally Posted by kiwijames
I have used a whole packet of the 155 Amax on Sika and Reds -and have another full packet here but they made me nervous up close so I changed to 150g NBT
They always killed deer and I never lost an animal but I’d hate to lose even one so switched to a projectile designed to penetrate with its solid copper boat tail
This is typical deformation when Launched at 2900fps from a 308 into a Red hind @ 30 yards
Attachment 133982
I use Hornday SSTs 150gr,(2969ft/s)deadly out to 400yrds,havnt shot any deer past that with these.But close up on yearlying reds or fallow will most of the time go clean thru their shoulders let alone their gut.
Btsp s a better stopper.
I used the 155 Amax in a 308 and 300 WSM...I also used the 150gr Nosler BT's...to be fair I couldn't tell the difference...both very accurate and never let me down.
Be worth trying factory Hornady Superperformance 150 or 165 SST's, I reload for most rifles but for hunting performance in a 308 you just can't seem to get anywhere near this stuff. Try a box out.
155 Amax will be fine, but for close to medium SST's better.
I used 155 Amax in a Tikka 595 18'barrel +suppressor with a hot load of Win.748 powder which gave me a speed of 2820fps.
Shot a stag from 15mtr broadside in front shoulder.
Stag took less than 10 steps and expired.
Projectile went through both shoulders, fragmented and a ~ 80grain piece was stuck just under skin on opposite side (similar to the picture from @7mmsaum), both legs where pretty much buggered.
I have used 155 gr Amax for years I used the 150 gr SST's but found I liked the 155's have a stock pile of both they are great projectiles and work well out to 500 yards in my 20" Remington LTR and 22" Desert Tech.
They are also great for target work punching holes in paper.
Amax exit wound at 500 yards.
Attachment 134090
No I don't shoot 155 gr A-Max in my 308s.Quote:
Originally Posted by kiwijames
I'm at target shooter using a 32" 1:10 barrel firing 155 gr Lapua Scenar, 155 gr Berger Hybrid and 185 gr Berger Hybrid out to 1000 yards.
I do shoot 80 gr A-Max in my 223, out to 1000 yards (in light winds) out to 800 yards in stronger winds, 1:7 twist 26" barrel.
Advice that can be offered to you will depend on the configuration of your rifle.
I was asking so I could be more helpful.
my go too is 165 NBT , 18" barrel , 2678 fps cant fault the load from 30m to 500 il never change it unless they stop making them & even then id likely panic buy to keep me going , iv been really surprised the way these projectiles preform I look back 25,ish years ago and ballistic tips to me were relatively new & very explosive but these NBT don't explode at all , only down side is there reasonably pricey .
I appreciate the offer to help and maybe I was less polite than I could have been.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cyclops
I’m really wanting feedback on terminal performance as I would like to be certain that I’m going to kill deer size animal as effectively as possible.
I’m shit at finding downed animals at the best of times so the less they travel the better (plus it’s more humane).
Yeah I’m a NBT fan. I started with 150NBT but I had a pressure issue so I started from scratch and changed everything to try and figure shit out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Boaraxa
If I may.
Run some numbers on the 178 amax (not sure if still available but the eldm is spost to be the same?)
Now one wouldnt think 10 grains of bullet weight in the same projectile would make feck all difference but they are or were miles apart in terminal performance.
despite me driving the 178 over 200fps faster in another caliber it never failed to penetrate and exit with substantial damage from near zero yds to well over 500y.
Rumor has it the 178 copper bit is a shortened 208 copper bit and the 168 is a different copper bit and the 155 is a shortened 168 copper bit....whether that is all bullishit I have no idea but I do know the two behave totally differently and that is over a decent sample size.
I’ve still got 100 or so of the 155gr A-Max loaded up. Great medium / long range bullet. Less great very short range bullet. This question goes hand-in-hand with the other thread about close range GameKing performance. I don’t particularly rate the A-Max as an all-rounder as it has been as messy as hell on close range reds for me. Two very specific close range neck shots I recall that failed, paralysed but didn’t kill the animals despite the point of impact being around the C6 / C7 vertebrae. Complete vaporisation of the bullet, bones were still mostly intact. I put it down to my ignorance to be honest, should have known better.
The exact same shot placement with the subsequent choice - 165gr Nosler BT - blew the vertebrae to smithereens. That’s the thick base holding together. A-Max and ELD-M are best employed at lower impact velocities in my experience.
If I could find a way to get them to you @kiwijames, you can try some of mine if you like. Loaded to SAAMI spec, mid-range powder charge.
I have been using the 155 A-max for a few years now for hunting / target / varmint !!!
And i still use them now , so says alot really!!!
Used them for Roe, Red and found them personally a good performer!!!
There was 4 of us using the 155 A-max in (4) Parker Hale TX1200s /(1) M82/(1) M85/ for hunting ,and out to 1000yds target / Varmint shooting and we found them very good!!!Attachment 134111Attachment 134112 ( 1017yds target )
My current 308 and still using the 155 A-max:thumbsup:Attachment 134110
No harm, no foul.Quote:
Originally Posted by kiwijames
Plenty of interesting answers from others for you to consider.
Appreciate the offer. I've got a couple dozen 150NBT's to work with so can toy with those (once the terminal reset is over).Quote:
Originally Posted by Flyblown
