105 Amax

Anyone use the Hornady .243 diam 105 Amax on game, whitetails on down? Luckus

I have some 105s but have yet to shoot a deer with one (not planning to). I can say that for my 308, somehow I grabbed a box of 155gr Amax loads instead of my 150gr SST loads when heading out for a whitetail hunt and didn't realize it until I was cleaning my kill. The Amax killed the deer at just shy of 300 yards in its tracks, BANG-FLOP. Didn't take a single step. However, it appeared that the bullet broke up and the core separated from the jacket inside the deer. Small entrance hole, small exit hole, very little meat loss but lots of damage to the organs. Bullet hit a rib upon entering, not sure how it would be if I had to punch through a shoulder though.

Like Boots said it will get the job done, but it is not considered a hunting bullet.

Dean

I use the 105 AMAX for hunting, antelope and deer. They work fabulously. As bootsmcguire has stated, internal organs are mush with a small hole in and a small hole out. The two reasons I use them are the accuracy, and the amount of damage an SST did to the meat.

I use them in .22(75&80gr.), 6mm(105gr.), 6.5mm(123gr.), 7mm(162gr.) and .30(155, 168, 178 and 208gr.) caliber. I was told some on the Hornady site are listed for target and game. Killed 7 Whitetails from 30 yards to 400 yards and a Hog at 128. Close range and big bones are not your friend. The only exit I had was at 400 with the 105 and it was hit forward of the shoulder blade, darn near missed with a bad wind call. It reacted violently but soon recovered and ran 125 yards but had a good blood trail. Great killer when put in the lung/heart area. Red jelly O'plenty and big holes! Hit 4 in the head so can't count that for terminal ballistics. The one at 30 yards was a 80 grain .224 diameter and a quick snap shot. Quartering toward me and hit center shoulder. Lost that shoulder, big hole and red jelly, and bullet made it to the ribs behind the offside. By its actions I thought it was DRT but ran approximately 35 yards. I will continue to use and evaluate. Below was 168 grain from .308 Winchester at 60 yards.
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...168grA-Max.jpg

I have found it to be (105 Amax) super accurate in my 12 ftr and a very consistent in length, that's why I am interested on their performance on game. I want a long range one size fits all from crows to venison. Thanks for the input. Luckus

IIRC, the guys at Gunwerks that make the "Long Range Pursuit" TV show use Amax bullets in their long range hunting load. Also, IIRC the Hornady manuals list the Amax as suitable for hunting.

When I get this put together, I will be giving them a try. Thanks to all, Luckus