Chuck Boyer
Active Member
Are the A-Max bullets a different animal or have they inherited the same quality control that the Interbonds and SSTs have? I would like to try the 208 30 cal in a 300 Win. Any bad reports on this bullet?
-
If you are being asked to change your password, and unsure how to do it, follow these instructions. Click here
Hornady bullets
- Thread starter Chuck Boyer
- Start date
Help Support Long Range Hunting Forum
The Hornady A-max is a whole different animal.
Hornady got it right with 2 groups of bullets as far as I'm concerned: The flat based spitzer interlock bullets (which are only decent as far as I'm concerned in terms of accuracy) and the A-max bullets (which tend to be exceptional).
The one exception I found, in terms of accuracy, is the 30 caliber 165 BTSP interlock bullet.
Other than this, I could not get the SSTs or Interbonds to group worth a crap in proven rifles. There are only so many load combinations I will give a particular bullet to prove itself.
Hornady got it right with 2 groups of bullets as far as I'm concerned: The flat based spitzer interlock bullets (which are only decent as far as I'm concerned in terms of accuracy) and the A-max bullets (which tend to be exceptional).
The one exception I found, in terms of accuracy, is the 30 caliber 165 BTSP interlock bullet.
Other than this, I could not get the SSTs or Interbonds to group worth a crap in proven rifles. There are only so many load combinations I will give a particular bullet to prove itself.
Hi all this is the response i got
Bill, We have not seen any problems associated with the interbond
bullets. My thoughts is to have you try the 139 gr. SST or Interlock
bullets. We do from time to time run across rifles that will not shoot a
particular bullet. I assume that the in accuracy is related to barrel
harmonics. Thanks
What a oad they know about the issue and must think i am stupid i have posted them another email with a link to this thread lets see if they back up their product. hy tips are crocked and the boat tails are not square they wander around when you roll them. I wonder if they are getting over heated when they are bonded thus cousing bananas instead of top grade projectiles.
i will post their next reply.
Cheers Bill
Australia
Bill, We have not seen any problems associated with the interbond
bullets. My thoughts is to have you try the 139 gr. SST or Interlock
bullets. We do from time to time run across rifles that will not shoot a
particular bullet. I assume that the in accuracy is related to barrel
harmonics. Thanks
What a oad they know about the issue and must think i am stupid i have posted them another email with a link to this thread lets see if they back up their product. hy tips are crocked and the boat tails are not square they wander around when you roll them. I wonder if they are getting over heated when they are bonded thus cousing bananas instead of top grade projectiles.
i will post their next reply.
Cheers Bill
Australia
Chuck Boyer
Active Member
Ok, I just got some 162 A-Max bullets and are go try them in my STW. I have been shooting some steel out to 800yds with the Rapid Z 800 Zeiss scope. The aiming lines were right on out to 500, then the shots hit lower. I was using the 160 Sierra HP Gameking. I think I ran out of ballistic coeficient. This gun will shoot a 10" group with no advanced benchrest loading technique. Just weigh the powder charge and shoot. I will let you all know how the A-Max works.
Overkill338
Well-Known Member
I havent loaded any of their bullets in my handloads yet. But their 180gr Heavy Mags shoot great in my Ruger MkII .300 Win Mag. Not sure if I'll ever be able to duplicate their velocities, but I have ordered some of the same 180gr Interlocks to experiment with.
Chuck Boyer
Active Member
Hoo boy, tried the 162 A-max in my 7stw. I must not be holding my mouth right. Bullets shot very poorly with 3 different powders. Changes in bullet seating depth did not help either. I am giving up on Hornady. I could have spent this money on some Accubonds or Bergers and been satisfied. You can save money buying a cheaper product if it does not work. By the way, groups were 4-5 inches for 3 shots
Good luck with the Interbonds. Let us know what kind of patterns you get. Full, modified, or improved cylinder...
Delta Hunter
Well-Known Member
I've been real pleased with the 165 gr. Interbond in my old pre-'64 model 70 '06.
And the 165 SST was extremely accurate in a .300 Wby I once owned.
However, I recently tried the 139 gr. IB in a 7mm-08 and it didn't shoot worth a darn. Ditto the 139 SST in a 7mm Mag.
They seem to either work really well or not at all.
And the 165 SST was extremely accurate in a .300 Wby I once owned.
However, I recently tried the 139 gr. IB in a 7mm-08 and it didn't shoot worth a darn. Ditto the 139 SST in a 7mm Mag.
They seem to either work really well or not at all.
Last edited:
I have had very good luck with both 180gr IB in my 30-378 and 162gr A-max bullets in my 7mm RSAUM light gun. I have seen the crooked tips before though but not in the lots of A-max bullets produced this year. The new A-max bullets have been good enough that I have not been sorting them for 600 and 1000yd competition. I won my first 2 1000yd NBRSA competitions I attended this year first one Light gun group and second one Light gun score with one of my targets being a 50-1x (NBRSA record is 50-3x)I also shot a 49-1x and a 49-2x (3 way tie for 3rd place single target score) at the NBRSA nationals this year. With that in mind it surprises me that you can't get the 162's to shoot in the STW, I believe all the older 162 A-max production has dried up so what you buy today should be the good ones.
Joe Thielen the man at Hornady behind getting the Amax bullets to shoot and his wife Christina have been doing very well with the 208 A-Max bullets in 1000yd competition, in fact Christina placed 2nd in single target LG score at the NBRSA nationals with a 49-4x using 162 A-max bullets in a 280 improved.
James
Joe Thielen the man at Hornady behind getting the Amax bullets to shoot and his wife Christina have been doing very well with the 208 A-Max bullets in 1000yd competition, in fact Christina placed 2nd in single target LG score at the NBRSA nationals with a 49-4x using 162 A-max bullets in a 280 improved.
James
Chuck Boyer
Active Member
I double checked the stw with my deer load. A 160 Sierra BTHP Gameking over 78gr of 7828SSC seated at 3.61. Shot a little over a half inch.
Giving Hornady a little defense, their 58gr VX shoots real good in the Tikka 243. I have not tried the 87 VMax. Also the 154 Interbond that I molycoated shot well in the stw. The interbond bullets kill very well, if you can find one that will shoot.
Accurate, I have not heard any good accuracy reports on the 243 85 gr interbond. Maybe you will have better luck than I did. I tried 4895, 4064, 4350, and 4831. I did not try any ball powders like 414 or 760. You might want to start there. I have had better luck in the past using magnum primers with the ball powders.
Giving Hornady a little defense, their 58gr VX shoots real good in the Tikka 243. I have not tried the 87 VMax. Also the 154 Interbond that I molycoated shot well in the stw. The interbond bullets kill very well, if you can find one that will shoot.
Accurate, I have not heard any good accuracy reports on the 243 85 gr interbond. Maybe you will have better luck than I did. I tried 4895, 4064, 4350, and 4831. I did not try any ball powders like 414 or 760. You might want to start there. I have had better luck in the past using magnum primers with the ball powders.
I shoot the Hornady .224 75 gr MHP's out of my AR. I can see quite a bit of variation in the tips from lot-to-lot, but overall, they shoot the lights out for me (0.25 - 0.75 MOA).
I tried a box of 180 gr SST's in 30 cal through the Tikka M595 (.308). I ended up using all 100 of the bullets in load work up, trying to find a load that would shoot under one moa. Most loads with the SST's averaged between 1 and 2 moa, where loads with other bullets would average around 0.4 - 0.7 moa. I tried something different, primers (CCI) and powder (Varget), with the last 5 bullets in the box. Those last 5 bullets went into a group just over 1/2 moa. I didn't think it was worth the $ to buy another box just to see if the last group was a fluke.
I inherited a few boxes of old Hornady 30 cal 180 gr Interlocks (flat base). I figured I'd use them for practice shooting off hand with the Tikka M595, but shot a few groups just for kicks. I was surprised to see sub one inch groups right out of the gate, without any work-up, and sub 1/2 moa after some load work-up.
I picked up a bunch of old, flat base, 200 gr Hornady Interlocks in 338 cal at a gun show (they were less that $0.10 per bullet). I figured I'd use them for fouling shots, off hand practice, and as varmint bullets. I shoot them out of my GAP/Sako 338 LM. They group anywhere from the low 2's to 0.7 moa for me and at 3300+ fps, they make for great varmint bullets.
That's my experience with Hornady's...
I tried a box of 180 gr SST's in 30 cal through the Tikka M595 (.308). I ended up using all 100 of the bullets in load work up, trying to find a load that would shoot under one moa. Most loads with the SST's averaged between 1 and 2 moa, where loads with other bullets would average around 0.4 - 0.7 moa. I tried something different, primers (CCI) and powder (Varget), with the last 5 bullets in the box. Those last 5 bullets went into a group just over 1/2 moa. I didn't think it was worth the $ to buy another box just to see if the last group was a fluke.
I inherited a few boxes of old Hornady 30 cal 180 gr Interlocks (flat base). I figured I'd use them for practice shooting off hand with the Tikka M595, but shot a few groups just for kicks. I was surprised to see sub one inch groups right out of the gate, without any work-up, and sub 1/2 moa after some load work-up.
I picked up a bunch of old, flat base, 200 gr Hornady Interlocks in 338 cal at a gun show (they were less that $0.10 per bullet). I figured I'd use them for fouling shots, off hand practice, and as varmint bullets. I shoot them out of my GAP/Sako 338 LM. They group anywhere from the low 2's to 0.7 moa for me and at 3300+ fps, they make for great varmint bullets.
That's my experience with Hornady's...
nfhjr62
Well-Known Member
The problem i had with Hornady was with some 168 HPBT bullets when shooting at 600 yrds the person scoring me asked me what bullets i was using as as he could see the contrail corkscrewing into the ten ring and just out of the X ring lucky had some rounds loaded sierra 168 HPBT bullets with me when i switched he then told me every one was in the X ring now, and i ended up with a 200 with 10 Xs and havn't fired any hornady bullets over 300 yrds again ever.
I was using my 03 Springfield Match Rifle in 30/06 with 168 HPBT bullets XC
I was using my 03 Springfield Match Rifle in 30/06 with 168 HPBT bullets XC
