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> 243 Amax and 7mm Amax
243 Amax and 7mm Amax
@ 01:07 am (GMT) |
Rory WilksHi Nathan! I have just recently discovered this site and love all the info!I'm just starting to reload for a .243 win and 7mm rem mag. I'm also wanting to start extending my hunting ranges. So I have some bullet questions. I am wondering about the 105g Amax in the 243. I read in the knowledge base about the .243 but didn't find too much info about the Amax. I know it's soft and can do well at a little longer ranges on deer. If muzzle velocity is around 2900 fps, how far would be the max distance that it would provide reliable wounding for a clean kill on a mule deer? Also, is it ok for closer shots, like 50 yards? The terrain I hunt can provide shots at 50 yards to as far as you can see. Do you possibly know the fps and/or energy that would be wanted at impact to provide the reliable killing? Next is about the 7mm. Similar question as above. I know the Amax performs past 1000 yards, but does it provide reliable killing at close ranges on mule deer (and possibly elk, but mostly concerned about mule deer)? Or would the 162 SST annealed be the better all around bullet? Or is there a different all around bullet I should try to use? Can most long for caliber bullets be annealed to be improved for long range hunting such as 100g sierra Game King for 243? And 160g SGK in 7mm? The Game kings are easy and inexpensive for me. Any info is much appreciated! Thanks a bunch! Rory |
Replies
@ 09:22 pm (GMT) |
Jim MoseleyRe: 243 Amax and 7mm AmaxI shoot the Amax in 243 and 7 mag. I've killed whitetails out to 300 yds with the 105 and penetrating both shoulders. My little Savage has only a 22 inch barrel so MV is limited. I think the twist rate is 9.25. A 26" barrel with a 8 twist is suppose to be ideal. If the shot is close, just shoot a head or neck shot. Same goes for the 7 mag. I don't think you would have any problem killing a mule deer at 400 yds if the bullet is well placed, which is a given. Don't know about elk, but I'm using the 162 gr amax on a caribou hunt in Sept. I use Superformance for the 243/105 and H-1000/162 A-max. |
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@ 12:36 pm (GMT) |
Rory WilksRe: 243 Amax and 7mm AmaxJimThanks a bunch for the info! My 243 is also a 22 inch barrel. I believe it has a 9 twist so I'm working with a similar set up. I'll have to try the superformance. My 7RM is only a 24 inch barrel so I can't decide if I should use h4831 or h1000, might have to try both and see what works best. If I don't talk to for awhile good luck on your caribou hunt later! |
@ 02:30 pm (GMT) |
chris murphyRe: 243 Amax and 7mm AmaxHi Rory I run a 24" 7mm rm using 2217/h1000 with 160-168grn pills start at 70grn work up to 73.5 this should see you with mv of round 2900-2950 with 70 grn and 3050-3100 with 73.5. Keep a close eye on pressure. If you are not confident start a bit lower maybe 68-69 grn working in .5 grn intervals as for your bullets amax will do the job close with head or neck shot but it wouldn't hurt to have a load of say a 160 partition or even an sst for those snap shots.Hope this helps I'm not very good at explaining stuff. |
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@ 12:50 am (GMT) |
Rory WilksRe: 243 Amax and 7mm AmaxChrisThank you for your help! I'll try H1000. I just ordered a box of the 162g SST too. I'm brand new to reloading so I'm not real confident in my high pressure readings yet, so I'm a little nervous to work up past max loads in the books. H1000 is pretty slow burning though so things shouldn't spike and get out of hand all that easy right? Do you personally use a magnum primer or just a large rifle primer? Thanks again. |
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@ 02:49 am (GMT) |
chris murphyRe: 243 Amax and 7mm AmaxIf you stick within book load you won't have a problem unless something is wrong. I use cci magnums I tried stand and it gave no difference |
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@ 03:04 am (GMT) |
chris murphyRe: 243 Amax and 7mm AmaxIf you see marks on your case base from the bolt (ejector ) or primers flattening out to sharp edges. You have reached max pressure and need to back off half grain. Or the bolt might get hard to lift anything like that back off. I strongly recommend buying the books, for the time money and hair pulling they will save well worth it. Wish I had them when I started |
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@ 09:38 am (GMT) |
Jim MoseleyRe: 243 Amax and 7mm AmaxHere's a tip that I use. Write the powder charge on the case. When I return from the range I resize and pop the primer out. I use a 8x photographers lope or you can use a strong magnifying glass to look at the sides of the primer to see when the primer head starts to flatten or mushroom. Once I get close to a load in the 7 mag, I load in increments of .2 until I hit the sweet spot. Then I make minor adjustments in seating depth. I also take the lope to the range to look at each round after firing. Chris is correct on having a book. Nathan just finished his book on reloading. Take notes on everything you do. My reloading notebook goes back to 1997 and accounts for every round I've ever loaded! Good luck! |
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@ 04:30 pm (GMT) |
Rory WilksRe: 243 Amax and 7mm AmaxThanks again chris and Jim!Good tips and advice that I'll apply! I just ordered a box of 105 Amax bullets and yesterday some 162 SST bullets! I'm getting real excited to try loading these new bullets. Hopefully they both shoot real accurate in my rifles. I've hunted since I was a kid and am 33 now, but never hand loaded and never hunted long range, just shots about 300 yards or less with the cheapest factory ammo. All this long range stuff has gotten me all worked up into a happy excitement. I think I'm going to be hooked unless things don't go very well for some reason. Thanks again! |
@ 11:33 pm (GMT) |
Jake longRe: 243 Amax and 7mm AmaxQuote: Here's a tip that I use. Write the powder charge on the case. When I return from the range I resize and pop the primer out. I use a 8x photographers lope or you can use a strong magnifying glass to look at the sides of the primer to see when the primer head starts to flatten or mushroom. Once I get close to a load in the 7 mag, I load in increments of .2 until I hit the sweet spot. Then I make minor adjustments in seating depth. I also take the lope to the range to look at each round after firing. Chris is correct on having a book. Nathan just finished his book on reloading. Take notes on everything you do. My reloading notebook goes back to 1997 and accounts for every round I've ever loaded! Good luck!
This is why I love this site. Thanks Jim for the tips. Jake |
@ 04:41 am (GMT) |
Rob Hughes-GamesRe: 243 Amax and 7mm AmaxThe amax will kill at closer ranges but will damage meat. Just shot a red hind at 200y from a 7-08 @ 2770 and the offside shoulder was a write off and even had to trim some of the onside. A 80 gn amax from the 223 @2906 at 200y broke two ribs onside and didn't go through to the other side. Animal ran 20y for 7mm and 3y for .223 |
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@ 04:17 pm (GMT) |
Rory WilksRe: 243 Amax and 7mm AmaxThank you all for the info! |
@ 07:34 pm (GMT) |
Bryan WebsterRe: 243 Amax and 7mm AmaxFor your 7mm, you could load the 162 grain A-Max for long shots but have the 162 grain SST in the chamber for closer ranges.The idea here being the frangible A-Max at long range will do its work properly while using it for closer high velocity shots would damage too much meat, or disintegrate on impact on larger boned animals. The SST tends to shoot to nearly the same point and does a great job out to 400 yards on deer as well as elk. |
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@ 09:55 pm (GMT) |
Rory WilksRe: 243 Amax and 7mm AmaxThanks Bryan.That's a good plan. I got some 162 SST's but couldn't find any AMAX. So I'll start out with the SST and see how they shoot in my rifle. Hopefully I get a chance to do some load testing this weekend. Hopefully I'll find some AMAXs soon. |
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@ 08:19 pm (GMT) |
Jim MoseleyRe: 243 Amax and 7mm AmaxIf you are close, just shoot them in the head or neck. No meat wasted. |
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