Oly Posted June 7, 2007 Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 I've heard and read about a lot of people using .243Win 105gn A-Max's for hunting. In the US they use them on deer, fox & coyotes. Anyone had any experience of this, particularly on foxes? I'm personally thinking that 105gn of not too deformable lead as being not too suitable - as it may pass straight through a fox - however I am up for being dis-proved (as being able to buy them cheap over the phone on mail order does have it's advantages!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibby Posted June 7, 2007 Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 Hmm, all i've used on fox with .243 is 100gr soft points, but i would have thought the weight would cause enough damage to stop him in his tracks. Interesting to know what others think also. Gibby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted June 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 i would have thought the weight would cause enough damage to stop him in his tracks. Yep, not doubting that it wouldn't kill...just worried about the round exiting the body...all shots are always taken with a decent backdrop so it would still be safe, but I don't like it and goodness knows what deflection the round could have in the body cavity too. Good to hear that 100gn soft points are OK though, would have thought them a bit on the heavy side too really. Do you ever get any exit wounds with them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibby Posted June 7, 2007 Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 Do you ever get any exit wounds with them? Yep in and out, hot knife through butter! Only use the 100gr as thats what i use for the roe. Gibby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted June 7, 2007 Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 there may be a simple reason for their use in the states, if they want to keep the fur they may want a round that goes straight through with least damage possible to the pelt, and lets face it the yanks aren't too worried about safety so ricochets aren't much of a problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gibby Posted June 7, 2007 Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 lets face it the yanks aren't too worried about safety I'm not so sure about that, i still reckon they have so common sense about safety. Gibby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazooka Joe Posted June 7, 2007 Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 Hmm, all i've used on fox with .243 is 100gr soft points, but i would have thought the weight would cause enough damage to stop him in his tracks. Interesting to know what others think also. Picture below, bottom Fox, shot at 140yds, Sako 90gr game head, nearly turned it inside out, intestines hanging 5ft behind it, emptyed it's ribcage. Same bullet for Roe, they do exit in them, so they will in the Fox, but make sure you have a decent backstop. BJ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tulkyuk Posted June 7, 2007 Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 i use 80grn soft points and they will go trough a fox at 160yrds - and if you look at sporting pictures (page 2) - "a couple of cubs on saturday night" you'll see what it did to a fox cub at 40yrds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted June 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 i use 80grn soft points and they will go trough a fox at 160yrds - and if you look at sporting pictures (page 2) - "a couple of cubs on saturday night" you'll see what it did to a fox cub at 40yrds You not tempted to got for a lighter round then?? Do you ever get any exit wounds with them? Yep in and out, hot knife through butter! Only use the 100gr as thats what i use for the roe. Gibby Good to know, cheers Gibby Same bullet for Roe, they do exit in them, so they will in the Fox, but make sure you have a decent backstop. Backstop - Always Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted June 8, 2007 Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 lets face it the yanks aren't too worried about safety I'm not so sure about that, i still reckon they have so common sense about safety. Gibby they can be less concerned about it as they have massive open spaces, however there is a very good reason a lot have to hunt in fluorescent orange tops and that is due to the fact they are a lot more trigger happy than we are, their accident rate is amazing and that includes senators Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tulkyuk Posted June 8, 2007 Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 i've started to use 55grn ballistic tips, boy are they going some !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted June 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 i've started to use 55grn ballistic tips, boy are they going some !!!! Hornady I take it?? What are the results on foxes like?? Any passing straight through?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v-max Posted June 8, 2007 Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 Hello Oly not sure on this but i think that the A-MAX are a soft target bullet & not classed as expanding amminision.Im not sure on this but if so then it would not cover you on your FAC to use them on deer/vermin as they are for paper punching/range use.As for the weight i think you might need a 1-9 twist to stable them in 243. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisv Posted June 8, 2007 Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 ECHO ECHO ECHO................................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sako7mm Posted June 8, 2007 Report Share Posted June 8, 2007 Hello Oly not sure on this but i think that the A-MAX are a soft target bullet & not classed as expanding amminision.Im not sure on this but if so then it would not cover you on your FAC to use them on deer/vermin as they are for paper punching/range use.As for the weight i think you might need a 1-9 twist to stable them in 243. There is no legal requirement to use only 'expanding' ammunition on vermin. I'm told A max perform well on foxes. Hornady match HP's from my 222 certainly do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted June 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 Hello Oly not sure on this but i think that the A-MAX are a soft target bullet & not classed as expanding amminision.Im not sure on this but if so then it would not cover you on your FAC to use them on deer/vermin as they are for paper punching/range use. There is no legal requirement to use only 'expanding' ammunition on vermin. I'm told A max perform well on foxes. Hornady match HP's from my 222 certainly do! I'm not 100% sure on this either, anyone got a definitive link?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted June 9, 2007 Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 I can assure you that expanding ammo is only a requirement for deer. Non expanding can be used for vermin. If you check any of the deer sites be it police, BDS or BASC you will see that only deer require expanding ammo. Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted June 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2007 You have some good points Fister...but people need to air this knowledge in order to make a fully informed decision. I certainly won't partake in any dangerous or reckless shooting...that's not what I'm about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tikkamark Posted June 12, 2007 Report Share Posted June 12, 2007 Whatever the requirements are, I still think its a pretty silly idea even thinking about shooting a Fox with a 105gr non expanding bullet and you do target shooter no favours by using such bullets. 52gr A-max out of a 22 centrefire maybe but a 105 out of a 243................nah, come on, get real, There are so many easily availabe expanding rounds for 6mm calibres it just seems silly, 55-100gr yes but I can just see you getting pass throughs and runners and lets not forget, light expanding rounds break upo oh so easily when they hit the dirt, can this be said for 105grains of a-max. Never forget, in an A-max, the ballistic tip is there for one reason only, to increase the ballistic coefficient, not to initiate expansion, the fact it does so on many bullets is purely a by-product. Ever wondered why its not called an "expansion tip"? Totally agree with you there fister non expanding ammo is useless on foxes and you are going to get a lot of runners have used some in .223 and can assure you never again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verminer Posted June 13, 2007 Report Share Posted June 13, 2007 i use a .308 150gn softnose for all my foxing as my grandad always told me to find out what the biggest recommended calibre was and then go one better, also it is what i use for deer so i only have to have one rifle for both jobs. the only downfall with this calibre and bullet weight is that when you hit a fox you normally have to look for two pieces as it will rip a fox in half. but the good side is that i have never had a runner or wounded fox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browning Posted June 13, 2007 Report Share Posted June 13, 2007 Forget the 105gn A-Max Oly, do the fox a favour! Try 75gn V-Max......you won't regret it, and neither will the fox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted June 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2007 Forget the 105gn A-Max Oly, do the fox a favour! Try 75gn V-Max......you won't regret it, and neither will the fox. Now the thread is tailing off I would just like to say that I was always thinking the A-Max may be a bit much, and likely to pass straight through a fox...but I do like getting unbiased opinons, and by showing my hand early I would not have achieved that. Browning - I'm interested in Tullyuk's 55gn ballistic tips, although he hasn't responded with more info on here. I would certainly like to know more about them. Ultimately I'm after a round that will do the job and not likely to go too far after it's hit the target...whether that's a 55gn or a 75gn...but probably not a 105gn. Thanks everyone for your input as ever! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tulkyuk Posted June 13, 2007 Report Share Posted June 13, 2007 Browning - I'm interested in Tullyuk's 55gn ballistic tips, although he hasn't responded with more info on here. I would certainly like to know more about them. Ultimately I'm after a round that will do the job and not likely to go too far after it's hit the target...whether that's a 55gn or a 75gn...but probably not a 105gn. Thanks everyone for your input as ever! The ones i use are factory load - Fedral 55grn V-Shok with nosler tips (Purple) - hope this helps Oly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted June 14, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 Browning - I'm interested in Tullyuk's 55gn ballistic tips, although he hasn't responded with more info on here. I would certainly like to know more about them. Ultimately I'm after a round that will do the job and not likely to go too far after it's hit the target...whether that's a 55gn or a 75gn...but probably not a 105gn. Thanks everyone for your input as ever! The ones i use are factory load - Fedral 55grn V-Shok with nosler tips (Purple) - hope this helps Oly Are you finding these too fast to retain within the fox, or do they stay safely within the body? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tulkyuk Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 They are fine Oly - they seem to expand very well on impact - take a look at sporting pictures and you'll see what they do to a cub at 125 yrds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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