Looking into the Hornady 178 BTHP over the 178 AMAX

[MattyG]

So my 208 AMAX trials did not yield the results I was looking for.

Now I am looking at staying with the lighter bullets (been shooting the 175 SMK). I have some 178 AMAX's to try but I have also noticed there is a 178 BTHP available with a much better BC. I have also read a few posts with good reviews but was looking for some more info before I start hunting them down. I heard Litz said the G1 was really .505 instead of .530 and the G7 comes out to .257 versus the .243 of the SMK.

Can any one comment on the true performance of this bullet over going with the 178 AMAX or even sticking with the 175 SMK?

Thanks

 

[redneckbmxer24]

On paper the 178 BTHP's look great but I've never shot them to distance. I like my rifles to double for hunting as well as target shooting so how a bullet performs on game means a lot to me and the 178 BTHP just poked through everything I shot with it so I never went into depth with it. I know others have an I'm sure they will chime in. I'm sure as long as you get a load that shoots good with a low ES there's no reason why it wouldn't work as good or even better than the AMAX and SMK's with lower BC's as long as you don't need to use it for hunting as well.

I do have experience with the SMK and AMAX at distance though and they are extremely close in performance. If all you're doing is target shooting I would pick the one that shoots best without doing 500 rounds of load development. The SMK is even worse on game though, I've had some that blow up destroying the vitals yet ruining a lot of meat and I've had them poke through.

At what distance did you test the 208's? Did they just not shoot great or did the keyhole?

 

[MattyG]

I am loading the 178 AMAX for the rare event I take this rifle hunting but would like a dedicated match load.

The 208's couldn't produce the accuracy with safe pressure levels and the velocity that would show no pressure signs is below my usable threshold. I shot them at 260 yards and 300 yards out of a 20" barrel 1-10 twist.

 

[Rob01]

Shot them to 800 yards and the .530 BC was right on.

 

[MattyG]

Thanks Rob!!! I had seen you talking about them before but I had also heard Litz put these at .505 for G1 and I was just looking for someone with some knowledge on them clarify if they run in line with the .530 BC Hornady listed them at.