Hornady Amax for hunting

[Mack P]

This season I killed a 1-1/2 yr old spike using the 123 gr AMAX round. Range was 80 yards, hit just behind the right shoulder, mid-chest line. This was one of only three deer I have ever killed that dropped as if hit by lightning, did not move any after the hit, except for a little twitching for a few seconds. When I dressed out the deer, I found that the bullet had not exited, and there was massive damage in the lungs, lots of hydrostatic shock. I think I would have been happier if the bullet had exited, since there would not have been much of a blood trail. Looked like the bullet started to fragment after hitting a rib on the way in.

I like the accuracy and the cost/availability of the 123 AMAX, but I am thinking about locating some Nosler Partition ammo (I used to handload, but don't have the time go get back into all that).