Ammo Reports Team
| Official Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Hornady |
| Cartridge | 308 Winchester |
| Product Line | Hornady BLACK |
| Bullet Name / Type | A-MAX – legacy item configuration |
| Bullet Weight | 155 gr |
| SKU / Part Number | 80927 |
| UPC | 090255809275 – retailer-listed |
| Rounds per Box | 20 |
| Muzzle Velocity | 2,850 fps |
| Muzzle Energy | 2,795 ft-lbs |
| Ballistic Coefficient G1 | 0.435 |
| Ballistic Coefficient G7 | Not found |
| Case Material | Brass – retailer-listed |
| Primer | Boxer – retailer-listed |
| Reloadable | Yes – retailer-listed |
| Test Barrel Length | 24 in |
| Zero Distance | 200 yd |
| Sight Height | 1.5 in |
| Intended Use | Target shooting; precision training |
| Product Status | Legacy A-MAX configuration; current item 80927 is labeled ELD Match by Hornady |
| Closest Competitors | Federal Gold Medal Match .308 Win, Black Hills .308 Win, Lapua Scenar-L .308 Win, Hornady Match .308 Win, PMC Bronze .308 Win, Winchester USA Ready .308 Win |
Data is based on official manufacturer sources. Found an error? Send us the source link.
Values labeled retailer-listed are retained only where the manufacturer does not publish the identifier or packaging detail.
Ballistics Table
Hornady 2022 Standard Ballistics Chart manufacturer data. No calculated wind values are mixed into this table.
| Yards | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lbs) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2,850 | 2,795 |
| 100 | 2,639 | Not published |
| 200 | 2,438 | Not published |
| 300 | 2,245 | Not published |
| 400 | 2,062 | Not published |
| 500 | 1,887 | Not published |
The Hornady A-Max Bullet and the Hornady Black Line
The Hornady A-Max is a match-grade, polymer-tipped boat-tail bullet that was developed specifically for long-range precision competition and target work. The secant ogive profile and polymer tip work together to deliver a consistent, high-BC form factor that resists deformation during feeding and maintains aerodynamic uniformity across a production run. The tip also initiates reliable expansion on impact, though this load is positioned primarily as a target and training round rather than a hunting projectile.
The Hornady Black product line is engineered around the concept of optimizing a complete cartridge — not just the bullet — for modern sporting rifles and suppressor-equipped platforms. Clean-burning propellants are selected to reduce carbon fouling and minimize muzzle flash, which is a meaningful operational advantage in low-light conditions or when shooting from enclosed positions. Internal pressure curves and bullet seating are tuned to function reliably across a range of gas-system lengths, including those found on shorter carbine-length barrels where chamber pressure timing differs from a standard 24-inch rifle barrel.
It is worth noting that Hornady has largely transitioned the A-Max lineup to the ELD-Match (Extremely Low Drag – Match) bullet in many of its precision offerings. The ELD-Match uses a heat-resistant polymer tip designed to resist aerodynamic deformation at high velocities — a failure mode that was identified in A-Max tips through Doppler radar research. Whether this specific Hornady Black SKU has been updated to ELD-Match or retains the original A-Max tip should be confirmed at point of purchase, as product transitions in factory ammunition do not always coincide with immediate packaging changes.
Best Uses
Good fit:
- Precision target shooting and long-range paper punching at 100–500 yards
- Tactical training and carbine courses where consistent performance from varying barrel lengths is required
- Suppressed rifle platforms where reduced muzzle flash and clean-burning propellants reduce residue buildup
- Competitive shooting disciplines that allow soft-point or polymer-tipped ammunition (verify ruleset before use)
- Shooters seeking a match-grade bullet in a factory load without stepping up to dedicated precision-line pricing
Not the right tool for:
- Big game hunting — the A-Max is not designed or marketed as a controlled-expansion hunting bullet for ethical terminal performance on medium or large game
- Jurisdictions or ranges that prohibit expanding or polymer-tipped ammunition
- Shooters who need a current drop chart for the legacy A-MAX configuration – Hornady now labels item 80927 with an ELD Match bullet, so confirm the box label before using current product data
- Budget-conscious volume shooters; this is not a high-volume practice load
Reliability Notes
No structured submissions yet.
Based on manufacturer product description and open-source user feedback from forums and shooting communities, the following observations are noted — these reflect manufacturer claims and open-source reporting, not structured data collected by AmmoReports.com:
- Hornady Black loads are described by the manufacturer as optimized for consistent cycling across AR-10 and similar semi-automatic platforms, including those with carbine and mid-length gas systems
- The clean-burning propellant formulation is specifically cited as a design priority for reduced fouling in semi-automatic actions, which is relevant for high-round-count training sessions
- The A-Max bullet’s polymer tip has been noted in open-source discussions to provide consistent seating depth and reliable feeding from box magazines in both single-stack and double-stack configurations
- No active recalls or safety notices for this load were identified at time of publication
Competitors
The complete comparison set from the original report is preserved below. Internal links appear only where an exact published Ammo Reports review exists.
| Load | Weight | Bullet | BC G1 | Advertised Velocity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Gold Medal Match .308 Win | 155 gr | Sierra MatchKing HPBT | Not verified | Not verified | Premium match load; same weight class; widely used in competition |
| Black Hills .308 Win | 155 gr | Sierra MatchKing | Not verified | Not verified | Small-batch precision; same bullet as Federal GMM; premium pricing |
| Lapua Scenar-L .308 Win | 155 gr | Scenar-L HPBT | Not verified | Not verified | Higher BC; premium European match load; best-in-class consistency |
| Hornady Match .308 Win | 155 gr | ELD-Match | Not verified | Not verified | Same manufacturer; updated tip technology; direct platform comparison warranted |
| PMC Bronze .308 Win | 147 gr | FMJ-BT | Not verified | Not verified | Budget alternative; not match grade; suitable for high-volume practice only |
| Winchester USA Ready .308 Win | 168 gr | Open Tip Match | Not verified | Not verified | Heavier bullet; lower velocity; competitive mid-tier pricing |
Price and Availability
Retail availability changes by seller, location, and lot. Use the retailer links above to check current stock and checkout totals.
Where to Buy
Confirm the exact SKU and package quantity before ordering.
FAQ
Is the Hornady Black 155 gr A-Max the same bullet as the Hornady Match ELD-Match?
No — the A-Max and the ELD-Match are distinct projectile designs, though both are match-grade polymer-tipped boat-tail bullets. The ELD-Match uses a heat-resistant tip material developed after Hornady identified through Doppler radar testing that standard polymer tips could deform aerodynamically at high velocities during flight, altering BC mid-trajectory. The A-Max tip does not incorporate this feature. For most shooters at ranges under 400 yards, the practical difference is minimal, but at extended ranges the ELD-Match is theoretically more consistent. Buyers should verify which tip is in current production stock for this Hornady Black SKU, as the product line has seen transitions.
Can this load be used for deer hunting in states where expanding ammunition is legal?
While the A-Max bullet does expand on impact and has been used by some hunters in informal settings, Hornady does not market this load as a hunting cartridge, and it is not designed to the terminal performance standards of dedicated hunting bullets like the Hornady InterBond or SST. The A-Max is optimized for ballistic coefficient and accuracy, not for controlled penetration and reliable expansion across the range of impact velocities encountered in hunting scenarios. For ethical harvesting of deer-sized game, a purpose-built hunting load is the appropriate choice. Regulatory compliance also varies by jurisdiction — some states have restrictions on bullet construction for hunting that may affect this load’s legality in the field.
How does the 155 gr weight compare to the more common 168 gr .308 Win match loads?
The 155 grain bullet is lighter and typically exits the barrel at higher velocity than a 168 gr load from the same powder charge, which provides a flatter trajectory at mid-range distances. However, the 168 gr Sierra MatchKing and similar bullets carry a higher BC, which helps them retain velocity and resist wind drift more effectively at distances beyond approximately 600 yards. For most practical shooting inside 500 yards, the 155 gr load competes closely with 168 gr match loads. The 155 gr class became prominent in long-range competition (specifically the Palma discipline) because of its combination of velocity and BC, and it remains a well-regarded weight class for precision work.
Does the Hornady Black line cycle reliably in AR-10 pattern rifles with suppressor-optimized gas systems?
Hornady specifically engineers the Hornady Black line to function across a range of gas-system configurations, including those tuned for suppressor use where back-pressure is elevated. The clean-burning propellant selection is intended to reduce fouling accumulation in the gas system and bolt carrier group, which is a relevant consideration for suppressed semi-automatic platforms that typically run dirtier than unsuppressed rifles. That said, no factory load can guarantee reliable function across every individual gas-system tuning — adjustable gas blocks remain the most reliable solution for suppressor transitions. No structured reliability data has been submitted to AmmoReports.com for this load at this time.
Why doesn’t Hornady publish velocity or BC data for this specific Hornady Black load?
This is a legitimate gap in Hornady’s published product data for certain Hornady Black SKUs. Hornady’s primary precision line (Hornady Match) carries detailed ballistic data, while some Black line products have less complete published specifications. This may reflect the line’s positioning as a general-purpose tactical and training load rather than a dedicated competition cartridge requiring certified ballistic documentation. For shooters who rely on external ballistics solvers for precise drop compensation at distance, the absence of confirmed muzzle velocity and BC data is a meaningful limitation — and it is the primary reason all ballistic table values on this page are marked as calculated estimates rather than manufacturer-confirmed figures.
