168 zmax - where / specials?

Reloading equipment, methods, load data, powder and projectile information.

168 zmax - where / specials?

Post by TassieTiger » 11 Sep 2019, 6:29 pm

While back I picked up 500 zmax 168’s for $200...
A mate tried a couple In His rifle and is now pilfering like a fat kid in a cake shop.

But, zmax no longer show up on hornady site - don’t tell me the zombie apocalypse is done? They aren’t making them anymore??We clearly lost looking at the dicks walking around here...

Has anyone seen these lil green tipped 168’s on special anywhere - availability? I’ve googled a few sites and found the usual 50 for $50 or there abouts..but I was hoping to buy a few (500+) for less...??
Thanks in advance,
Tikka .260 (Z5 5x25/52)
Steyr Pro Varmint .223 - VX 3
CZ455 .22 & Norinco .22 (vtex 4-12, bush 3-9)
ATA 686 U/O 12g & Baikal S/S 12g.
Adler a110 reddot
Sauer 30-06 - VX 3
Howa 300 win mag. SHV 5-20/56
Marlin SBL 45/70
TassieTiger
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3704
Tasmania

Re: 168 zmax - where / specials?

Post by Sergeant Hartman » 11 Sep 2019, 7:31 pm

Hornady stopped making them a while ago.

Some other shops have some stock left... but u will be paying 235 to 300 a box. Not worth it.
Sergeant Hartman
Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major
 
Posts: 1722
Victoria

Re: 168 zmax - where / specials?

Post by SCJ429 » 11 Sep 2019, 8:19 pm

I read that the ZMax production was suspended in 2013 but I had assumed that production had been resumed. Is there any evidence that Hornady has ceased production and we are shooting six year old bullets?

I was waiting for a new shipment to arrive in Brisbane and normal service will be resumed by a popular Queensland gun shop.
SCJ429
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
 
Posts: 3208
New South Wales

Re: 168 zmax - where / specials?

Post by TassieTiger » 12 Sep 2019, 12:26 pm

That certain ship in Brisbane cancelled my zmax order for 168’s and cancelled my order for 180gn sierras...both were registered as in stock...they didn’t go into back order like I asked - they cancelled them outright so I suspect zmax are no longer....as for Sierra 180 - that is a bit confusing
Tikka .260 (Z5 5x25/52)
Steyr Pro Varmint .223 - VX 3
CZ455 .22 & Norinco .22 (vtex 4-12, bush 3-9)
ATA 686 U/O 12g & Baikal S/S 12g.
Adler a110 reddot
Sauer 30-06 - VX 3
Howa 300 win mag. SHV 5-20/56
Marlin SBL 45/70
TassieTiger
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3704
Tasmania

Re: 168 zmax - where / specials?

Post by bladeracer » 12 Sep 2019, 3:14 pm

SCJ429 wrote:I read that the ZMax production was suspended in 2013 but I had assumed that production had been resumed. Is there any evidence that Hornady has ceased production and we are shooting six year old bullets?

I was waiting for a new shipment to arrive in Brisbane and normal service will be resumed by a popular Queensland gun shop.


I know Hornady only do a run of their .268" 160gn RN every few years, so it may be that they've only stopped producing ZMax for a while, but it always seemed mad to me that they kept offering the heavily-discounted ZMax alongside the VMax when the Z is no less capable a bullet than the V. But they've been pushing the ELDM/X hard recently in all calibers, maybe they don't have the machine time to run the ZMax alongside just now?

Three years ago I emailed Hornady about the loss of the .243 ZMax and their response was that they had discontinued it completely.
Practice Strict Gun Control - Precision Counts!
User avatar
bladeracer
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 12655
Victoria

Re: 168 zmax - where / specials?

Post by AZZA'S HJ47 » 12 Sep 2019, 6:29 pm

First heard that these would be discontinued 12 months ago. I started hording them as they were my go to proj foe my 308. I should be good for 12 moths or so have roughly 3500 of them.
Sako Varmint 243,Marlin 917, Lithgow La101 .22 , 1917 BSA 303 (ted), Finnish Vkt 1944 M39,T3X Super Varmint 223, Marlin 1895 SBL 45-70 Howa 1500 308, BSA CF2 222, 1911 9mm, Adler 12G, Sako 7mm rem Mag,Ruger m77 mk1 22-250AI, Rem 700 17 Rem, BSA No 5 303
User avatar
AZZA'S HJ47
Sergeant
Sergeant
 
Posts: 687
Queensland

Re: 168 zmax - where / specials?

Post by SCJ429 » 12 Sep 2019, 6:33 pm

AZZA'S HJ47 wrote:First heard that these would be discontinued 12 months ago. I started hording them as they were my go to proj foe my 308. I should be good for 12 moths or so have roughly 3500 of them.


Yes I am running low as well, I am down to my last couple of thousand ZMax. :mrgreen:
SCJ429
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
 
Posts: 3208
New South Wales

Re: 168 zmax - where / specials?

Post by Hangfire » 13 Sep 2019, 8:13 am

Skimming the posts if not mentioned above pretty sure Zmax are just Amax. With a zombie twist
Hangfire
Private
Private
 
Posts: 52
New South Wales

Re: 168 zmax - where / specials?

Post by sungazer » 13 Sep 2019, 5:45 pm

My bet is they wanted to distance themselves from the bullets as much as possible and hope they were never spoken of again. The melting tip really was not a good look for a lot of shooters. Guess they got it wrong and the customers who never were effected with or new of the melting tips have kept their brand loyalty.
sungazer
Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major
 
Posts: 1525
Other

Re: 168 zmax - where / specials?

Post by bladeracer » 13 Sep 2019, 6:54 pm

sungazer wrote:My bet is they wanted to distance themselves from the bullets as much as possible and hope they were never spoken of again. The melting tip really was not a good look for a lot of shooters. Guess they got it wrong and the customers who never were effected with or new of the melting tips have kept their brand loyalty.


The melting tip was a problem on the first generation BT's and was sorted years ago.

https://www.hornady.com/support/faqs/why-didnt-you-put-the-heat-shield-tip-in-all-of-your-other-tipped-bullets

https://www.hornady.com/support/faqs/at-what-temperature-do-standard-tips-melt

https://sportingclassicsdaily.com/hornady-polymer-tips-melting/
Practice Strict Gun Control - Precision Counts!
User avatar
bladeracer
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 12655
Victoria

Re: 168 zmax - where / specials?

Post by sungazer » 13 Sep 2019, 10:32 pm

Im not wasting time arguing exact dates but yes it was years ago Still an issue in 2016 still being reported on in 2018. The Z V max range was also phased out over this time period I am sure as the had a replacement for a product and stock ran out it was changed over. Thats my opinion, I am entitled to it I also have an arsehole.

I am sure you have a much more factual and of course correct explanation of the renaming and branding happening at Hornady.
sungazer
Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major
 
Posts: 1525
Other

Re: 168 zmax - where / specials?

Post by bladeracer » 13 Sep 2019, 11:36 pm

sungazer wrote:Im not wasting time arguing exact dates but yes it was years ago Still an issue in 2016 still being reported on in 2018. The Z V max range was also phased out over this time period I am sure as the had a replacement for a product and stock ran out it was changed over. Thats my opinion, I am entitled to it I also have an arsehole.

I am sure you have a much more factual and of course correct explanation of the renaming and branding happening at Hornady.


I was not aware they were phasing out the VMax as well, that is news to me and would be a shame as I use almost every VMax they offer - I don't use their .172" or .257", and haven't tested a few of the .224" VMax's simply because there is such an enormous range of .224" bullets to play with.

I have no factual information about what Hornady are doing, although they have been pushing hard into the VLD/ELD market recently, as have many other bullet manufacturers.

I just had a look at the current VMax range.
.172" in 20gn and 25gn.
.204" in 32gn and 40gn.
.224" in 35gn, 40gn, 50gn, 53gn, 55gn and 60gn.
.243" in 58gn, 65gn, 75gn and 87gn.
.257" in 75gn.
.264" in 95gn.
.277" in 110gn.
.284" in 120gn.
.308" in 110gn.
Of those nineteen, I have 13 of them. I don't use the .172" or .257" as I havè nothing to use them in currently. All that I have used have given excellent results without heavy price tags.
Practice Strict Gun Control - Precision Counts!
User avatar
bladeracer
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 12655
Victoria

Re: 168 zmax - where / specials?

Post by SCJ429 » 14 Sep 2019, 10:21 am

sungazer wrote:My bet is they wanted to distance themselves from the bullets as much as possible and hope they were never spoken of again. The melting tip really was not a good look for a lot of shooters. Guess they got it wrong and the customers who never were effected with or new of the melting tips have kept their brand loyalty.


I must be one of the customers who was unaware or unaffected. I use these bullets in 204, 224 and 243 and sometimes at relatively high speed. They have hit game out to 400 and been effective and used them on targets out to 500. Perhaps these ranges are too modest to show the problem with any changes to the tip.

I hope Hornady do not discontinued the Vmax, I have not read that they are considering it. I cannot find anything to confirm that ZMax has been discontinued either.

I wonder if the Sierra Blitzkings have similar issues with their tips?
SCJ429
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
 
Posts: 3208
New South Wales

Re: 168 zmax - where / specials?

Post by bladeracer » 14 Sep 2019, 12:47 pm

SCJ429 wrote:I must be one of the customers who was unaware or unaffected. I use these bullets in 204, 224 and 243 and sometimes at relatively high speed. They have hit game out to 400 and been effective and used them on targets out to 500. Perhaps these ranges are too modest to show the problem with any changes to the tip.

I hope Hornady do not discontinued the Vmax, I have not read that they are considering it. I cannot find anything to confirm that ZMax has been discontinued either.

I wonder if the Sierra Blitzkings have similar issues with their tips?


I haven't found anything about discontinuing the VMax either, but ZMax doesn't exist on their website anywhere anymore, not even mentioned in the FAQ.
Listing the VMax's I have makes me want to work out how many of Hornady's entire range I use, although with the ZMax, and .268" 160RN (the RooMax is not listed by that name but is listed) no longer listed I might end up using more types than they list in the catalogue :-)
Practice Strict Gun Control - Precision Counts!
User avatar
bladeracer
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 12655
Victoria


Back to top
 
Return to Reloading ammunition