Apex Afterburner

[WKR]

Anyone have a report on these mono's?

Shop | APEX OUTDOORS

Apex Outdoors' line of solid copper, lathe turned hunting bullets.

www.apex-outdoors.com

 

[ljalberta]

I wanted to bump this as I’ve been looking at these as well. I’ve been using the 125gr Cutting Edge Lazer this year and have been much happier with its performance compared to Barnes TTSX/LRX, but recently stumbled across Apex. The 6mm Afterburner has me particularly interested.

 

[TxLite]

I wanted to bump this as I’ve been looking at these as well. I’ve been using the 125gr Cutting Edge Lazer this year and have been much happier with its performance compared to Barnes TTSX/LRX, but recently stumbled across Apex. The 6mm Afterburner has me particularly interested.

Following up. Did you ever give these a shot?

 

[WKR]

I have a gang of the 7mm afterburners
Got them in and really stopped shooting much 7mm shortly after so I don't have any data to share. I should probably list them in the classifieds.

 

[TxLite]

I have a gang of the 7mm afterburners
Got them in and really stopped shooting much 7mm shortly after so I don't have any data to share. I should probably list them in the classifieds.

I saw some terminal performance posts on LRH that seemed decent but am looking at the 6mm variation specifically.

 

[ljalberta]

Following up. Did you ever give these a shot?

No. Prohibitively expensive to order to Canada when I inquired unless I was ordering in bulk (which I’m not keen on doing before I’ve even tried them).

 

[TxLite]

Understandable. They are local to me and I’m still having a hard time justifying $1.50 a bullet when I’m not required to shoot non-toxic.

I like the idea of non-toxic but haven’t found any that I am sold on yet based on what I’ve seen from a performance standpoint, though these seem to have good reviews on other forums (where they are sponsors).

 

[1000yards]

I have shot seven hogs and three whitetails with the 135 grain from a 30-06, 3200fps muzzle velocity.

Hog 1: 80 lbs, 120 yards, shoulder shot, dropped instantly and died quickly.
Hog 2: 140 lbs, 120 yards, shoulder shot, dropped instantly and kicked for 20 seconds.
Hog 3: 70 lbs, 80 yards, throat shot missed spine, dropped instantly and died quickly.
Hog 4: 200 lbs, 80 yards, shoulder shot, dropped instantly and died quickly.
Hog 5: 80 lbs, 80 yards, head shot, died instantly
Hog 6: 50 lbs, 80 yards, spine shot, dropped instantly
Hog 7: 70 lbs, 40 yards, running hip shot, ran 50 yards and died apparently from blood loss

Doe 1: 80 lbs, 150 yards, heart shot ran 40 yards and very little blood trail.
Doe 2: 80 lbs, 50 yards, heart shot, ran 50 yards with a good blood trail.
Doe 3: 120 lbs, 80 yards, high gut shot, turned around then fell over and died quickly, abdomen perforation.

I butchered three of the hogs and all the deer. I don't know much about analyzing terminal performance, but this bullet seems to reliably carve a coke can sized hole straight through the animal. Everything within that path gets liquified. I've shot hundreds of hogs with all the different bullets and I've never seen anything like it. I'm looking forward to using them at longer ranges and see how they perform at lower velocities.

 

[TxLite]

I have shot seven hogs and three whitetails with the 135 grain from a 30-06, 3200fps muzzle velocity.

Hog 1: 80 lbs, 120 yards, shoulder shot, dropped instantly and died quickly.
Hog 2: 140 lbs, 120 yards, shoulder shot, dropped instantly and kicked for 20 seconds.
Hog 3: 70 lbs, 80 yards, throat shot missed spine, dropped instantly and died quickly.
Hog 4: 200 lbs, 80 yards, shoulder shot, dropped instantly and died quickly.
Hog 5: 80 lbs, 80 yards, head shot, died instantly
Hog 6: 50 lbs, 80 yards, spine shot, dropped instantly
Hog 7: 70 lbs, 40 yards, running hip shot, ran 50 yards and died apparently from blood loss

Doe 1: 80 lbs, 150 yards, heart shot ran 40 yards and very little blood trail.
Doe 2: 80 lbs, 50 yards, heart shot, ran 50 yards with a good blood trail.
Doe 3: 120 lbs, 80 yards, high gut shot, turned around then fell over and died quickly, abdomen perforation.

I butchered three of the hogs and all the deer. I don't know much about analyzing terminal performance, but this bullet seems to reliably carve a coke can sized hole straight through the animal. Everything within that path gets liquified. I've shot hundreds of hogs with all the different bullets and I've never seen anything like it. I'm looking forward to using them at longer ranges and see how they perform at lower velocities.

Thanks for the review. How was the accuracy? Any issues getting them to shoot well?

 

[1000yards]

Thanks for the review. How was the accuracy? Any issues getting them to shoot well?

No issues so far but I have very little target time with them. For the 30-06 I used five rounds to find the velocity I wanted, zeroed the rifle with two 5-shot groups, and went hunting. Both those groups were about an inch. Same steps and results with the 6.5 102 afterburners but I haven't shot any animals yet.

 

[WVELK]

I have shot seven hogs and three whitetails with the 135 grain from a 30-06, 3200fps muzzle velocity.

Hog 1: 80 lbs, 120 yards, shoulder shot, dropped instantly and died quickly.
Hog 2: 140 lbs, 120 yards, shoulder shot, dropped instantly and kicked for 20 seconds.
Hog 3: 70 lbs, 80 yards, throat shot missed spine, dropped instantly and died quickly.
Hog 4: 200 lbs, 80 yards, shoulder shot, dropped instantly and died quickly.
Hog 5: 80 lbs, 80 yards, head shot, died instantly
Hog 6: 50 lbs, 80 yards, spine shot, dropped instantly
Hog 7: 70 lbs, 40 yards, running hip shot, ran 50 yards and died apparently from blood loss

Doe 1: 80 lbs, 150 yards, heart shot ran 40 yards and very little blood trail.
Doe 2: 80 lbs, 50 yards, heart shot, ran 50 yards with a good blood trail.
Doe 3: 120 lbs, 80 yards, high gut shot, turned around then fell over and died quickly, abdomen perforation.

I butchered three of the hogs and all the deer. I don't know much about analyzing terminal performance, but this bullet seems to reliably carve a coke can sized hole straight through the animal. Everything within that path gets liquified. I've shot hundreds of hogs with all the different bullets and I've never seen anything like it. I'm looking forward to using them at longer ranges and see how they perform at lower velocities.

Okay, I just ordered two boxes of Afterburners to try. Was looking to see what folks have said about them. This post is the clear winner and one statement in particular. “I don’t know much about analyzing terminal performance, but this bullet seems to reliably carve coke can sized hole straight through the animal.”

Love it. If they shoot accurately, I am trying them on mountain goat this fall.

 

[1000yards]

Okay, I just ordered two boxes of Afterburners to try. Was looking to see what folks have said about them. This post is the clear winner and one statement in particular. “I don’t know much about analyzing terminal performance, but this bullet seems to reliably carve coke can sized hole straight through the animal.”

Love it. If they shoot accurately, I am trying them on mountain goat this fall.

Update on the 6.5 102. Group sizes opened up past 2.5 moa with ten shot groups. Not good enough. But I wouldn't hesitate to try them on a different rifle since this barrel has never been great with monos. The 135s however have proven to be plenty accurate in my 30-06:

 

[WVELK]

Update on the 6.5 102. Group sizes opened up past 2.5 moa with ten shot groups. Not good enough. But I wouldn't hesitate to try them on a different rifle since this barrel has never been great with monos. The 135s however have proven to be plenty accurate in my 30-06:
View attachment 925901

Well, I tried them in my new 7 SAUM. I also tried Berger 180 VLD, Berger 168 VLD, Horndady 162 ELDX. I tried H-1000, N565 and H4831sc. The Bergers were at or less than 1/2 MOA with little effort (actually will still tweak the loads). The ELDX was right there as well. However, I tried the 164 Afterburner with N565 and H4831sc and they were not nearly as good as the other three bullets. I loaded them from .015 through .050 and none were promising. For a 164 grain bullet that is a really really really really really long bullet. I may try to play with them a bit more because I would like to shoot a mountain goat with them this year.

 

[hdc77]

I’ve used the 147s on my 7 SAUM over H4350, 20 inch barrel at 2950. I shot 2 white tail deer in TX last season, devastating performances. Shot distance 200 yards and change. They shoot really good in my rifle. I also tried the 201 AB on a 300 NMI, could not get them to shoot less than MOA and change, 230s Berger HT print ragged holes in the same gun.