Elevate Your Shooting Experience with Hornady Black 308 Win 168 gr A-Max Ammunition

Are you a dedicated precision shooter, a competitive marksman, or a modern sporting rifle enthusiast constantly striving for unparalleled accuracy and consistent performance? Do you find yourself asking, "What's the best .308 Winchester ammunition for my AR-10 or bolt-action rifle that delivers reliable results both suppressed and unsuppressed, with minimal muzzle flash?" Look no further. The Hornady Black 308 Win 168 grain Hornady A-Max ammunition, identified by its Hornady product number 80971 and UPC 090255809718, is engineered to meet and exceed these exact demands, providing a superior solution for a diverse range of shooting platforms and applications. This isn't just ammunition; it's a meticulously crafted tool designed to unlock your firearm's true potential and enhance your accuracy on the range.

The Hornady Black Philosophy: Engineered for Modern Sporting Rifles

Hornady Black is not just a product line; it's a testament to Hornady's commitment to innovation in ammunition technology, specifically tailored for the modern sporting rifle (MSR) and carbine landscape. This series was conceived to provide optimized performance across a broad spectrum of firearms, from gas-operated semi-automatics like the popular AR-10 platform to traditional bolt-action rifles, all while ensuring reliability, consistency, and reduced environmental impact. The overarching goal of the Hornady Black series is to remove variables, allowing shooters to focus purely on their technique and achieve consistent, repeatable results.

What distinguishes the Hornady Black series, and particularly this 308 Winchester offering, is its holistic approach to ammunition design. Every component, from the carefully selected bullet to the meticulously blended propellants and the durable brass casing, is chosen and optimized to work in harmony. This leads to ammunition that performs exceptionally well whether you're using a short-barreled carbine, a mid-length rifle, or a full-sized precision rig. The emphasis on "optimized offerings for superior performance in a variety of platforms" ensures that regardless of your specific rifle setup, Hornady Black ammunition is designed to deliver.

Unpacking the Performance: The 168 gr Hornady A-Max Bullet

At the heart of the Hornady Black 308 Win 80971 load is the renowned 168 grain Hornady A-Max bullet. This is not just any projectile; it’s a match-grade bullet specifically engineered for supreme accuracy and consistent downrange performance. The A-Max bullet is celebrated for its highly aerodynamic profile, featuring a sharp, pointed polymer tip, a secant ogive, and a boat tail design. These features combine to create a bullet with an exceptionally high ballistic coefficient, which translates directly into less wind drift and a flatter trajectory over extended distances.

For shooters focused on precision, understanding the role of the A-Max bullet is crucial. The polymer tip initiates expansion upon impact, while the overall design ensures maximum stability in flight. This stability minimizes precession and nutation, allowing the bullet to maintain a consistent path from the muzzle to the target. Whether you're engaging steel plates at 600 yards or punching paper at 100, the A-Max bullet's inherent accuracy potential is a significant advantage. This bullet choice directly addresses the common question: "What bullet type is best for consistent long-range accuracy in .308 Win?" The answer, in this case, is the Hornady A-Max, proven in countless competitive and recreational shooting scenarios.

Core Features and Their Impact on Your Shooting

The Hornady Black 308 Win 168 gr A-Max (80971) boasts several key features that directly translate into a more enjoyable and effective shooting experience.

1. Clean-Burning Propellants for Reduced Muzzle Flash

One of the standout features of this ammunition is its use of special, clean-burning propellants. Why is this important?

• Reduced Muzzle Flash: This is a significant advantage, especially for tactical applications, low-light shooting conditions, or when shooting with night vision devices. A reduced flash signature preserves the shooter's night adapted vision and minimizes detection. Even in broad daylight, it reduces visual disturbance for the shooter, allowing for quicker follow-up shots and better observation of impacts.
• Less Fouling: Clean-burning propellants mean less carbon buildup inside your rifle's barrel, chamber, and gas system. This extends the time between necessary cleanings, reduces wear on components, and helps maintain consistent accuracy over longer shooting sessions. For competitive shooters or those who spend extensive time at the range, this translates to more shooting and less cleaning, along with more consistent rifle function.

2. Optimized Internal Ballistics for Accuracy and Consistency

Hornady’s meticulous attention to internal ballistics sets this ammunition apart. This involves optimizing the powder charge, primer choice, and bullet seating depth to achieve the most consistent and efficient burn, resulting in:

• Superior Accuracy: By controlling the powder burn and pressure curve, Hornady ensures that each shot leaves the barrel with remarkably similar velocity and pressure characteristics. This consistency from round to round is paramount for tight groupings and precise shot placement.
• Reliable Performance: Optimized internal ballistics also contribute to reliable cycling in semi-automatic platforms. Shooters often ask, "Will this ammo reliably cycle in my AR-10?" Hornady Black is specifically engineered for this, ensuring smooth extraction and feeding without being over-gassed or under-gassed for typical configurations.

3. Versatile Platform Compatibility

The design philosophy of Hornady Black truly shines in its compatibility. Whether your firearm is a traditional bolt-action rifle, a compact carbine, a mid-length rifle, or a full-sized modern sporting rifle (MSR) like an AR-10 chambered in .308 Win, this ammunition is engineered for optimal performance.

• Gas System Optimization: The ammunition is loaded to pressures and velocities that work efficiently with the gas systems of semi-automatic rifles, minimizing wear and ensuring reliable cycling.
• Suppressor Friendly: While this is a supersonic load, its clean-burning nature and consistent performance make it a strong choice for use with suppressors. Reduced fouling helps keep the suppressor cleaner, and consistent ballistics ensure reliable point of impact even with the added backpressure.

The Numbers That Matter: Specifications and Performance Metrics

Understanding the technical specifications helps illuminate why this particular Hornady Black load is so effective.

• Caliber: .308 Winchester (308 Win): One of the most popular and versatile rifle cartridges globally, suitable for a vast array of applications from target shooting to hunting. Its balance of power, trajectory, and recoil makes it a perennial favorite.
• Bullet Weight: 168 grain (gr) Hornady A-Max: This is a classic, highly favored bullet weight for .308 Win, especially for precision shooting. It offers an excellent balance of ballistic coefficient and manageable recoil.
• Muzzle Velocity: 2700 feet per second (fps): This robust velocity ensures a flat trajectory out to considerable distances, reducing the amount of holdover required by the shooter.
• Muzzle Energy: 2719 foot-pounds (ft lbs): This substantial energy figure indicates the raw power of the round, contributing to effective terminal performance on targets and stability in flight.
• Rounds Per Box: 20: Standard packaging for premium rifle ammunition, allowing for convenient purchase and transport.
• Boxes Per Case: 10: Ideal for stocking up, range days, or competitive shooting, providing a total of 200 rounds per case (UPC 090255809718).
• Casing Material: Brass: High-quality brass casings are essential for reliable feeding, extraction, and are preferred for their reloadability by many enthusiasts.

These specifications combine to deliver a predictable and highly accurate shooting experience, enabling shooters to confidently engage targets at various distances.

Ideal Use Cases: Where Does Hornady Black 308 Win Excel?

This Hornady Black ammunition is perfectly suited for a variety of shooting disciplines and scenarios, making it a versatile choice for many firearm owners:

• Precision Target Shooting: For competitive shooters or those who demand the tightest groups from their rifles, the 168 gr A-Max bullet's inherent accuracy is a significant asset. It's designed to minimize dispersion, helping you shrink those group sizes on paper or consistently hit small steel targets.
• Competitive Shooting: Whether participating in local matches or more serious precision rifle series events, consistency is key. This ammunition delivers the reliability and accuracy needed under pressure.
• General Range Practice: While premium, the consistent performance makes it excellent for serious practice, allowing shooters to hone their skills without battling ammunition inconsistencies. It's a great choice for sighted-in rifle systems.
• Modern Sporting Rifles (MSRs) and AR-10 Platforms: As part of the Black series, it is specifically optimized for semi-automatic rifles, ensuring reliable cycling, reduced felt recoil for follow-up shots, and minimal muzzle flash. This answers the common question: "What kind of ammo performs best in an AR-10 for accuracy and reliability?"
• Hunting (Practice/Varmint): While the A-Max is primarily a match bullet, its precision makes it an excellent choice for varmint hunting or for practicing with a load that closely matches your preferred hunting bullet's trajectory, ensuring you're prepared when it counts. For ethical big game hunting, Hornady offers other specific bullet designs, but for practice, this A-Max load is invaluable.

Why Choose Hornady Black for Your .308 Win?

When faced with a myriad of ammunition choices, what makes Hornady Black 308 Win 168 gr A-Max (80971) the optimal selection?

• Unwavering Accuracy: The core promise of this ammunition is precision. The 168 gr A-Max bullet, combined with Hornady's exacting manufacturing standards, delivers consistent sub-MOA (Minute of Angle) performance in capable rifles.
• Reliability Across Platforms: Hornady has engineered this load to function flawlessly across a wide range of firearm types, from bolt-actions to gas-operated semi-automatics, even when suppressed. This means less troubleshooting and more shooting.
• Advanced Features for Shooters: The clean-burning propellants and reduced muzzle flash aren't just marketing buzzwords; they are tangible benefits that improve your shooting experience, whether it's by reducing cleaning time or enhancing your situational awareness.
• Trusted Brand Heritage: Hornady is a name synonymous with quality, innovation, and performance in the ammunition industry for decades. Choosing Hornady means choosing a product backed by extensive research, development, and a reputation for excellence.

Invest in your shooting performance and enhance your rifle's capabilities with ammunition designed by experts for demanding scenarios. The Hornady Black 308 Win 168 gr Hornady A-Max (UPC 090255809718) is more than just rounds in a box; it's a commitment to precision, reliability, and superior performance every time you pull the trigger.

This exceptional ammunition, along with a wide selection of other premium shooting sports products, is readily available at DEGuns. Elevate your range sessions and competitive endeavors by choosing the ammunition trusted by serious shooters.

Hornady Black 308 Win 168 gr A-Max Product Specifications

Feature	Detail	Category
Brand	Hornady	Ammunition
Model Line	Black	Series
Caliber	308 Win	Firearm
Bullet Type	Hornady A-Max	Projectile
Bullet Weight	168 grain	Weight
Muzzle Velocity	2700 fps	Ballistics
Muzzle Energy	2719 ft lbs	Ballistics
Rounds/Box	20	Packaging
Boxes/Case	10	Case Quantity
Total Rounds/Case	200	Case Quantity
Casing Material	Brass	Component
Application	Target Shooting	Primary Use
SKU/Item No.	80971	Product Identifier
UPC	090255809718	Barcode