I just started shooting and reloading for my new .308 A-Bolt.  After spending a great deal of time researching and choosing a standard bullet, I came to the Hornady A-Max.  Well they shoot good, but if loaded in the magazine, the recoil flattens the balistic tips.
Is the solution to this picking a non-plastic tipped bullet, or are there other little ticks to try to prevent the tip smashing?

Are you sure that the entire cartridge is getting pushed forward into the mag? Try checking the OAL of the damaged rounds to see if the bullets themselves are working their way forward due to insufficient neck tension.

Your OAL should be at 2.80.  Possibly longer depending on your barrel.  But the best place to start would be 2.80