208 AMAX versus 900 pound+ elk

[Michael Eichele]

Looking for opinions on the 208 AMAX in regards elk. I have shot many a deer with the 178 AMAX at high velocity with outstanding results. Of course these are much smaller than an elk. The bullet is 30 grains heavier and velocities are 250 FPS slower. I am not sure if these differences make up for it's frail nature. I should mention that I am a big fan of lung area (ribs) hits. NOT shoulder bone hits. Does anybody have any experiances with the 208 AMAX on elk, bears or moose? Any experiance regarding any critters with the 208 is appreciated.

Seems like the bullet showing the best potential from my ABS 300 RUM is the 208 AMAX. I would love to use it for everything. Getting awesome accuracy and good velocities with em.

I would rather use the 200 ACCUBONDS for the purpose in question except I am not having much luck in the accuracy department with them.

 

[Eaglet]

meichele,
I'm interested in reading the responses to your question. The reason is I have 400 of those bullets which I have never shot through my 300 RUM Sendero. The Accubonds are very accurate in it even when the AOL is to fit the magazine, about a mile away from the lands. How far from the lands are you sitting the 208 AMAX?

 

[Michael Eichele]

These 208's are 0.089" off the lands. I seat all my bullets to 3.700" OACL for proper feeding and functioning. Some when seated to 3.700" get shoved into the lands and others are far away such as the 208 AMAX. This is because the ogive is super long and sleek. The 178's at 3.700 get shoved into the lands. I think they seat an aditional 0.005" or so? I dont recall. If my memory serves me right the 200 and 180 AB's are .020" off the lands when seated to 3.700". It could be 30-40 I dont recall for sure but the 208 is much farther than the AB's. As far as accuracy all I can say is wow! I think I am going to settle on 92.5 grains of H50BMG at 3025 FPS with sub .5 MOA accuracy. At elk altitude (6500') and 60 degrees this load will offer 1800 FPE at 1K! Now it is just a matter of will it hold together long enough to nail both lungs or break through spinal bones on elk or moose.

 

[Eaglet]

Thanks, I get the feeling that at those long ranges the 208 Amax will do just fine. We'll see.

 

[Michael Eichele]

Surely somebody out there has smacked something with a 208 AMAX.............Anything?

 

[goodgrouper]

Surely somebody out there has smacked something with a 208 AMAX.............Anything?

One of my clients shot a spike elk recently with the 178 grain Amax around 700+ yards and it worked fine. I would suppose the 208 would have done even better.

 

[new shooter]

One of my clients shot a spike elk recently with the 178 grain Amax around 700+ yards and it worked fine. I would suppose the 208 would have done even better.

How come you are not hunting? Come on get that elk.

 

[Michael Eichele]

One of my clients shot a spike elk recently with the 178 grain Amax around 700+ yards and it worked fine. I would suppose the 208 would have done even better.

GG,

Where was the bull hit? Was the bullet recovered?

 

[6mm Shooter]

I shot whitetail buck with the 208 a-max out of my 300wm. I am getting 3030fps with my load. The deer was broadside at 212 yards and the bullet entered just behind the shoulder. The internal damage was substantial and the was no exit.

I now use the 210 Berger with better results.

 

[Michael Eichele]

I shot whitetail buck with the 208 a-max out of my 300wm. I am getting 3030fps with my load. The deer was broadside at 212 yards and the bullet entered just behind the shoulder. The internal damage was substantial and the was no exit.

I now use the 210 Berger with better results.

Please describe better.

 

[FAL Shot]

Just a word on the soft A-Max bullet. I shoot the 162 A-Max in 7mm. They have enough bearing surface that they are not too sensitive to seating depth. Unlike hard bullets, you can seat these very soft match type bullets at or even into the lands without massive pressure spikes in a bolt rifle.

Compared to a 150 grain Nosler Ballistic tip in my .308 Winchester, the 162 A-Max has proven to be the stouter bullet and it will normally punch through a mule deer unless very heavy bone is hit. Even if shoulder bone is hit, it will penetrate into vitals, provided you are not at very close range.

For any A-Max bullet, the impact velocity should not exceed 2500 FPS on big game. I would lower that velocity a bit if hitting bone on the way in, unless taking a head shot.

Compared to a Berger VLD, the A-Max can take a longer jump into the rifling and remain accurate due to the longer bearing surface. The fact that the A-Max is about 1/3 less costly and has a better tip and more durable tip also shifts things in its favor as a real world hunting bullet.

When you do the form factor calculation, the 208 A-Max is the .308 cal equivalent of the 162 grain 7mm A-Max, so I would expect similar results at similar speeds, just that the 208 would suit bigger game. The only reason I would feel I need something heavier than the 162 A-Max would be if I were shooting something huge like a big elk or moose.

The new Nosler Accubond LR bullets are going to put a dent in VLD and A-Max sales, as they are just as sleek but more suited to heavy bone hits. When I run out of loaded A-Max rounds, I intend ti try the Accubond LR bullets. For elk, I think I would try the Accubond LR first over the VLD or A-Max if I hadn't worked up any loads yet.

Don't forget the Swift Scirocco as a LR elk bullet. If a close shot is a possibility, that bullet should cover all the bases without packing 2 different loads.

 

[MR.SWIFT]

considering these in a 30-338, still in the load development stage. also have 200 gr accubond and 210vlds any load data on the 208 a-max would be helpful.

 

[FEENIX]

I'm pretty sure after nearly 5 years, the OP has come to great tests and conclusions since original the post.lightbulb