|
|
|
Discussion Forums
Forum Index
> Rifles general discussion
> Hornady A-Max 208grn
Hornady A-Max 208grn
@ 06:27 am (GMT) |
Andrew MurrayHas any ever used a the 208grn A Max in a 308? |
Replies
@ 02:34 pm (GMT) |
Paul LevermanRe: Hornady A-Max 208grnGood morning Andrew - not a .308, but yesterday in my 30-06. It performed very well with 4831. I got substantially higher than advertised velocities, and while they were just preliminary test loads, found three potential accuracy loads. They were seated long as I single load. |
|
@ 07:15 pm (GMT) |
Andrew MurrayRe: Hornady A-Max 208grnCheers Paul,I hope your load development continues to be a success :) I was just playing around with the ballistics calculator on the JBM website and was wondering what realistic MV would be out of a .308 |
|
@ 01:03 am (GMT) |
Paul LevermanRe: Hornady A-Max 208grnThanks, Andrew. I've tried various sites and calculators, but they are either beyond me or toned down severely. For instance, the 208 was rated somewhere at around 2400fps, but the yesterday with my minimum load, I was over 2550fps and on load #6, I was at 2697fps. Go figure.What I did find was that they were within 50 - 75 fps of the 190gr BTSP Hornady (faster). Probably due to less bearing surface, but that's a guess. Just looking now, in the 8th edition (Hornady) they do list the 208 under the 308Win. You could probably assume their velocities would be toned down by the same factor. So, maybe in the neighbourhood of 2400 - 2500fps? The plan was to get the A-MAX and the Norma tuned by next spring, and do some long range black bear shooting. Of course, this will be determined by the weather this winter. If it's too ugly, there's no point in shooting at the long range. |
|
@ 08:06 am (GMT) |
Andrew MurrayRe: Hornady A-Max 208grnHey just a thought on the increasing velocities...In one of Nathan's youtube videos, the Kapiti Deer stalkers talk (it's 3 parts but I can't remember which section it is) he was talking about carbon fouling which can increase MV on successive shots with identical loads. It might be worth looking at to see if this is the case? I think it was to do with suppressors... Even if you're not using one it could be good to check. One of the signs he said was fouling on the cartridge neck after firing. As for the MV on the 208gr in .308 2500fps was higher than I thought. That would give quite a good trajectory I imagine, if you could push it another 200 then I think it would be hard to go past as a long range round. |
@ 09:33 am (GMT) |
mark whiteleyRe: Hornady A-Max 208grnI just had a look on quickload for the 308 using a 24" barrel, oal loaded at 2.820" using 208gr Amax and adi 2208 as its there fastest velocity for powder in there manual and at there max grain load 41.5gr compressed, at quickloads 59,323 psi you get 2445 fps.I have found the predictions using adi 2208 with quickload very close to real world and would believe this prediction to be very close to real world. the data I put in quickload suits the cases I am using, at adi's max load for 2208 41.5gr's I would not go over the listed max load adi has listed with the results I have for my cases and oal. I haven't used the 208 Amax and if I did it would more likely be in a 300wm at around 2900 fps regards mark |
|
@ 10:21 am (GMT) |
Andrew MurrayRe: Hornady A-Max 208grnI think the higher velocity would be much better.I'm interested in the terminal performance at the lower velocities though, I am in no way set up to reload, not at all. But I'd be keen to see how it fared :) Is quickload a ballistics program? Cheers Mark, |
|
@ 04:23 pm (GMT) |
Paul LevermanRe: Hornady A-Max 208grnInteresting comment on the carbon fouling. There is no doubt there is a layer of fouling in the barrel, and since carbon is the main ingredient in graphite, it would lend itself to act as a lubricant.Great, I can see another experiment happening. |
@ 05:09 pm (GMT) |
Bryan WebsterRe: Hornady A-Max 208grnQuote: Interesting comment on the carbon fouling. There is no doubt there is a layer of fouling in the barrel, and since carbon is the main ingredient in graphite, it would lend itself to act as a lubricant.
Great, I can see another experiment happening. While a certain amount of copper in the bore can be good, carbon is hardly ever your friend. |
|
@ 05:09 pm (GMT) |
Bryan WebsterRe: Hornady A-Max 208grnQuote: Interesting comment on the carbon fouling. There is no doubt there is a layer of fouling in the barrel, and since carbon is the main ingredient in graphite, it would lend itself to act as a lubricant.
Great, I can see another experiment happening. While a certain amount of copper in the bore can be good, carbon is hardly ever your friend. |
|
@ 05:15 pm (GMT) |
Bryan WebsterRe: Hornady A-Max 208grnSorry about the doble entry.Another point for Paul regarding the Hornady A-max bullets. I asked Hornady what was going to happen with their A-Max bullets for 30 caliber as well as 7mm and they replied that they were dropping them and I should look at the more pricey ELD-M and ELD-X bullets. |
|
@ 06:59 pm (GMT) |
Paul LevermanRe: Hornady A-Max 208grnYes, Brian. The A-MAX's are getting harder and harder to find. The smaller shops seem to be the best suppliers, as they don't go through the volume of sales, so they still have old stock. I was fortunate that I found quite a number of boxes, but I also have the ELD-M's. From what I've read, they are almost identical in ballistic and terminal performance, so, interchangeable.As to the carbon, like I said, it will need to be experimented with. I've already started on the protocol. There is a lot of misinformation out there, as well as useful, but I can see it's going to take a while to sort through the chaf. It will probably boil down to just ignoring (no insult intended here, but a lot of the information is anecdotal, and so, questionable) most of what is said and carry on with the experiment. And besides, I didn't get a winter draw, so I have nothing better to do. |
@ 07:16 pm (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: Hornady A-Max 208grnOK, the first thing to understand is that the A-MAX and ELD-M (its replacement) have a very long ogive. Even if you seat .5mm / 20 thou shorter than mag length (which can be touch and go for smooth feeding), the ogive is just started into the case neck of the .308. It can be done and made to work but its a tight fit in a magazine fed hunting rifle.2208 / Varget is not ideal for hunting rifle COAL's. 2206H / H4895 is quite adequate for reaching 2400fps to 2450fps in typical 20 to 22" barrels. Win brass is good for full power load work. My load which I cannot condone as being safe = 40.5gr 2206H. 2420fps. 22" barrel. The 200gr ELD-X, cousin to the SST, has a shorter ogive so the bullet body can be seated out a bit. This still works best with 2206H. Velocities 2425 to 2475fps. My load which I cannot condone as being safe = 41gr 2206H. 2475fps. 22" barrel. The 12 twist is not optimal for these weights. 11 twist is also on the slow side, I am shooting one hole groups with 11 twist. 10 twist is the general recomendation. Have to say, its still fun to play with a 12 twist regardless of what should or should not work, some do shoot well out to reasonable distances. Target rifles and long mag rifles can be treated differently using long COAL's which allow slower powder to be utilized. Small primer pocket brass may also be used and combined with a long barrel, velocities can be somewhat higher. Either of these bullets can perform well on game but do need some body weight resistance when impacting at lower velocities. Pigs yes, roos no. |
|
@ 08:29 pm (GMT) |
Andrew MurrayRe: Hornady A-Max 208grnRoos need to be shot in the head or a direct frontal chest shot.It's a bizarre thing, but that's the rules, and you need to have special permits to shoot roos in the first place... Is 11" a suitable twist for for 308 loads? |
|
@ 12:44 am (GMT) |
Bryan WebsterRe: Hornady A-Max 208grnQuote: Roos need to be shot in the head or a direct frontal chest shot.
It's a bizarre thing, but that's the rules, and you need to have special permits to shoot roos in the first place... Is 11" a suitable twist for for 308 loads? Never shot a Roo but lots of big game here in British Columbia and elsewhere. I would go no farther than 178 grain A-max for a .308 Winchester load. Not sure if the 168 grain A-Max would do well or not but maybe one should try them and report their results. I have shot several large mule deer and whitetails with the 168 grainers and they all dropped fast enough and they are most certainly accurate in my .308 with a 1:12 twist. Head shots would be no issue at all given good opportunity. |
|
@ 05:27 am (GMT) |
Andrew MurrayRe: Hornady A-Max 208grnRoos are quite light, for their size anyway. A lot of (native) Australian game is.Kangaroos have put all their muscle mass into their legs, their upper bodies are quite light, except for the big red kangaroos, they can get some massive arm muscles but are still small compared to the legs again. So pigs, deer and goats may be better options.. |
@ 07:46 am (GMT) |
Mike DavisRe: Hornady A-Max 208grnroos would be just a oversized wallaby in my mind....and having shot quite a few of them with .223 /.270 /.303 /.22lr and shotgunsin .308 a 130grn HP speer or a 125grn nosler ballistic tip would be MY choice as they sure take care of thier little cuzzies with authority and have been used very sussessfully on animals up to red deer size...the speer is popular with west coast chopper shooters where head/neck is only option. |
@ 07:55 am (GMT) |
Ben LawRe: Hornady A-Max 208grnAndy, with a tikka mag length should be no issue if u buy a 30-06 mag and file or swap the bolt stop. |
@ 11:46 am (GMT) |
Cor NepgenRe: Hornady A-Max 208grnHi All,I have thought of this often mostly due to the "Hammer of Thor" reference. I mean, that just sounds rather epic and I can just imagine the impact. (I do have a rather vivid imagination.) Haha Jokes aside, Nathan your comments about the 1:10 twist had me do a quick search and low and behold, indeed it seems that is the standard twist for my rifle. So in the not too distant future when I start reloading, I think it is worth while looking into. Then the search and hope our local powder does not let me down too much... Thanks for the info! |
@ 06:26 am (GMT) |
Thomas KitchenRe: Hornady A-Max 208grnyou bet me to it Ben Lawit sounds like this would be a good combination in either tikka or Mauser rifles i did seat a 208gr amax in line with the bottom of the neck checked in in both tikka mag and mauser.  
i also check the dummy the round in an old 308 barrel i have, it seems to chamber alright without the projectile hitting the lands. i don't have an ogive gauge in 30cal otherwise i would take a measurement and compare it to saami specs to see what jump would be roughly. im guessing you would loose most of the freebore but gain velocity by not cramping the powder with the projectile. i might be heading down the wrong path but i think if you really decided you wanted to run the 208gr projectiles in a 308, you might want to find someone with a 30cal match throat reamer. you could then get the chamber rethroated giving you better leade angles to suit the amax and maybe give you some freebore velocity but im not sure thats needed. i wonder if the 178 gr is a good compromise between velocity and weight. we also got to be careful that we aren't doing things because we simply can, as both the tikka and mauser can house 30.06 although little cramped |
Please wait
ABOUT USWe are a small, family run business, based out of Taranaki, New Zealand, who specialize in cartridge research and testing, and rifle accurizing.
|
KNOWLEDGEBASE |
KNOWLEDGEBASE |