208 Amax performance (vs the 6.5 family)

rimfiremac

rimfiremac

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I loaded up and tried an OCW test for the new-ish 208 grain Amax with Re15 for my 10FP. Initial results indicate excellent accuracy- pushing 1/3 minute at 200 yards. Velocity results yet TBD, but if I can push 2500 with this sort of accuracy I'd be pretty darn pleased.

I've heard a few numbers kicking around with regards to the BC of the 208... G1 being in the ballpark of .65 and G7 of .324- if these are correct, this bullet blows the 6.5 family of long range bullets right out of the water. Very cool.

Anyone else having good luck with the 208?
 
rimfiremac said:
this bullet blows the 6.5 family of long range bullets right out of the water. Very cool.

Anyone else having good luck with the 208?
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Should also blow you arm out of the socket. 208gr. bullets with enough powder charge to make them really shine would also give you quite a sore shoulder (assuming you don't have a break). I'll stick with my 6.5mm's
 
Jeromeo said:
Should also blow you arm out of the socket. 208gr. bullets with enough powder charge to make them really shine would also give you quite a sore shoulder (assuming you don't have a break). I'll stick with my 6.5mm's
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Sorry but I totally disagree. A rifle that is properly fitted will not beat up the shooter. I shoot a 308 and use the 208s with GREAT success. Velocity is 2670 FPS, My rifle is set up to take a brake or can, but I use neither, it is totally unnecessary. On an average day at the range 100 plus rounds go through this riflewith NO problem at all.

Does my rifle recoli more than your 6.5 does? Yes but certainly no where near what you are suggesting.
 
alberta tactical rifle said:
Sorry but I totally disagree. A rifle that is properly fitted will not beat up the shooter. I shoot a 308 and use the 208s with GREAT success. Velocity is 2670 FPS, My rifle is set up to take a brake or can, but I use neither, it is totally unnecessary. On an average day at the range 100 plus rounds go through this riflewith NO problem at all.

Does my rifle recoli more than your 6.5 does? Yes but certainly no where near what you are suggesting.
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Some of us are more sensitive than others....:rolleyes: I am a sissy when it comes to recoil. I am impressed with you .308 velocities shooting the 208's. I was under the impression that they would be way slower. Hence the reason I assumed a .300win was more popular to launching the heavy boys.... Regardless, I like my 142 grainers.
 
Impressive bc yes but not really blowing 140 gr Berger out of the water
I find an average g7 .324 for the amax and .313 g7 for the berger
 
alberta tactical rifle said:
Sorry but I totally disagree. A rifle that is properly fitted will not beat up the shooter. I shoot a 308 and use the 208s with GREAT success. Velocity is 2670 FPS, My rifle is set up to take a brake or can, but I use neither, it is totally unnecessary. On an average day at the range 100 plus rounds go through this riflewith NO problem at all.

Does my rifle recoli more than your 6.5 does? Yes but certainly no where near what you are suggesting.
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what length and twist of barrel are you using?
 
The 6.5 140 grain VLD has a BC of .612/.313 The Amax is .633.324... Hardly "Blowing out of the water"

Furthermore, most 6.5's, even the modest 6.5X47 can exceed what a 208 is capable of doing in a 308 velocity wise, so the ballistic edge with the 208 is negated by lack of velocity except in large magnum cartrdges, and a significant penalty in terms of recoil.

The 185 Berger Juggernaught bullet offers great ballistics, acceptable .308 cal performance, and still retains a workable velocity.
 
I found my 208 loads to have no more recoil than my 178 or 175 loads. The total energy coming out of the barrel is comparable, I think, naturally preserving the recoil level.

Sure, maybe I was a little zealous describing it, but the difference is pretty amazing considering the usual performance of 308 slugs, which are generally in the .24 to .28 region.
 
I have shot 208 A-max's out of my 22", 1 in 11.25 twist and there is not that much more recoil than my 260 with 140's@ 2950fps, the velocity with the 208 is right on par with Rick's.

Cheers
 
savage440 said:
what length and twist of barrel are you using?
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22" 10 twist

The 208 has a high BC, I know there are other bullets that also enjoy a high BC. The reasons I went with the 208s was that they are more forgiving to find a perfect load/OAL than with a Berger.

Being as I prefer to shoot steel the big advantage to me is that the heavier bullets make the steel fall much easier at long distance than the lighter bullets do.
 
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Compare the wind drift.

308 shoot in F TR 208 Amax sub 2700fps (hot but I see it is done)

6.5's like the 260Rem and improved variants shoot in F Open. 140gr Berger VLD 2900fps

There is a reason...


Since we are comparing numbers, compute 22cal 90gr Berger VLD at 2875fps and compare to your 208gr Amax load.

Then take a look at the recoil numbers.

Jerry
 
I agree that the 140's and even the 90 VLD are in the same ballpark, and perform as well or marginally better with less recoil. However, I"m no less impressed about the performance coming from a .30 cal bullet period. I think its great foresight on the part of Hornady to put a round out there with such performance. When I was getting into the hobby, the 175 smk was the be-all and end-all in the 308 department. With the 208 on the scene, the stubby little 175 will slowly relegate away from the top tiers.

...just personally impressed with the product at the end of the day.

Being able to sling them out to 1200 yards with a 2500-2600 fps muzzle velocity makes for easy wear on the barrel to boot. Besides the recoil, they've got a lot of characteristics going for 'em.
 
Remember there is two ways to look at this problem

Slow with high BC or FAST with lower BC. If you compare the numbers, there is quite a bit of simularities. There is only so much energy available so there is only so much work a system can do.

There are those that do superb work with the 155 and 155.5gr bullets and are every bit as competitive as those shooting heavier slugs. Just depends on what you like and what you prefer to drive.

The 208/210gr bullets are indeed very exciting and offer very nice performance but some will not like the increased recoil and if the barrel you have doesn't work at elevated pressures, the combo will not be too impressive.

Also don't forget about the 220 and 240gr MK's. These spears are likely too heavy but very impressive out of a boomer.

Although we can't get them, see if you can find some numbers on a 155gr JLK 6.5 spear. THAT is some impressive stuff and can easily to 3000fps in common F open cartridges.

Jerry
 
Sure would be cool to try firing that bullet out of a 30-338 or 300 Win Mag. Mightn't be *too* brutal on the shoulder if it's coming out of a 22lb rifle.
 
Mystic Precision said:
Compare the wind drift.

308 shoot in F TR 208 Amax sub 2700fps (hot but I see it is done)

6.5's like the 260Rem and improved variants shoot in F Open. 140gr Berger VLD 2900fps

There is a reason...


Since we are comparing numbers, compute 22cal 90gr Berger VLD at 2875fps and compare to your 208gr Amax load.

Then take a look at the recoil numbers.

Jerry
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X2 Jerry you are right, I ran the numbers on the 308,208GR Horn at 2675 vs 90gr bergers at 3200

The 208 have + 8" more wind drift in a 10mph at 90d
Flight time to target at 1000y 1.524 speed at 1464 fps and 100" more drop than the .224 90grs
The 90gr are flying at more than 200fps at 1000y, flight time to 1000 1.297
I forsee the 224 will be winning in F/Open with the 224/90gr in a 22/250 lapua case or maybe the case I am trying with 90gr Bergers.
At the week long shoot in Ottawa 300m 500m 600m 700m 8 & 900 the 90gr at 3200 will just out shoot the big calibers at 300 to 600,700 the recoil wears you down, and I am sure if they will shoot ?? the 90gr JLK VLD bullet with 30+ more BC will be a winner.
manitou
 
manitou210 said:
X2 Jerry you are right, I ran the numbers on the 308,208GR Horn at 2675 vs 90gr bergers at 3200

The 208 have + 8" more wind drift in a 10mph at 90d
Flight time to target at 1000y 1.524 speed at 1464 fps and 100" more drop than the .224 90grs
The 90gr are flying at more than 200fps at 1000y, flight time to 1000 1.297
I forsee the 224 will be winning in F/Open with the 224/90gr in a 22/250 lapua case or maybe the case I am trying with 90gr Bergers.
At the week long shoot in Ottawa 300m 500m 600m 700m 8 & 900 the 90gr at 3200 will just out shoot the big calibers at 300 to 600,700 the recoil wears you down, and I am sure if they will shoot ?? the 90gr JLK VLD bullet with 30+ more BC will be a winner.
manitou
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you are probably right Paul, but I'll be shooting the same barrel for the 3rd year, and you will have pretty much cooked you barrel over the week:D
 
Jeromeo said:
Some of us are more sensitive than others....:rolleyes: I am a sissy when it comes to recoil. I am impressed with you .308 velocities shooting the 208's. I was under the impression that they would be way slower. Hence the reason I assumed a .300win was more popular to launching the heavy boys.... Regardless, I like my 142 grainers.
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I run 208s out of my 300 WM and the recoil isn't anythign close to "punishing". That said, the rifle is (as most 300WM target rifles) fairly heavey. Maybe I'll weigh it tonight if I get a chance.
 
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