208 AMax for hunting?

[1000yardstare]

My 7600 pump in .30-06 drives a 208 AMax at 2450 fps with H4350. Puts 3 shots in one inch at 100 metres. Has anyone ever used this bullet for deer, elk, moose?

I know conventional wisdom has it that target bullets should not be used for hunting. They are supposed to drill neat little holes right through a critter. But I have used 52 and 75 AMax in .224 for g`hogs and coyotes and they both explode inside the animal. You have to have a strong stomach to look at a chuck hit with a 52 AMax out of a .22-250.

So maybe the 208 AMax is too explosive for hunting? Anyway I would appreciate any feedback based on hunting experience with this bullet.

 

[archerross]

I do not have 1st hand experience with the A-max for hunting; however, my 'smith friend has killed deer and elk with 162 gr A-max in .280 AI. I would think your .30-06 7600 pushing the 208 gr A-max at 2450 fps would do fine for hunting. Given proper bullet placement.

 

[LittlefieldK]

Last year we shot a nice 3 point mulie with the 208 AMAX out of a 300 Win mag at 3000 fps (28' barrel). Shot was at 320 yards, and only part of the bullet recovered was a small piece of the polymer tip. It looked like the bullet expanded and moved on through.

 

[30378]

Never shot the 208s but the 168s are deer killers deluxe from my 308.

 

[300ulta210]

1000yardstare, Last year I shot a yote and a decent white tail buck with my 300 rum using the 208 Amax , the yote was withinn 22 yards from my stand it passed through him to my surprise he ran about 18 yards tried to jump a log and then he landed on his nose dead as 4 o clock ;D . The buck I shot was no more than 30 yards he ran about 45 yards or less. The Amax will blow up if their running around 3000 fps or faster but as they slow down they tend to open up more like the so called ethical hunting bullets I've killed elk and mule deer with the 155 Amax out of my old 300 winchester mag . In my opinion the Amax is as good as any hunting bullet out their and cheeper than most too

300ulta210

 

[1000yardstare]

Thanks for your replies guys. Got the 3/4 inch 3 shot group at 100 metres shown below with the 7600 pump and 208 AMax bullets. Used IMR 4831 this time that gave the same 2450 velocity as H4350 but it is a compressed load. The nose of any Amax bullet I have ever used in any caliber deforms over a compressed load and the 208 is no exception. But it didn`t seem to hurt accuracy any. The 7600 never ceases to amaze me - a very strong action with its rotating locking lugs that can handle any .30-06 load that a bolt gun can. Too late to try this bullet for this moose season but planning for next year already.