208 Amax vs 210 VLD

[Londerko]

Out of a 300 win mag,
Hypothetically 2800-2900fps and accuracy being equal. What would you rather drop the hammer on a big bull at up to 1000 yards with???
I know the Amax isn't technically a hunting bullet, but I have been hearing good things. Any experiences good or bad with either bullet?
-Thanks Leo

[bootsmcguire]

I can't speak for the 208, but I have used the 155 Amax in my 308 and accidently shot a deer with one (155Amax looks a lot like a 150SST when loaded). It killed the deer DRT, but I wouldn't recommend it. Bullet hit a small amount of bone and blew apart. Deer was roughly 200yds out so it wasn't point blank either.

Since you say "big bull" I assume you are talking Elk, and me personally I would feel tons better with the 210 Hunting VLD over the Amax with all else being equal.

[Londerko]

Thanks for the reply,
Yes, I do mean elk. It sounds like tons of elk have been killed with the 210 Berger.
I have no actual experience with the amax, But I have herd that "heavy for caliber" amaxs and the 208 inparticular had very impressive terminal ballistics.
I'm currently shooting/hunting with the 185 Berger and am pleased, but I am looking at stepping up to the big leagues with a heavier and higher BC bullet for longer range.
Thanks again

[D.ID]

I've sean the a-max do the job with shining colors. Both are top pics.
The berger cost quite a bit more and is worth it.... if your rifle prefers it, but do not doubt the 208 a-max's ability on elk (assuming proper shot placement as always).

[dk17hmr]

I have killed two cow elk with the 208gr A-max at 2875fps at the muzzle, distance was 379 yards than again at 405 yards and dropped one at 517 yards.....they work. I would want to push them about 200-250fps faster if I was dead set on shooting an elk at 1000 yards.....I like to hit them hard and often, chasing a wounded elk isn't any fun.

[Londerko]

Thanks for the great replys guys!!!
Ya, 1000yds might be wishful thinking, but it sounds like at 400-600+ either would get the job done.
Any experiences with the 208 at close range? For example, dead center an elk shoulder at 150yds?

[dk17hmr]

Not from me.....I would stay off the shoulder at that range though....pop the lungs/blow the heart up

I usually stay off an elks shoulder if possible anyways.....antelope are a different story.

[badmutha6]

I shot a 185 lb north Texas whitetail with a 178 308 AMAX and it did fantastic. Would I want to take a quartering toward shot through the shoulder with one? No. Would I want to take that shot with any bullet? No. Wait a minute and get a broadside or something. For me it did really well.

[LongRange]

Thanks for the great replys guys!!!
Ya, 1000yds might be wishful thinking, but it sounds like at 400-600+ either would get the job done.
Any experiences with the 208 at close range? For example, dead center an elk shoulder at 150yds?

im not a hunter and dont shoot A-maxs but i do shoot the 208g BTHPs in my 300wm at just a little over 2900FPS...i have 2 18"x18"x1/2" AR500 plate targets that hang on 7/8" rebar stands. well one day i decided to shoot both up close...1 at 100yds and the other at 200yds...both rounds fired hit dead center...the target at 100yds looked like a beer can flipping through the air and broke a welded on hook off one side and the other hook was almost broke in half....the target at 200yds flipped 1 and a half times and cracked the welds on both hooks.
the point of me telling you this is that the 208s hit VERY HARD and i bet money that if you shot an elk in the shoulder at 150yds it would destroy most if not all of the meat in that area and some on the other side. like i said im not a hunter but after seeing how much energy these bullets have id listen to dk17hmr at close range.

[Berger.Fan222]

Try a google search on

terminal ballistics of 208 AMAX

I'm a Berger fan for accuracy, but I've seen them fail to expand on game. The sectional density of the AMAX will ensure penetration and the plastic tip will ensure expansion over a wide range of velocities. I read somewhere that when the velocity of this bullet drops below the expansion threshold, the bullet still wounds readily because it tumbles and such a long bullet moving sideways damages a lot of tissue.

I've seen Berger bullets pencil through without expanding or tumbling. No thanks. But there's a lot of info out there to consider. A google search will give a much broader range of input.