Hornady 208gr HPBT Match vs. 208gr A-Max

[tatemarb]

I asked my local supplier to keep his eyes and ears open for some 208 Amaxes since I wanted to try them out in a couple rifles. He contacted Hornady and got the usual (march or so). But a few days later these showed up. I had never heard of them but I went on and bought 100 of them to try. Trouble is there is no info on them that I can find. The product # is 30733.

Can any one give some info on these? I will be home in two weeks and will load them up and give a report out on them. I would like some info as to the BC of the HPBT vs the AMax.

tater

 

[tatemarb]

Re: Hornady 208gr HPBT Match vs. 208gr A-Max

Bump.

Nobody ever loaded these? No info at all?

tater

 

[ChadTRG42]

Re: Hornady 208gr HPBT Match vs. 208gr A-Max

Probably not yet. They just came out. Use the same data as the 208 as a starting point for powder. Top powder picks would be R22, R25, H1000, Retumbo. Retumbo will get you the most velocity, but it is a little more finicky. H1000 and R25 are also both good, and H1000 is temp insensitive. I'd try Retumbo first, then H1000. Look in the 300WM reloading section, and there's lots of data in there. Also do a Snipershide Google Search - it will yield lots of load data.

 

[WTW]

Re: Hornady 208gr HPBT Match vs. 208gr A-Max

Word on the street is they have a G1 BC of 0.620

 

[QRE23]

Re: Hornady 208gr HPBT Match vs. 208gr A-Max

.620 is what I read awhile back as well and the Amax is advertised as .648 which I believe is a bit inflated.

Now unless this new 208bthp match bullet shoots alot better than the 208 Amax I can't see why anyone would choose it over the 208 Amax with its higher BC. Maybe the QC will be better with the new bthp and they will be more consistent from bullet to bullet but that's just a guess.

 

[jrob300]

Re: Hornady 208gr HPBT Match vs. 208gr A-Max

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: samson</div><div class="ubbcode-body">.620 is what I read awhile back as well and the Amax is advertised as .648 which I believe is a bit inflated.

Now unless this new 208bthp match bullet shoots alot better than the 208 Amax I can't see why anyone would choose it over the 208 Amax with its higher BC. Maybe the QC will be better with the new bthp and they will be more consistent from bullet to bullet but that's just a guess. </div></div>

Both bullets are now made with the new AMP process so I doubt there will be much of an accuracy difference.

Just how far are you guys shooting? At 1000 yds there's a .2 mil difference. 1500 is .6 mil. 2000 is 1.4 mil (for you guys who don't do math, that's 4.7 MOA. BFD)

*IF* you're shooting 2000 yds. *and* you're topped out on your scope with the BTHP's *and* 1.4 mil would let you hit, *then*I can see caring the least bit about the difference between the two.

Otherwise? Buy 'em. Shoot 'em.

John

 

[woodspider]

Re: Hornady 208gr HPBT Match vs. 208gr A-Max

.208 Amax is .648 per Hornady. Ive been working on my 300 Win Mag load for the .208 Amax for about a month or so now and it absolutely shoots the lights out in my stock Sendero .300 Win Mag,had to run a pretty intense ladder and alot of subsequent testing but finally found the node and it got real tight right away. I usually sight in around 500 yards due to the farm I shoot on , and the load below is averging 1 to 2 inch 5 shot groups, consistently. Absolutely great bullet in my opinion. I havent tried the .208 HPBT ??? and probably wont only due to how satisfied I am with my results with the Amax.
(Bryan Litz's book had data for the .208 Amax check it out.)

My load for MY GUN. Use your own discretion.

HORNADY Brass OAL 3.610
H1000 76.9 grains = 3,000 FPS average
.208 grain AMAX HRNDY
Fed Match Mag primers

 

[tatemarb]

Re: Hornady 208gr HPBT Match vs. 208gr A-Max

Thanks guys,

Looking at a few of the 208 hpbt's they seem to be quite uniform in the meplat area (cleaner overall, more like Lapua scenar as opposed to SMK). They also seem to be pretty consistent in the length of each. I have not been able to weigh them or measure bearing surface consistency yet.

I'm mainly hoping my 300 RUM likes them as well as its current projo (200 grain SGK at .5MOA)

Thanks

tater

 

[jrob300]

Re: Hornady 208gr HPBT Match vs. 208gr A-Max

The 200 SMK is a very accurate bullet, but 208 Amax's slaughter them in the wind. I think you'll be happy enough.

John

 

[QRE23]

Re: Hornady 208gr HPBT Match vs. 208gr A-Max

The part I don't get is since the 208 Amax shoots so well in just about everything it's loaded in why would Hornady make a 208bthp at all let alone it having less BC.

 

[jrob300]

Re: Hornady 208gr HPBT Match vs. 208gr A-Max

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: samson</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The part I don't get is since the 208 Amax shoots so well in just about everything it's loaded in why would Hornady make a 208bthp at all let alone it having less BC. </div></div>

There's been some speculation. I'm fairly confident it will all become a lot clearer in the coming months.

John

 

[MontanaMarine]

Re: Hornady 208gr HPBT Match vs. 208gr A-Max

Think mil contracts, and Geneva approval of OTM projectiles.

 

[heydavemd]

Re: Hornady 208gr HPBT Match vs. 208gr A-Max

Hey Woodspider;
how are you getting your brass out of your barrel with that load. Mine got sticky with the same brass at about 72.5. I finally settled on 71.7 H1000. sorry to steal the thread

 

[djtjr]

Re: Hornady 208gr HPBT Match vs. 208gr A-Max

Amax is an amazing bullet. Match accuracy that also happens to be registering on game. The 208 just shoot lights out I would wait

 

[djtjr]

Re: Hornady 208gr HPBT Match vs. 208gr A-Max

Correction: deadley on game sorry not whatever the he'll my I pad thought I was typing

 

[tatemarb]

Re: Hornady 208gr HPBT Match vs. 208gr A-Max

JRob

Yea, the 200 Match King may be good. But I have been loading the Game King in the 300 RUM. It has a .55 BC so it may not even be as good as the 200 SMK let alone the 208 A MAx.

Thanks,

tater

 

[woodspider]

Re: Hornady 208gr HPBT Match vs. 208gr A-Max

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: heydavemd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Hey Woodspider;
how are you getting your brass out of your barrel with that load. Mine got sticky with the same brass at about 72.5. I finally settled on 71.7 H1000. sorry to steal the thread </div></div>
My 2nd and third fired brass are fine . 1st time they were a lil sticky but not too bad. How many FPS are you getting? Im at 3000

 

[Randfal]

Re: Hornady 208gr HPBT Match vs. 208gr A-Max

OAL can be shorter on the hpbt. I use them in place of the AMAXs now because they fit better in my ammo carriers. They shoot the same in my long throat 308AI and that little bit of length lets the lid close.

 

[Valere]

Re: Hornady 208gr HPBT Match vs. 208gr A-Max

Hello old thread. Now that the BTHP has been out for some time now, is there any objective information out there about the advantages/disadvantages between the two?

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Re: Hornady 208gr HPBT Match vs. 208gr A-Max

Anyone out there shot the 208 Match boolits? Cannot find the Amax's anywhere but found a box of the 208 hpbt Match. Same for the 178's for my 308.

Would love to hear from anyone who's played with both to give a real world comparison.

 

[jrob300]

Re: Hornady 208gr HPBT Match vs. 208gr A-Max

Will,

I never got a chance to A-B these in my WM, but my match partner is loading some BTHP's as we speak.

I do know that in my .260, I plugged the BTHP's right into my Amax load. Required slightly more elevation, but grouped slightly better. They are my go-to bullet now. They shoot every bit as well as the Lapua 139's and are also every bit as insensitive to seating depth. They seem to be *slightly* more of a tangent design than the Amax, hence more forgiving with regard to distance off lands, so better for magazine-limited loads. 208 Amax's did NOT like to jump in my WM.

John

 

[jcm151]

Re: Hornady 208gr HPBT Match vs. 208gr A-Max

I just got a box of 100 myself.. As many others say the 208amax is lights out in my 300wsm. If anyone shoots 300 wsm check out reloader 19.. I am on my 6th firing on winchester brass @ 68grns and my average is 2985fps. I have a fn spr though, and they have naturally deep chambers compared to many, so you should work up as always. It has been said, but if anyone has a fn spr 300 wsm I really recommend testing out this combo!

I have a trip to Co. but I will be testing the 208match when I get back, and I will try and get you some data.