208 A-Max Velocity Model 1885

Here's a sample velocity of my favorite 208 A-Max hand load in my Model 1885 rifle.

 

208 A-Max accuracy 3 shot group Model 1885

Here's a 100 yard, three shot group of my 208 A-Max hand load in my Model 1885 rifle with 75.5 Grains of H-1000.

 

208 A-Max and 215 Berger Hybrid three shot groups from 300 win mag Model 1885

Checking the accuracy of my 208 A-Max hand load I also try a 215 Berger Hybrid with the same charge of H-1000 powder. Wow, the point of impact is near identical. This A-Max group is 0.56" and the Berger is 0.74". I'm sure the 215 Hybrid will shoot better I just need to spend a little more time tweaking the load.

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Below are my personal favorite loads for my Winchester Model 1885 High Wall in 300 Win Mag.

One of the cool things I like about the Model 1885 is that there are no magazine length restrictions. You will notice that the cartridge overall lengths in my loads are well beyond the listed 3.34" max overall length for the 300 Win Mag.

Using a Sharpie marker on the ogive of the bullets I am able to seat a bullet a little deeper and deeper watching for landmarks in the marker on the ogive. Doing this I have seated the 208 A-Max so that it doesn't touch the lands by just a hair. With the 215 Berger Hybrid I also have the ogive really, really close to being in the lands — probably half a hair off the lands.

As I write this I am still working on a 215 Berger Hybrid load. I have it shooting quite well with similar powder charges as the 208 A-Max but I really haven't spent time testing a lot of powder charges. I have just been shooting a load here or there when I have been working on the A-Max load. The 215 Berger Hybrid has just shot well right out of the chute. It is interesting that the point of impact is almost the same with the same powder charge yet two different bullets (see photo on the right).

A few years ago I saw the light on annealing my brass for consistent, accurate hand loads as well as keeping the necks from cracking. I now always anneal my brass every time it's fired.

I noticed visually a lot on inconsistencies in the brass neck thicknesses with the Remington brass I am using for the 300 Win Mag. I purchased a RCBS neck turner and this has greatly helped with improving the accuracy further. Turned necks and annealed brass really help give a very consistent neck tension shot after shot. I'm now a believer in neck turning and will be doing it on all my brass in the future.

Here's some DIY Hunting Rifle Target Downloads that might be helpful as well.

Bullet Powder Primer COAL Barrel Length Muzzle Velocity Notes
212 Gr Hornady ELD-X 75 Gr. Hodgdon H1000 WLRM 3.5565 28" 2,958 fps Shot the best 100 yard group of my life with this load at 0.0695"
208 Gr. Hornady A-Max 75.5 Gr. Hodgdon H1000 WLRM 3.5705-3.5720 28" 2,965 fps Great Accuracy! Took me a little while to figure out that it wanted to be loaded really close to the lands.
215 Gr. Berger Hybrid 75.5 Gr. Hodgdon H1000 WLRM 3.6460-3.6580 28" 2,940 fps Accuracy is there!