308 deer bullet suggestion

[Cold Bore]

Deer here are not huge, but are not dinks either. 120-150LB usually, in COLD weather, in wind.

Suggestions? For reference, the gun shoots 130 Barnes TSTX, ... very well....

Don't think I want to go heavy, in an effort to keep recoil a non-issue for her.

150 pound deer, from a stand.

The rifle shoots the 130 Barnes "very well".

You don't want to go heavy.

I guess I'm not seeing where there is really a question here.

 

[Doug Beach]

I have never killed a deer with the 130 Barnes, but I have killed a few pigs with it, loaded to .308 velocities in a .30-06. It's an impressive death ray, out to at least 300 yds, which is the farthest I've seen it used. I wouldn't hesitate to use it on deer.

 

[snert]

150 pound deer, from a stand.

The rifle shoots the 130 Barnes "very well".

You don't want to go heavy.

I guess I'm not seeing where there is really a question here.

Very well defined as "good at 100 yards" , but I have no deer experience with it at extended ranges, hence my inquiry. So that is the focus of my question....if experienced Barnes users in 308 say they like it on deer at 400 yards, then I will spend the time to work up a load for it. Then I hope to find a willing participant to be the "receiver" in field testing the bullet...say a big 8 point or so...

 

[wildfowler]

Not trying to change your mind. I have one confirmed stone dead deer kill at 415 yards and several drop dead deer kills at 250 to 300 yards using the 165 SST I mentioned above.

And a whole bunch of hog kills at 250 or less yards

 

[A_Gamehog]

As you know the heavier the bullet the more felt recoil. The last 240+ Mule deer I shot with my .308 using the 130TTSX was in the boiler room and was DRT. I will say 1MOA is all I need for this to work. You don't want to feed her lead from fragments of a match bullet not made for hunting. Use IMR8208 (46.3 grains), Wolf LRP, Lapua Brass. Shoots fairly flat for a light recoil load.

SavageDasher is right 130 TTSX pure copper is all you need under 400 yards.

 

[Auto-X Fil]

No A-Max suggestions? They are constructed just like a Nosler Ballistic tip, and make wonderful deer bullets. They can be a little picky on seating depth.

 

[johnfred1965]

Very well defined as "good at 100 yards" , but I have no deer experience with it at extended ranges, hence my inquiry. So that is the focus of my question....if experienced Barnes users in 308 say they like it on deer at 400 yards, then I will spend the time to work up a load for it. Then I hope to find a willing participant to be the "receiver" in field testing the bullet...say a big 8 point or so...

The barnes bullets shoot less than MOA from my rifle, and one bullet I recovered at 321 yards could have been used in a commercial for its perfect X expansion

 

[K22]

In the 308 I use the Sierra 150 grain Pro Hunter with either Varget or IMR 4064 for white tail deer. This a flat base, no thrills bullet and performs outstandingly on white tail. The Remington Core Lokt is also an excellent bullet for deer.

 

[nockhunter]

My son shoots the Sierra 165g HPBT game kings, they about as accurate as the 168g MK's to 300 yards.

Mike

 

[bobinpa]

Thanks guys. I was leery of the 130 TTSX (I have 100) for longer range, but will test. I will also look at the Berger (had not thought of that). I might have a few old Sierra 165's hiding in the dusty bin of my 30-06 days (ya, forgot all about using them way back when I was 17) and I will give them a whirl too.

And if all else fails, I will let her try the SMK...I have 4K loaded for a gas gun. I can back her with my rifle in case all does not go as planned.

Appreciate it guys.

snert

When my nephew started hunting we got him a 308. It was a caliber that he could "grow into" and I asked my rifle smith his opinion on a load for deer that wasn't hard on a young guys shoulder. He suggested 125gr ballistic tips. He claimed that he loaded them for his Grandson and that his Grandson had taken deer with them out to almost 500 yards out of a 308. I load approximately 39 grains of H4198 under a 125 BT and IT WORKS! I have witnessed PA deer drop in their tracks with that load and the recoil was easily managed by my nephew.
Good luck.

 

[A_Gamehog]

I forgot to include, I use a lee crimp die in the last grove on the shank. It does make a difference, I do get about 1/2moa out to 300 yards, 3100+ FPS the shank's groove dictates the COL. Barnes does recommend using a crimp.

 

[Medium rare]

I have used match bullets and 130 gr ttsx on piles of deer. Both bullets will work great. If I'm shooting past 200yds I always use match bullets because it makes wind calls easier. We take a lot of gold star kids hunting and my kids hunting every year and I usually have them shoot my 308 with 130 ttsx but they rarely shoot over 100yds.