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.308 load info for deer?

bassadict69

I recently bought a Stevens 200 chambered in .308. The guy I bought it from gave me about 50 rounds of reloads he had. The loads are 175gr Sierra MatchKing with 42 grains of H-4895.

I killed a deer this morning at approx. 75 yards. Problem is, there was little to no blood and we were very lucky to find him about 40-50 yards from where I shot him.

I have always used 150 grain shells for the other calibers I hunt with and never had this problem. Is this not a good load for deer?
 
MatchKings are target bullets, not hunting bullets.

From Sierra:

"MatchKing Bullets: This is the classification for Sierra's pre-eminent target bullets. The driving motivation for the design of each MatchKing bullet is accuracy. These bullets have very thin jackets drawn to an exacting concentricity standard of 0.0003 in maximum variation, and their weight is held to within ± 0.3 grain. All MatchKing have a hollow point design with a very small meplat for high ballistic coefficient. The majority of these bullets have a boat tail shape to further minimize drag and improve ballistic coefficient. They are manufactured to the very highest quality standards. Their accuracy has been acclaimed worldwide, and they have been used to win more target competitions than all target bullets from other manufacturers combined. Although some of these bullets have been used for hunting, Sierra recommends them only for target shooting."

Still, guys use 'em, and I'm sure there'll be a bunch here who will shout from the mountain tops that they've used them for years and killed anything and everything they've ever hit with one.

I'd listen to the manufacturer and say you'd be better off with a bullet designed for hunting.

-nosualc
 
Judging by todays shot placement which normally pours blood everywhere, but today may have left 3 small drops, I think you are correct!

Thank you for that info!
 
The other thing to watch out for. In 30 cal. the heavier hunting bullets are built harder than needed for deer as they are designed to work on bigger game like elk. The 150s tend to be built softer as they are designed for use on deer.
 
bassadict69 said:
Judging by todays shot placement which normally pours blood everywhere, but today may have left 3 small drops, I think you are correct!

Thank you for that info!
Click to expand...

Do you have any photos of the deer? If you're not comfortable with the 175 SMK a Nosler 150-165 NBT will make them bleed. The funny thing about bullets area most are cup and core and made the same. Good example is the old VLD Bergers that were NOT hunting bullets until they put them in new packaging with no other changes other than a label saying they are now a hunting bullet ??? Use what you are comfortable with confidence kills.
 
No pics, but it was just behind shoulder but also just behind the heart, in on the left side, out slightly farther back on the right. Deer buckled hard at the shot, jumped kicked rear legs and was in more of a trot back into the woods than a dead run. Textbook behavior when hit, but as I said little blood... none for probably 30-40 feet.
 
Get you some 150 gr Sierra Pro Hunter bullets and use between 43 and 44 grs IMR4895 and if you have to track a deer call Ray Charles. If you will be shooting deer inside 300 yards get you some 125 gr Nolser Ballistic Tips and keep the impact velocity under 3000 fps. I use 46 gr IMR4895 in WW cases, CCIBR2 primers. Bang Flop most of the time on deer.
 
When I shot a 308 I used the 165BTSP SGK because it mimicked the 175 balistics out to about 400 (and wasn't often able to shoot that far) I don't remember the load. I used LC brass and Varget. Bullet worked well at 308 velocities.
 
If I have said it once, I have said it 100 times. Controlled expansion bullets give you day in day out terminal performance. You can not always call your shot and a bullet that goes through and through is more predictable. Where I hunt if the deer does not drop in his tracks it better be pouring blood leaving a trail to follow.
I hunt with a .308 Win and have used many different bullets. I now am of the consensus that the 150grain Barnes Tipped triple Shock, 150 Swift Scirocco, and the Nosler Accubond running from 2875 fps to 3000 fps are about as good as it gets. I have had problems with all the J4 jacked bullets and the Hornady bullets not staying together.
From time to time I shoot deer for depredation reasons and have shot several hundred deer and feel that I am speaking from some experience.
Nat Lambeth
 
2506 said:
Get you some 150 gr Sierra Pro Hunter bullets and use between 43 and 44 grs IMR4895 and if you have to track a deer call Ray Charles. If you will be shooting deer inside 300 yards get you some 125 gr Nolser Ballistic Tips and keep the impact velocity under 3000 fps. I use 46 gr IMR4895 in WW cases, CCIBR2 primers. Bang Flop most of the time on deer.
Click to expand...

I'll second this. JMHO
 
Was on an antelope hunt a couple weeks ago and one of the guys I was with had the Sierra 142gr MK loaded in his 6.5-284. I questioned his choice of bullet but it performed great on a goat.

Like Nate, I'm a big fan of the Barnes Bullets. The load I use in my 280 works great on everything from antelope to black bear.

Good Shooting

Rich
 
I love the Barnes ttsx 130 in 308 out to about 300. If I am shooting distance, I personally like the 150 Sierra GK. Seems to open up enough, and on the dinky deer I usually end up shooting, it puts a big hole in it.
 
2506 said:
Get you some 150 gr Sierra Pro Hunter bullets and use between 43 and 44 grs IMR4895 and if you have to track a deer call Ray Charles. If you will be shooting deer inside 300 yards get you some 125 gr Nolser Ballistic Tips and keep the impact velocity under 3000 fps. I use 46 gr IMR4895 in WW cases, CCIBR2 primers. Bang Flop most of the time on deer.
Click to expand...
Good advise. Could also use Remington cl, Hornady IL's or any other tried and true c&c that's accurate in your rifle. Barlow
 
Probably get a rash for this but it will put down a Whitetail right here and now!
308 Win 168 gr A-MAX® Superformance® Match™ SKU: 80964
 
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