Deer Loads For .308 Win

[Rustystud]

I tried three different loads with Barnes 130 XXXSX and could not get groups sub .75 moa. to 1. moa. Tried TAC, W-748, and Varget powders. I shot some 150 Nosler AB that grouped sub .5 moa. as did the 150 Swift Sciroccos all with W-748. They are shooting just under 3000fps. I'll stay with the 150s for now.
Nat Lambeth

 

[savageshooter86]

Hornady SST using Varget

 

[johnu]

I doubt the deer will care!

 

[40X Guy]

Discovered a great load for my .308 deer rifle last year. 130 Barnes TTSX at COAL of 2.810 with 46.2 grains of XBR-8208. Really woke it up as i had tried a few other powders also. This is in Lapua brass and a match chambered Brux barrel. The Barnes like a pretty good jump. Very accurate in my rifle. Start lower around 44.5.

Frank

 

[Hunkyfish]

43.1gr of IMR 4895 over 178 A-Max is working for me

 

[MrMajestic]

Sierra Game Kings, Nosler Ballistic Tips and even the Hornady A-Max that I personally use(no name callin') all do very well for Whitetails(I assumed that is the deer you are talking about). They kill pretty easy, especially with the .308 Winchester, with any properly placed shot. Many use too tough of a bullet that might only be required for a South to due North shot and one I care not to take!

 

[bricktop]

For me, the 165 GameKings (with Varget) are just as accurate as the 168 SMK, and I don't plan on shooting anything beyond 500 yards so it's all the ballistic coefficient I need. Rifle is a Tikka T3 hunter.

 

[FryeGuy]

I had a t/c icon that loved the sierra 165hpbt gamekings with varget. him them like a sledgehammer. I used it on multiple deer in TN, and none took a step, and some were large deer! In fact, I had only one deer that did drop dead. it was running and I took an iffy shot because a neighboring landowner had wounded it. shot was a little back, but it didn't go far. for a hollowpoint it didn't blow them away like one would think they would. did plenty of damage but not devastating.

My new 308 likes the 155vld hunting bullets. mainly because I played with them a bunch more. I have yet to shoot anything but paper, but I hope they perform like folks say they do!!!!!

 

[LAKESNAKE]

FryeGuy, Tell us more about your new 308 and 155 vld hunting bullet.

 

[lightman]

Theres so many good 308 loads that its hard to go wrong.My fav is a Sierra 150 and a case full of IMR-4064.This load has worked on South Arkansas Whitetails,Canadian Whitetails,and Wyoming Muledeer.My rifle does not shoot as well as yours,but the load has performed well for me.I did feel a little undergunned the first time that I saw a Canadian deer up close,but the deer did not know that! Lightman

 

[K22]

Powders that have worked for me in the 308 are Varget, IMR 4064, and IMR 4895; the latter with lighter bullets in the 125 to 130 range.

I'm currently using Sierra 150 grain Pro-Hunters bullets. This is a no frills bullet but very accurate and deadly in my Rem 700 on white tail. My load is 44.0 grains of Varget with Federal 210 match primers, COL 2.800. It shoots reliably between .7 and .5 moa.

The 165 Remington Core Loks also shoot very well in my rifle - this is a no frills bullet also but has a long proven track record on big game.

I like the 150 bullet weight since it shoots flatter with good knock down power in my rifle but the 165 is a suberb bullet weight for this caliber. It will knock a white tail flat.

It's nice to have but certainly not necessary to shoot 1/2 moa for a deer rifle at least in my experience. Assuming a relatively accurate and reliabile rifle, it will be how you shoot under field conditions that will have the most affect on bringing home some venison. Some pre-season practice in field positions will pay you huge dividends - plus a lot of fun if you like to shoot.

A good practice target is a standard paper plate - try shooting three rounds in the postions you normally hunt at ranges you anticipate shooting. This may be sobering but it worthwhile since it will give you some idea, as Dirty Harry says - "A Man Has to Know his Limitations".

Good / Safe Hunting -

 

[ranger116]

Hello -

to date the best hunting load I've found is: 155g Berger VLD, 47.5g BC-2, CCIBR, Lapua brass, 0.045 jump, but all guns are different. On the other hand, had very good results withe the Barns TTSX in my new 7-08, but not not in .308. Curious to see how the TTSX will perform on medium size game.

 

[wapiti25]

Welcome to non-lead bullets. Some area's require non-lead bullets. A friend just had to find a load for his 300 Win Mag and his best groups were double of other lead loads.

 

[wapiti25]

The people who have killed game with Barnes copper bullets that I know have had real good results on their kills including elk.

 

[bheadboy]

40x you did not mention anything about range, so i offer this conditionally

if under 200yd, take a look at the Horn 150 rn interlock, i used them for years in a 300 sav with excelent accurcy and always 1 shot drop. 308 and 300 are very sim in velocity and this bulletis very effective within the 200+/- range.
i would not fail to use it on elk within the distance, but there are other better bullets for longer range
Bob

 

[2506]

For years I used the 150 gr bullets, mainly Sierra, in my 308 Win and 30X47 HBR to kill great numbers of deer as a control hunter on a big farm in NC. One day my hunting buddy worked up a lower recoil load for his girl friend to use in a Ruger77 carbine he cut the stock down on to fit her. It consisted of 46 grs IMR 4895 and 125 gr Nosler ballistic tips. Tack drivers in every rifle I have shot them in and they drop deer in their tracks. I use the 125 ballistic tip in every 30 cal I use that keeps the impact velocity under 3000 fps. I get right at 3000 fps out of my 21 1/2" Heart barreled Rem 700 with this load. Whacks deer really well out to a little over 300 yards.

 

[ranger116]

Kind of surprised I don't here more about the TTSX for hunting in either 30cal/7mm on the form. Seems to be a good bullet with a high B.C to boot. I have two more weekends left hear in Norcal before the dear season closes. Hope to report back.....

 

[XTR]

When I was shooting the 308 for deer I used 165SGKs. I think the longer bullet in the long throat of my stock barrel worked for me. They would hold .75MOA at 200 yds. I could never get 150 class bullets to shoot worth a darn and I tried the GMXs and they were all over the paper. Would probably have been good enough for deer but not for me.

 

[Will]

Sierra 165 Gameking BTHP work great as well as 168 Amax. Even 150 Barnes HP ( made for 30/30 use) work real well. Used Varget, IMR4895 & N150. Adjust weight of powder for YOUR Rifle !! Oh yeah, Brass was either Norma, LC and FC. after FL sizing.

 

[wapiti25]

The non-lead bullets don't have the good BC of most of our lead long range bullets. They shed energy faster, so they are not good for the long range hunting (over 300 yds) as well as the accuracy issues. I don't know any body that has had better accuracy with the "Green Bullets". They can shoot good enough for hunting big game if you work up a load to be effective to 300 yds. I don't kill too many animals beyond 300 yds but my rifle has the capeability. I have not tried to shoot beyond 200 yds with the 22 cals. I have a load for my .223 with the Varmint Grenades using the 50 gr that is just ok as far as accuracy goes. I stay out of the "lead free" zones as much as I can and do not use the "Green Bullets" if optional. Water fowl hunting has lost the fun since we had to use lead free ammo and guess what? We are not being over run with duck's now that we are not poisoning them with lead. The "lead poisoning of the planet" is grossly over played by the "do gooder's".