Recommendations on Hunting Load for .308 - 165 gr SGK HPBT, Varget, 22" Barrel

[bulletpruf]

It’s the tool you brought for the job. I'm a fan.

 

[RegionRat]

Congrats! I love a thread with a great ending!

 

[bulletpruf]

As Gary mentioned, that 165 BTHP Sierra GK is a stout bullet… especially at 308 velocities…. It was really designed around 300 mag velocities.

Friend had to shoot a buck three times with that bullet in a 308 about 5-6 years ago. All good shot placement but slow killing.

The bullet passed completely through with a moderately large exit wound. What's ideal? If the bullet lodges on the far side of the animal but doesn't exit? FYI - in the picture above, that's the exit wound you're seeing. We couldn't find the entry wound until after we skinned him.

 

[JFrank]

The bullet passed completely through with a moderately large exit wound. What's ideal? If the bullet lodges on the far side of the animal but doesn't exit? FYI - in the picture above, that's the exit wound you're seeing. We couldn't find the entry wound until after we skinned him.

I’m not an expert but here’s a couple schools of thought.
If the bullet exits such as I’ve seen with bonded bullet, you’ll likely get a blood trail, this may be important in heavier cover but with a cup and core SP bullet you may not get an exit wound simply because the bullet has opened up inside. Either way it’s dead animal.

 

[bulletpruf]

I’m not an expert but here’s a couple schools of thought.
If the bullet exits such as I’ve seen with bonded bullet, you’ll likely get a blood trail, this may be important in heavier cover but with a cup and core SP bullet you may not get an exit wound simply because the bullet has opened up inside. Either way it’s dead animal.

Gotcha. If there hadn’t been an exit wound there would not have been a blood trail because the entry had no blood at all.

 

[hunter67]

Pick the accuracy load out of the Nosler or Sierra book. Sight in and be done. We overcomplicate this.

 

[BTP]

Rifle shoots really well with 43.0 gr of Varget behind a 168 gr SMK

This is my exact load with the 2140 SGK. Probably my favorite bullet for .30 cal hunting. I use it in everything up to 300wm. I used to use it when I still had a 30-378 but at those velocities it hit like a hand grenade.

 

[bulletpruf]

This is my exact load with the 2140 SGK. Probably my favorite bullet for .30 cal hunting. I use it in everything up to 300wm. I used to use it when I still had a 30-378 but at those velocities it hit like a hand grenade.

That’s good to hear. How fast did your 30-378 push it?