150gr or 180gr 308 for whitetail?

[Rodman579]

this will be my first deer season and i am going to be hunting with my 308. i am hand loading my rounds and wondered what was better preferred for whitetail the 150gr or 180 Partitions? they both shoot great in my rifle. thanks

 

[StrawHat]

Of those two, I would opt for the lighter, 150 grain Partition. Why not go with a lighter bullet? How big are Florida white tailed deer?

 

[Rodman579]

the florida deer are not very big at all. though i will mostly be hunting outside the Piedmont State Park in Georgia. thank you

 

[Art Eatman]

I know that 150-grain is plenty good to 350 and 450 yards.

 

[shooter1niner]

150 grainer is my choice, like the Partition as well.

 

[Legionnaire]

150. My Model 7 likes the (relatively) inexpensive Remington Core-Lokts. Even in a .30-06 I'd not go bigger than 165 grains. Just not needed for whitetail.

 

[MtnCreek]

You should get more expansion with the 150gr at .308 speeds.

 

[Rodman579]

thanks guys i really appreciate the info.

 

[gspn]

I'd go with the 150.

 

[ldlfh7]

I use 150 in 308.
Less recoil and never had any issue taking deer in Northern Missouri where they are larger than southern deer generally.
I have always used any standard cup and core bullet in 150 gr and never lost a deer with em.
If you feel better buying premium bullets go for it but I don't think they are really necessary for whitetail deer.

 

[stiab]

I use 165 grain in my .308 Model 88 and it does a good job. Either weight you mentioned would be fine, but I tend to go to the higher weights to ensure shoot thru - I definitley want two holes in the deer to aid in tracking if that becomes necessary. On the .30-06 I moved from 150 to 180 because I was getting only one hole in deer that weighted over 150 lbs.

 

[cammogunner]

I would opt for 180s I know you can kill any deer that walks with 150s but I have seen the carnage of the 180s first hand they are great

 

[98Redline]

Pick the one that shoots best out of your gun...period.

Both the 150 and 180gr bullets are enough for an elk so unless you are hunting in the shadow of a nuke plant with 1500lb whitetails, either bullet will work.

Smallest groups get the nod.

Not apples to apples but with my 270Win I favor 150gr bullets over the lighter 130 grainers due to the smaller group sizes. If the 130s shot better, that is what I would be using.

 

[tahunua001]

I would say 180s... not because 150 is incapable of killing deer, in fact, 150 is much more likely to do better, but 180 will travel slower and from a 308 will have less extreme expansion, despite generating higher FTLBs, ruining less meat in the process. or at least that's my take on it.

 

[jrdolall]

I don't think it will make a bit of difference either way. Buy a box of both and see which one shoots the best from your gun. Either one is MORE than capable of killing a whitie with decent shot placement.

 

[jmr40]

Any bullet weight from 125-200 gr will work. There isn't any real reason to use anything heavier than the 150's, unless your rifle just shoots the heavier bullets much more accurately.

But if you just want to shoot the heavier bullets there is very little downside. Recoil will be a little heavier, and there will be more bullet drop at long range, but much less than many believe.

 

[MCgunner]

My .308 loves Nosler 150 BTs and they work just fine on Texas deer, which ain't monsters. They kill hogs pretty danged dead, too.

 

[herkyguy]

Go with whichever is more accurate out of your rifle. The 150s will get the job done if that's what you're worried about.

 

[short barrel]

My .308 hunting rifle is an M1A. For many years I used 150 grain soft points. The biggest buck I ever killed with that round dropped where he stood with that round. However, subsequent rounds feeding out of the magazine were "buggered" by the action. I switched to match hollow point ammo which is devastating, but does not stop deer as quickly. IMO, the 150 grain soft points are the best hunting bullets you can buy for a .308.

 

[Steve in PA]

I split the difference with my .30/06 and went with 165 grain Hornady bullets. I use it for deer and bear here in PA.

 

[HKGuns]

150's are plenty and what I use.

 

[retrieverman]

I shoot 165 grs in all my 308's.

 

[Jason75979]

I'd say it depends on the environment. I load 180s due to the fact the area I hunt is extremely dense. I prefer to "knock the ____ out of them" so I don't have as far to trail/crawl after them and then drag them to the boat.

 

[Rodman579]

They both shoot lights out in my rifle. Maybe i will try both if i have the opportunity and see if there is any difference. I am mostly hunting for meat but i will be psyched if i get a trophy buck. I would prefer to hammer them getting the quickest & cleanest kill possible. I might try my 35 Whelen as well.

 

[d2wing]

150. Deer are not very wide, some heavy bullets will not expand fast enough. A direct hit on the heart it doesn't matter but elsewhere like the lungs on liver you need to destroy lots of it to have a quick kill. You need a bullet that expands while in the vitals.