308 win loads for elk

[OFFGRID]

guys i need to do a load work up for 308 win for elk hunting 300 yards and in. i was thinking of using barnes 165 ttsx and maybe 4064 or varget. dont have any experience with this round.

what would yall recommend?

 

[troy fairweather]

I'd go with a bonded bullet, I don't think the 308 has the speed for the heavier monos.

 

[Palladan44]

I personally would load for accuracy as paramount. At 300 you're going to want 1 to 1.5 MOA accuracy at the very worst. If you can do that, it shouldn't matter what type of "hunting" bullet it is. As long as it's a soft point with controlled expansion. If you wind up needing the full 300 yd shot penetration and having enough velocity to expand reliably are to become in question.

Varget is a great hunting powder not only because well known accuracy, but it performs well in a variety of temperatures, just like all of the "Extreme" extruded stick powders from Hodgdon.

 

[TEXASJD]

Varget Sierra 150g 2130 or 2125, the Berger 155vld hunt if you want to stretch it out little further. Won’t be hard to work a load up for it wants to shoot

 

[BreechFace]

308 Win has taken a lot of elk over the years and from what I’ve known a lot of those with 150gr.

Personally, I would be loading in the 165gr weight range and would be looking at a partition or bonded bullet.

 

[lordpaxman]

I’ve only loaded Accubonds for its bigger brother. The literature says the partitions are for lighter skinned game. Good luck!

 

[AJC1]

If you want to use a ttsx id be looking at the 150 as a heavy. They have run the 130 in a 300wm and at a max charge held together.... if you were close I go 130 but the better bc will help at 300 with the 150.

 

[Howa 9700]

When I was doing my 308 Win load workup for deer, I went with the easy to find Hornady 150 Interlock. Flat based 150, despite the fact that the clerk at the reloading shop handed me a box of Hornady 165 boat tail Interlocks.......and a pound of Varget and assurances that was what I wanted. The 150's over 46.5 grains of Varget have a muzzle velocity of around 2900 fps and shoots .75 MOA or less. But after looking at a ballistics chart, that may change. This is a side by side comparison of a Hornady 150 btsp vs. the 165 btsp. Despite having a higher muzzle velocity, after as little as 100 yards, there isn't much difference, and at 200 yards, they are the same. Past that, the 165 retains more velocity and energy.

Out to 250 yards or so, a well placed shot should blow out both lungs and anchor anything from elk on down. A 165 Nosler partition might be more better.

BTW, chart zero was 100 yards. If sighted in at 2 inches high at 100 yards, there is no need to do anything but point and shoot out to 250 to 300 yards.

 

[AJC1]

When I was doing my 308 Win load workup for deer, I went with the easy to find Hornady 150 Interlock. Flat based 150, despite the fact that the clerk at the reloading shop handed me a box of Hornady 165 boat tail Interlocks.......and a pound of Varget and assurances that was what I wanted. The 150's over 46.5 grains of Varget have a muzzle velocity of around 2900 fps and shoots .75 MOA or less. But after looking at a ballistics chart, that may change. This is a side by side comparison of a Hornady 150 btsp vs. the 165 btsp. Despite having a higher muzzle velocity, after as little as 100 yards, there isn't much difference, and at 200 yards, they are the same. Past that, the 165 retains more velocity and energy.

Out to 250 yards or so, a well placed shot should blow out both lungs and anchor anything from elk on down. A 165 Nosler partition might be more better.

BTW, chart zero was 100 yards. If sighted in at 2 inches high at 100 yards, there is no need to do anything but point and shoot out to 250 to 300 yards.

View attachment 1183743

I would prefer a 165/168 always in a 308 unless it's a mono. Very different terminal needs.

 

[HowardC]

While I got started on elk later in life, I've shot seven with plain old Hornady Interlock, 165 grain 30 cal and 175 grain 7mm. All but one were one shot lung and shoulder wounds. Last one took another shot as elk was running and I didn't lead it enough. One was ~ 300 yds, rest were 150-200 yds. Point is you have to put the bullet where it counts. I've seen elk killed with all the way from 17HMR to 375 mag. Course, I've missed a few as well. I agree with Howa's post on the 150's. They'd work as well as any bullet.
-West out

 

[Nature Boy]

I’ve not been lucky enough to get on an elk hunt yet but I’ve done a good bit of hunting load work ups for .308 and I really like 165 Accubond.

Very accurate and deadly on deer.

This load is using 44gn of Varget, Nosler brass, 2.820” OAL

 

[jmr40]

I've gotten excellent results with both 4064 and Varget. Best loads were basically the same velocity and accuracy. But if I can get Varget I much prefer it for hunting loads because it is more stable in a wide range of temperatures. 4064 will see much larger swings in velocity as temperature changes. That may never be an issue and if I were getting better performance with 4064 I'd use it instead. I still use some 4064, but for loads I plan to punch paper with.

I loaded up 50 rounds of 165 gr Accubonds when I hunted elk in 2018. Didn't kill anything and still have most of those. I had to pass up on an elk hunt this year due to medical issues, but plan to go next year. Those are what I'll take. But any 165, or even a 180 gr bullet that shoots well in your rifle should work.

The TTSX bullets can work but there are some downsides to a 165 gr bullet in a 308. Since a 165 gr copper bullet is longer than a conventional lead bullet there is less room in the case for powder. You'll get a little less muzzle velocity with copper. And Copper bullets need more impact velocity to expand. I haven't looked at the numbers, but a 165 gr copper bullet may not be fast enough at 300 yards to expand if fired from a 308. From a 300 magnum yes, from a 30-06, probably, from a 308, maybe, maybe not. Conventional wisdom says drop down 1 bullet weigth if using copper bullets so a 150 might be a better choice.

 

[troy fairweather]

Most accurate 308 load I ever made was using 4064 and the 165 sgk -hp, was a true one hole gun if you could do your part. For hunting I'd definitely try varget first tho.

 

[Nature Boy]

Most accurate 308 load I ever made was using 4064 and the 165 sgk -hp

You can not go wrong with the 165 SGKs

 

[troy fairweather]

You can not go wrong with the 165 SGKs

All sierras I've shot shoot great, I was stupid and forgot to right down the load but don't have the rifle any longer so it doesn't hurt as much not remembering the load. Not like it would shoot so well in any other rifle but was amazing out of that 700 mil spec clone I built. Never did get to pop a deer with one, used the normal sgk before but never the hollow point sgk's.

 

[Lo-Profile]

I use 170g Lapua Naturalis
Works great for Elk here in Northern Nevada

 

[35 Whelen]

I've killed four bulls and can tell you that after shot placement, the most important thing to consider is bullet penetration. They are large animals-

and if one has to take a shot other than broadside, a bullet that will drive deep is important. I've killed three with a .358" 225 gr. TSX and been present when another was killed with the same bullet.

Were I going elk hunting and planning on carrying a .308, I'd use a 165 gr. TTSX BT and never look back. Barnes has load data on their site which runs the 165 gr. TSX over 2800 fps. As far as accuracy is concerned, it is important, but when you're shooting at an animal that weighs ~600 lbs., well they're not exactly difficult to hit at reasonable ranges.

35W

 

[troy fairweather]

Thing that never made sense to me is it the copper bullets penetrate so much better why do they seem to be caught so often in the animal, I can see in a big animal but see a lot stopped by whitetails.

 

[Wolfshead]

Thing that never made sense to me is it the copper bullets penetrate so much better why do they seem to be caught so often in the animal, I can see in a big animal but see a lot stopped by whitetails.

Interesting.
I wonder what angle the shots were taken at? Broadside, quartering….?
Could that be why?

 

[35 Whelen]

Thing that never made sense to me is it the copper bullets penetrate so much better why do they seem to be caught so often in the animal, I can see in a big animal but see a lot stopped by whitetails.

Interesting.
I wonder what angle the shots were taken at? Broadside, quartering….?
Could that be why?

The TSX above was shot into the south end of a northbound bull at probably 100 yds. It traveled the length of the animal and was found in the front of the right shoulder.

35W

 

[chevrofreak]

I load .308 for a friend that is a TTSX 150gr over AR-Comp, and while doing the load workup I found no significant accuracy change at any charge weight; most groups were between 1 and 1.25 MOA. I ended up at 42.5gr for the charge weight, and an OAL .117" longer than Barnes load data, but it does 2900fps out of his relatively short 20" Savage 10FCP.

I measured the maximum OAL and subtracted .050", which landed me at 2.852" OAL. His magazine can easily handle that.

 

[Okie_Poke]

I'm going to reiterate that I think a premium bullet is nearly a necessity when shooting elk. You need the penetration.

By way of example, my brother in law shot a nice 6x6 this year with his 308. He was using factory Federal 180 grain trophy bonded tipped bullets. I chrony'd them at about 2575 from his 18" barrel. He shot the bull quartering to him at about 75 yards; took the bull on the point of the shoulder. The bullet took out both lungs and the heart, but it failed to pass through. We found it under the hide on the opposite side. Textbook expansion, a good shot and good penetration, but still no exit---at under 100 yards! (My BIL also lost an elk a few years back that was shot with 150 SGKs out of a 270, again under 100 yards). Elk are big, tough critters. Bring enough bullet.

If I were handloading for a 308 to take elk hunting, my first pick would probably be a 165 accubond. A monometal would also be a good choice if you can get enough speed to ensure expansion at the max distance you're going to shoot. I've had mixed results on whether I can get enough speed behind them to make them interesting. Personally, I would avoid cup-and-core bullets (including the SGK) for elk. If you need to take an angled shot of any kind, they are likely to be trouble, IMO. Good powders have been mentioned by others.

Edit to add: If you do go the Barnes route for your bullet, I suggest the 168 TTSX rather than the 165. Per Barnes, the 168 is desiged to expand at lower velocities than the 165, which is intended for the magnums.

 

[Saluki91]

I’ve not been lucky enough to get on an elk hunt yet but I’ve done a good bit of hunting load work ups for .308 and I really like 165 Accubond.

Very accurate and deadly on deer.

This load is using 44gn of Varget, Nosler brass, 2.820” OAL

View attachment 1183900

You tout an accurate load without touting the skill a group this size requires. That's some fine shooting, sir... well done!

 

[35 Whelen]

I'm going to reiterate that I think a premium bullet is nearly a necessity when shooting elk. You need the penetration.

By way of example, my brother in law shot a nice 6x6 this year with his 308. He was using factory Federal 180 grain trophy bonded tipped bullets. I chrony'd them at about 2575 from his 18" barrel. He shot the bull quartering to him at about 75 yards; took the bull on the point of the shoulder. The bullet took out both lungs and the heart, but it failed to pass through. We found it under the hide on the opposite side. Textbook expansion, a good shot and good penetration, but still no exit---at under 100 yards! (My BIL also lost an elk a few years back that was shot with 150 SGKs out of a 270, again under 100 yards). Elk are big, tough critters. Bring enough bullet.

If I were handloading for a 308 to take elk hunting, my first pick would probably be a 165 accubond. A monometal would also be a good choice if you can get enough speed to ensure expansion at the max distance you're going to shoot. I've had mixed results on whether I can get enough speed behind them to make them interesting. Personally, I would avoid cup-and-core bullets (including the SGK) for elk. If you need to take an angled shot of any kind, they are likely to be trouble, IMO. Good powders have been mentioned by others.

Edit to add: If you do go the Barnes route for your bullet, I suggest the 168 TTSX rather than the 165. Per Barnes, the168 is desiged to expand at lower velocities than the 165, which is intended for the magnums.

And you perfectly illustrate the conundrum with premium bullets- Bullets such as Accubonds and other bonded core bullets make nice, pretty mushroomed bullets with a large frontal area. However, these bullets have the potential to lose penetration because of the increased frontal area. John Barsness of Handloader magazine very succinctly illustrated this by pointing out that as a bullets frontal diameter increases, its sectional density effectively decreases. In other words, a .30 caliber, 180 gr. bullet with a pre-expanded sectional density of .271 that expands to a diameter of, say .60", would have a sectional density of .071. The other end of the spectrum of premium bullets are those such as the Barnes TSX's which expand with a smaller frontal area but penetrate more deeply.
Just some food for thought.

35W

 

[Anchorite]

I would load up a 165gr Nosler Partition at ~2900 fps +/- and go hunt.