.308(168gr-165gr) Bullet suggestions for hog and deer

[.308 garand]

Just as the title states I am looking for suggestions for a bullet for hog and deer.
I am interested in the bullet weights between 165 and 168 for my .308.
I am needing a bullet that will hold together and penetrate if I shoot a hog under 50yrds,
but still have the ability to expand on a deer at 200yrds.

Does anyone have any experience with the following or maybe one I have over looked?

168 Barnes TSX
168 Combine Technology Ballistic Silver Tip
165 Nosler Partition
165 Nosler Accubond
165 Horndy SST
165 Sierra Game King

Thanks,
.308

 

[dogrunner]

I use the GC, but in '06....don't see any reason why it would not be equally effective in the caliber you prefer.

I stoke mine with 57.5, IMR 4350 & get about 2850 from my old M/70...........that HP design #2140 is with no doubt the most effective bullet I've ever used for deer and hogs.....I have never had either move from the place they were hit.

 

[NCsmitty]

It's hard to beat the old Nosler Partition for overall consistency.

NCsmitty

 

[a-sheepdog]

I have used Federal Gold Medal Match 168 grain JHP with excellent success. I have yet to lose a hog or a deer and I have shot dozens of both. I usually shoot hogs in the head when the opportunity presents itself, but it still penetrates their "sheath" over their shoulders and lays them out when I shoot from an angle (also tears up the off side shoulder). Deer, hands down an easy kill. You are not going to go wrong with any of the bullet types listed.

 

[john917v]

Honestly, I'd have to agree with Mr. Sheepdog. I'd trust any of the bullets you listed. I haven't shot them, but I've heard nothing but good about all of them!

 

[35 Whelen]

I've shot some of these bullets, but used the Partition quite a bit. It's difficult to recover these bullets as they penetrate very well. Only one I've recovered was from a doe I shot head on at 60 yds. with a 140 gr. Partition out of a 280. Hit her in the chest and the bullet was under the skin at the rear of her right hindquarter.
That being said, I'd bet money on the TSX for best penetration. My Pop used my 35 Whelen to shoot a bull elk right under the tail as he walked away at around 200-250 yds. The bullet penetrated from the bulls rear end up into the right shoulder and came out looking like this:


Last year I used a Sierra 140 gr. Game King in my .280 (MV was 2900 fps)to kill a medium size boar. Its performance was typical of what I've seen in these bullets for 20+ years. They always do the job, but don't penetrate well. This hit the boar in the shoulder as he quartered on and penetrated through the body cavity and stopped under the skin behind the right shoulder. Range was about 100 yds., or maybe a bit less:


As you can see, it lost its core. If that'd have been a Partition, it have exited. Tell what I've had really good luck with (a they're cheap!) is the Remington Core-Lokt. I've used them for years in my 308. I started out using 165 gr., then switched to 150 gr. and they've given stellar performance on deer and hogs.

Good luck deciding.
35W

 

[firesafety3]

For off the shelf ammo, I've had good luck the the Winchester Ballistic Silvertip (Nosler) in 168 grain.

I shoot a Savage 10FP .308 and the combination is very accurate.

Large wound channel on most game that I've shot.

If you decide to try out a few different brands, try this first.

 

[MCgunner]

That Barnes in that heavy a bullet (solid copper) is probably going to intrude on powder space a bit, though lead bullets to 180 grains can be driven pretty well in .308 I guess. I shoot a 140 Barnes and it's as long as about a 160 grain lead bullet, fantastic bullet, over 2800 fps from my 20" barrel. 90 percent of the hunting I've done has been with a 150 Nosler BT, so I sorta haven't done much with the heavier stuff. I've shot a few hogs with the 140 Barnes and it's my heavy penetration, controlled expansion bullet of choice. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[alsaqr]

A few of my hogs have been killed with a .30-06 using 150 grain Sierra Game King and Sierra Pro-Hunter bullets; all died instantly. Have killed about 200 deer over the years with those same bullets. A friend hunts hogs and deer with the Sierra 165 grain bullets and he has never had a problem with them.

Hogs, even big ones, are not hard to kill of hit right. Most of my hogs have been killed with a .223 and a .50 caliber muzzleloader. Vast majority were bang flops. Out of 19 killed last year, 17 were bang flops. One was gut shot and ran long ways but was recovered. One ran about 60 yards after being hit in the liver with a .22 Hornet.

 

[Shawnee]

+1 for McGunner's train of thought.

The 140s and 150s do a great job and I wouldn't be surprised at all if you get much better results on deer with them rather than with the 165-gr. and up bullets.

Local opinion may vary.

 

[waffentomas]

From that list, I'd take the Barnes, Partition would be second. I use Barnes and they've worked great for me.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Without question...the Barnes 168 grain TSX..

This bullet is match accurate and does a fine job on anything from deer to bears to moose at any reasonable range (say 300 yards or so for the bigger critters)

I have been experimenting with it at 1000 yards (target shooting)...it works as good as any "match" bullet there is...and better than most. Its all in the ogive, which is different than the 165 grain TSX...the 168 has a better BC.

 

[.308 garand]

Thanks for all the input. Keep it coming.
Has anyone had any experience with the Hornady 165gr SSTs? I have heard they are pretty accurate but don't know how they expand.
I know this bullet will work on deer but what about hogs? Will this bullet hold together and penetrate or is it going to just blow up like a
ballistic tip when it hits a hog?

.308

 

[huntershooter]

I'm partial to Noslers "Accubond". In a .308 I run 150 gr., 165-168 gr. is unnecessary for hogs/deer if you're using a controlled expansion bullet.
The "Accubonds" have proven as accurate as the "BallisticTips" in several of my rifles/calibers. That's saying a lot.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Seems like most folks have a preference in bullets. I do, but wouldn't stay home if I could't find my favorite. I'd just use what I could find as long as it shot to poa.

 

[killzone]

Barns

I think they all would work just fine.
For distances beyond 200 yards, I'd go with the 168gr TSX.

 

[.308 garand]

Thanks for all the suggestions.
I think I am going to try my luck with the
165gr SSTs.

.308

 

[glockman19]

I like the 168 Barnes TSX.

 

[taprackbang]

Hey Waffen good article on the article on the 10mm Cartridge. I am thinking about acquiring a 10mm auto pistol.

 

[rwdwrt]

Hornady 165 SSTs

Yes i have used the 165 SST last year hunting, Hit a 350lb Axis Buck at abt 100 yds, bullet pulverized the heart and large portions of both lungs, and actually exited, at least part of it did. I found various bits of tissue behind were I hit the buck on the ground, he staggered abt 15 yds into some timber just outside the right of way and collapsed.
I also hit a white tail doe at 152 yds, again pulverized the heart and also busted up ribs on both sides, when it hit her, it took her clean off her feet, DRT. I reload my own, it was 165 SST / 45.7 gr Varget / Lapua Brass w/ CCI BR2 Primers. This load produces 1in or less groups at 100yds and 3 to 4in groups at 300 yds. Im shooting a SAVAGE 10fp w/ 20in heavy barrel bedded into a Duramax Stock with a Burris 3x9x40 ballistic plex scope

 

[TooTaxed]

Most of those bullets are overkill for deer, and hogs arent very hard to kill, either. 168-gr is the heaviest you should consider, and 150-gr would be quite adequate. The bullets you memtion are fine for larger game, but will really tear up light game. The Nosler Accubonds have rather astounding fine accuracy and are rather inexpensive if you handload.

My last 320-lb hog fell to a single 7.62 x 39 Wolf 154-gr soft point fired from my SKS...the hog fell over, kicked twice, and was dead. It took four of us to load him into a pick-up bed.