308 bullet choice

[JO JO]

I will start working up a load for my new savage 10 fcp, so ,my question is would there be an all purpose bullet that is good for both target and animal should I ever take it hunting the 308 is a new reloading adventure for me my max distance at the range is 600 yards,
is there a all purpose bullet say 150 165 168 grain ? I have read good things about the Amax ?
or btsp or bthp would like to stick with hornady as i have their book and my LGS has a good stock on them and they go on sale often.
any opinions help thanks

 

[RecoilRob]

I've gotten very good results with Sierra Game King 165 and 168 Match King for animals and targets. H-335 under each works well and about 42 grains is listed as max and has proven accurate in many rifles without pressure signs. You can likely do better after doing a lot of experimenting, but I'll wager you won't get a lot better results.

 

[someguy2800]

I'm not a fan of using target type bullets like the A-max or a bthp bullet for deer hunting. If I had to choose one hornady bullet that will be good for both I would try the SST in 150 and 165 grains. Or just shoot whatever match bullet you want on the range and if you ever decide to go hunting you can work up another load with a proper hunting bullet. The regular soft point interlocks are decent bullets too.

 

[RugerOldArmy]

Sierra GameKing

 

[Mn Fats]

Nosler 168 gr ballistic tip spitzer for me. 42.5 gr Imr 4065. Its "all purpose" as far as tack driving paper and putting down game out of my rifles. Of course, im sure your aware each rifle performs differently with bullet weight/type etc. So any recommendations here may be irrelevant for your rifle.

 

[farmerboy78]

Just use the amax! I use them in my 6.5 grendel for range time and deer hunting. They actually expand quite well on deer sized animals. But i would suggest the 178gr because you probably have a 1in10" twist.

 

[jmr40]

I'm moving to heavier, higher BC bullets. The new Hornady 178 gr ELD-X's is working well for me at the range although I've not shot game with it yet. Compared to 150 gr SST bullets I'm starting out 200 fps slower, but at 300 yards they are virtually the same speed, at longer ranges the 178's are much faster than the 150's. The 150's only have 2" less drop, but the heavier bullet has a significant edge in energy at all ranges and the farther downrange the bigger the gap.

Based on what I'm reading the bullet performs well on game at close or long range as long as impact speed is at or below about 2800 fps. I've read of some over expansion from magnum rifles at close range. It is not a hard bullet designed to shoot through a lot of muscle on large game shot from bad angles. Put the bullet in vitals and it seem to kill quite well.

I think it was Field & Stream who tested several long range hunting bullets and rated the new ELD-X #1. They were shooting the heavier 212 gr bullets from a 300 mag and found near identical expansion and penetration at 150 yards and 800 yards. All of the other bullets tested either performed well close, or far, but not both.

 

[dgod]

I'm moving to heavier, higher BC bullets. The new Hornady 178 gr ELD-X's is working well for me at the range although I've not shot game with it yet. Compared to 150 gr SST bullets I'm starting out 200 fps slower, but at 300 yards they are virtually the same speed, at longer ranges the 178's are much faster than the 150's. The 150's only have 2" less drop, but the heavier bullet has a significant edge in energy at all ranges and the farther downrange the bigger the gap.

Based on what I'm reading the bullet performs well on game at close or long range as long as impact speed is at or below about 2800 fps. I've read of some over expansion from magnum rifles at close range. It is not a hard bullet designed to shoot through a lot of muscle on large game shot from bad angles. Put the bullet in vitals and it seem to kill quite well.

I think it was Field & Stream who tested several long range hunting bullets and rated the new ELD-X #1. They were shooting the heavier 212 gr bullets from a 300 mag and found near identical expansion and penetration at 150 yards and 800 yards. All of the other bullets tested either performed well close, or far, but not both.

I agree with JMR, I dearly love the ELD-X bullets, the ELD-XM are supposed to be better as they are Match Grade, I have personally seen 1/2" groups with the 200"s and 220's, I have not shot the 178's yet, just got some, and haven't gotten to it yet. But, overall, GREAT bullet.
Dan

 

[Nature Boy]

I've had good accuracy and lethality with the Nosler BTs

 

[jmr40]

Here is a link to the Field & Stream tests. This looks like a target bullet that really performs well on game at all ranges. Look at the photo's of recovered bullets. The Hornadys shot at 150 yards look almost just like the ones recovered at 800 yards.

http://www.fieldandstream.com/long-range-shootout?src=SOC&dom=fb

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The Hornady ELD-X is supposed to be a match grade hunting bullet but I have never tried it.

Sorry JoJo, IMO if you want good results you can't cut corners. Like several posts above I recommend the Sierra GameKing/MatchKing combination. I shoot a lot more 30-06 than .308 and load a lot of 168gr SMK bullets,and 165gr SGK bullets. Both use the same powder charge and there us no need to adjust the scope for the two.

When I load a 165gr Partition or AccuBond bullet the scope is still on or close enough with the AccuBond.

 

[Newtosavage]

I will start working up a load for my new savage 10 fcp, so ,my question is would there be an all purpose bullet that is good for both target and animal should I ever take it hunting the 308 is a new reloading adventure for me my max distance at the range is 600 yards,
is there a all purpose bullet say 150 165 168 grain ? I have read good things about the Amax ?
or btsp or bthp would like to stick with hornady as i have their book and my LGS has a good stock on them and they go on sale often.
any opinions help thanks

Either Hornady SST's or Sierra Game Kings will easily do both at a fair price.

 

[Gtscotty]

I'm moving to heavier, higher BC bullets. The new Hornady 178 gr ELD-X's is working well for me at the range although I've not shot game with it yet. Compared to 150 gr SST bullets I'm starting out 200 fps slower, but at 300 yards they are virtually the same speed, at longer ranges the 178's are much faster than the 150's. The 150's only have 2" less drop, but the heavier bullet has a significant edge in energy at all ranges and the farther downrange the bigger the gap.

Based on what I'm reading the bullet performs well on game at close or long range as long as impact speed is at or below about 2800 fps. I've read of some over expansion from magnum rifles at close range. It is not a hard bullet designed to shoot through a lot of muscle on large game shot from bad angles. Put the bullet in vitals and it seem to kill quite well.

I think it was Field & Stream who tested several long range hunting bullets and rated the new ELD-X #1. They were shooting the heavier 212 gr bullets from a 300 mag and found near identical expansion and penetration at 150 yards and 800 yards. All of the other bullets tested either performed well close, or far, but not both.

I was just looking at that article last night, they were testing the 212gr out of a .300 WM, but still the results were impressive. I've been shooting the 178gr ELDx out of my .308 lately, and that's what I would suggest to meet your one bullet requirement. In my rifle, the 178gr ELDxs shoot right with the 178gr Amaxs, but have a higher BC, and by most accounts are good game bullets, especially for smaller medium game like deer.

The ELDx (left)and Amax aren't exactly identical.


But they shoot pretty much exactly the same in my rifle.

 

[JO JO]

thanks all , good advise and I like the idea of the match king and game king being able to use the same load and the ELDx look good too. I know my rifle will pick what it likes but I got to start with one of them and the advise here is great

 

[longdayjake]

I would definitely consider the ELD-X. You're going to have a hard time finding a better BC that can also double as a hunting bullet. And the price is going to pretty much beat anyone out there.

 

[.308 Norma]

Sierra GameKing

I'll second that.

 

[jeepmor]

A while ago I bought some generic bulk soft point 165 grain bullets from Midway. My .308 loves them and was punching ragged holes on my first loading of Varget in LC cases. Don't recall charge to comment at the moment.

 

[Grumulkin]

 

[Decoy80]

I personally try to find the cheapest to shoot for just shooting at paper. I use the 180gr. Nosler Partitions in 300 Win Mag,30-06, so my 308 has to eat what's on the table.
Hit in the boiler room and deer will lay down with either of the 3 rifles.

 

[Sunray]

For hunting 165's and IMR4064. For targets, 168 grain match bullets(partial to Hornady's myself) out to 600 with IMR4064. The 3 grains won't make much difference, but a match bullet is a different beast than a hunting bullet. Do not use any match bullet for hunting anything but varmints including brands like A-Maxes. They are not made for hunting large game.
You absolutely must know the ballistics to take a hunting shot that far away.