ok so this is my first attempt at loading some 308 win for hunting. i was just wondering what kind of bullets you guys have been successful with and what grain. i was looking at the 150 gr hornady interlock with w748 (i have about 4 lbs of 748 and a lb of aa2520) or aa2520. in my experience with 30-06 (similar to 308 win), the ballistic tips have always performed better but am not familiar with the wide variety. also considering the 168gr amax... it's for my dad's new ar10. thanks.
308 win for white tail
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jwrowland77
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I've always used the 150gr Hornady or the 150gr Nosler Partition over IMR 4064. Can't go wrong with either bullet. Just make it accurate!
i've done some research and pretty much any 308 will do but again different designs will perform different. i grew up using a 30-06 with 150 gr remington bronze tips and 99% of the deer i shot dropped where they stood. walmart stop carrying those and we switched to corloks. i began to have deer run even after being shot in the vitals for about 10-25 yards. i've never had a deer "drop" with soft points although they perform well, they are not as effective at the bronze tips...
jwrowland77
Member
I love core-lokts back when I bought ammo. Reloading though, it's tough to beat the Hornady Interlocks and Nosler Partitions
jwrowland77
Member
A lot of folks use Varget. I use IMR 4064, it's easier to find. IMR 4064 is a very versatile powder as well.
jwrowland77
Member
I buy my partitions from Shooters Pro Shop. They're seconds but cost about 50% less than firsts and the seconds are just as good. I've never had one not work
last deer i took with my .308 i used Hodgen benchmark and a 165gr. sierra 165gr bowtailed soft point. its there game king bullet. once i tried this bullet it is my go to bullet from now on. to date (about 15 deer) not one has taken a step after the shot. i'm sure one will as that is not a guarantee but still impressive none the less. great expansion every time. h-380 is a good powder it is temp sensitive but cheap, varget, tac, h-335, h414, IMR 4064 is one i use alot but meters poorly. the winchester powder you have works great. lots of options out there for powder and .308 win is inherently accurate so that helps alot.
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MtnCreek
Member
I would stay 165/168 gr and below. Varget and 4895 would be my top choices if I were buying, but you may find what you're looking for w/ the powders you have on hand.
allaroundhunter
Member
I use either Nosler Accubonds or Partitions in my .308. I haven't had a deer or hog make it more than 15 yards from where they were hit.
I have also used 175 gr SMKs, and while they work well; I would prefer to use one of the first two options for a strictly hunting bullet.
I have also used 175 gr SMKs, and while they work well; I would prefer to use one of the first two options for a strictly hunting bullet.
judgedelta
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Sierra 165 Gameking hollowpoint. Instant kill or 4-lane bloodtrail; depends on you.
tygranch
Member
Sierra 165 gr BTSP with IMR 4895. My wife and I have used the same load for the 16 years we've been together and we each harvest one or two deer a season.
I always use 150 gr loads in my 308.
I have had good results with gamekings, core-lokts and hot cor's.
Powders which have yielded good results have been:
IMR 4064
IMR 4895
Varget
H4895
I think the IMR 4064 has provided the tightest groups but for hunting any combo above would provide more than accurate enough to take a deer cleanly.
Good luck with your load development.
I have had good results with gamekings, core-lokts and hot cor's.
Powders which have yielded good results have been:
IMR 4064
IMR 4895
Varget
H4895
I think the IMR 4064 has provided the tightest groups but for hunting any combo above would provide more than accurate enough to take a deer cleanly.
Good luck with your load development.
dprice3844444
member
anything you use should be fine.find out what the rifle shoots best with.if you have access to a chronometer,use it.they are not that expensive.do you have other rifles that also use 308 like garands etc?if so,load for the garand so you don't mix up the ammo.ar-10 is more forgiving than a garand.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Deer are no harder to kill than a man and the .308 has been doing that in war for a long time. While the Nosler Partition is a great bullet IMO it's overkill when hunting deer. I personally don't like spending money I don't need to spend. What bullet were you buying before you loaded? Did it do a good job? Use that bullet to load in your ammo.
As for powders, like you said the .308 is a lot like the 30-06 but not exactly. My favorite powder is IMR4064 but Varget is also a very good choice. That said, you already have a powder that is very highly regarded as a excellent .308 powder by those who shoot at Camp Perry, AA2520. You will be very happy loading AA2520 in your .308 ammo.
For deer I like several bullet including the 165gr Sierra GameKing bullet. I also like Remington Core-Lokt bullet. It has been putting meat on the table for a very long time. Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets work just fine as does the Speer Hot-Cor bullets.
The Nosler Partition, Nosler AccuBond, Barnes Triple-Shock, the Swift Scirocco and the like are all excellent bullets. Of course you can use the premium bonded bullets but at what cost? In reality, there really isn't a bad bullet out there that's made by a name brand manufacturer.
As for powders, like you said the .308 is a lot like the 30-06 but not exactly. My favorite powder is IMR4064 but Varget is also a very good choice. That said, you already have a powder that is very highly regarded as a excellent .308 powder by those who shoot at Camp Perry, AA2520. You will be very happy loading AA2520 in your .308 ammo.
For deer I like several bullet including the 165gr Sierra GameKing bullet. I also like Remington Core-Lokt bullet. It has been putting meat on the table for a very long time. Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets work just fine as does the Speer Hot-Cor bullets.
The Nosler Partition, Nosler AccuBond, Barnes Triple-Shock, the Swift Scirocco and the like are all excellent bullets. Of course you can use the premium bonded bullets but at what cost? In reality, there really isn't a bad bullet out there that's made by a name brand manufacturer.
phonejack
Member
The Amax won't expand on deer. This I know thru experience. It's made for accuracy on paper.
Grumulkin
Member
They certainly expanded on the 2 deer I shot with them.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Then you got lucky because according to Hornady their A-Max bullet is a match bullet and not meant for hunting.
Their V-Max bullets are made for Varmint hunting.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
So you are going to ignore what Hornady has on their site and quote their older load manual which has been superseded by the 9th Edition manual.From Hornady 8:
Are you really willing to use a match bullet for hunting and change injuring an animal which could possible suffer for a very long time? That is unethical and completely avoidable by using the proper hunting bullets.
balderclev
Member
I worked up a load this year for my 308 using Hornady 150gr SST. I've always hunted with that bullet but this is the first time I have loaded it myself. I always shoot a high shoulder shot and the deer drop in their tracks. No pass-through and not much left of the shoulders.
Getting sub-MOA with it.
USE THE FOLLOWING AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.
150gr Hornady SST
47.2gr RL15
Federal LR primers
2.75" OAL
Military brass
Getting sub-MOA with it.
USE THE FOLLOWING AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.
150gr Hornady SST
47.2gr RL15
Federal LR primers
2.75" OAL
Military brass
lauderdale
Member
I shot both Partitions & Core lokts and w/my 25.06 sendero bbl most always dropped the deer in its tracks. 270 w/Core lokts the did go some distance but not far at all! (All according to shot placement). Amax are in the drawer. Iam W/ARCH A. on this one. Just my 2 cents.
MtnCreek
Member
Did you recover the deer?
LeonCarr
Member
150 Grain Nosler Ballistic Tip over IMR-4895. Match grade accuracy with awesome terminal performance.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
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