Mule deer 308 load

[30-06 lover]

Well I was planning on hunting elk and deer in CO this November, but my "hunting" money isn't going to make the expence of refinishing my rifle, a deer tag, and an elk tag, so I am going to only hunt deer and now need ideas of a good load for big mule deer. I am looking hard at Hornady Custom factory loads with 150 grain Interbonds. (I don't reload) I shot 180 grain Accubonds form Nosler in my 30-06 and the accuracy was outstanading, but Federal doesn't have a 308 Accubond load, so I am hoping the Interboond would be close to the Accubond. How is the interbond for deer? Should I use it if it is accuarte? What is you favorite deer bullet? I have not hunted big game in about four years and am out of the loop. My dad who I hunt with is oldschool and thinks that I should buy the cheapest Wal-Mart has to offer, but I don't think I should worry about 10 extra bux on ammo when this trip costs close to 3,000. All ideas and suggestion will help me greatly. Thanks!!!
-Mike

 

[LAK]

Norma's .308 "Oryx" is similar to the bonded 180s you mention.
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[Grumulkin]

308 Mule Deer Load

Since you don't reload, what I would recommend is to buy several boxes of different brands of 308 cartridges and see which is most accurate in your gun and use them. You don't need 180 grain bullets for deer but they'll work just fine. In the 308, I would usually go for 150 or 168 grain bullets which will work just as well for your purpose and have a little flatter trajectory.

Deer aren't really that tough, so I wouldn't agonize that much on bullet type. Hornady Accubonds, Interbonds, Nosler Partitions, Sierra Gamekings, etc. should all work just fine. I've taken 3 deer with a 308 barrel on my encore and used some Berdan primed soft nosed military cartridges with 150 grain bullets from some South American country (because I had them on hand and they shot well in my gun). All three deer dropped where they stood. I've also taken deer with a 270 Win. and a 22-250. I used off-the-shelf Remington loads with 55 grain bullets in the 22-250 so, as I said, 180 grain bullets are more than you need.

 

[dakotasin]

...what I would recommend is to buy several boxes of different brands of 308 cartridges and see which is most accurate in your gun and use them.

i agree... in the 308 i like 165 grain bullets, especially for deer.

i would start w/ hornady custom, hornady light mag, and winchester (black box). 1 of those is likely to be just right, and give you all the authority and bullet integrity you need. it doesn't hurt to also try some remington and winchester silver box, and maybe even some federal premium loaded w/ sierra gamekings, but i'd start w/ the first 3 and go from there.

 

[Art Eatman]

The Federal High Energy load uses the Sierra SPBT. Good package. I've tried them in my '06, and they're tight-group critters. I've only shot one poor innocent coyote at way too close up, and it was truly ruinacious.

Art

 

[30-06 lover]

So I shouldn't use the interobnd 150 grain? Thanks!!!
-Mike

 

[dakotasin]

you can, and it may perform wonderfully, but might as well take advantage of the better ballistics and bullet construction of the 165's in a 308...

 

[Dr.Rob]

Use what you like... we are just chiming in.

Federal's 165gr sierra game king load is one of the flattest shooting loads with a lot of long range knock down power.

I've been reloading that sierra 165gr spitzer boat tail bullet in .30-06 for years.

If I was to buy 'off the shelf' for hunting, that's THE bullet I would pick.

 

[T.R.]

Mule deer are not armor-plated at all. Any good 150 grain spire tip bullet will do the job out to about 350 yards or so. I've had very good luck with FEDERAL Classic line and Winchester Power Point. Handloading Sierra 150 grain Pro Hunter or Hornady Interlock will produce excellent results as well.

The 165 grain bullet is a little slower but still a very flat shooting bullet. For some reason, this weight never really became popular with majority of hunters.

180's are typically heavier in the jacket and do not open up quite as fast on impact. An exception is the round nose design that was favored by my Dad. He always liked this bullet best of all for mulies and elk. Out to about 225 yards or so, the spire point bullets offer little in the way of advantage over this old fashioned but very dependable bullet design.
TR

 

[borrowedtime69]

my .308 load for my CO mulies...

i hunt Mulies here in CO on the western slope. i have a .308 revelations western auto bolt gun with a cheap BSA 3-9X40mm scope. it groups 3" at 100 yards, mostly because of me, not the gun.

My first time with the rifle was last Oct. took a 120 lb doe with a Winchester 180 grain Power Point at about 90 yards. Bullet went all the way through the length of the body. i hit it high in the chest and it came out a hind quarter. the deer dropped where it stood, its heart was liquified.

The winchester 180 grn Power Points go for about $14/20 and is quite affordable. i chose the 180 grners so that if i ever wanted to try for black bear or elk i wouldnt have to resite my gun in for a heavier load later if i was using the lighter loads.

I dont think you need a mucho denero super match hollowpoint to take deer, but i know that it can be cool to be able to say you shoot them. its all a matter of prefference.

Good luck. -Eric

 

[phonesysphonesys]

I shoot 165 grain spitzers only in my 308. I get good accuracy and good performance. I reload but I would use Hornady Light Magnum or Federals for off the shelf. I use the same load for deer and elk.

What season are you hunting and what area?

phonesysphonesys

 

[hoghunting]

Use the Interbond

30-06 lover,

I reload so I can't give you an opinion on a factory load. But I do reload a
300 wsm with 165 grain Interbonds. These bullets have stopped many hogs at ranges to 300 yards and up to 400 pounds in weight. A big hog is a lot tougher than a mule deer, so the 150 gr Interbond should be just perfect for you. Good luck on your hunt.