would you use a 150 grn 308 bullet for elk?

[grubbylabs]

Why or why not?

I have the Speer #13 book and I either have the choice of a 165 or a 150 grn bullet.

 

[dakotasin]

no because i think 165 grain bullets are much better.

 

[grubbylabs]

Does any one know if there is data in their #14 book for a 155 grn bullet or a 160grn?

 

[EHCRain10]

Depends on the bullet and the cartridge firing the bullet

 

[grubbylabs]

I am shooting a 308.

 

[KBintheSLC]

For smaller animals like antelope or whitetail, the 150g would be great. But for a larger animal like an elk, I would opt for something heavier to slow the bullet deformation and increase penetration... something in the 165-180g range.

 

[375shooter]

I have never hunted elk but I have hunted moose. If I never had a choice, I would use a 150 gr in 308 Win but it would have to be a Barnes TSX. I would be very careful about where I placed my shot and would much prefer a 180 grain.

 

[Austinite]

Bullet selection becomes really important with a 150 grain pill fired out of a .308 intended for elk. Most 150 grain bullets are ok but a few including Barnes' X bullet are great.

 

[browningguy]

I would not hesitate with the 150 gr TSX bullet.

 

[jpwilly]

Why not? Folks shoot 150Gr or less 270's and 7mm rounds with 150gr pills all the time. Why wouldn't a good 150gr work in a 30 cal?

 

[Vicious-Peanut]

Why not? Folks shoot 150Gr or less 270's and 7mm rounds with 150gr pills all the time. Why wouldn't a good 150gr work in a 30 cal?

Because a 150gr .270 has a high sectional density than a 150gr .308. In fact, a 150gr .270 has better sectional density than 180gr .308.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

For smaller animals like antelope or whitetail, the 150g would be great. But for a larger animal like an elk, I would opt for something heavier to slow the bullet deformation and increase penetration... something in the 165-180g range.

^ My thoughts exactly.

 

[stubbicatt]

I would not think that a 150 would be too little. After all it is shot placement that counts, and I'm pretty sure that a 150 would carry enough other than for something like a Texas Heart Shot or something.

 

[Birddog1911]

Bolt gun or gas gun? Bolt; I say take it to a 180. Gas; I say 165 to 175. Watch your pressures, and you'll be fine. A 150 grn .308 can drop an elk, but when your hunting, better to stack things in your deck.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

For elk....at least 165 grains and no Ballistic Tips or anything of the sort.

Personally, I'd go with 175-180 grain bullets for elk.

 

[ms6852]

As always barring bullet place you really could but why. There is a lot be be said for sectional density and a 165 or 180 grain bullet offers more. You stand a better chance of tracking a wounded elk with a 150 gr than you would with a 165 grain and so on.

 

[jpwilly]

Because a 150gr .270 has a high sectional density than a 150gr .308. In fact, a 150gr .270 has better sectional density than 180gr .308.

Yea by around .008 but no matter. A 150gr bullet will do the job. I didn't say a 165, 180, 200, 220 grain bullet wouldn't be a little better depending on the game and for Elk 165 and 180's are pretty common but so are 150gr and they have been working for years too.

 

[natman]

Not if I had a choice. A 180 is much better suited for elk.

 

[bubbajoe45]

Use the 165, or better yet a 175 or 180. For a heavy boned animal like elk, you need that penetration.

Loading data can be found on the powder manufacturer's website in most cases (Hodgon and IMR). Also, Hodgon puts out a marketing flyer covering all their powders - I got one at a local gunstore. It has min/max load data for all calibers suitable to a given powder. I imagine the other mfg.s may do these as well.

 

[AzBuckfever]

Yes, if I were within 300 yds....anything past that and I think heavier is better....I used to have a go to load for my 30-06....165 grn for deer and elk....right now I have some 180 grn. reloads that I'll be using on deer. A little heavy but so are the deer

 

[Lloyd Smale]

A pile of elk have been killed over the years using 3030s 303 300 savages and even rounds alot less powerful then that. I dont think theres an elk on the planet that would walk away from a 150 corelock shoot into its lungs. Place it poorly and it will run away wounded but the same can be said about a 300 mag shooting 180 partitions.

 

[SaxonPig]

After I saw elk in the wild for the first time, and realized how big they are, I decided that the 30 caliber is a little light. I know elk are shot with 30s all the time but I would prefer a 338 or even a 375 because I follow the Elmer Keith concept of using enough gun.

I wonder how many elk run off to die days later after being hit with a 308 or '06 round?

 

[Water-Man]

165 or 180!

 

[jpwilly]

Hey grubbylabs...if you can load either load the 165gr but I wouldn't hesitate to use 150's either. I think there a little too much to do about the 15gr difference and .226 vs .248 sectional density. If your worried about such things going from 150's to 180's would provide the best jump in performance. 180gr offer .271 SD and 200gr get you over the magical .300 mark (for tough critters) such as grizzly & Alaskan moose but would overpenetrate Elk especially at close range. Those big deer aren't bullet proof.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

I'd use 180's and keep the range under 200 yards, maybe 300.