308 125 gr AccuBond at 3150 mv?

[tankgijohn72]

If you want what an optimized solution for your given set of parameters, my opinion is this. You may have a slight advantage on a steeply quartering shot with an all copper bullet. Wound channels will be longer with copper as in general it will expand less than a lead bullet. On a broadside shot at the distances you describe, absolutely no difference in how dead the deer will be. 130-168 ttsx. There will be no lead in the bullet, so you will have lose a little less meat.

 

[BoomFlop]

Canhunter35,

You have been a great help as have others. Sorry, I just get frustrated with the "it doesn't matter at those distances" answer is all.

I feel I need more expansion than I am getting with my 7mm-08 with Hornady Whitetail 139 gr Interlock and Remington 140 gr Core Lokt. However, we shoot big WI whitetails and I still want the ability to get through the shoulder or to the vitals on quartering shots. The old Hornady Light Magnum SP's were amazing, but the new stuff is not the same...not sure what that bullet was but it was perfect!!

Thanks
Steve

 

[Canhunter35]

This is my wt from last year, ranged him at 350yds as he was heading out at a trot on a long angle, shot him in the flank and there was a 1" exit in his neck. His entire inside were mush with flakes of copper along the entire route, I was impressed to say the least with the 168eldm from my 308

 

[BoomFlop]

Nice buck! How far did he go? I'm really looking for DRT, and maybe it is more a matter of shot placement versus bullet performance? I maybe looking for a unicorn, however, that old Hornady bullet was AWESOME in my 7-08, but can't find it and Hornady can't tell me what it was ???

 

[RT2506]

Question was asked what is the difference between 3000 fps and 2700 fps with the 125 Gr BT. In my experience impact on a broadside shot placed in the center of the front shoulder into the scapula. Between just under 3000 fps muzzle velocity at 25 yards away out to about 125 yards the bullet will fully expand and shed the lead core and just the fully expanded jacket with just maybe a smear of lead in the base will be found under the hide on the off side shoulder. The vitals will show lots of damage. Beyond 125 yards or so where the bullet has slowed down for an impact below 2700 fps the bullet holds together better and will exit and damage is about the same to the vitals. Does not matter because over 90% of the time it kills the deer dead right there.
Now as to comparing a Nosler BT to a Burger VLD "hunting" bullet they react TOTALLY DIFFERENT on impact. Even at lower velocity the Berger will VAPORISE inside a deer. Example: Using my 30x47 cal rifle, only one I have used the VLD in, I can shoot a deer at a major crossing of a path I hunt on between 100 and 120 yards with a 155 Berger VLD leaving the muzzle at 2600 fps. The bullet will penetrate about 3" through ribs or even through the scapula it does not matter and then it will EXPLOAD and pulp the chest cavity and usually exits with a baseball size hole. It will completely destroy the shoulders. Then take the same shot placement with a 125 gr Nosler BT leaving the muzzle at 2850 fps and the bullet goes in starting to expand almost on impact but it is a controlled expansion that does not liquefy the vitals like the VLD but does do lots of damage and usually will exit even through both shoulders with about a quarter size hole and deer drop right there 90% of the time. Usually you can save most of the real edible meat off the front shoulders. At the muzzle velocity of around 2550 to 2650 fps using cup and core 150 gr bullets form Sierra, Remington & Hornady and 150 Nos BT in the same rifle with the same shot it usually does about the same damage as 125 BT but 50% of the time unless you hit the spine the deer will run 50 yards give or take before going down for good. Also in my experience it has been the same 50% runners with the 155 Berger VLD even though they slosh on the inside. This running even 50 yards is a hassle where I hunt because the cut overs are so thick that you either have to crawl down a deer path or cut your way through the green briar etc. to find the deer. I have had a unique situation where I have hunted the past 30 years in this place and have been able to kill over (no way to tell because I did not keep track but will say) 200+ deer in this exact same spot. Did crop damage control for the first 15 of those years and my buddy and I had to take 100 deer a year off this farm. We fed a lot of people. After the crop damage control program ended we still could get unlimited antlerless tags that came 2 for $10 if we needed more meat. We have killed deer with everything from a sharp stick to a 45-70 using all sorts of bullets from cast to mono and we learned a little bit about calibers and bullets for deer.

 

[Canhunter35]

Nice buck! How far did he go? I'm really looking for DRT, and maybe it is more a matter of shot placement versus bullet performance? I maybe looking for a unicorn, however, that old Hornady bullet was AWESOME in my 7-08, but can't find it and Hornady can't tell me what it was ???

He was already running but he only went 50 yds or so. On the terminal ballistics website he explains shot placement better than I can, but I shot my wt this year at 501yds in the shoulder where he recommends and the deer dropped like a hammer.

 

[Sdupontjr]

I'm getting some Nosler 125 BT loaded as we speak. Friend of mine swears by them, so i sent him my rem 700 to do a load work up. Nosler 125 BT, Remington brass, CCI primer, 47 gr H322, 3180 fps. These things shot .5" groups at 200 yards. He then showed me some pics of some nice 180-200 lb whitetails that he shot and the damage was impressive. So he sold me on them. Sending over a bunch now.

 

[BoomFlop]

RT2506

So you experienced the heavier bullets having the deer cover some ground vs Bang Flop with 125 gr....so it is either velocity or expansion.

Would you recommend the 125 gr Accu-Bond at 3200 fps or a 125 gr Ballistic Tip at 3000 fps?

Great post and information....thank you very much!

Steve

 

[twister]

the bang flop will need some sort of spine trauma from my experiences. shooting for a higher lung shot and putting the shock into the spine will do it. that or neck shooting have been my only bang flops. I agree shredding the lungs and or hear and having them go 50 yards isn't bad but i have gotten half the heart and had the suckers go over 100.

im looking to load up some 150 SST for a 308 and close work but also got some 152 sledge hammers i would like to try. the sledgehamemr seems good fast opening copper solid.

 

[therifleman556]

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/9...ch-grade-controlled-chaos-lead-free-box-of-20

I used these same bullets out of a 7mm-08 this year. Expansion is very rapid; almost to the point I would recommend avoiding the shoulders (at least on entry). Shot a good sized doe at 40 yards; she took 5 good sideways hops and flopped over. I'm trying them in 243 next year.

 

[Hand Skills]

I'm really looking for DRT, and maybe it is more a matter of shot placement versus bullet performance? I maybe looking for a unicorn, however, that old Hornady bullet was AWESOME in my 7-08, but can't find it and Hornady can't tell me what it was ???

I don't have any experience with the 125AB's so take this for what it's worth (nothing)

Based on your criteria, I too will gently nudge you toward the NBT. Though usage (.277 140gr, .284 140gr, 160gr, .308 165gr, 200gr) I found accubonds to be very consistent performers. They seem to hang together and exit with regularity. The bullet is designed for controlled expansion and penetration, not for doing maximum damage as quickly as possible.

-Winchester Power Point
-Hornady SST
-Nosler Ballistic tip

These deliver more rapid expansion IME

I just started hunting with Bergers last year. I was skeptical until I read an article by John Barsness in which he extolled the use of Berger's in a meat saving capacity. Like many experienced hunters, he doesn't say much about DRT - he did say a Berger through the lungs ruins very little meat, and the critters don't go far.

Good luck in your quest. I too have found dropping them in their tracks is more about where I put, than what I put.

 

[Bravo 4]

Question was asked what is the difference between 3000 fps and 2700 fps with the 125 Gr BT. In my experience impact on a broadside shot placed in the center of the front shoulder into the scapula. Between just under 3000 fps muzzle velocity at 25 yards away out to about 125 yards the bullet will fully expand and shed the lead core

This...
The difference in 2700 and 3000 FPS is more probability of the core and jacket separating. If you don't want that to happen then use the Accubonds.

 

[Wolf76]

I've used 125ABs out of my 308. They were reduced recoil handloads for my daughter. Killed deer fine(not drt). I would look hard at 150/165 sst or equivalent amax. Berger vlds are amazing as well. About 43grs of varget and a 165gr bullet is the ticket in the 308.

 

[Don A Parsons]

Try the light weight triple shock X's

You'll be very impressed with them.

Double the cost yes ,,, but a person will soon realize why that is.

They deffinatly Rattle the furry rapper, Ha.

Happy hunting fore sure