.308 deer, bear, and elk loads?

[CplLewis]

I have been hunting since I was 11 and now at 24 I am just getting serious about my rifles and game. I used to just go buy some Remington Corlokts for my .30-06 and assume my rifle was "zeroed" from all the years of being banged around and hunted with. Now after 4 years of shooting for the Marine Corps, I have second guessed my whole outlook on hunting and accuracy. Now I have bought and put rounds through my Savage 10FCP .308 and feel comfortable, and am accurate (.66 MOA) out to 600 yards.

I have been shooting 168 gr. SMK with 44 gr. hodgdon benchmark and it has worked "bangin the gong" accurately to 669 yards, but shooting plates and shooting game are two different things.

What should I be loading for elk, black bear and mule deer? Is there a good bullet for all three? or do I need to brew up a load for each? and how far can I expect my .308 to perform accurately with a 1 in 10 twist? Any and all input would be greatly appreciated from this young Jedi!

 

[daopi]

I think any decent hunting bullet will do the job, but the problem is the distance: you can't shoot an elk at 600 yards with 308win, not enough energy. A small deer no problem.

I have a savage 10FCP too, and I use Hornady 165gr SST. According to Hornady reloading manual they are appropriate for medium and large game.

Have a look to these links from Berger bullets:

Berger Bullets

.308 Winchester - Hunting Applications

Good luck!

 

[CplLewis]

I think any decent hunting bullet will do the job, but the problem is the distance: you can't shoot an elk at 600 yards with 308win, not enough energy. A small deer no problem.

I have a savage 10FCP too, and I use Hornady 165gr SST. According to Hornady reloading manual they are appropriate for medium and large game.

Have a look to these links from Berger bullets:

Berger Bullets

.308 Winchester - Hunting Applications

Good luck!

Thanks for the info!

 

[X3MHunter]

Load up some 168 gr. Barnes TTSX and you can hunt everything with the same bullet.

-X3M

 

[CplLewis]

Load up some 168 gr. Barnes TTSX and you can hunt everything with the same bullet.

-X3M

Thanks X3M, Ill check them out

 

[Michael Eichele]

For heavy game such as elk, bears and large mulies I use the 200 Sierra Game King. It has a very good BC, low velocity expansion threshold and high weight.

In short, it will open at 1500 FPS where as the Barnes and Partitions and Accubonds are 1800 FPS. With the high weight and BC of the SGK and the low impact velocity needs it makes an awesome 308 hammer. You will see 1500 FPS between 700-800 yards depending on the velocity you run them. Also where they cross 1500 FPS, they also run 1000 pounds of energy.

You will be very hard pressed to beat the 200 SGK in a 308 for elk unless you limit your range to 300-400 yards.

Hope that helps!

M

 

[CplLewis]

For heavy game such as elk, bears and large mulies I use the 200 Sierra Game King. It has a very good BC, low velocity expansion threshold and high weight.

In short, it will open at 1500 FPS where as the Barnes and Partitions and Accubonds are 1800 FPS. With the high weight and BC of the SGK and the low impact velocity needs it makes an awesome 308 hammer. You will see 1500 FPS between 700-800 yards depending on the velocity you run them. Also where they cross 1500 FPS, they also run 1000 pounds of energy.

You will be very hard pressed to beat the 200 SGK in a 308 for elk unless you limit your range to 300-400 yards.

Hope that helps!

M

Exactly what I have been looking for! Will my 1 in 10 twist stabilize a 200 gr SGK though?

 

[Michael Eichele]

Exactly what I have been looking for! Will my 1 in 10 twist stabilize a 200 gr SGK though?

Your 10x is MORE than enough to stabilize the 200 SGK. 12x is the minimum, 11x is optimal and 10x is plenty.

 

[CplLewis]

Your 10x is MORE than enough to stabilize the 200 SGK. 12x is the minimum, 11x is optimal and 10x is plenty.

Excellent, Ill start brewing a batch next week

 

[eaglesnester]

I live and hunt in Northern B.C. Canada. We have very big everything, (mule deer, elk, moose, black bear, and grizz). For the wife's 30/06 I load er up with 168gr Burger VLDes. In my 300 Weatherby I load up with 190gr Burger VLDes, both rifles shoot em very accurate. The weatherby shoots a 3 inch group at a lasered 400 yards all day. The Burgers hit hard and put game on the ground fast they have never failed me. I shot a spring bear with the Weatherby and he was DRT.

Semper Fi: The Doc, First MRDIV Retired.

 

[hunterbob]

I think any decent hunting bullet will do the job, but the problem is the distance: you can't shoot an elk at 600 yards with 308win, not enough energy. A small deer no problem.

I have a savage 10FCP too, and I use Hornady 165gr SST. According to Hornady reloading manual they are appropriate for medium and large game.

Have a look to these links from Berger bullets:

Berger Bullets

.308 Winchester - Hunting Applications

Good luck!

I agree on that one about shooting an elk at 600, but I like to get closer on my hunts and prefer 200 yards due to my old eyes don't see like they did at 24.

 

[FAL Shot]

As far as bullet stability goes, you can usually go a bit slower in twist rate than recommended if you hunt at high altitude like I do. A mile high is quite a bit different from sea level, and at 12,000 feet the air is half as dense as at sea level. At 1000 meters, a 1:9 twist rate will work as well as 1:8 twist rate at sea level.

By the same token, hot weather will allow a slower twist rate than cold weather. Test your heavy bullets at the coldest temp and lowest altitude you ever intend to be hunting in.