.308 win LR deer hunting

[Gernest2]

Any suggestions on a max effective range for a 308 win on whitetails? The load I currently have worked up is 168 gr VLD's with 42grs of varget getting about 2700fps MV give or take never chronographed it just guessing from load data. Thanks

 

[406precision]

We get asked this type of question all the time in our shooting classes. Max effective range is always a tricky question more important than a predetermined number is your personal effective range at which you feel confident that you can reliably make ethical and humane shots.

As for the caliber in question after 800 yards the probability of routinely making those types of shots is greatly reduced.

 

[Derek M.]

Any suggestions on a max effective range for a 308 win on whitetails? The load I currently have worked up is 168 gr VLD's with 42grs of varget getting about 2700fps MV give or take never chronographed it just guessing from load data. Thanks

You can certainly kill a deer at 1000 yards with what you load. Question is, how long will it take to die, and how far will it make it in that time period between bullet impact and expiration. Put the bullet in front of the diaphragm and it will perish. No telling how far it can travel while hemorrhaging.

I have a 308 I'm considering for next year with the 168 VLD also with VARGET and IMR4064 powders. I've been wondering the same question.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Personally, I wouldn't shoot a deer over 850 yards with a .308 Win. Just my opinion. And even then I wouldn't try the 168's at that distance. I would shoot my Berger 210 VLD load up to 850 max for game animals. My 168 VLD load is 2,775 fps, and I still wouldn't shoot a deer more than 750 yards.

 

[SidecarFlip]

Gee, I was gonna say 500 yards maximum for a consistent humane kill that won't have you working your butt off tracking a wounded animal over hill and dale, mostly hill...............

I never shoot mine past 500 yards. If it ranges over 500, I get closer.

I really like my 308 for a couple reasons but mainly because the barrel life will probably be longer than mine and factory rounds abound, even at the mom and pop hardware store in that little town near your hunt when you loose your ammo or it gets misplaced on the plane ride.....

Sure the pill will do a grand in yardage but so will a 22LR. That don't mean either will kill humanely.... (in the case of the 22 it had better be through an eyeball....)

 

[MudRunner2005]

My 210 VLD load will kill humanely at 850...With my 24" barrel, at 850 yards it retains 1424 fps and 946 ft lbs of energy...Which should be plenty for a deer with a vitals shot behind the shoulder.

 

[SidecarFlip]

My 210 VLD load will kill humanely at 850...With my 24" barrel, at 850 yards it retains 1424 fps and 946 ft lbs of energy...Which should be plenty for a deer with a vitals shot behind the shoulder.

.......and you are younger and see better than I do.......

I'll stick with my benchmark 500. Thats my confort zone anyway.

 

[MudRunner2005]

.......and you are younger and see better than I do.......

I'll stick with my benchmark 500. Thats my confort zone anyway.

Oh come on now Phillipe'....It can't be THAT bad. Just throw you a 8-32x56 Nightforce on there and you'll be able to see for sure.

 

[SidecarFlip]

Oh come on now Phillipe'....It can't be THAT bad. Just throw you a 8-32x56 Nightforce on there and you'll be able to see for sure.

Thats hard to buy on a Social Security check.....

'specially with Obama sticking it up my with healthcare now.....

Anymore, Tasco is expensive.....lol

 

[MudRunner2005]

Thats hard to buy on a Social Security check.....

'specially with Obama sticking it up my with healthcare now.....

Anymore, Tasco is expensive.....lol

Yeah, tell me about it...

Anyway, moving back on to the .308 Win....It is a great caliber, and a classic deer huntig round.

 

[SidecarFlip]

Yeah, tell me about it...

Anyway, moving back on to the .308 Win....It is a great caliber, and a classic deer huntig round.

I surely like mine (308) for bambi's.

Do'in my part this year to keep 'em off your bumper....

(at less than 500 yards of course).... Actually, much less around here. A l.ong shot is 100 yards, most at 50 or less. Hard to miss actually.

 

[SidecarFlip]

...Back in the day (not too long ago), actually a year ago, if I wanted a new shooting piece, I went and bought a new shooting piece and ordered a fancy scope and all the fix'ins....

Now, I have to save up for a new shooting piece and the fix'ins have to wait too,.....



Maybe I can get a Bridge Card....lightbulb

 

[HARPERC]

....It can't be THAT bad. Just throw you a 8-32x56 Nightforce on there and you'll be able to see for sure.

After a certain point it seems like more magnification, just makes the blurs bigger.

 

[WildRose]

Careful boys. While I agree with your sentiments we need to adhere to our host's rule about political discussions. They can wreck a good natured forum in a hurry plus with this being a firearms oriented site he probably gets a lot more scrutiny from various federal agencies than he'd like already.

As for the .308 it's far more than adequate for the job.

The Op isn't using my choice of bullets for game but that combo will definitely kill deer quite effectively at the ranges and velocities being discussed.