Deer / Antelope bullet / loads

tcmaffe

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Aug 28, 2010
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I have two guns I am thinking of taking on an Antelope hunt, a 308 Rem. 700 26 inch barrel 1in 12 twist or a Weatherby Vanguard in 243 Win. 24 inch barrel 1 in 10 inch twist. The 308 shoots great with 168 Match Kings but it does not like the 165 Nosler Ballistic Tips I thought I would use. The 243 groups OK with 100 grain Partitions but again I am not sure what to try next. Any suggestions on bullet and powder would be appreciated. I currently use Varget in the 308 and 4350 in the 243. Thanks!
 
I'd try the 308 with a 155 A-Max bullet and Varget, RE15 or Benchmark.

Just a thought

I have two guns I am thinking of taking on an Antelope hunt, a 308 Rem. 700 26 inch barrel 1in 12 twist or a Weatherby Vanguard in 243 Win. 24 inch barrel 1 in 10 inch twist. The 308 shoots great with 168 Match Kings but it does not like the 165 Nosler Ballistic Tips I thought I would use. The 243 groups OK with 100 grain Partitions but again I am not sure what to try next. Any suggestions on bullet and powder would be appreciated. I currently use Varget in the 308 and 4350 in the 243. Thanks!
 
There are thousands of good loads for each in all the load manuals so will not offer anything there.

As far as bullets, you want something that opens up relatively quickly but with enough weight and strength to break a shoulder if needed. IF no other bullet shoots well the 168 gr will work fine in the 308 but I would prefer to see a lighter, higher velocity bullet with a tipped design. Something like the A-Max mentioned or SST or Ballistic Tip or even the Accubond in a 150 gr weight would open up more reliably then the 168.

In the 243. I like bullets in the 80-85 grain range for conventional range hunting with this caliber. The 100 gr Parition is really a bit droopy in trajectory. Get an 80 gr Ballistic tip or 85 gr Sierra SPBT and you will be very happy.
 
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