How far can a 308 responsibly take game?

I did a very limited load workup with the 215 Berger in the 308 a while back.

I moly'd the 215's, and loaded them to 3.10" OAL, in Win brass, over 49.0 gr RL17, and lit it off with a CCI 200 primer.

Here's a look at a loaded round, and some of the other heavies I use,




I shot the load through two 308s, both Rem varmint barrels with the long throat and 1/12 twist. The 20.5" barrel made 2500 fps, and the 26" barrel was reading 2590 fps, 30 feet from the muzzle, for about 2600 fps MV.

Here's the 100 yard target. I honestly wasn't expecting great accuracy from the 1/12 twist barrel with such a long bullet, but the 26" barrel did show some potential. I would never choose a 1/12 on a 308 (I lean toward the heavy bullets), but these factory tubes handle the 208 Amax pretty well, so I'm going to continue using them until they stop shooting well.

 
Tanker... Where you been hiding? Good to see you aboard once again.

I hover around. Winter is setting in, so you might see me more often. Been busy building a tree house next to a tree:D:D:D for my kids. Been working construction part time by day and residential counselor by night. Taking kids to soccer and daughter to cheer practice. Just busy. Sorry OP for the side track.
 
Went to the range today. Ran some different loads with the 200SGK's. I'll get my results up later. Got some interesting results. Using CFE223 of all powders gave my best velocity both in the SGK and 208 A-max. Used some RL19. Velocities were not good, but one was really tight...like one hole tight (2325fps)ish. I would like to visit the CFE loads on a later date with better brass. Test brass was LC 79 match brass. I've had difficulties getting that brass to be consistent. To be continued!
 
There's a good kill shot video on youtube, fairly recently in Iraq. I believe the distance was around 1300 yards. The video shows the guy going done but it didn't look like there was an exit wound or a discernable blood splat behind the dude. Not sure of the bullet type but obviously not the type you'd want on a reliable animal harvest at that range. The 308 is very accurate at that distance, but every firearm and bullet has it's limits right.
 
If you had to shoot 800 yds , as long as your Velocity was above 800 fps the bullet would go through both shoulders of a deer and may exit or be lodged in the skin, on exiting shoulders....
 
So here are my results. Some are a little different as I forgot to reset the Chrony!:rolleyes:

Rifle- Savage Mod12 VLP, 28" Lothar Walther 1:12, Savage Laminated Factor Stock (Very good stock I might add), Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44, EGW HD 20MOA base, Bolt timed and firing pin protrusion set to .051"

Temp 56, Baro 29.85 Humidity 78%, Alt. 1200ftish

LC79 Match preped, F210M, 2.343" .010 off the lands (Using a comparator) 200SGK

CFE223 45.3 (Book Max) 2644, 2670, 2653 Avg 2655.66 ES 26 SD11.66 Grouping was okay, but could be better. By adjusting length, that would probably tighten up the ES and SD. But what surprised me the most was the velocity. I even have some room to go up, but not much. I would like to use some better brass, maybe even Lapua SMP to see what it would do. With this load at my current conditions, I would try a deer at 1000yds. Using Shooter app, I'm getting 1378fps and 837ft lbs. 33.7MOA up. That is enough horse power for PA whitetails. That's just me though. When it gets colder though, the yardage would probably be closer to 925-950. You guys in higher elevations wouldn't have any problems. I'm going to have to revisit that load, maybe with a Berger.

IMR 8208XBR 39.5grns 2474, 2480, 2492, Avg 2482, SD 9, ES18

Hornady 208 A-max
CFE223 43.7 Comparator 2.350 .005 off the lands
2510, 2552, 2552, 2500 Avg. 2528.5, SD 23.5, ES 52fps A little tweaking and this would be a good load also. This load too would work for current conditions. 1397fps, 902ft lbs. Two things make this no bueno however. Stability factor is on the ragged edge. It drops into the 40's or lower and I won't stabilize. Come summer time and even right now, it could be used. 1000yds 34.8MOA

LC 78 Match prepped, RL19 Wolf Primer, 2.350 200SGK
45.0grn 2285, 2325, 2302 Avg 2304 SD 20
46.0grn 2354,2368, 2350 Avg 2357 SD 9 This is the load that I said produced one hole accuracy. Second shot literally went through the same hole. Third shot halved the first. This load is extremely comfortable to shoot with a break. Barely feel it. It might be slow, but it would put a hurt'en on groundhogs. Very accurate. Might have to revisit this load for g-hog plinking!gun)
47.0 (2.354" pushing the bullet, compressed) 2390, 2371, 2415 Avg 2392 SD 15
48.0 (2.356") 2444, 2483, 2475 Avg 2467 SD 20

There is room to go on the RL19, the problem being capacity. Now using win brass, I might be able to run a few more grains in it.

So there is a little for everyone here. The curious reloader, the info seeker, and the OP's original question, "How far will you hunt with a .308 Winny?"

Tank's for listening!:D
 
Just to clarify, those two loads that I stated that I would use @1k are equivalent to. 357mag at point blank range. I know there are a lot of guys here that would use a 357 to 50-100yds on deer. Just call it a long range pistol if you want in .308 winny!gun)
 
I've also been working with the 190 ABLR in my 26" 308. So far the results have been excellent. My accuracy load is at 2646'sec though I have taken them to 2750+ with ease. It's just that my rifle likes 190 grain bullets the least of all bullets. 190SMK, 190VLD, 190ABLR, doesn't matter. That said, it'll shoot any of those over any powder and hold 1MOA or better but I'm always looking for <1/2MOA. When I first had it rebarreled, I tried 190 SMKs over a host of powders. The only group that was a ragged hole was 42.5 of 4320. The problem was that I only had less than a pound and didn't want to burn it (pun intended). I finally found 7 pounds from the same lot though it's a different lot than the one pound I have had. I loaded some ABLRs with the original lot of powder and they made a ragged hole at 100 yards. Loaded up some more and they shot under 1" at 300 yards. Loaded some up this morning with the new lot and still shot under 1" at 300! Velocity is within 5'sec to boot! I'll be taking these to 600 and 700 tomorrow and 600-1000 on Sunday. Bryan tested these at .291 G7. If these are at .291 these will hit the 970'# mark at 1000 yards with under 65" 10 MPH wind, 5000' 59 degrees which is about where I hunt deer, sheep and antelope. Bryan listed the 210 at .333G7 and I found that to be spot on from 100-1000 yards so I'm hoping his value for the 190 is of equal accuracy.

If this is the case, this may be the only load I'd ever use in my 308. The 190 would handle anything from coyotes to mule deer to a grand and black bear to elk at 800. Granted it offers a little more windage and a little less energy than the 210 but it also offers noticeably less recoil (low recoil is why I use the 308 in the 1st place) than my 210 load.
 
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