TN Lone Wolf

The 180 might kick a little more, but probably not enough to notice unless you shoot the two weights immediately after each other.

Nomercy448

Unless you're right on the edge of a flinching problem with 150's, the 180's won't cause a flinch where one didn't previously exist. That's a one in a million case.

I've always favored 165/168's in .308win, up to the 175 VLD and 178 Amax. 180's are fine, but I want a little more room in the case, so I generally run 30-06 or 300wm under a 180+.

You'll be fine with 180's, but as has been mentioned, you'll have to match their load, else you might as well start over from scratch anyway.

SecondChance

Good call NM. I didn't think along those lines. If this is the point, maybe look at the low recoil rounds Remmy and Hornady have out and they may help out a bit.

OptimumShine

Well I went and shot the 180s, they did fine. I added the pad before even shooting so I can't compare, but I could have been out there all afternoon.

I am going to stick with the 180s for this season probably. Now I just need to work on balancing my shot while not using a stand/holder. Have been trying the sling technique, and need to work on it some more. Headed out this weekend to hunt some public land and will be hunting from the ground, so we shall see how steady I can hold it.

I feel like the front of the rifle is pulling up when I shoot, am I not holding it correctly? Anything to counter this?

Thanks guys!

Topgun 3006

Shooting offhand is really not for the inexperienced, casual hunter as you seem to be if you haven't shot the rifle since last season. I would suggest you buy a light weight pair of shooting sticks to shoot off of or even better is to buy the kind that attach to the front sling swivel and all you have to do is pop them loose so they extend into place so you have a decent rest to shoot from. If you do that, you'll need to shoot the rifle a few times with either one to see that you can put your shots where you want them. Either, in combination with using your sling, should help you shoot more accurately.

OptimumShine

Thanks, I will look into those. I would assume the sticks would be better for me as they would be higher, but I think I would get more use out of the bipod off of the gun while sitting in the deer stand in the future. Decisions decisions.

Nomercy448

I'd like to think I'm not inexperienced, and I still shoot 99% of the time supported while hunting. The only time I'm not supported is in a rushed shot, which more often than not, I pass instead of rush the shot.

Just too easy to increase the precision of my shot placement. While I don't favor Primos products most of the time, the Trigger Stick rifle supports are fantastic for my hunting style.

OptimumShine

Stupid question, but would a 150 grain bullet land higher or lower than a 180 grain bullet at 100 yards (all other things considered equal)?

Topgun 3006

Generally higher if everything is the same other than the grain of the bullet.

super_hunt54

In FACTORY loads, you may be surprised at how close SOME of them will be to each other. Generally, in factory loaded ammunition, the 150's will have a bit more muzzle velocity and hit higher BUT, and here is where the SOME comes in, there are SOME factory loaded ammunition that loads the 180's over a hotter charge giving the 180gr bullet the same MV as the 150's. But as NM stated previously, case capacity becomes an issue for 180's for the .308 case.