My ? is I bought a 308 win Ruger Ultra Light.
With recoil not a factor what bullet would you use for elk out to 300 yds?The ultra light has a 20" barrel.Should I just go with the 180 gr Nosler or should I go with 165 Sierra BTSP?Would the effects of HE loads be any diffrence?
I know with the short tube it would take the normal federal load of 250 fps to probaly 2400 fps on the 180 gr and drop the 165 to 2600 fps and a HE load from 2700 to 2600(180 gr Nosler)FPS.
This will not be my main rifle just a back up,plus its nice and light and carrys well.
I have never realy thought much of the 308 cause the 30-06 has always done it.But with kids growing up and getting into this sport I need to expand my rifles for them to shoot and elk is always on the menu.So I'm just getting a perspective on this.
Thanks
BBJ

I know this flies in the face of conventional wisdom for the 308 but check this link out. You can buy them from Midway.

http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_52&products_id=206

This is a 200 grain accubond. The ballistics quoted are fired from a 22" remington 700 and several product reviews I haveread on their ammo claim the velocities are "spot on". This load give you a 260 yard point blank range and the highest down range KE of any 308 load produced. They also have a 180 grain accubond that is 2650 FPS which also maintains KE well and has a point blank range of 266 yards. Either of these loads outperform 90% + of the 06 loads out there.

I suppose if you consider "conventional wisdom" for most .30 rifles and elk a 180-grain bullet, then yeah - I can see how it might fly in the face of it.But, I don't know that I'd be all that concerned about it, especially if your rifle likes the load.

Generally, I try to keep my elk loads built around 180-grain bullets, but have used bullets as light as 150 and as heavy as 220 on elk (from a .30-06).

Another consideration (I didn't look at the price), but shoot something you can afford to practice with, whatever you decide on.

This isn't going to be my main rifle(I have plenty of others)it's just a nice light handy little gun.I'm carrying a .300 Weatherby with 200 grAccubonds,and if something happens to that I will go to my faithful .338 Win Mag and 210 gr Noslers.I have never shot a elk with a 308.I have with about everthing else.I was just wondering what guysuse for elk out of their .308's.
I'm leaning towards the Winchester 180 gr Silver tips though the double tap ammo looks intresting.I like to buy ammo local so incase I need a box.
BBJ

I would imagine a 165 to 180 gr triple shock would do nicely.

165 Barnes TSX

One that you never hear about that I have found EXTREMELY effective is the Hornady 190 Grain BTSP. This with a Max dose of IMR 4064.

I started out using the 190 grain BTHP Match bullet for steel silhouette shooting. My gun liked this load and toppled the 500 Meter rams like gang busters. One year I just switched to the BTSP bullet and tried it for deer and elk. It toppled them just like it did the steel targets.