I am looking into taking a DIY elk hunt next year and am searching factory loadings for elk. The newer Winchester XP3 loading looks really nice for my .308 hunting rifle, but it is only in 150 grain loading. My thoughts were to go with a 180 grain, possibly a 165 grain bullet, but the reviews on these bullets are fantastic and was wondering what some of you elk hunters thought about it.

I'm sure the 150 grain would be fine, with good placement. I use 165 grains with my 06.

I'm a fan of the 165gr Barnes TSX pills. Good luck on your hunt!

150 grains are more than sufficient...just shot two elk this last week with 140 grains...used Accubonds, and had complete pass throughs, and tremendous wound channel...

You will not have a worry...

with the .308 I would go with the 165 gr. bullet due to sectional density. Good Luck.

Another vote for the Barnes TSX or Nosler Partitions

i use in my .308 165grain nosler partitions.. that is the only bullet i shoot!!!

I always shoot whatever bullet is the most accurate. I have yet to find a 150 grain load that shoots nearly as well as 180 grain in my Browning 308. My rifle just likes a heavier slug. As far as make & model goes, regular old Remington CoreLocts completely jellyfied the heart of the bull elk I shot last month. There was nothing left but pieces of goo. Can't get much better than that, plus they are some of the cheapest bullets out there if you are hand loading.

Initally I was sighting my 300 win mag in with the XP3's....I was having issues with getting a flyer every now and then always high and right about 1.5 to 2 inches and it made me nervous....my dad expieranced the same thing with his 300 and xp3's. I switched to the Federal Triple Shock 180 grain Barnes expandables and they work awesome! I shot a raghorn Bull Elk last Sunday in Idaho @ 120 yds he walked about 10yds and dropped like a stone. I was quite impressed with the way the bullet worked.

Barnes are my favorite bullet out there I think, but they start lacking power out past 200 yards due to their design. These new tipped triple shocks will hopefully fix that but no one really loads them yet except for Federal and they are low weight, high velocity rounds.