Duckbutter48

I would use 125 to 150 for deer. I would use at least a 165 grain for bigger. A 165 would be prob good for both. IMO a 180 is way more then needed for deer.

bearhuntr

Hell, I'd use the 308 Win. on the big bears.

switchbackXT_shooter

.338 federal is a 308 win. case necked up to .338 in. dia. they say it develops more speed and is better on the recoil. looks like a step up from the .308 to me so if you think 308 win. is a little bit small then why not look at the .338. its perfect if you dont (or wont) want to get a magnum.
Just remember the .308 is the us millitarys 7.62 mm cartrige. the same cartrige that replaced the 30-06 as the main battle rifles round. then it was delligated to some machine guns and mostly sniper duty. mostly with the SF now, the standard issue GI JOE average soldier gets a m-16 in 5.56 (aka hopped up .223 remington) now a days. just fyi.
also I was wanting a .308 to put next to my 270 win. in the gun safe but im looking for a rifle in .338 federal that I like for my deer hunting and the 270 will under go a make over to become my main cyote sniper gun.

James B

While I love the Nosler Partition in the right weights for about everything, If I wanted one bullet for everything in the 308, it would be the 165 Grain Barnes TXS.

Roskoe

I have used the 180 gr. Speer Grand Slam with great success in this caliber. Seat it out to 2.800" andtry WW 748 powder. Youshould be able to get over 2700 fps in a 24" barrel. I believe Speeralso loadsthis in a factory offering called "Nitrex" ammunition. This bullet will kill elk, bear,and moose real well as long as the distance is not extreme. May be a little overkill, in terms of penetration, for deer. I like 165 Ballistic Tips for deer in this caliber, but if you want to load one bullet for everything I would go with the GS.

metau

I only own one big game rifle, a rem 660 in 308. Even with its short barrel(18" or so) I have taken two of my elk @200yds+. It is aextremely accurateround, and since you are not comfortable shooting over 300yds, would be enough for any big game specie in North America. Personally, I would opt for a larger Mag for brown bear and maybe Yukon moose, but 308's have taken plenty of thoe in the past.m As a veteran, i have a close relationship with the 308(7.62 NATO), and know that even in a rifle such as mine, it isplentyenough for most everything. It is all a matter of bullet selection and proper shot placement on the larger game. Personnaly, I shoot 165gr Swift Scirrocos, out of the box my first year, and handloads this last year. Out of the box first year I took my first cow elk @ 200-225yds running, and hit vitals with 2 of 3 shots. Good enough for me. One round shatered a rib, went through a lung, through rib on other side and then shatered the forearm. She only made it about 100 yds downhill and was done. Three days later I took my first doe @ 15 yds and she only went 30 yds and was done. Great blood trails with all. I have had great results with that setup and it works for me great. With as short of a barrel as I have, 300yrds is my max with factory ammo, 400 with my handloads. The few guides that I knowhave no issues with the 308,if it is what you are comfortable with and can shoot accuratley,then it is fine. You know your range limit and what you are comfortable with, so just don't exceed them. And if a guide for a Elk hunt tells you that you have to take a shot over 300 yds, I would find a differant guide, but that's just my opinion. This is not to say that every guide will feel this way, nor that Scirrocos are the best choice, we all know there are plenty of choices out there. Barnes, Nosler Partitions, Hornady Interbonds/SST's, just to name a few. It is really your call. I would however advise against shooting the heavier 30cal bullets(180+gr) that are offered.I know that energy is increased, but ballistic tajectory suffers greatly limiting a 'comfort range'. I hope this helps, and feel free to ask anything else about this subject. Best of luck.

Jerry

jaybird2

308 is a true DO IT ALL CALIBER! I own two guns a 260 remington moutian rifle lss and a browning a-bolt composite stalker in 308. this year that 308 dropped a nice cow moose from about 125 yard dead in her tracks . the bullet was a nosler accubond 150gr.the bullet hit her just above the sholder and exited on the off side leaving an exit hole bigger then your fist very impressed with those accubonds.my father and his 3 brothers all use remington model 7400 chambered in 308 and over the years the have taken alot of moose with great susess.my unkle shot a 60 inch over 1200pounds bull at close to 300 yards with his 308 one shot to the heart was all it took moose ran about 50 yards and died.

BRIZBO

yeah...i realize that..i spent 8 years in the army,{ 18 month combat deployment to iraq.}...and i was a combat engineer, digging up mines and disarming roadside bombs aka IED's..so i wasent a 'pogie or a fobbit' who never saw the outside of the wire. so i know that the military uses the 308 in there M 240 series,B,G,E and so on. the GI was given the M-14 in the early 60's then thay went to M-16A1 and A2 and then A3 and now there useing the M-16a3 flattop and the M-4, the m-14 was 308 and there were somedays i wished i would have had one of those. you hardly ever see a "sniper' rifle over there. and the ones i did see were old 30-06 grands and 50 cal barretts. fyi but thanks brizbo

HEAD0001

Do you want to be trendy, or do you want a good cartridge for a decent price. 165 grain bullets would be optimal. Buy Federal Premium's with the Sierra Gameking bullet. If handloading get the 165 grain Gameking, or the Nosler BT in 165. If you are trendy and like to spend money, then buy the more expensive bullets, but I personally do not consider them to be any better. I have shot alot of animals with my 1886 45-70 and cast bullets, I have not had any problemswith these bullets, and they are fairly inexpensive.

As far as the guides are concerned. I have found that a guide prefers a hunter who has a rifle that he knows how to shoot. Alot of people show up with magnum's that they can not shoot. I can assure you a guide prefers a hunter who can hit with a 308 over a hunter who can not handle a 300RUM. Tom.