What bullets do you use?
 

What are some of the bullets you use in your 308's? I just bought a Ruger Compact in the 308 cal. and was wondering what you guys liked to use for Deer, and Sheep ?

I have never been a big 30 cal fan, but have allways wanted a 308. I have my grandfathers old Rem. mod. 6 in the 308 but cant bring myself to shoot it or take it hunting. So it sits there in the gun cabinet looking pretty.

But I now have something I dont feel bad about shooting, and would like to start reloading for it ASAP.

I have come across some pet loads from differant posts, but would really like to have some refresh my mem.

Thanks
hunter338

RE: What bullets do you use?
 

Any bullet that works in the 30/06 will do as well in the 308.

I load mine down a bit so my wife can shoot it. I use winchester psp 150 gr.

RE: What bullets do you use?
 

A common good load for .308Win involves a 165/168gr bullet and 4895 powder (either Hodgdon or IMR). 41 to 42.5gr works well with heavier mil-spec cases and up to 44gr for commercial cases.

For bullet choice on thinner-skinned game like you seek - Sierra Gamekings, Nosler or Hornady Ballistic tips, or the new Barnes Triple Shocks are excellent choices. I don't like the ballistic tips on heavy animals or close shots (as they tend to explode on contact)...........recently used the 168gr Barnes over 44gr of H4895 in light commecial cases on hogs and got excellent accuracy and bullet performance out of my old Win Model 100 semi-auto.

RE: What bullets do you use?
 

In my 308 load i use a 165 grain Sierra BTHP gameking.

RE: What bullets do you use?
 

I load 150gr. Hornady SST's for the .308 for deer...;)

RE: What bullets do you use?
 

I shoot 30-06, but for accuracy, I don't think you can't beat the Sierra BTSP Game King. I've heard the Sierra BTHP Game Kings are just as accurate.

firstshot

RE: What bullets do you use?
 

I like the Hornady spire point. It just the common flat base with the interlock ring. I use 180 grain out of my 06. I'd say 150, 165 or 180 should work well out of your 308. Some guns like a certain weight bullet.

RE: What bullets do you use?
 

165 gr Nosler partitions or 165 gr Hornady interlocks for hunting.

Sierra game kings or Nosler J4's for plinking/target shooting.

RE: What bullets do you use?
 

I've had real good performance on deer with the 165 Sierra hollowpoint boattail in my .308. Never had a bad performance from one.

RE: What bullets do you use?
 

i personally shoot a 30-06 & love it. i do have a 308 that is also a very good rifle for deer. i load mine up with a speer 150g boattail. i use that for everything from deer to elk & i know it work well with both. but you just need to experiment with the different types out there & find out which one works for you.

RE: What bullets do you use?
 

Hey guys thanks for the replies.

Still woundering if some of you all want to give up some of your favorite pet loads for this round..

I know that there is alot of data on this cal. But to save time would like to have some of the better loads to start at. :D:D

Once again thanks.:D

hunter338

RE: What bullets do you use?
 

I dont really have a pet load, other then a load thats listed in the Hodgdon loading manual where I made a few revisions to suit what I had on hand, after working the load up and tinkering a bit with it I found it to be most accurate with 45 grains of varget rather then the 46 grain max charge listed. the data calls for winchester brass but I use remington brass the only difference is the winchester brass has a little more case capacity I also used a federal 210 primer rather then the fed 210 M. After playing with bullet seating depths Ive determined in my rifle a COL of 2.755 is the most accurate with the 165 grain BTHP Gamekings. im punching 1 inch groups at 200 yards. Alot of people seem think the closer you seat the bullet to the lands gives you the best accuracy which is true but not very practical for a hunting rifle where in my case by seating my bullet .020 from the lands the cartridges would not fit properly in the magazine just a C hair to long, So I decided for a hunting round it was better to determine the COL within SAAMI specs. I will list the hodgdon load data that I used for my base load.

Brass: Winchester, Primer: fed 210M, Powder: Varget 42 grains (start) 46 grains (max)

Bullet: 165 grain BTHP Gameking, COL: 2.800, Minimum COL: 2.750

just a note to keep in mind with the 46 grain max charge it is compressed.

If you change any of the components listed besure to back the load off atleast 3 to 4 grains then work it back up looking for signs of excessive pressure.

RE: What bullets do you use?
 

I would go with 150 grain Sierra Prohunters flat base spitzer..it should expand extremely well at all ranges with the gun you have

RE: What bullets do you use?
 

Oldelk, I used those 150gr last year on a doe and didn't near the damage I am used to getting with 165gr gamekings. Maybe it was my shot, but I don't believe the expansion is that good with small 100lb does. I recovered it. Just expecting more damage inside the animal for a double lung shot.

RE: What bullets do you use?
 

Hunter338, I'm not loyal to any bullet manufacturer. That's part of the fun in reloading.
Trying to find what shoots the best, or what you can live with accuracy wise.
My .270 shoots Nosler Solid base bullets(130 gr)., the .223 loves Hornady V-max (55 gr)., my 7-08 eats up Hornady SSTs (139 gr) and my 300 Win Mag shoots Sierra Game Kings (180s) while the 30-06 shoots the 150 gr Hornady Interlocks.
You didn't say what you were hunting. I am assuming deer. If so, I would start with Hornady Interlocks, not Interbond/Accubond in either 150s or 165s for the .308 Win.and try IMR4350 or IMR4064 as the propellant.

RE: What bullets do you use?
 

One quick question for you guys.

Has anyone tried the RL Powders in this cal, and how do they work?


P.S.

Bronko.

I personally LOVE the Horn. bullets.
They work and group well in All of my rifles. Was wandering if anyone has tried to load the Interbonds yet.

I cant wait until they make a 225 gr. for my 338 RUM.

Thanks .

hunter338

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: What bullets do you use?
 

Hey thank you buddy.

Its hard to beat alliant powders. I have found for what I load that that they are some of the easiest powders to work with.

Ditto for the Horn. bullets.
I LOVE THEM.

Thanks again.
hunter338

RE: What bullets do you use?
 

hunter338:

168gr bullet like a Matchking or Gameking, 43.0gr of RL-15 in mil-spec cases cuts GREAT "X"s out of my M1A in .308.

RE: What bullets do you use?
 

In sporterized Mauser .308Win., 22" bbl: Hornady 150gr SP. Very accurate and plenty bullet for deer and pronghorns.

RE: What bullets do you use?
 

165 gn game kings with 47.5 grn 4064 in 30-06

RE: What bullets do you use?
 

in my savage 110 30-06 i like hornady sst's in front of 53gn of imr 4050

RE: What bullets do you use?
 

As far as accuracy goes, I have had remarkable success with Remington 165 grain CoreLokt bullets in my .30-06 rifles. Both the factory loads and my reloads (with IMR 4064 powder) using this bullet perform well at the range, although I've not yet used them on hogs or deer.

Hornady 165 grain Spire Points with the flat base do well also, and these performed quite well on both deer and hogs. However, they cost twice what Remington bullets do and in my rifles are not quite as accurate.

These bullets are all worth trying in your .308 as well.

RE: What bullets do you use?
 

Hunting bullets for 308.

165gr GK.... 41.4gr of 4064, seated 2.80", Remington case sized 2.005", Remington 9 1/2 primer.

180gr PH.... 42.6gr of 4064, seated 2.80", Remington case sized 2.005", Remington 9 1/2 primer.

I will hunt with the 180 grain ProHunter this year very accurate in my 308.

RE: What bullets do you use?
 

As you can see by the reply's, one of the strong points of the 308-30-06 is that it does a good job with many different bullets. For deer I stick with 150 grain bullets in both my 308 Browning A-Bolt and my 7600 30-06 Remington pump. I have used nearly all the available bullets for 30 caliber at one time or another. I have used the Nosler Ballistic tip and have had no blow up promblems in either of my rifles. Most of my shooting however is at 200 yards or a little more. I am currently loadind both rifles with the 150 grain Sierra Pro- Hunter bullets. Most of my loads come from the Hodgdon Manual Number 26.

RE: What bullets do you use?
 

My favorite .308 Win. load uses the Sierra 165-grain HPBT and a max. load of H380. It is right at 2800 FPS, and will shoot 3 into a ragged hole. This bullet provided great penetration on whitetails, and should be adequate for sheep & goats as well.