308 win for 250+lb kentucky deer?
08-05-2012, 06:18 AM
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 36
308 win for 250+lb kentucky deer?
I had the chance to get in on a 2400 acre western ky hunting lease year and until now have only used a 308win ruger hawkeye rifle. I shoot the hornady superformance 150gr loads with great accuracy to 100 yards. Where I hunt here in NC/SC, a 200 yard shot is pushing it on the properties I have so havent really needed more knockdown at further yardages.
However learning the land during the spring turkey season its 800+ yard corn/soybean fields mixed with large amounts of woods in between.
Is my 308 large enough or should I opt for a 7mm/300mag or other caliber rifle? Also Im not looking to make 300+ yard shots, but should the oppurtunity present its self and a buck of a lifetime steps out at 300, can I take him comfortably, provided my shot is solid enough and confident in my shooting via tons of practice.
From talking to the members on the lease, 250+lb is common buck size out there.
However learning the land during the spring turkey season its 800+ yard corn/soybean fields mixed with large amounts of woods in between.
Is my 308 large enough or should I opt for a 7mm/300mag or other caliber rifle? Also Im not looking to make 300+ yard shots, but should the oppurtunity present its self and a buck of a lifetime steps out at 300, can I take him comfortably, provided my shot is solid enough and confident in my shooting via tons of practice.
From talking to the members on the lease, 250+lb is common buck size out there.
Last edited by Unlocked; 08-05-2012 at 06:20 AM.
08-05-2012, 06:43 AM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: west central wi USA
Posts: 2,242
A .308 is more than adequate for your Kentucky deer. People shoot elk and big mulies with them all the time. 250# common? really? Unless they've got some growth formula that they're adding to the food plot, I'd find it hard to believe that the whitetails would commonly run that big.
Last edited by Wingbone; 08-05-2012 at 06:45 AM.
08-05-2012, 10:31 AM
#5
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location:
Posts: 2,186
You will have zero problems killing white tails cleanly at 300 yards using the 308 Win. set-up that you described. It will be a matter of shot placement. I would suggest that you find a place where you can practice at 300-350 yards. While the drop is not crazy significant at that distance, it is best to understand the arc of your round.
08-05-2012, 04:46 PM
#7
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Port Neches, Texas
Posts: 5,514
08-07-2012, 06:00 PM
#9
Fork Horn
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Sharon,Tn
Posts: 134
Your .308 will be more than enough. Wingbone, A 250lb buck in certain parts of Ky is common for a mature buck. When the state only allows you to take one buck, with a 14 day rifle season, a little longer bow season, they have plenty of mature whitetails. The Good Lord has allowed me to take two deer in Ky. One field dressed 203lbs and the other 238lbs. You get real picky when you only get one, and you pay that $190.00 out of state tag fee. I live in Tenn. where the buck limit is 3, and we have no where near the avg body size Ky does. Both of my deer were aged by a Tenn. Wildlife Officer at 5 1/2 the other at what he guessed at 7 1/2 he told me when they get passed 5 it gets difficult to tell, that's a whole new forum. If you haven't never hunted there, you need to go. I hunt in the Western part of Ky.
08-07-2012, 06:42 PM
#10
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,834
As others have said and I can personally verify that the 308 with proper bullet selection will and can do more than you could ever ask of it. It is used on a very common basis to perform out to and sometimes over 1K yds. I know. I am one that uses it at that for my job. You will never have to ask if it is enough to within 500 yds with anything under a moose of those distances. Slay em n grill em!!!!