.308 win loads for hunting.

[heretohunt]

I’m wondering what your favorite loads are for hunting Alberta. I was loading 150 gn ttsx with Varget but it was a little slower than expected. It’s my sons rifle, he has only shot a whitetail buck with it so not much of a test. We expect elk, moose , deer and bear type critters probably within 300 but he is a pretty good shot so I expect he can stretch it out more.

[Dick284]

Partition, Accubond, Fusion, Interlock, Core Loct, Grand Slam, Hot Core……..

In.30 cal there’s more choices than ever, so try em and see what works for his rifle.

Also try a different powder in the .308 too, 4895, 4064, 2495, Tac, BLC2, 748,

[Coiloil37]

I used to shoot 165 accubonds with a book load of reloader 15 at 2850fps from a 22” barrel. I could never achieve book velocities with other powders in that rifle and varget was particularly slow.
After seeing what 130 ttsx’s do from an ‘06 at ~3350+ I wouldn’t be scared to try them in a .308 either but I don’t have any load data for them.

[6.5 shooter]

I think the 165gr. projectile is the ideal weight for the .308. Heavy enough to do the job, slick enough to have good BC. yet short enough so that it does not eat up powder space in the case.

[Dubious]

It’s refreshing to see a post like this up so long with out the army of Barnes fan boys swamping it. Some good info above.

[fps plus]

I used 150 Barnes with re -15 but switched to 150 partitions and re -15. I felt the Barnes were not opening well at my velocities

[heretohunt]

Originally Posted by fps plus

I used 150 Barnes with re -15 but switched to 150 partitions and re -15. I felt the Barnes were not opening well at my velocities

I was kind of thinking the same thing. You need to get enough velocity for those bullets to work properly. I’m looking at picking up some 130s and seeing how that goes.

[Homesteader]

Originally Posted by heretohunt

I was kind of thinking the same thing. You need to get enough velocity for those bullets to work properly. I’m looking at picking up some 130s and seeing how that goes.

Careful here comes a Barnes fanboy lol, I think if you’re going to run a TTSX the 130 is the right choice for max 308 range. You will get 3000 without any trouble, shot awesome in my Battue, but I never pulled the trigger on an animal with that load. If going 150, 160 I’d pick a NP, Accubond or a good old Interlock. I’ve killed way more animals with an Interlock before switching to mono’s. They work great, especially at 2800 and under.

[heretohunt]

I do have a bunch of 30 calibre interlocks to try out. Probably start with Varget.

[jungleboy]

150gr SST with 4064 , I have never heard any back chat from any deer I have come up against. I don’t have a chronograph so have no idea how fast it’s going but seems to be fast enough.

[heretohunt]

Originally Posted by jungleboy

150gr SST with 4064 , I have never heard any back chat from any deer I have come up against. I don’t have a chronograph so have no idea how fast it’s going but seems to be fast enough.

I’m kind of looking for a do all bullet/powder combination. Would sst’s be good for elk and moose?

[old dog]

I use a 168 gr ttsx. Works great on anything

[jungleboy]

Originally Posted by heretohunt

I’m kind of looking for a do all bullet/powder combination. Would sst’s be good for elk and moose?

I can’t say. I have never shot a moose or an elk. With this combination.

[teledogs]

I load up 165 Accubonds over Varget for my son. He took his moose last fall with it, 1 shot.

[6.5 shooter]

Originally Posted by heretohunt

I’m kind of looking for a do all bullet/powder combination. Would sst’s be good for elk and moose?

SST=Super shock tip (quick expansion not a penetrator) would not be my first choice, a Partition would be a much better one in MHO

[Altaboy]

165 grain Interlock or a Sierra soft point is all that is needed. They perform perfectly at .308 velocities on any game animal

[catnthehat]

I never hunted with the 308 Winchester, but havecloaded ammo for many hunters that have killed everything from bears to elk with it.
In those days I loaded the 165 grain HPBT Game King in every .30 caliber cartridge I loaded for people .
One season there were just over 100 kills with them and everyone was excited about how they worked.
As far as Barnes bullets go, we all know tgat velocity is the key, they are more than adequate in the accuracy department
.
I load my .303 to 308 velocities. With 150 grain TSX bullets and it is an accurate and hard hitting combination.
However. If I could use 140's I likely would , but they are not made .
Cat

[stob]

I ran 165's... 1 elk and a handful of deer...

[graybeard]

Originally Posted by 6.5 shooter

I think the 165gr. projectile is the ideal weight for the .308. Heavy enough to do the job, slick enough to have good BC. yet short enough so that it does not eat up powder space in the case.

^^^ I agree with 6.5 ^^^

I use factory loads for my T3 308.

As for the speed, all I know is, what is on the box.....2750 fps, and they are deadly accurate. It is not uncommon for me to clover leaf.

Are they effective? Yes they are. I am very happy with the caliber and every deer or elk I shoot, falls over. Great weight retention as well:

1/ Nosler AccuBond 165 grain (my go to round)

2/ Federal Trophy Bonded Bear Claw 165 grain

Good luck,

[sureshot]

I'm running Barnes 175 gr LRX with Ramshot Tac getting 2760fps. No issues hitting a 10" plate repeatedly at 500yds. Also trying to fine tune a load using 178 ELD-M with Varget.

[Dean2]

130 grain Barnes, 4895 powder in WW cases with cci 250 primers. 3150 fps out of a 20.5" barrel. Zero pressure signs, easily get 10 loads on the brass neck sized only.

Other load is a 150 grain Hornady Interlock at 3050 fps, same powder primer and case.

Both loads hit to the same POI, within half an inch to 700 yards

Have killed bear, moose, elk and deer with both bullets. Shots from 40 yards to 650. Have shot coyotes with the 130s out to 900. Never needed to track anything more than 20 yards, most stayed right where they were shot but none were hit in a bad spot either.

[heretohunt]

Originally Posted by Dean2

130 grain Barnes, 4895 powder in WW cases with cci 250 primers. 3150 fps out of a 20.5" barrel. Zero pressure signs, easily get 10 loads on the brass neck sized only.

Other load is a 150 grain Hornady Interlock at 3050 fps, same powder primer and case.

Both loads hit to the same POI, within half an inch to 700 yards

Have killed bear, moose, elk and deer with both bullets. Shots from 40 yards to 650. Have shot coyotes with the 130s out to 900. Never needed to track anything more than 20 yards, most stayed right where they were shot but none were hit in a bad spot either.

That’s good to know. Is that H or IMR 4895?

[Dean2]

Imr 4895

[Tikka300]

I like 165 partitions in front of varget, shoots ok in my remington model seven. I have some 165gr interlocks and gamekings that I wouldn't hesitate to use either. As mentioned earlier in this post, I think 165gr bullets in a 308 are really ideal for anything you would use a .308 for.

[Flight01]

Originally Posted by heretohunt

I’m kind of looking for a do all bullet/powder combination. Would sst’s be good for elk and moose?

I wouldn’t consider sst to be a good elk or moose bullet.

I’ve shot deer with the 165 factory sst and while it does great damage and was accurate, it was pretty violent even at 200 yards. I’d like a bit more control on that expansion. Heavier 180s might be the ticket.

308 win/ 180sst… moose out to 300 yards

I really like 165 weight in 308, accubond or partition

I’ve taken deer , moose ,bear and Elk with the partition and it’s never disappointed.

[Smokinyotes]

My wife shot a very big cow moose with her 270 win with a 130gr sst at 370 yards. Ran about 5 yards and fell over. My son shot a whitetail with the same gun and load at 450 yards and it dropped, they may be on the softer side but I don’t believe the SST to be any softer than the eldx.

[WABBIT]

Have a 58 year old Model 88 Winchester that belonged to my dad, it's taken moose, elk, and deer with 150gr coreloks in the old days. And 150 SST in front of IMR4064 the past 20 years or so. It's become kind of a tradition to take your first animal with Grandpa's rifle, I don't think the 308 at 2700fps fragments the SST like the magnums might. Been a good choice for the 308, I'm not sure the bullet makes as much of a difference as a well placed shot.

[jungleboy]

Originally Posted by wabbit

have a 58 year old model 88 winchester that belonged to my dad, it's taken moose, elk, and deer with 150gr coreloks in the old days. And 150 sst in front of imr4064 the past 20 years or so. It's become kind of a tradition to take your first animal with grandpa's rifle, i don't think the 308 at 2700fps fragments the sst like the magnums might. Been a good choice for the 308, i'm not sure the bullet makes as much of a difference as a well placed shot.

^^. ^^. ^^

[Deer_Hunter]

Since its for your son (who I am assuming is younger) I would drop down to a 140 or 130 grain to gain more velocity without adding more powder and increasing the recoil.

130gr in a TTSX with the Varget should get you into some higher velocities.

If you can use other powders I have always had a lot of success with H4895 and customizing reduced recoil loads for youth shooters.

https://hodgdonpowderco.com/wp-conte...le-loads-2.pdf

Kids tend to be really recoil and muzzle blast sensitive and I find that sacrificing a little velocity always pays off on the accuracy side and the long term benefit of not developing a flinch.

[tranq78]

Originally Posted by Deer_Hunter

Since its for your son (who I am assuming is younger) I would drop down to a 140 or 130 grain to gain more velocity without adding more powder and increasing the recoil.

130gr in a TTSX with the Varget should get you into some higher velocities.

If you can use other powders I have always had a lot of success with H4895 and customizing reduced recoil loads for youth shooters.

https://hodgdonpowderco.com/wp-conte...le-loads-2.pdf

Kids tend to be really recoil and muzzle blast sensitive and I find that sacrificing a little velocity always pays off on the accuracy side and the long term benefit of not developing a flinch.

The OP can use light recoil loads for practice and switch to full power when hunting. I doubt his kid will even notice any recoil when he takes a shot during hunting season.