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Hunting & Fishing Looking for a good .308 hunting load, input?

Shooter_308

Shooter_308

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jan 9, 2012
329
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37
Long Island, New York
#1
Hey guys, i just got an invitation from a friend of my fathers to hunt on his 100 acres of private property in upstate New York this season with my dad. I'm thinking with the large amounts of thick brush etc in areas of upstate NY, i'm going to bring my Remmy 700 AAC-SD as it's seated in a nice light B&C stock, has a short 20" barrel and has been my primary rifle and shot about twice a week since i bought it back in Dec, so i know this gun like the back of my hand.

Now, i've developed a nice load for it using the 178gr AMAX and am hitting sub-MOA (sometimes sub-half MOA on a good day) groups @ 100 yards all day. From what i've read the AMAX is not designed for whitetail so much.

In all honesty my longest shot on a deer up there will be under 100 yards, maybe 50-70 max. Anybody around here have a nice .308 deer load they'd care to share that I can work around?

Thanks!
 
#2
Re: Looking for a good .308 hunting load, input?

178 A-max will take a whitetail no problem. Bit on the explosive side so I'd stick with neck or head shot to keep from damaging a bunch of meat.

Given you have good load and known dope, I'd run the combo you have as is. Don't see a deer walking away from a well placed 178 A-max.

YMMV
 
#3
Re: Looking for a good .308 hunting load, input?

Hey, thanks for the info! That's good to know. My only issue is that if i manage to harvest a nice trophy i'd like to make a nice head mount so i'd like to avoid a head shot. But we'll see!

Thanks again man.
 
#4
Re: Looking for a good .308 hunting load, input?

if you're not a big fan of neck (roast) meat - aim for the middle of the neck.

i can tell ya if you put a .308/30-06/270/243/30-30 through the neck at 100 yds they drop like a sack of taters.
 
#5
Re: Looking for a good .308 hunting load, input?

i have shot plenty of deer through the lungs with the 168 amax and not lost much meat. bullet holes through the neck make for a alot of work for the taxidermist if getting it mounted
 
#6
Re: Looking for a good .308 hunting load, input?

I live and hunt where you're looking to go. Expect big deer, and BTW, the Hogs are finally setting up breeding populations in this region. Right now they've reached the Finger Lakes National Forest across Seneca Lake from me. There is a small, growing, number of folks who seek them out.

Pretty much nobody uses handloads for deer up here, and for out to 100yd, a commercial (Core-Lokt Express) 150gr load has every bit as much terminal perforrmance as you'll be needing. It shoots flatter, too.

If you hit a twig, it doesn't matter what weight the bullet is, it'll deflect. At that distance, laser-like accuracy is going to be wasted because usually the deer don't give you enough time to refine the shot. Get a good zero at 70yd, and you'll be way good enough.

When you hit them a decent shot, they won't care whether it's a Remmy Core-Lokt, or an A-Max handload. Hit 'em bad, neither will save your day.

For the woods, I use a Win '94AE .44 Mag, Rem UMC 180gr. Bam, down.

For croplands and vineyards, Ruger 77MKI .280 Rem, HDY 139ge SST Superformance. Flat shooting hammer. I call's it Mjölnir.

Greg
 
#10
Re: Looking for a good .308 hunting load, input?

What about Caribou?

For my .308 I'm not sure what would best mimic my 175grn Siera Match King or 155 grn Lapua loads.

For the .300WM I have the Berger 210grn VLD hunting projos.
 
#12
Re: Looking for a good .308 hunting load, input?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Shooter_308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Now, i've developed a nice load for it using the 178gr AMAX and am hitting sub-MOA (sometimes sub-half MOA on a good day) groups @ 100 yards all day. From what i've read the AMAX is not designed for whitetail so much.
</div></div>

If you have a good Amax load worked up for your rifle use it. The Amax is one of the best bullets for deer IMO. It's extremely consistent on deer, more so than a lot of bullets supposedly designed for deer.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Stefan73</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What about Caribou?

For my .308 I'm not sure what would best mimic my 175grn Siera Match King or 155 grn Lapua loads.
</div></div>

Matchkings are very poor performers on game, they are not even remotely reliable. One will explode or impact and the next will poke right through doing hardly any damage. I wouldn't recommend them for anything other than a nuisance species where you really don't care if it gets away.

The Scenar however is a excellent game bullet. It fragments like the bergers do. I probably wouldn't use one on the really tough animal like a moose but for a thin skinned animal like a caribou it would work great. I haven't shot many deer in the vitals with them as I go for high shoulder or head whenever its an option but the ones I have shot have always obliterated the vitals and left a exit wound you can stick your fist in. Dont shoot them in the shoulder, even the top if you like the meat. It will wreck both shoulders, rip the spine out, and ruin half of the backstrap. It truely makes a mess with a high shoulder shot. A middle shoulder shot probably wouldn't be any better.

None the less I wouldn't hesitate using the Scenar. The SMK's horrible performance on game somehow created a myth that all match bullets are bad choices for game.
 
#13
Re: Looking for a good .308 hunting load, input?

Thanks! I have/had no intentions of using a Match King for game. I prefer to stay in the good graces of Alaska.

The Scenar sounds pretty good. I might take the Sako TRG out when I go for Caribou.

I just ripped through some boxes from the move and found my 210grn Berger VLD's (hunting projos). So the .300 WM is a "go" for Moose and anything else. I just need to get it zeroed.

I also have some Barnes X for the .50 BMG, 647grn loads. It might be fun to shoot something with that.
 
#15
Re: Looking for a good .308 hunting load, input?

If you are worried about the Amax blowing up on a shoulder shot try the 180 Accubond. I wouldn't hesitate to use your existing load though. Just know it may come apart if it hits bone.
 
#17
Re: Looking for a good .308 hunting load, input?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: redneckbmxer24</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Shooter_308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Now, i've developed a nice load for it using the 178gr AMAX and am hitting sub-MOA (sometimes sub-half MOA on a good day) groups @ 100 yards all day. From what i've read the AMAX is not designed for whitetail so much.
</div></div>

If you have a good Amax load worked up for your rifle use it. The Amax is one of the best bullets for deer IMO. It's extremely consistent on deer, more so than a lot of bullets supposedly designed for deer.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Stefan73</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What about Caribou?

For my .308 I'm not sure what would best mimic my 175grn Siera Match King or 155 grn Lapua loads.
</div></div>

Matchkings are very poor performers on game, they are not even remotely reliable. One will explode or impact and the next will poke right through doing hardly any damage. I wouldn't recommend them for anything other than a nuisance species where you really don't care if it gets away.

The Scenar however is a excellent game bullet. It fragments like the bergers do. I probably wouldn't use one on the really tough animal like a moose but for a thin skinned animal like a caribou it would work great. I haven't shot many deer in the vitals with them as I go for high shoulder or head whenever its an option but the ones I have shot have always obliterated the vitals and left a exit wound you can stick your fist in. Dont shoot them in the shoulder, even the top if you like the meat. It will wreck both shoulders, rip the spine out, and ruin half of the backstrap. It truely makes a mess with a high shoulder shot. A middle shoulder shot probably wouldn't be any better.

None the less I wouldn't hesitate using the Scenar. The SMK's horrible performance on game somehow created a myth that all match bullets are bad choices for game. </div></div>

Do a search on here and LR hunting."Matchkings" for hunting.Many people and myself have used them with great sucess.5x5 running elk...montana deer.
bill larson
 
#18
Re: Looking for a good .308 hunting load, input?

To the OP,

The Amax will work fine. If you have a good load that you shoot well, stick with it.

Here is my wife on a cull deer with the 168 Amax.

She usually uses the 175 SMK, but we had a box of Hornady factory ammo to use up, so she tried it. Worked fine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDlv2ODrVk8&feature=plcp

I use 175 SMK's myself, and concur with Bill.

Shot placement is the key to success, regardless of the bullet chosen.




 
#20
Re: Looking for a good .308 hunting load, input?

We hunt down here in pretty thick stuff, relatively short shots. The Sierra 165 Gameking hollow points are the quickest death I've seen. RL-15, 4895 (either) or Varget will get you where you need to be. Don't need too much speed at 70 yards. I have a friend that got a real deal on some Fed gold metal match last year. Had a miserable season, spent a lot of time looking for cripples. Good luck...
 
#21
Re: Looking for a good .308 hunting load, input?

Amax will work fine. You have a load that is accurate and you are set up and zero'd for it. No reason to redo everything now.
 
#22
Re: Looking for a good .308 hunting load, input?

I shoot the Federal Premium Vital Shok 165gr through my Kimber 84M about 100-250yds it's dead on. I use for whitetail deer.
 
#23
Re: Looking for a good .308 hunting load, input?

AMAX without a doubt. I've dropped 8-9 large (190-250+ lbs on the hoof) whitetail with 155 and 178 AMAX. They all drop on the spot when it's put in the boiler room.
 
#24
Re: Looking for a good .308 hunting load, input?

I ran the 178 A-max into 2 coyotes and one BIIIG hog last year while deer hunting. Yeah did some killin, but no deer. The hog was the ultimate test of the A-Max and I was impressed. 110 yards bang, flop, DRT. If it'll do that to a heavy hided, 2" fat layered, thick boned hog, it should be no problem on a white tail.

But if you're nervous about the A-Max the good ole 165 Sierra game king spire point boat tail will also do the trick. I recovered one, in a buck of 2010, on the opposite side of the shot that entered the right shoulder and quit traveling on the left flank. It expanded to .75" and still weighed 145 gr.
 
#25
Re: Looking for a good .308 hunting load, input?

Just saying for info to feed on.I have found that the A-max works just as good if not better than a NBT.They both are Poly tip bullets one just has a harder thicker jacket ( the NBT in fact )while the A-max has a softer thinner jacket.After trying a NBT in my rifel with no result I changed to an A-max and haven't looked back.The NBT just copper fouled to fast while giving poor accuracy in my rifel.

The A-max will and does put deer on the ground just as good.So I say why change when you have a load ready to go.But again these are my thoughts and what I do.
 
#26
Re: Looking for a good .308 hunting load, input?

hi shooter, i found a bullet years back that has been the most devastating thing on deer i have seen. the sierra gameking hollowpoint. made basically the same boattail design as a matchking just a different hollowpoint.the accuracy seems to be in the matchking range,almost same point of impact in my 308. i have used them in 308,and 30-06. 165 gr. and the bullet leaves a large exit hole. i have turned alot of my friends on to them that reload and they love them.i know the deer are alot bigger up there than in alabama but i think they would still do the trick. good luck
greg
 
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