Hunting & Fishing Hunting 308 bullets

[thewolf]

Hi,

A friend at the range invited me to go deer hunting with him this season, which I have never done. I usually stick to killing paper but am excited to go.

Anyways I am hoping to get some advice on developing a 308 hunting load. I already have a supply of 168 Amax and 175 pulled SMK which I would like to use to avoid spending more money.

Basically would my target loads be adequate for hunting or should I get real hunting bullets?
Is there a minimum velocity / knockdown power I should be worried about for determining max distance? As in I should stay about X amount of foot pounds.

should be white tail deer at 100-300 yard

I don’t want to look like an idiot unprepared and not be asked again..

Thanks

 

[Willys46]

If the 168 AMAX shoots I would go with that. Deer inside of 300yards with a 308 will be fine. I load the 165 accubonds for my hunting 308.

Shot placement is way more important than the bullet selection usally.

 

[roggom]

This topic comes up quite often close to hunting season. Either one will do, although your 175 will retain more energy out at further range, for the ranges you will be shooting the 168 Amax would be my choice. Personally I stick with 1000 ft lbs as my min energy for harvesting deer/antelope, but it all depends on your confidence level at any given range.

Good luck on the hunt.

 

[coldboremiracle]

We just had this discussion a day or so ago, instead of re-hashing it out, just go read the last discussion:

http://www.snipershide.com/shooting/snipers-hide-hunting-fishing/211528-hunting-ammo-help.html

 

[thewolf]

Thanks guys!

Yeah I had started to read that post before but then bugged out early. For some reason when I hear hog hunting I think of guys driving around on their trucks with AR’s and 15 flashlights. More of a pest control thing. Probably got that from tv or something.

 

[Nortex]

Amax's work just fine on game, I would advise staying away from heavy bone shots though. I personally use a 165 Accubond in my 30-06 and it works exceptionally.

 

[shooterfpga]

Thanks guys!

Yeah I had started to read that post before but then bugged out early. For some reason when I hear hog hunting I think of guys driving around on their trucks with AR’s and 15 flashlights. More of a pest control thing. Probably got that from tv or something.

We use that and many other techniques to get rid of hogs.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Grumulkin]

Hi,

A friend at the range invited me to go deer hunting with him this season, which I have never done. I usually stick to killing paper but am excited to go.

Anyways I am hoping to get some advice on developing a 308 hunting load. I already have a supply of 168 Amax and 175 pulled SMK which I would like to use to avoid spending more money.

If the bullets are the same weight you shoot for target, just use the same load.

Considering I've taken deer with such things as a 204 Ruger, 222 Remington and a 22-250 Remington at ranges up to 360 yards, you should be tood to 400 or 500 yards anyway as long as your marksmanship and rifle are up to it.

 

[Infinity]

I just went through this getting ready to reload for a new hunting rifle. I prefer to anchor big bucks with a shoulder shot. I also like to shoot a lot to gain confidence with my hunting loads...went with the 180 grain Sierra Gameking...~$30/100 bullets.

Edit: I only opted for the 180s due to the better BC...Where I'll be hunting this year, shots to 700 yards are very possible. Good luck OP...

 

[Blackbrush]

You won't regret the 180 Gamekings. My 308 shoots them incredibly well - as well as any "match" bullet under 600 yds.

 

[Infinity]

That's what I like to hear! ...and see once I can string a few days of shooting together...

 

[Blackbrush]

They're actually a pretty old design that won many a match back in the day. If you perforate something big (big hog, elk, etc), they will generally penetrate better especially from difficult angles. In most cases, the match and match hunting bullets would be fine. I just don't want the day to come that a trophy of a lifetime presents itself in a way I'd have to pass because I'm afraid the bullet I'm using won't get to the boiler room. As I've said before, "to each his own"..... just my 2....

 

[Infinity]

They're actually a pretty old design that won many a match back in the day. If you perforate something big (big hog, elk, etc), they will generally penetrate better especially from difficult angles. In most cases, the match and match hunting bullets would be fine. I just don't want the day to come that a trophy of a lifetime presents itself in a way I'd have to pass because I'm afraid the bullet I'm using won't get to the boiler room. As I've said before, "to each his own"..... just my 2....

...well said! I would hate to catch the shoulder or have a snap shot up close where my bullet explodes. I shoot the Amax lots, just prefer it for punching paper.

 

[TexasVine]

I use Federal Premium 168 Grain, Sierra Match King BTHP in my 308 Remmy 5R.

This is the exit wound on a large Aoudad taken out past 200 yards.



I have taken a couple of Bucks as well as a Pronghorn Antelope with the Federal premium 168 grain and all kills were clean and immediate.

 

[coldboremiracle]

[MENTION=63727]TexasVine[/MENTION] You should put these up in the show your SMK kill's thread, excellent and diverse examples.

 

[Infinity]

Nice shooting and nice Aoudad! I think your post shows that any bullet properly placed gets the job done, although not optimally. I'm not judging you for using SMKs so please take my next comments as simply my perspective, not as a dig at you.

I am of the opinion that, given the plethora of bullets we have to choose from, no matter how good a shot you are, it borders on unethical to use a bullet not intended for hunting...especially considering the accuracy that many of these hunting bullets are able to boast. To me, using SMKs on deer, elk, etc. is like hunting with a field tip instead of a broadhead using a bow. I realize this comparison is not wholly accurate (hydrostatic shock, foot lbs., etc.) but for the sake of illustrating a point, please bear with me. Amax bullets are borderline acceptable but even those have been shown to expand unpredictably on deer.

If you were to be shot, would you pick a bullet that punched a small hole in you and let you bleed out slowly or one whose engineered expansion minimized your suffering?

 

[judgedelta]

Sierra 165 gr. Gameking; either SP or, I prefer, the BTHP. Shoots like a Matchking out to 200 yds or so in everything I've loaded it for. About 30 cents per each...

 

[nexusfire]

+1 for Sierra Gameking 180 grain

 

[wvlapua]

Pick up some factory loaded federal fusion ammo. It performs surprising well on targets and game.