Range Report .308 loads for "doing it all"

[mark5pt56]

Has anyone tested .308 ammunition in regards to having a load that will give you long range accuracy equal to the match loads and give on target performance to take deer and black bear up to 600 pounds?

I'm looking for factory ammo so I can reduce inventory to one round(hopefully) My goal is to have enough of this factory loaded and also get the components and reload it to match the factory stuff. I would like to keep it under 30 per 20 if possible?

Although having these puppies touch at 100 would be nice, moa is acceptable for what I want to do.

Mark

 

[acehigh]

Re: .308 loads for "doing it all"

http://www.appliedballisticsllc.com/index_files/Book.htm

Buy this book. It comes with ballistic software. It has several charts(in the book) for each caliber and bullet to help you determine exactly what you're asking about.
John
If memory serves me, I don't think you'll find a bullet in 308 that will effectively and humanely take a black bear (600 #'s) past about 200 yards. Don't quote me on that. It's been a day or 2 since I looked at that page.

 

[ChadTRG42]

Re: .308 loads for "doing it all"

I would keep shots under 300 yards with a 308, and use a premium bonded or solid bullet. The solids, like the TSX, will take you out of your price range. So, the bonded bullets would be next best option. I'd also go as heavy a bullet as you can find, like a 180 grain. Accuracy is unknown until you test fire it in your rifle.

 

[mark5pt56]

Re: .308 loads for "doing it all"

Thanks! I'm only referring to the long range for target shooting. Within my abilities for a clean shot on the game, Where I go hunting 200 yards would be the extreme, more like 100 max.(terrain wise)
Below is what I've collected so far. I plan to try the 165 Fusions and maybe the Accubond and rem Scirocco.

If that barrier tap pans out, that will be sweet.

.308 Hornady LE IBTAP BARRIER 165gr. SP Ammo (80995)
.308 Hornady TAP FPD 168gr. Ammo (80968)
.308 Hornady LE TAP 168gr. BTHP Ammo (80975)
.308 Hornady LE A-MAX Match TAP 168gr. Ammo (80965)

 

[The Mechanic]

Re: .308 loads for "doing it all"

Don't know about you but you can not get enough gun for a big ass bear that wants to kill and eat you.

Concentrate more on the killing part and less on the all around part.

 

[mark5pt56]

Re: .308 loads for "doing it all"

I also carry .44 mountain with GDSP, 270grains-especially when using the bow!

Found some Fed prem /165 accubond, Win 168 ballistic silvertips and 165 fusions

By the way-The biggest bear I've seen with a 30-06 core lokt was 598-one shot and plop

 

[Rob01]

Re: .308 loads for "doing it all"

168 AMAX will drop deer without a problem. I gave a fellow Hide member a couple boxes of 168 AMAX ammo, not the TAP but loaded to same velocity, and he took 2 deer with them and said they dropped where they stood. Not sure about bear though.

 

[427Cobra]

Re: .308 loads for "doing it all"

Amax flat out kill, and is a good match round also.

 

[Short-bus]

Re: .308 loads for "doing it all"

If you are wanting to take a big butt bear with a "do it all" round, I think that's a bit of wishful thinking. However, a heavy 178+gr Amax is a good option IMO for just about any lower 48 game out there. If you are going for bigger animals, then go with a premium bonded bullet, or my personal favorites are the all copper "x" type bullets be it barnes, or whatever brand. For those big animals, you want a bullet that's going to stay together with 100% weight retention, and penetrate DEEP. Berger's are another great option, however I personally wouldn't want a fragmenting bullet for large, somewhat dangerous game.

I use Amax's for all my hunting, however if I were to pursue large moose, or grizzly's, I would use something sturdier. The .308 has more than enough umphh to take anything on the north american continent, just make sure you put it where it counts. Doesn't matter if you use a .50, if you put a bad hit on a big bear, it's still going to eat you.

Branden

(The above is purely my opinion and in no way stated as a set in stone rule....flame away)

 

[BobinNC]

Re: .308 loads for "doing it all"

Mark,

Below is a list of 308 Win HSM Ammo as offered through Sniper Central. You have the bullet weight, FPS, Bullet Type, and cost per box. I don't know about a 600 yd bear load, but any of the below will work on deer.

Link: HSM Ammo

.308 Win 155 gr 2875 155gr Amax Match $20.05
.308 Win 155 gr 2860 155gr HPBT VLD Palma $21.03
.308 Win 155 gr 2860 155gr HPBT Palma Match $22.35
.308 Win 168 gr 2625 168gr HPBT Match $19.74
.308 Win 168 gr 2600 168gr Amax Match $19.97
.308 Win 168 gr 2625 168gr Berger VLD Match $28.65
.308 Win 175 gr 2600 175gr HPBT Match $20.66
.308 Win 178 gr 2650 178gr A-Max Match $20.70

You should find something there that you will like.

Bob

 

[mark5pt56]

Re: .308 loads for "doing it all"

Ok, work in progress here. Was 30, sunny. I went to the range today and tried the Fed premium 165 accubond and the Win 168 ballistic silvertips. My rifle did not like the silvertips-very erratic with the grouping. It did like the accubond's though, 5 shot each group,.75, .75, .64 and at 300-2.91(10 mph swirl)(the 10 I chrono'ed avg-2628) My rifle is a 20" SPS in a AICS #2 barrel was cut, threaded, crowned and a Surefire FH installed by GAP.

Will update

Ok, again, as far as the bear-I'm not actively hunting them, however,if one comes about, I want to be able to deal with it if I have a .308 with me. My son has a .308, my primary is a 30-06 and my back up is a .44 mountain. 600 is an extreme around here.

I just want to streamline my ammo supply and .308 is the first caliber to work on.

 

[mark5pt56]

Re: .308 loads for "doing it all"

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

Below is a list of 308 Win HSM Ammo as offered through Sniper Central. You have the bullet weight, FPS, Bullet Type, and cost per box. I don't know about a 600 yd bear load, but any of the below will work on deer.

Link: HSM Ammo

.308 Win 155 gr 2875 155gr Amax Match $20.05
.308 Win 155 gr 2860 155gr HPBT VLD Palma $21.03
.308 Win 155 gr 2860 155gr HPBT Palma Match $22.35
.308 Win 168 gr 2625 168gr HPBT Match $19.74
.308 Win 168 gr 2600 168gr Amax Match $19.97
.308 Win 168 gr 2625 168gr Berger VLD Match $28.65
.308 Win 175 gr 2600 175gr HPBT Match $20.66
.308 Win 178 gr 2650 178gr A-Max Match $20.70

You should find something there that you will like.

Bob
</div></div>

Bob, That's great! I would like to know sbout those 178's and black bear.

Mark

 

[BobinNC]

Re: .308 loads for "doing it all"

Mark,

I would not hesitate to shoot a Black Bear with a 308 and a 178 A-MAX, but only at ranges well UNDER 200 yds. Bears can be tough, and hard to hit in the right spot, if you are the least bit sketchy on their anatomy. In short, no long range shooting on anything that bites back, and you may have to track, in dark or near dark conditions, at very close range.

Discretion is the better part of valor....

Bob

 

[mark5pt56]

Re: .308 loads for "doing it all"

Bob, I think I may order a couple of boxes of that and try it out. Thanks for the link,it's alot cheaper. Is all of that ammo factory new?

Mark

 

[BobinNC]

Re: .308 loads for "doing it all"

Yes, factory new. I buy quite a bit of the 155 Sierra Palma load by HSM. It's accurate, and the brass has Federal Headstamps.

Bob

 

[Tyler Kemp]

Re: .308 loads for "doing it all"

208 Amax would do the job on a bear past 200 I believe, they expand easily.

 

[Woodsmack]

Re: .308 loads for "doing it all"

Here is my one load: Lapua Brass, Federal Gold Medal Primer, Berger 175 Gr. VLD, 47.7 Gr.(Compressed) of Alliant Power Pro 2000LR. Play with your OAL, and this will be the only load you'll ever need for your .308 Win. Rated Muzzle Velocity of 2720fps, and more than enough juice to take your 600 pound bear at 225 yards. The 175 Gr. Berger VLD has a G7 BC of .255 (G1 BC of .498). I like to sight this in 4 inches high at 150 yards, making it 4 inches low at 305 yards. I shoot this from a Weatherby Mark V Ultra Lightweight with a 24in. barrel. My best 3 shot group thus far, was 3/16in. at 200 yards from a fouled barrel. Recoil checks in at about 23 ft./lbs. from my 6.75 lb. rifle. Remember, Consistency is Accuracy.

My motto: One Rifle, One Load, One Shot, One Kill

 

[vman]

Re: .308 loads for "doing it all"

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

My motto: One Rifle, One Load, One Shot, One Kill </div></div>

Hehehehe cheesy but i like it

Only beef with the VLD 175s is that they tend to be long and most rifles wont fit them in a magazine... Im currently waiting to find out if my 185gr VLDs will fit into my AICS mags which have decent internal length.

I find, with a round like the VLD, OAL plays a very important part in the overall accuracy of the round. And if the OAL doesnt allow you to magazine load, then you will find yourself single shot feeding in the woods... with 600 pound bears

 

[Woodsmack]

Re: .308 loads for "doing it all"

That's a great point. Yup, my Weatherby is a little longer than the true short actions, so I've never had a problem. If someone prefers hunting with the true short actions, then the standard RL-15 and 180 Gr. Nosler Partition is never a bad bet; particularly for dangerous game. I also like the 200 Gr. Accubond loaded with some progressive ball powder. Although I consider both of those loads too large for deer so maybe a do it all load for a true short action would be 165 Gr. Bonded Bullet, loaded as hot and accurate as possible with about 45 Gr. of Varget or 50 Gr.(Compressed) of Power Pro 2000LR.