.308 long range hunting loads

[Chaseerickson12]

Hi so I'm finishing a long range .308 rifle build the barrel is 26in 1-10 twist what load will be good for elk at long range. In the 600-700 yard range. Yes might not be a possible thing but I'm a believer.

 

[mark5pt56]

If not reloading, a start

LOAD NO. USE CALIBER BULLET WEIGHT
GRAINS
BULLET STYLE BALLISTIC COEFFICIENT BRAND
P308TC2
Medium Game 308 Win. (7.62x51mm) 165 Trophy® Copper 0.469 Vital-Shok®
P308TT1
Medium Game 308 Win. (7.62x51mm) 180 Trophy Bonded® Tip 0.5 Vital-Shok®
P308TT4
Medium Game 308 Win. (7.62x51mm) 165 Trophy Bonded® Tip 0.45 Vital-Shok®

VELOCITY IN FEET PER SECOND
Display Velocity Table
ENERGY IN FOOT POUNDS
Hide Energy Table
LOAD NO. CALIBER MUZZLE 100 Y 200 Y 300 Y 400 Y 500 Y
P308TC2
308 Win. (7.62x51mm) 2671 2309 1986 1701 1448 1225
P308TT1
308 Win. (7.62x51mm) 2743 2389 2072 1789 1536 1313
P308TT4
308 Win. (7.62x51mm) 3039 2621 2250 1922 1633 1377


OAD NO. USE CALIBER BULLET WEIGHT
GRAINS
BULLET STYLE BALLISTIC COEFFICIENT BRAND
P308E
Large, Heavy Game 308 Win. (7.62x51mm) 180 Nosler® Partition® 0.474 Vital-Shok®

VELOCITY IN FEET PER SECOND
Display Velocity Table
ENERGY IN FOOT POUNDS
Hide Energy Table
LOAD NO. CALIBER MUZZLE 100 Y 200 Y 300 Y 400 Y 500 Y
P308E
308 Win. (7.62x51mm) 2640 2278 1957 1672 1420 1202

 

[308Gunner]

208 AMAX is your best bet, good luck

 

[Niles Coyote]

I have never gone after elk, but if I were and were to use a 308 I would be looking at either the 185 berger hunting hybrid or one of the heavier hunting vld's. I know the 208 has worked for others here but depending on your chamber specs that may not leave much room for powder... worth a try though.

 

[roggom]

I like the 308 and have loads that I can poke out to 700 on CXP2 sized game (deer and antelope), that is with terminal velocity to provide at least 1000 ft lbs at point of impact.

For CXP3 type game, my ethical limit is 1500 ft lbs of energy. Gunwerks makes rifles specifically for long range hunting, and they like to limit shots to a velocity of 2000 fps, which equates to about the same. Then again that's why most of their rifles are in 7mm calibers. Not knocking the 308, as its one of my favorites, but the reality is there are limits.

So looking at a nice load like a 180 Nosler Accubond thats only 450Y (for Elk).

I worked some numbers and if you can get a 208 VLD up to around 2575-2600 you can hit 1500 ft lbs at 550-600Y, not sure what that load will do do your primer pockets though.

If it were me, I would look at the 190 Nosler ABLR with its .640 BC, get that one up to 2600 FPS, for a range of 500Y. Anything beyond that you should really look at another Elk rifle. For Mulies, the 190 ABLR should take you to 800Y.

 

[Barney88PDC]

I like the 308 and have loads that I can poke out to 700 on CXP2 sized game (deer and antelope), that is with terminal velocity to provide at least 1000 ft lbs at point of impact.

For CXP3 type game, my ethical limit is 1500 ft lbs of energy.

So looking at a nice load like a 180 Nosler Accubond thats only 450Y.

I worked some numbers and if you can get a 208 VLD up to around 2575-2600 you can hit 1500 ft lbs at 550-600Y, not sure what that load will do do your primer pockets though.

If it were me, I would look at the 190 Nosler ABLR with its .640 BC, get that one up to 2600 FPS, for a range of 500Y. Anything beyond that you should really look at another rifle.

THIS!!!!

If you are going to go by the 1500 ft-lb requirement for your inteneded range then a Magnum in the 7mm or 30cal offerings is your best bet. I wanted to accomplish the same goal and I ended up with a 7SAUM.

 

[Chaseerickson12]

Worked up a load with 208amax on top of 41.5gr of 4064 seated at 2.83... 2476avg. I'm going to single feed and use rl17 and seat at 2.875 and see if I can get around 2550-2600