150gr vs 165gr .308 bullets for whitetail

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Aabradsh

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Hey guys

I have a a Browning x-bolt, in .308, on its way and am developing some loads for it.

I’m hoping o shoot 165gr Nosler BTs out of it, but due to the 1/12” barrel twist, it may be more partial to lighter 150gr pills.

I’ll mainly be hunting whitetails with this rifle, so am wondering what kind of experience guys have with the difference between the two. Was it noticeable, or will it matter much?

I’m also open to other suggestions for bullets. I’ve used the 165gr Nosler Accubonds on deer, in my other .308, to great effect, but I’m trying other options, just because of the high cost of those.

Let me know if you have any suggestions.

Thank you!
 
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Probably no real difference - one won't likely take a deer, that the other one wouldn't. In my Winchester M70 in 308 Win, I started with various 150 grain bullets and 165 Speer HotCor - got a "better" - as in tighter - groups with the 165 grain first, so stayed with that - since about late 1970's. My son uses the rifle now - still using 165 Speer HotCor bullets - at various times had used W-W 748, IMR 4064, BLC2, RL-15 and changing now to Varget - but only because I have some Varget left and can not find RL-15 to buy. That rifle and load has taken many whitetail and mule deer, and each of us has taken an elk with it. I doubt if longest shot taken has been even 300 yards, though. Ended up at Max load listed in Speer manual - velocity confirmed with the Shooting Chrony.
 
For deer there is no reason not to use a 150gr bullet unless your rifle refuses to group accurately with them.

I wouldn't be keen on the NBT. I've found them too soft. Perhaps at 308 velocities they would be fine, but something with a little more substantial construction is always my preference. Damn near any traditional cup and core will work well on deer out of a 308. If you were to step up to bigger game then a 165 Partition would be my recommendation...or a 30-06 and 180s.
 
Aabradsh said:
Hey guys

I have a a Browning x-bolt, and n .308, on its way and am developing some loads for it.

I’m hoping o shoot 165gr Nosler BTs out of it, but due to the 1/12” barrel twist, it may be more partial to lighter 150gr pills.

I’ll mainly be hunting whitetails with this rifle, so am wondering what kind of experience guys have with the difference between the two. Was it noticeable, or will it matter much?

I’m also open to other suggestions for bullets. I’ve used the 165gr Nosler Accubonds on deer, in my other .308, to great effect, but I’m trying other options, just because of the high cost of those.

Let me know if you have any suggestions.

Thank you!
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the 1/12 twist will not Matter .. just work up a load for either one
My sako is a 1/11 and does not care even if I use 180g

What matters is the bullet length ... you might or might not have problems with the all copper or the new low drag target long range bullets over 168-175g

its the length vs twist vs speed
 
SO called super premium bullets in .30 cal are a waist of money, the 150 Hornady Interlock is a super accurate bullet, and deadly. I have shot several deer with them and never recovered one, they always completely penetrate without excessive exit wounds.
 
My experience with a 1:12 twist in a 308 was that 165's were fine, but it wouldn't shoot heavier than that. I tried some 178's and they were all over. Of course 150's would be fine too. The deer won't notice much difference so shoot whichever one your rifle likes (or whatever you can actually find on shelves).
 
i prefer the 150's but in my two 308's 165grn is almost as good. 180's not so good but would be acceptable for hunting. i like the 150 because with rel 15 and 150 swift scirrocos i can get 2900 fps with a 22 inch barrel and a little slower but still good in an 18 inch barrel. i would use the scirroco 150 for anything i hunted with a 308.
 
150's will do everything that 165's will do on deer, or 180's for that matter... regardless of which weight you use, bullet placement will either be good or bad, the marginal difference between those weights will rarely make a difference. As far as the NBT bullet goes, I have had very good performance from them on game, I put two 140 grain 6.5mm completely through a moose this fall, and a 150 grain 7mm through a 500 pound bear, and wrecked a good number of deer with the 115 grain NBT's from a .257 Robert's and 150 NBT's .30 cal's from a couple .30/30's. Personally, I let accuracy be my guide... whichever load I get to shoot with the best consistent accuracy is the one I use.
 
I use 150gr. Nosler Accubonds in most of my 30 Cal. I prefer the 150gr. because of it's high velocity and flatter trajectory. I love hunting whitetails more than any other big game, and have great confidence in the 150's.
 
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