Biggest Bullet For 308???

thatmikeguy

thatmikeguy

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What is the largest yet still efficient bullet for the .308? i recently got some 200gr nosler partitions for moose but according to my sierra reloading manual, the 150gr bullet has the most energy. even more than the 165 and 180gr and 200gr.
 
I think I woudl still use them.

308 doesn't have the case capacity to shoot the larger bullets (200 gr and larger) as efficiently as 30 06 or the 300 mags.

BUT, I think a 308 loaded with 200 gr partitions woudl be a great moose load. Go for it
 
The 308 just lacks the powder capacity to motivate the heavy bullets to a really useful velocity.

In my experience, 168-175gr match bullets is about the max. In a hunting bullet, 165 is the top of the ideal weights, though the 180 is fine if you won't be looking for the long shot.

On the flip side, I see no sense at all in shooting the lighter bullets in magnum cases with a lot of powder capacity.
 
The 308 just lacks the powder capacity to motivate the heavy bullets to a really useful velocity.
Quote Siverado.
Twist rate becomes important to stabilize such long and heavy bullets also.
 
165 gr. is plenty, especially in a Barnes MRX or Nosler Partition. I only use 150 gr. or 165 gr. off the shelf Federal's and they have never failed.
 
ron hilchey said:
The 308 just lacks the powder capacity to motivate the heavy bullets to a really useful velocity.
Quote Siverado.
Twist rate becomes important to stabilize such long and heavy bullets also.
Click to expand...

Both statements are true - but despite that, I've found amazing accuracy with 220 gr. Sierras in a Remington Model 7. You can use a stopwatch instead of a chronograph, but they sure all land in the same place (eventually)!:D
 
Tumbleweed said:
Both statements are true - but despite that, I've found amazing accuracy with 220 gr. Sierras in a Remington Model 7. You can use a stopwatch instead of a chronograph, but they sure all land in the same place (eventually)!:D
Click to expand...

All the 308's I've owned had a 1:10 twist, so should stabilize the heavyweights.

I've often found that high intensity cartridges shooting heavy bullets at lower velocities produce excellent accuracy as well. I still don't think it's ideal however.

That said, making a heavy load for a 308 is more affordable than buying another rifle!
 
Tumbleweed said:
Both statements are true - but despite that, I've found amazing accuracy with 220 gr. Sierras in a Remington Model 7. You can use a stopwatch instead of a chronograph, but they sure all land in the same place (eventually)!:D
Click to expand...

All the 308's I've owned had a 1:10 twist, so should stabilize the heavyweights. The superheavy match bullets of 240gr are probably out of the question though...

I've often found that high intensity cartridges shooting heavy bullets at lower velocities produce excellent accuracy as well. I still don't think it's ideal however.

That said, making a heavy load for a 308 is more affordable than buying another rifle!
 
I am not familiar with that particular bullet, but other partitions i have used seemed to have a soft nose section that mushroomed easily, so even at the lower velocity, it would probably work well.

I prefer the 200 gr in 308 (or a 180) because lighter bullets seem to destroy more meat.

I use the same heavy bullet on deer, for the same reason.
 
I am sure I saw a 250 gr .308 caliber bullet load in one of my Lee books. I'll have to go look now......dang, just mentioning this as I think 250 grain bullets are the top shelf in weight for this class.
 
Also don't forget, different hunting grounds may require different weights. Out in the prairies or open ground, that 165 may hit with the most energy, but in the thick, those heavy rounds tend to snap off branches as opposed to deflecting the bullet.
 
The 308 case will drive conventional 200 and 220 gr bullets at velocities which are suitable to the bullets. One can achieve close to 2400 fps with a 220 and about 2500 or a bit more with a 200.
Having said that, I suspect the best game bullet in a 308 is likely the Barnes TSX or TTSX in the 150 grain weight. If you prefer more weight, the 165 is OK too. With these bullets there is little need to go heavy due to their high weight retention on impact.
When it comes to shooting through brush, the best advice is, don't do it! All bullets deflect. Regards, Bill.
 
my 308 has a 1:10 twist so that should be okay. the nosler web site says that minimum expansion velocity is 1800fps. i probably shouldn't shoot much past 100 yards(guessing) i have some sierra gamekings and hornady sst's but i was told thay were not suitable for moose. only deer.
 
thatmikeguy said:
my 308 has a 1:10 twist so that should be okay. the nosler web site says that minimum expansion velocity is 1800fps. i probably shouldn't shoot much past 100 yards(guessing) i have some sierra gamekings and hornady sst's but i was told thay were not suitable for moose. only deer.
Click to expand...

Times sure have changed. I had a Grandfather who killed moose for decades with a .32-40. His brother 'hated the recoil', so he used a .25-20. My own father upgraded to a "big" rifle...a .38-55...and also killed moose for decades. I saw him kill a cow & calf with two shots on many occasions. None of them ever owned a scope in their lives, and I suffered huge amounts of 'city slicker' ridicule when, in the early '60s, I put a 4x Weaver on my 'meat wrecker' .30-06.

Both of them used a technique rarely seen these days - they stalked. First they found a moose; then they spent whatever time was necessary to get close enough to place one careful bullet where it killed the moose quickly and effectively, without ruining any edible portions.

Moose hunting with a .308 & 220 gr. RN bullets wouldn't worry me one bit. But I'd stalk instead of standing off 400 yards lobbing rounds at it.
 
Tumbleweed said:
Times sure have changed. I had a Grandfather who killed moose for decades with a .32-40. His brother 'hated the recoil', so he used a .25-20. My own father upgraded to a "big" rifle...a .38-55...and also killed moose for decades. I saw him kill a cow & calf with two shots on many occasions. None of them ever owned a scope in their lives, and I suffered huge amounts of 'city slicker' ridicule when, in the early '60s, I put a 4x Weaver on my 'meat wrecker' .30-06.

Both of them used a technique rarely seen these days - they stalked. First they found a moose; then they spent whatever time was necessary to get close enough to place one careful bullet where it killed the moose quickly and effectively, without ruining any edible portions.

Moose hunting with a .308 & 220 gr. RN bullets wouldn't worry me one bit. But I'd stalk instead of standing off 400 yards lobbing rounds at it.
Click to expand...

X2. A .308 with 220 gr bullets is still a 200+ yd gun. And it's going to pack some whallop.
 
"...250 grain bullets..." Way too long. So are 220's unless they're seated very deep.
There's no moose on Earth that a 165 grain bullet out of a .308 won't kill.
 
Woodleigh makes 250 Grain soft points and solids I believe. They would be far from efficient in a .308 but might be fun in a long necked .300 of some sort for close range smashing of large fury critters.
 
I think a squat 200gr has a place in a 308 case, a favorite of mine is the Lapua 200gr Mega (bonded semi spitzer) but others that should work good is Speer 200gr hotcore or Grand Slam. Inside 200 yards they should not give up much in penetration to a 165gr premium. Kinda a 'fun' load to try, not a practical one (kinda like when I load 250gr round nose in my 338-08)
 
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