308 win

6.5x55swm

6.5x55swm

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
103   0   0
how far would you shoot at a deer with a 308, i use 150gr nosler BT, what about moose? i would use 180gr nosler part. my rifle has a 24" barrel it'a a tack driver at 100yds
 
Tough call.
I will say a 308 will puncture a 1/2 inch plate at 100 yards, 3/8 inch plate at 200, 1/4 inch plate at 400.
Its usually the person behind the machine rather than the machine. Buck fever plays a big part as well. Shot placement is a huge factor. Most scopes, I say most because the reticle is still on the animal out to 300 yards. That is the deciding factor for those shooters. Practice the shooting technique your going to use and see how it works out for you. Use actual deer sized cardboard targets.
my 2 cents
 
Here is what goes through my mind on "long shots" while hunting big game.

I would not be limited so much by the rifle or cartridge, but by conditions of marksmanship, and presentation of the target in relation to the terrain, two VERY important details almost never discussed on these threads. Shots at a live animal are very different than shots on paper.

One big difference is that with a good hit in the chest, a deer or any other big game animal can run far enough before expiring that tracking is necessary. Is the game in a location where the animals initial location can be clearly marked? Are your observation and tracking skills up to the task of following a deer from a possibly undetermined location to wherever it ended up? With or without a blood trail?

Almost any decent rifle can be shot much more accurately in "range" conditions than field conditions. Field rests just aren't bench rests. Wind is another consideration that is seldom mentioned. At least in the wide open plains wind drift on a bullet can be a very important factor, enough to make a clean miss at ranges over 300 yds to so. Wind also pushes the shooter around.

Just a couple of thoughts that have encouraged me to limit my shots at big game to under 300 yards. My decision to shoot, or not, - mostly isn't about paper ballistics.
 
Depends on how comfortable you are and how practised I suppose. I personally wouldn't shoot over 250m on game, and I don't think any of my actual shots have been more than half that. Where I hunt it's always been possible to get much closer than that.
 
I killed a Mulie doe at just under 600 yds with a 168gr out of an '06 which is essentially equivalent to a 308. The bullet blew completely through the deer and put her down with a single shot.

The bullet or case isnt going to be the deciding factor. It will be the conditions and your level of marksmanship that will decide wether you can make such a shot. For any distance that you want to kill an animal I'd suggest you practice to much longer ranges. For example at the time we were regularly shooting in competition to 900 yds which made a 600 yd shot easy.
 
I have read that reliable expansion velocity is around 1800 fps. for most bullets.
That's where I would limit my range to, or 300 yds. whatever comes first.
257 Roberts
 
I would use it out to 200m right now with the .308 rifle I own. I would try a longer shot only if I had done enough work-up practise beforehand. The cartridge is effectively accurate at longer ranges than I am, and I would expect an ordinary good hunting bullet in a deer's heart/lung area at 500m to be lethal in a humanely quick time.
 
will work well for deer past 400, for moose about 250 is about as far as i would stretch it.

Moose are thick enough that if your shot isn't perfect at that 250 mark the tracking job could become more like a full time job
 
as far as i could smoke it through the chest. When i get good enough to out do the ability of the cartridge to kill cleanly then i will change my answer. In terms of distance currently i would have to say 200 yards simply because i haven't shot any further ( other than a .22)
 
If you know your rifle with 165gr BTSP hand loads you can reach out as far as 600 yards for Moose my dad did it many times with his Savage 99F 308 that he bought in 1960.[30 years hunting every year]
The average shot for him was 200-300 yards.With a Rem. 180gr corlock i seen him knock a Moose right off his feet at about 250 yards he use to say to me 6 inch down from the hump will get done every time it was quit the time going hunting with him.:)
We are originaly from the Sault in Ont. and moved out to B.C. the shots can be long at times out here.Nothing like Alb.or Sack.though.


6.5x55swm said:
how far would you shoot at a deer with a 308, i use 150gr nosler BT, what about moose? i would use 180gr nosler part. my rifle has a 24" barrel it'a a tack driver at 100yds
Click to expand...
 
well thanks fellas, i knew it was a very good deer rifle, it will be mainly use on logging roads that i walk on and i am getting a bi-pod some shots will be long, i guess i will have to practice at some long distances
 
Just remember one thing at 600 yards you have about 18-24 inchs of drop with your bulls eye set a 100 yards with a 99 anyway so if you aim about that above the Mooses hump it will take it home.[Rarely]




6.5x55swm said:
well thanks fellas, i knew it was a very good deer rifle, it will be mainly use on logging roads that i walk on and i am getting a bi-pod some shots will be long, i guess i will have to practice at some long distances
Click to expand...
 
Great choice, I picked up one today, my first .308 ever. I have owned 30-06, couple of 270's, couple of .243's a .338 and a .223. I still have a .243 and a .223. I shot the 7.62 when I was in the military and always had a soft spot for it. I have shot game with my 30-06 and 270's and think they are fine calibers but chose the .308 because it comes in short action. I believe it will be a great game getter. Cheers Roscoe
 
6.5x55swm said:
how far would you shoot at a deer with a 308, i use 150gr nosler BT, what about moose? i would use 180gr nosler part. my rifle has a 24" barrel it'a a tack driver at 100yds
Click to expand...

Took my last bull at 290yds in wind and rain with the .308 and a 165gr IB, 20" barrel. No drama.
 
The longest shot I've taken for deer with my .308 is 484 yards....the conditions were perfect, no wind, mild weather...It totally depends on the person being the trigger...I've practiced a tonne and am very confident in long shots...but it is not whether or not you could, it's whether or not you should...even though I am comfortable, I have let awesome deer go by at 300 yds due to wind and the angle of the shot...I believe ethics come into play...My first choice is to stalk within a 100 yds for a definitive kill shot...it's not about the kill, it's about the hunt...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom