bullet weights

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schultzie

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Just wondering, for those of you that hunt using 308 what weights you use on what game? I grew up using 150's for deer, have never been out for elk or moose however that is changing this year.

Is 165 enough for elk and moose? or do I need to go up to 180? I understand that properly placed lots of smaller weights will work. Iam just kind of wondering what the general though/opinion is.
 
I have shot a lot of critters with a .308. I would not use a 165 Nosler ballistic tip on a moose or elk on a bet. But it IS a wonderfully accurate, ballistically superior and quick killing deer bullet.

Based on experience, I would feel confident using the following .308 165 grain bullets on elk or moose: Nosler partition, TSX, Accubond, and Remington Core lokt. Based on research I would also use the Sierra HPBT ( NOT their match bullet!) .

I have seen a couple of standard 150 grain bullets stop in the shoulder socket joint of elk and moose, and fail to penetrate the vitals. Even though they are quick killers if slipped through or between the ribs I don't feel comfortable using any 150's for big stuff with the single exception of the mono metal hollow point or tipped bullets like the TTSX.

If you are buying off the shelf ammo for hunting elk and moose, it is always a safe bet to buy 180's for your .308 if bullet construction is unknown or the type you really want is unavailable. Most any 180 grain bullet will work OK, most 165's will too, but 150's that consistently penetrate adequately on elk and moose from any practical angle are not so common.
There! that's all you need to know! ;-)
 
Longwalker said:
I have shot a lot of critters with a .308. I would not use a 165 Nosler ballistic tip on a moose or elk on a bet. But it IS a wonderfully accurate, ballistically superior and quick killing deer bullet.

Based on experience, I would feel confident using the following .308 165 grain bullets on elk or moose: Nosler partition, TSX, Accubond, and Remington Core lokt. Based on research I would also use the Sierra HPBT ( NOT their match bullet!) .

I have seen a couple of standard 150 grain bullets stop in the shoulder socket joint of elk and moose, and fail to penetrate the vitals. Even though they are quick killers if slipped through or between the ribs I don't feel comfortable using any 150's for big stuff with the single exception of the mono metal hollow point or tipped bullets like the TTSX.

If you are buying off the shelf ammo for hunting elk and moose, it is always a safe bet to buy 180's for your .308 if bullet construction is unknown or the type you really want is unavailable. Most any 180 grain bullet will work OK, most 165's will too, but 150's that consistently penetrate adequately on elk and moose from any practical angle are not so common.
There! that's all you need to know! ;-)
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Cool. Thanks kindly :)
 
and almost all of the ones shot with 150gn .303 must have walked away. Or even the 150gn FN .30-30.

Last year a buddy of mine shot an elk at 250yds with a .300WM using Superformance ammo. He hit it twice at 7:30 in the evening. We tracked it until 11 and then in the morning from 8 until noon when we found it, still alive but too weak to get up. Until, that is, he blew it's jaw off from 20ft, then shot it in the neck when it was getting up. I have not shot an elk yet, but the last moose I shot was with a 150gn interlock from my .30-06 at 260yds. She went 50yds.

Difference? I hit mine in the lungs waiting for a full broadside shot. He hit his in the shoulder, slid along the ribs, and it came out the brisket on the same side, and then the second shot took some hide off between the antlers as it was WALKING away. Luckily, he had spent the almost $80 on a box of cartridges.

SHOT PLACEMENT. Would I feeel undergunned if I went after elk with a 150gn bullet, a little. that's why I loaded up 165's for the hunt last year. And will again this year.
 
there was a pretty extensive thread on this just a few weeks ago, however i understand how the search function isn't that intuitive on this sight so i will summarize what i gathered from that thread which was basically that while the 150's will work they are designed softer for use on deer , and the 180's even in the same bullet are heavier duty as they are meant more for the larger game animals. What this translates into in the real world i don't know other than maybe that hard hard quatering shot on a moose is better suited to a higher quality bullet.



Found it - http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=750260
 
ryan32 said:
there was a pretty extensive thread on this just a few weeks ago, however i understand how the search function isn't that intuitive on this sight so i will summarize what i gathered from that thread which was basically that while the 150's will work they are designed softer for use on deer , and the 180's even in the same bullet are heavier duty as they are meant more for the larger game animals. What this translates into in the real world i don't know other than maybe that hard hard quatering shot on a moose is better suited to a higher quality bullet.



Found it - http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=750260
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Shot placement is far, FAR more important. Will the added recoil of the larger bullet affect accuracy? If it does I'd go with the smaller bullet.
 
I would not hesitate to use a 165gr Accubond or Partition, or other decent quality bullet on moose and elk. You don't need a 180gr bullet in a 308win.
 
I worked with a guy who shot a spike elk 9 times with a 338 Win MAG !!!! all exit wounds were not much bigger then the entrance. He was inside 100 yards and had some poor shot placement and the wrong bullet for the job.

He switched to a .270 and had much better results.
 
luftmech said:
I worked with a guy who shot a spike elk 9 times with a 338 Win MAG !!!! all exit wounds were not much bigger then the entrance. He was inside 100 yards and had some poor shot placement and the wrong bullet for the job.

He switched to a .270 and had much better results.
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Yes, wrong bullet (too heavily constructed) and obviously terrible shot placement.

When I was a regular 308 win hunter, I shot 180 grain partitions only (this was before TSX's, fail safes, etc), and the .308 win/180gr partition combination never failed me in many years of harvesting bears, caribou and moose.
 
A well constructed premium bullet intended for the game of choice will work in 150-180 grain , gotta look at accuracy as well, sometime certain bullets don't shoot worth beans.

Like others have stated, a .270 or other chamberings will work just fine on elk with 150 and lighter bullets.

1.Shot placement/shooter confidence
2.Bullet design/type( mono metal, bonded, partition, a-frame .etc)
3.Chambering , of course within common sense reason(I wouldn't recommend .223 on elk)
 
I've had no complaints with Remington .308 factory 180 gr. Core-lokt soft-points for deer, bear and moose ( several of each ) All taken under 100 yards and nothing travelled more than 35 or 40 yards.
 
There have been a couple of comparisons of 150 grain .270 and 150 grain .308 in previous posts. They are most definitely NOT the same thing! A 150 grain .308 will not penetrate as far as a 150 grain .270 bullet. Sectional density and frontal area vs. total momentum are significantly different. It would be more realistic to compare 150 grain .308 and 130 grain .270 bullets of the same construction.
The 180 grain bullet is the standard weight made for the .308 for the purpose of shooting game bigger than deer. Not sure why so many shooters insist that a 150 is somehow better or just as good. It isn't.
That said, I find the .308 is a better balanced cartridge with 165- 168 grain bullets, and that's what I shoot for everything in mine now.
 
schultzie said:
Just wondering, for those of you that hunt using 308 what weights you use on what game? I grew up using 150's for deer, have never been out for elk or moose however that is changing this year..
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I am shooting 150 gr .308 bullet in 30-06 for everything.

It is Barnes TTSX blue tipped bullet. Very accurate in many rifles.
It opens sooner than TSX.
It is though enough for elk and not to tough for deer. Exit wounds typically are small but most of vital organs are liquefied.
And no lead in venison as added bonus.
 
schultzie said:
Just wondering, for those of you that hunt using 308 what weights you use on what game? I grew up using 150's for deer, have never been out for elk or moose however that is changing this year.
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I havent seen it done, but I have heard some people tell me that a .243 stopped moose too. Much lighter bullet, just placed in the right spot.
 
I use plain-jane Hornady SP 165gr. in my 30.06 for deer. Never had a problem, but as was said above, shot placement is key.
I'd feel fine using a 150gr. on deer as well, but I like the 165's for a bit more bush punching power.

I haven't been for moose, but I'd use 180gr. for something that large.
 
Schultzie, I have shot moose, deer and bear with my .308 all my life...It's all about shot placement, not calibre of the rifle...An accubond, partition or TTSX are the bombs...as noted by others, I would say to use anything you are very comfortable with (.308) and wait for the right angle...its better to get closer to ensure a good clean kill shot minding your wind, sound and shadow....I have only used 165's and 168's.
 
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