.308 factory favorites?

[popcan]

In preparation for joining the boys at moose camp next fall... I've been fooling around with some factory loads for the .308 Tikka. (I'm not reloading yet) It'll be my first attempt at bagging a critter of that size.

The others are packing .300WM and bigger - but I'm going to stick with my .308. Gatehouse and Bartell told me it's enough gun, so that's good enough for me.

I can't get the 165gr Sirocco Swifts to group worth a sack of sour owl $hit, so next I'll try the 180's.

Any recomendations of your favorite factory loads I should try?

 

[todbartell]

Federal premium Vital Shock 165 grain Barnes Triple Shock X

http://www.midwayusa.com/mediasvr.dll/highresimage?saleitemid=877508



another note, moose are big critters with big vitals, if you can hit a basketball size target from a field position inside 300 yards, you'll be fine. Most any ammo should be able to let you do this, and 300 yards is plenty far to be shooting a moose, most shots will be 200 yards and closer

 

[senior]

Confidence in your ability to hit where you shoot is every bit as important as what bullet you choose! Having said that the most accurate 308 I have ever shot is the PMC 150gn, if you can find them.

 

[catnthehatt]

Anythhing from 165 to 180 grains will work very well as long as it is accurate in your rifle.

Cat

 

[mpwolf]

I'm still finding Win Supreme ammo loaded w/ Fail Safe bullets on hardware store shelves. Probably hard to find, but goo stuff if you happen on a couple of boxes. Tod's suggestion would be my first choice though.

 

[manitou210]

My brother glass beds a lot of guns for friends, and he uses Winchester super X they sell for $16.94 At Lebaron's in 308 or 30.06 etc and they group better than most and over the chrono they are doing extreemly good as posted. Guys have given some expensive Federal with nosler.s etc and they don't shoot tight groups as winchesters, give em a try one fellow with a .270win he did last faal shot a moose and deer with great results

 

[blargon]

Federal High Energy loads with 180gr partitions. Code is P308G

Energy
Muzzle
100
200
300
400
500

3000
2601
2245
1928
1647
1398

 

[Salty]

I've had a few 308s and although I reload i usually try out some factory stuff just for kicks. The most accurate factory ammo in my rifles has been Winchester el cheapo power points I wouldn't recommend this or any ammo 'for thin skinned game' for moose tho..

bartell's suggestion on the Feds with Xs would be an excellent place to start. I'd probably try Hornadys light magnum with 165 grains too. I watched a friend with a new Tikka as well, try these a couple years ago and they weren't tack drivers but certainly up for a moose hunt at 1 1/2" groups. I'd also look at Remington's premier partition and core lokt ultra.

If by chance you could con someone to reload for you for this hunt popcan, I'd look into 150gr Barnes tsx's.

 

[Win/64]

If I were you I'd stick to the 180 grs. for Moose. I too have had bad experience with Sirocco's as far as accuracy goes, couldn't get them to shoot better than 2 1/2 "s at 100m's

 

[Tick]

308

Federal Premium 165 Grain Nosler Partition. Three of the hunters in my last moose group have killed moose with this bullet all one shot kills.

 

[roadwarrior]

Well, for deer I usually hunt with Winchester Power Points 180gr and I am confident they would perform well on Moose at reasonable range. But, if I'm not mistaking, the only thing Winchester rates both as CXP2/CXP3 is the new 150 gr. Supreme Elite™ XP3™. Although I have not tried this product, I have seen good reports on it from various sources.

 

[MHUNT]

As already said, Federal High Energy loads. The 180 grain Nosler Partitions work great in my son's 308. He took his first moose a 300 yards and it died without taking a step. The 308 high energy loads are a bit hotter than Federal's standard 30-06 load with the same bullet.