Best 308 ammo for whitetail?
- Thread starter Matt74
- Start date
No, the fellow did not say, but he did not have a high opinion of the Silvertips for deer (likes them for moose), and he has shot a hell of a lot of deer. But, just another opinion in the end.
Thanks for all the comments. I used a 270 for the last 16 years or so, but am anxious to try out the 308, and just wanted to see what people's thoughts were on the various brands / types. I'm going to head out tomorrow and see what I can find and get sighting in. Leaning towards something giving Federal 165s a try. Let you know how I make out.
Matt
P.S. No comments about dropping the 270!
I know it is a great deer caliber, just that I wanted a 99 and they don't come in 270, abit too longP.S.S. Does Federal still make the Core Lokt SP?? I've seen PSP, but not having any luck finding SPs. I was at a store in Ottawa today, and they did not have any Remington in stock, and they were not able to order the Core Lokt SP. Just Game getters and PSP (IIRC).
I shoot the Federal blue box and have no problems. It performed a bit better for me than the Rem Core Lokt or the Win CXP2 so I keep using it. I bought some of the PowerMax to see how they do. Want to try the Federal Fusion (I mean, who wouldn't want to shoot a bullet backed by Brock Lesnar?!?) and see how they shoot. I'll repeeat whats been said and say shoot a couple different brands and see what your rifle likes the best. I know a couple guys who shoot the Silvertips and 2 really like them while the other one says he ends up with too much meat damage in his opinion. Whatever you pick, good luck!
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
Federal Fusions work on the same principle as Powermax. They performed very well on a doe I shot a couple years ago. I switched to the PowerMax last year as they shoot slightly better in my gun.
The best one is the one your rifle shoots besty. Try a couple of different makes and weights. The one that groups the besty is the one I would use. For deer any of the 150 or 165 should be fine. I have always found the 165 to be a good compromise between weight and speed. Something like the 140 in 270 win.
The BEST .308 ammo uses a solid platinum core which also functions as the tip, preventing deformation. The bullet itself is machined from a forged gold blank, and the cartridge case is pure silver.
Any factory name-brand will work fine, 150-180 grains. You're hunting deer, at typical ranges. Nothing fancy needed.
Any factory name-brand will work fine, 150-180 grains. You're hunting deer, at typical ranges. Nothing fancy needed.
The BEST .308 ammo uses a solid platinum core which also functions as the tip, preventing deformation. The bullet itself is machined from a forged gold blank, and the cartridge case is pure silver.
Any factory name-brand will work fine, 150-180 grains. You're hunting deer, at typical ranges. Nothing fancy needed.
Hmmm. I always use depleted uranium rounds when going for white tails instead of platinum. It cooks the deer perfectly without any need for pesky cleaning, skinning and gutting. Burns the hair off and turns the guts to charcoal.
i've been TOLD that 150s work fine , but when i was doing load development i found that 180 grain speer hot-cor or sierra gamekings gave the smallest groups- 748 powder, ( which nobody seems to care for in 308, but it works well for me)
the rifle- savage 99c , 308- and it means that if i happen to "run across" anything else, i'm already loaded for it- not lacking like i would be with a 150
the rifle- savage 99c , 308- and it means that if i happen to "run across" anything else, i'm already loaded for it- not lacking like i would be with a 150
Thanks again for all the replies. I went to Crappy Tire over the weekend and picked some ammo up. I decided I wanted to try something in 165 grains - not too light nor too heavy - so I ended up picking up a few boxes of the Federal Sierra Game King BTSP in 165 grains. I won't be able to do some shooting until next Saturday, but will post my results. I've heard good things about them, but all guns like different ammo, so we'll see. Better shoot well, b/c the hunt starts Monday!! Getting anxious!
Matt
Matt
sir_springer
Regular
- Location
- East Kootenays
Super good ammo for deer, in any caliber, that will hold together, and comes in at a decent price is Fusion. I've been really impressed by consistent accuracy that I've seen so far in 25.06, 300 WM, and 300 WSM.
Bonded bullet performance without paying the usual premium.
Been very popular around here, from what I hear, including on elk.
That said...
You can't go wrong with the Federal Sierra Gameking BTSP. These are the most accurate of anything I've used so far.
Bonded bullet performance without paying the usual premium.
Been very popular around here, from what I hear, including on elk.
That said...
You can't go wrong with the Federal Sierra Gameking BTSP. These are the most accurate of anything I've used so far.
Just make sure you spend time sighting your gun in for the ammo you are going to use. I know dozens of hunters that change ammo and never bother to change the sights. One guy hasn't sighted his gun in for over 20 years and buys different ammo every year, pure stupidity.. any grain will kill a deer just fine, barnes x are simply the best in whatever cartrige they come in.
Two thoughts:
180's are all purpose. once sighted, you can use on deer and moose. Our camp has stopped using lighter bullets ebcause of excessive meat damage.
If it was my rifle I would buy a box of every differrent 180 available and see what my rifle preffered. Critical that the rifle be stone cold between each 3 shot group.
180's are all purpose. once sighted, you can use on deer and moose. Our camp has stopped using lighter bullets ebcause of excessive meat damage.
If it was my rifle I would buy a box of every differrent 180 available and see what my rifle preffered. Critical that the rifle be stone cold between each 3 shot group.
The guys I hunt with who run .308's all use 150 grain for deer, a few had problems with 180's and having to follow the deer a ways before it died. One guy was amazed with his BLR which he was considering selling when he switched to 150 grain bullets he got bang-flops. Excessive meat damage isn't an issue on a deer's ribcage.
