BEST .308 factory load for elk
- Thread starter candham12
- Start date
- Location
- Rocky mountains
Any tsx style bullet including the gmx style do not preform well out of a 308. They are hit and miss and do not expand all the time many will pencil through with little damage.
There is a less than 150 FPS difference between top 3o-o6 and top 308 loads with a 150 grain projectile. The TSXs have been flawless for myself and friends out of several 3o-o6s, even at relatively extended ranges. Stands to reason they'd work just fine out of a 308, within reasonable ranges and within their intended velocity/performance envelope. The 150TSX would be my first stop, if I ever slum a 308...
That said, I'd happily go back to elk hunting with the old faithful 180 Hornady BTSP and likely never have a complaint. Pretty much any decent hunting bullet, put in the right location, will kill elk. They're magnificent, tough animals, but not bulletproof...
- Location
- Rocky mountains
Never said they were bulletproof. The opposite actually. Which is why all i need is a 308. Id take a 243 or a 257 as well no roblem. The 3030 has been a mainstay for elk and moose in my family since well before my time.If they had tougher hides it might help the expansion.
The point being is that on elk or deer in my experience with a 308 they do not perform very well on anything i have used them for. Or any style similar. Interbonds in a 308 are far superior hell id rather use powershoks.
In alberta you can see an elk run quite a ways ....in the rocky mountains or the coastal bc you need your animal down in a reasonable distance or at least able to track the blood. Pencil holes do neither.
The point being is that on elk or deer in my experience with a 308 they do not perform very well on anything i have used them for. Or any style similar. Interbonds in a 308 are far superior hell id rather use powershoks.
In alberta you can see an elk run quite a ways ....in the rocky mountains or the coastal bc you need your animal down in a reasonable distance or at least able to track the blood. Pencil holes do neither.
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Well, I am planning to go elk hunting this fall as well if I draw a tag and am planning to use what Caramel suggested:
.308 win Nosler 165 Accubonds (factory made, 2800 fps @ muzzle)
I will let you know how it goes (if I go)
.308 win Nosler 165 Accubonds (factory made, 2800 fps @ muzzle)
I will let you know how it goes (if I go)
In my years as a younger man I use to hunt elk with two very good friends and hunting buddies. Between the three of us, in a 8 year span, we harvested about 15 elk, some cows but mostly small bulls. Not very many of them went bang flop, usually ran off a little ways. The cartridges used were two 30-06 using 180 grains and one 300 weatherby mag. using a 180 grain as well; all were noser partition bullets. Elk are resilient animals, and do soak-up lead and pain compared to a whitetail or mule deer.
I can't help you on what factory load to purchase; I have been out of the loop on factory loads since I started reloading in 1982.
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