Close range bullet performance.
- Thread starter dumprat
- Start date
I'm loading sierra 150 hollow points backwards now, my favourite grouse load. I was using Hornady fmjs backwards but found them to be a little to destructive.
Back to the orriginal discussion I now have 150 SSTs and 180 btsp, SSTs shoot 2 inches high, 180s on the dot at 100 yds.
Back to the orriginal discussion I now have 150 SSTs and 180 btsp, SSTs shoot 2 inches high, 180s on the dot at 100 yds.
Check out the impact in relation to your POA at 200 with the 180 BTSP and you may only need the 150 SST's at long range what ever that is for you..
Tell us the vel. you are getting with both bullets and we can all play along at home with our Ballistics Programs..
At 15'-50 yards you may want to rethink your choice of cartridge too. A 30-30 or .35 Remington is just about perfect at those close ranges on deer. The ballistic tip is made to expand very quickly and can cause lots of damage when used at high velocity/close range.
If you stick with the .308 you could do several things, including going with the Barnes TSX. But another good, and cheaper, option is selecting a round nose soft point. Hornady and Speer make them in the 150-180 grain range.
If you stick with the .308 you could do several things, including going with the Barnes TSX. But another good, and cheaper, option is selecting a round nose soft point. Hornady and Speer make them in the 150-180 grain range.
BINGO .....
I agree 100%
i kill deer every yer within easy bow range..... but with a rifle. It's ambush hunting, sitting in wait motionless, often for hours. The deer walk right by on trails they have migrated on for god only knows how many years. Shot's are close, sometimes uncomfortably close hehehe as in this past weeks deer that took a lung shot at 20 yards and decided he really didn't like me..... the head shot was at about 15ft with me side stepping to get the hell outta the way. Picks are in the hunting forum..... monster blacktails thread.
i used to use a 7mm magnum for those deer but holy crap, the damage from a 165 gr nosler was costing me too much meat loss..... then went to a .303 enfield, first with 150gr sp and was shedding jackets, massive bullet fragmentation causing multiple wound channels..... ect.....
bumped it up to a 180 gr power point and perfect, terminal performance at close range from a slightly slower cartidge and heavy bullet.
From a .308 with a standard length barrel, i'd suggest a 200 grain for your close stuff under 50 yards. the velocity is up there in the .308 , it's a fast mover. Taming the velocity at close range with a heavy bullet will put your game down quick if you do your part
just my 2 cents. ymmv
Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
Ballistic Silvertips are good for what they are designed for (massive knockdown and quick trauma on thin skinned medium sized animals), but are not made to hold together at high speeds, period. I like them myself, but a TSX or a Partition they are not.
I have shot a few black bears at close range (twenty feet to twenty yards) with 180gr Partitions (factory premium ammo) in my 308 and they worked perfectly; held together, huge knockdown and reasonable meat loss. I'd reccomend them, or a heavier bullet going slower. At ranges you are talking about, a 220gr RN sitting over 38.0 gr of IMR 4895 is going to hit as hard as any .308 load around, give you huge knockdown and penetration, and will not come apart. Never mind that most manuals don't list 220's in a .308 - they work great at close range.
I have shot a few black bears at close range (twenty feet to twenty yards) with 180gr Partitions (factory premium ammo) in my 308 and they worked perfectly; held together, huge knockdown and reasonable meat loss. I'd reccomend them, or a heavier bullet going slower. At ranges you are talking about, a 220gr RN sitting over 38.0 gr of IMR 4895 is going to hit as hard as any .308 load around, give you huge knockdown and penetration, and will not come apart. Never mind that most manuals don't list 220's in a .308 - they work great at close range.
I'm very much sold on the Nosler Accubond. Accurate, tough and high BC.
The 165 grain NAB pictured below was recovered under the skin of a large Moose after it penetrated both shoulders in Sept 2008.
The shot was at 30 yards with a 300 RUM at over 3500 fps muzzle vel. There was very little meat damage. Retained about 65% of it's weight if I recall correctly. No need to use partitions when Accubonds will do this IMO.
This year I used 200 grain NABs and shot a Moose at about 120 Yards. All three shots were complete pass throughs with loony sized exit wounds.
The 165 grain NAB pictured below was recovered under the skin of a large Moose after it penetrated both shoulders in Sept 2008.
The shot was at 30 yards with a 300 RUM at over 3500 fps muzzle vel. There was very little meat damage. Retained about 65% of it's weight if I recall correctly. No need to use partitions when Accubonds will do this IMO.
This year I used 200 grain NABs and shot a Moose at about 120 Yards. All three shots were complete pass throughs with loony sized exit wounds.
