Developing a .308 Load for Elk *Updated*

Hirsch

Hirsch

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I have decided that I want to create a load for my .308 with Elk being the primary target. With that in mind, I wanted to pick the brains of my fellow gun nutz and hear your opinions of bullet preferences specific to this goal. Feel free to share opinions and experiences and as always pics are most welcome.
 
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Heavy game means heavy bullets. Only exception may be the mono-metal bullets for which the theory is that they can be lighter than normal because of their tendency to stay in one piece. But I have not seen enough with them yet to abandon a strategy that I have seen work for 45 years.

If I was loading a .308 to go shoot elk, I would start testing with 180 grain Partitions and Accubonds. One of them should shoot, and either of them will do well on elk.
 
My dad shot his last Elk with fed blue box 150's with a Ruger GS rifle....

I am may be a little bit weird.... But I firmly believe that Elk ain't really all that tough.... (Nor are they armour plated!) Anything that works on deer will work on Elk at reasonable ranges....(ie; Less than 250y)

So basically, use whatever Bullet works the best outta your rifle... Because even the biggest magnum won't put a Elk down if you don't hit the vitals!
 
My son and I have each taken an elk (a cow and a spike bull) with 165 grain Speer Hotcor at 2800 fps as per Speer #14 manual. Both were across the chest shots. 165 Partitions might be my choice today, but "what the hey" - down and dead is dead.
 
I've seen two mature bulls hit the dirt via 150gr Nosler Accubond @ 2850 fps. While it wouldn't be my first choice, I can't argue the end result. Both bulls made it no more than 20 yards and piled up dead. Myself I load 150gr Barnes TTSX in my 308 for big game
 
IMO the 308 performs best with 165g cup/core, 150g bonded/H-frame bullets, and 130g mono-metals. Of course there are some exceptions, but this will work as a general rule.

Elk will die with all of the above.
 
Figured I’d post an update now that the development of my .308 Elk load is complete.

180gr Hornady InterBond
39gr H4895
Fed 210 Primer
PRVI Brass
C.O.A.L - 2.750
FPS at Muzzle – 2411 avg

I played with a fair few bullet brands developing this load including Nosler, Sierra, Hornady, PRVI, and Remington. What became abundantly clear from the get go was that my rifle doesn’t digest bullets lighter than 180gr particularly well. It absolutely hated the 165gr Sierra GK which seemed odd to me since so many other .308 shooters say excellent things about them. Wouldn’t group under 2 inches for me.
The InterBond and Partitions in 180gr shot the best with groups for both averaging between 1.25 to 1.75 inches. I settled on the InterBond mainly due to the fact that I found a shop selling them for $45.99 per 100! Scooped up all 300 he had in stock once I saw how they shot.
My powder choices were somewhat limited but I played with IMR 4320, 4895 and 4350 as well as H4895. For primers I only tried the Federal 210 and CCI Benchrest. I didn’t notice a difference in performance with the primers, but both IMR 4895 and H4895 seemed to provide my better groups. I chose the H4895 mostly due to availability. 39gr of H4895 produced the best groups with both the InterBonds and Partitions, with the groups opening up quickly with heavier charges. Loads with lower charges (37/38gr) averaged just under 2 inches. Max load in my Hornady manual was 38.5gr.

Can’t wait to introduce one of these loads to an Elk!
 
I see that you settled on a very low velocity load for your elk load, from what you are saying the accuracy goes out the window with heavier charges
and that happens with all of us but 2411fps is very sloooow .
The 308 Winchester is an inherently accurate cartridge and you should be able to do much better with the various bullets and powders you have,
I don't know but me thinks something aint right !!
bb
 
bigbull said:
I see that you settled on a very low velocity load for your elk load, from what you are saying the accuracy goes out the window with heavier charges
and that happens with all of us but 2411fps is very sloooow .
The 308 Winchester is an inherently accurate cartridge and you should be able to do much better with the various bullets and powders you have,
I don't know but me thinks something aint right !!
bb
Click to expand...

I agree with bigbull. There must be an accurate load at a higher velocity node. I would be targeting 2625 or so with a 180 in that 308.

While Elk die when hit properly with a decent bullet, A big rutting bull can be a bit tougher to anchor. I would want to exploit the
potential of your 308 for an Elk hunt. Dave.
 
warm it up to 2610/180 where it's supposed to be and see what it does- I have a savage 99 that doesn't group worth you know what at 100, but out at 250 with 180s she groups into 1-1.5 inch groups all day long- I use ww 748 over a cci mag primer- and i'm from your neck of the woods-so I know whereof I speak -use a horse to find the game, get down and use the steadiest rest you can, typically at 200-250 yards- and don't take your eyes off them for a second- elk can "vanish" at the drop of a hat-
 
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A 130/150 gr mono bullet like a TSX/TTSX/GMX will suffice. More than suffice. Just thread search '300MTN' and see what that guy is shooting and what he's harvesting! I dropped an elk with a 130 TSX from a 260 Rem and another with a 140 TSX from a 7mm. But if your gun won't digest it, go with what works!
 
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I helped my dad develop a Moose load for his .308 and we ended up with the 165gr Nosler Partition using Varget and put down a nice bull Moose (617Lbs dressed) with one shot at 227 yards (ranged). Shot placement is key but he would use that same set up for Elk as well.
 
Chucking a 180gr bullet at low velocity makes zero sense to me when you could easily pump up a 130-150TTSX to high velocity, and have better performance on game, but that's up to you. :)
 
Thank you all for the replies. I contacted Hornady and they told me that in order for the InterBond to perform as advertised it would need to be doing at least 1,800 fps. All the published data I could find told me that with 2,400 fps at the muzzle my loads should meet this requirement until slightly past 300 yards, which is 100 yards further than I prefer to shoot at game.
My initial goal was in the 2600 fps range but when I approached these levels (or tried to) I began experiencing a very sticky bolt. For example I only had to go to 40grs of H4895 before the bolt showed noticeable resistance. I experienced the same thing with a factory load as well with Hornady 165gr GMX Superperformance (which is listed as 2,700 and change but with a barrel longer than mine). The bolt would still open but there was noticeable resistance that would hinder a follow up shot.
Is it strange to be having such a sticky bolt at this point?
 
Gatehouse said:
Chucking a 180gr bullet at low velocity makes zero sense to me when you could easily pump up a 130-150TTSX to high velocity, and have better performance on game, but that's up to you. :)
Click to expand...

That's what I'd use, but if it must be a 180, stoke it up with more of a powder slower than 4895.
 
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