Does any one use a .308 for varmint hunting? This question stems from looking at browning, tikka and remington websites. Every centerfire "varmint" rifle they have is .223, 22-250, and .308. I figured a .308 was a little much, no? A 308 will down a moose, i could only imagine what it would do to a fox or a prairie dog. lol So who uses em. What model of firearm and what grain of bullet are you using?
Does any one use a .308 for varmint hunting
- Thread starter happykal
- Start date
I've shot numerous coyotes with my K98 heavy barrel 308 during the course of deer hunting. Damage isn't too much worse than my Stevens 223. I had a 62 gr FMJ 223 clip a rib last year and blow a hole big enough to put my head in out the other side of the hide. Never seen anything like that before. I nailed my first yote with archery tackle last year and took what I consider to be one of my best (or luckiest) shots ever on a running yote at 125 yds with my Thompson Centre muzzleloader a couple seasons ago.
Back to the original question, I have a war dated, swastica'ed K 98 action that at some point ended up with a heavy 308 bull barrel on it. We put it in a vintage sporter stock and glass bedded it. Nicknamed the fence post, it can be a little heavy for all day walking. That's why the 223 is the go to varmint rifle these days.
Back to the original question, I have a war dated, swastica'ed K 98 action that at some point ended up with a heavy 308 bull barrel on it. We put it in a vintage sporter stock and glass bedded it. Nicknamed the fence post, it can be a little heavy for all day walking. That's why the 223 is the go to varmint rifle these days.
The fence post lol. I don't want to go too off topic buy how'd you end up with a k98 in 308?
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Used my trusty 308 deer rifle in the past for right now opportunity coyote hunting.
Generally they just run away and die because those big game hunting bullets are too stiff to impart energy quickly enough for rapid expansion.
IMO you have to spend time with 110 grain SP/HPs to get varmint performance from a 30 calibre.
Most of us just get a high velocity small bore instead as long as you can afford it.
A friend once used 100 grain bullets in his 270 rifle for the same thing. He said they pretty much cut coyotes in half.
He decided to get a 22-250 instead.
Generally they just run away and die because those big game hunting bullets are too stiff to impart energy quickly enough for rapid expansion.
IMO you have to spend time with 110 grain SP/HPs to get varmint performance from a 30 calibre.
Most of us just get a high velocity small bore instead as long as you can afford it.
A friend once used 100 grain bullets in his 270 rifle for the same thing. He said they pretty much cut coyotes in half.
He decided to get a 22-250 instead.
My cousin had some kind of sporterized 98. I think it was a South American variant of some sort. Anyway, it developed a serious headspace issue and the casings were splitting when it was fired. My uncle and I made an attempt to remove the barrel but it ended up damaging the action. Cousin left the gun with my uncle. Coincidently, uncles buddy obtained the K98 action with the 308 heavy barrel. It had just been cut down and re crowned to about 20 inches. We bought it for 200 bucks and used the stock, scope mounts, etc.. off the old Mauser. Had to remove a crapload of wood from the forend to free float the new barrel! Gun shoots pretty good, I'd like to replace the trigger on it one day and work on a target load. Been used mainly for hunting, the heavy front end seems to make it killer on running shots. Like I said the only brutal thing about it is carrying it. I think it weighs well over nine pounds.
Mount Sweetness
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Ontario
some would call a .308 "long range", but I wouldn't call it "varmint"
The use of .308 in Varmint configurations comes from the .308's history as a stable, long range, precision caliber... These are the same qualities that the Varmint crew are seeking... Long range competition shooters and Varmint hunters have a lot in common... Even if they don't necessarily want to sit at the same table at cousin Leo's wedding.
Since I varmint hunt in relatively flat country I believe varmint hunting is a function more of the bullet than cartridge or calibre.
I don't want a bullet traveling into the next township or county after a ricochet.
Speer 125 grain TNT bullets work in my .308 Remington 700BDL, just around 3200 f/s using H4895.
I have used .338 WM and .44 magnum to shoot ground hogs, just made sure of the backstop.
Dan
I don't want a bullet traveling into the next township or county after a ricochet.
Speer 125 grain TNT bullets work in my .308 Remington 700BDL, just around 3200 f/s using H4895.
I have used .338 WM and .44 magnum to shoot ground hogs, just made sure of the backstop.
Dan
I have used .308 for varmint but I doubt I'll do it again. It was lots of fun when it's all we've had to use and have shot various other critters. If you're thinking of really getting into it you might want to check out a .204. Very flat shooting due to the speed and super cheap. I use 39grain speer TNT under 27.5 grains of H4895. First few shots on gophers I thought I was missing at about 150 yards. Turns out I was blinking from the bang and they were being absolutely obliterated. Nothing but pieces for like a 20 foot radius. Insane
- Location
- Golden Lake
I have a Parker Hale .308 and I've used 100 gr Speer Plinkers and 130 gr Hornady Spire Points with great effect on groundhogs and coyotes.
hometownhero
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Toon Town, Sk
110gr vmax would do nicely. Was thinking about trying some in my 30-06
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I started hunting wolves with a .308 in the fall, not sure if that counts as varmint mind you, but it does a great job. It does make a mess however, but so does a .243 as even light cals exit wolves, they're just not that thick.
I use .308 for Coyote hunting. I don't own a .223 but plan on getting one. I have shot coyotes with it, and on occasion it won't even exit the body. I use Nosler 165 grain. This speaks volumes about the expansion of these bullets. Biggest hole in the fur I've ever had was 2".
