whats the 308 win effective range as a hunting round?

[hawk-i]

Its relatively simple - put some 8" gongs up at various distances, say to 500yds. Then shoot the gongs from simulated hunting positions - try offhand, with a trigger stick, leaning against a tree, etc.... you get the idea!
Shoot at the 8" gongs until you find the range where your abilities will allow you 100% hits - i.e. - hit the gong 3/3 or 5/5 times - Then shoot a deer no farther than the distance you can hit the gongs 100% of the time.
I would bet, like most of us, that you'll find your effective range is well under 400yds, prob closer to 300, for an ethical, clean kill.

I don't think you read my original post....I wasn't asking what my effective range was (my effective range will vary with the shooting circumstances around the shot), I was asking what people feel the effective range of the 308 win was.
and BTW, my effective range offhand is no more than 100 yards

 

[VLT79]

I don't think you read my original post....I wasn't asking what my effective range was (my effective range will vary with the shooting circumstances around the shot), I was asking what people feel the effective range of the 308 win was.
and BTW, my effective range offhand is no more than 100 yards

With the info given in your original comment, I'd say you don't have to worry too much. Any deer you hit out to 600yds with that Hornady 180 Interlock BTSP will be dead within 100yds of where it was standing when you took the shot, as long as you put it in the boiler room. I actually use the exact same bullet in 308s but my powder of choice is RL-15 and I know for a fact that the bullet will do the trick out to 641yds on a big Whitetail doe!

 

[chrismc]

I don't think you read my original post....I wasn't asking what my effective range was (my effective range will vary with the shooting circumstances around the shot), I was asking what people feel the effective range of the 308 win was.
and BTW, my effective range offhand is no more than 100 yards

Effective kill range of a 308 on a deer is still based on what the shooter can do - if you base it on numbers, i.e., energy, then it was sort of answered above - but will that energy kill effectively? Only if you do your part, and that includes having a rifle up to the task. As one said above, it will kill a fly many yards further than a deer...

You ask effective - Effective at what?? regardless of ft/lbs energy, any cartridge is only effective if it is capable of hitting a vital kill spot - Heck it would kill a deer at two miles if you hit it square below the ear. Can anyone do that? Not likely...

Remember as a military round, most would say 800yds - but that is to either kill or wound a human, and within the limits that a shooter with a 308 projectile can predictably be accurate with regards to trajectory, wind, etc etc. as shot from a makeshift rest - The actual 308 projectile has enough energy to kill anything at a very very long distance if it is hit in the apricot, or direct on the chest - but once you factor all the variables, one would most likely say that a 1500yd kill shot is do-able (by numbers) but totally impractical...which is where the 800yds comes in - its 'practical'. Numbers mean #### if the shooter can't do his part.

So I will stand by what I said - I feel, a 308's effective range, is directly related to the shooter. For most of us mere mortals its under 400yds. Everyone has their own opinion, that is mine.

As for "numbers", compare a 308 (165gr)to a 7-08 rem(140gr) to a 260 rem (130-140gr) - the 260, by the 'numbers', is a better long range cartridge with regards to drop and energy compared to a 308 165gr. So is the 7-08. But again, they are only as good as the shooter!

FYI my offhand accuracy on a really really good day is about on par with yours! 100yds offhand! Tried offhand at 300yds and I totally sucked. Gained a whole bunch of respect for those that can shoot an m14 or M1 Garand at 300m offhand with open sights and actually make a 'group'! That takes skill!

 

[hawk-i]

Chrismc, I hear what you are saying and I'm not saying I disagree...I think you're trying to read to much into the question....effective for the purpose of killing medium sized game at 600yrds, with the assumption of a properly placed shot. Its common knowledge if you miss the target it will not be effecient or effective in that instance.

 

[Bigfoot 870]

With over 1000 ft/lbs of energy it should be ok for medium size game. Put your flame suite on for the ethical discussion to come.

You'd think someone with over 2000 posts would have the foresight

 

[Secondgunman]

I hit a pie plate a 650 yards using 147 gr S&B with my Norinco M305 and Redfield Avenger 1-9x42 scope all day... I have pushed it to 750 and can hit the plate 8 or 9 out of 10 times, but I did work for Gunny for three years... Now there is a guy that can shoot an M14

 

[Potashminer]

The game could care less what is printed on the barrel. What you are really asking is the effectiveness of a 30 caliber bullet weighing 180 grains, of a certain construction, arriving at target at a certain speed. It is not a 308 Winchester, or a 30-06 or a 300 Win Mag that does the work or has the effect, it is the bullet, where it hits, its speed of impact and its construction. So, I have seen a deer dropped in it's tracks with high shoulder shot with 30 caliber 165 Sierra Boattail - impact estimated at 2400 fps, I have seen two elk taken very neatly with 30 caliber 165 grain Speer Hotcore impacting about same speed, behind the shoulder angling away. I have also witnessed a hit on a deer that wobbled about briefly in a small circle before collapsing, from a 30 caliber 180 with estimated impact of 1650 fps. What brand of rifle, type of scope, range or cartridge is irrelevant.


.

 

[John Y Cannuck]

Staying out of the ethics.
Many 308Win cal rifles shoot better with lighter projectiles than 180's.
165 grain bullets give the best compromise in energy retention and velocity for the 308, and a lot of other 30's IMO.
165's will do in deer or moose just fine.

 

[hawk-i]

You'd think someone with over 2000 posts would have the foresight

Yeah, but then one wouldn't have the insight as to what everyone else thinks, would he?

 

[Slaymoar]

For deer, pick the right round for proper expansion at the distance/velocity you expect your farthest shot to be. Something with cup and core would work great for longer range work, and controlled expansion for closer shots. I am working on finding two bullets for my main hunting rifle.

 

[p-17]

If you take the shooter out of the equation, and you take the wind and temperature out of the equation, and you assume a perfect holdover with a load of excellent shot-to-shot consistency, and a rifle capable of shooting sub-m.o.a. consistently, then I think, in general terms, a .308 would be able to kill a deer regularly if the shot goes in the right spot.

The problem with the 180-grain bullet is that, as others have said, you need a certain minimum velocity to cause the bullet to expand. If it falls below this velocity, it won't expand and can punch through an animal like an F.M.J. bullet. Therefore, regardless of whether you have the right number of foot-pounds in your impact velocity, you MUST factor in bullet expansion at impact velocity.

This is where the plastic-tipped, boattail bullets shine. Those bullets come into their own at ranges beyond 500 because they keep velocity better and expand more reliably as the velocity drops (due to the fact that the plastic tip smashes back into the bullet on impact, acting like a wedge).

Your 180-grain Hornady load sounds excellent. I use that bullet myself in a Mauser .30-06, with a muzzle velocity of about 2,640, and I have figured out how to hit targets the size of a frying pan at 660 yards and inside, without much problem, even using an ancient 3-9 power Redfield scope. This is because I know how much to shade the crosshairs at various ranges. But this is under calm conditions, and I am an experienced competitive shooter. However, I wouldn't want to use this bullet at that range simply because the impact velocity would be too low to guarantee bullet expansion, notwithstanding the excellent accuracy of the load and rifle.

 

[bjmurata]

If you take the shooter out of the equation, and you take the wind and temperature out of the equation, and you assume a perfect holdover with a load of excellent shot-to-shot consistency, and a rifle capable of shooting sub-m.o.a. consistently, then I think, in general terms, a .308 would be able to kill a deer regularly if the shot goes in the right spot.

The problem with the 180-grain bullet is that, as others have said, you need a certain minimum velocity to cause the bullet to expand. If it falls below this velocity, it won't expand and can punch through an animal like an F.M.J. bullet. Therefore, regardless of whether you have the right number of foot-pounds in your impact velocity, you MUST factor in bullet expansion at impact velocity.

This is where the plastic-tipped, boattail bullets shine. Those bullets come into their own at ranges beyond 500 because they keep velocity better and expand more reliably as the velocity drops (due to the fact that the plastic tip smashes back into the bullet on impact, acting like a wedge).

Your 180-grain Hornady load sounds excellent. I use that bullet myself in a Mauser .30-06, with a muzzle velocity of about 2,640, and I have figured out how to hit targets the size of a frying pan at 660 yards and inside, without much problem, even using an ancient 3-9 power Redfield scope. This is because I know how much to shade the crosshairs at various ranges. But this is under calm conditions, and I am an experienced competitive shooter. However, I wouldn't want to use this bullet at that range simply because the impact velocity would be too low to guarantee bullet expansion, notwithstanding the excellent accuracy of the load and rifle.

Excellent post.