.308 and Elk hunting..

[wannajeep]

I purchased several boxes of these federal copper 150gr for .308, but haven't had an opportunity to test on an animal yet. They grouped very well at 100 yards. I'm planning on hunting cow elk next fall, do you think the 150 gr is sufficient?

150 is great I think as long as it's placed well like others have said. My gun shoots so well with the coppers I want to go and just shoot shoot shoot off season now but the 3$/shot hurts

 

[Rieckman]

I purchased several boxes of these federal copper 150gr for .308, but haven't had an opportunity to test on an animal yet. They grouped very well at 100 yards. I'm planning on hunting cow elk next fall, do you think the 150 gr is sufficient?

I didn't use federal copper, but I used Hammer bullets 151 Absolute Hammer this fall on a cow elk. My brother did as well. One taken at 200 and the other at 300 yards, one shot a piece. 300 dropped in her tracks, and the 200 yard shot traveled approximately 75 yards before expiring. Believe I had velocity for the bullet out to 430 or something.

 

[35WhelenAI]

Reality is, the .308 is no worse off on an elk than a larger cased 30 caliber anything. Stay in the velocity window for whatever bullet you choose and it'll do the same as a 300 whizzbangboom at the same velocity.

165 gr or 180 gr bullets of conventional design at .308 Win velocities are gonna do a fine job. Either one listed by the OP will fill the freezer in the parameters set forth.

With that said, a 130 TTSX or TSX can be pushed very quickly (3200 fps with a lot of different powders in the .308) and carry 2000 fps to just past 450 yds. The 165 GameKing pushed to 2800 fps can carry 200 fps just past 350 yds. Push it to 2900 fps and it can carry 2000 fps just past 400 yds.

I run the 130 TTSX to just over 3300 fps in a 30-06. It is a flat shooter as well as devastating on the receiving end for pronghorn, deer and elk. Midway has them in stock.

 

[Gargoyle]

137gr Hammer Hunter or 151gr Absolute Hunter. Whichever shoots best. Then worries are unto other things...

 

[Gargoyle]

Reality is, the .308 is no worse off on an elk than a larger cased 30 caliber anything. Stay in the velocity window for whatever bullet you choose and it'll do the same as a 300 whizzbangboom at the same velocity.

165 gr or 180 gr bullets of conventional design at .308 Win velocities are gonna do a fine job. Either one listed by the OP will fill the freezer in the parameters set forth.

With that said, a 130 TTSX or TSX can be pushed very quickly (3200 fps with a lot of different powders in the .308) and carry 2000 fps to just past 450 yds. The 165 GameKing pushed to 2800 fps can carry 200 fps just past 350 yds. Push it to 2900 fps and it can carry 2000 fps just past 400 yds.

I run the 130 TTSX to just over 3300 fps in a 30-06. It is a flat shooter as well as devastating on the receiving end for pronghorn, deer and elk. Midway has them in stock.

I could replace every single bullet I own with Hammer hunters and Barnes TTSX.

 

[DiabeticKripple]

130gr TTSX at 3050fps muzzle dumped 2 cow elk at 350yds this year.

Dont over think it, they arent bullet proof, just do your job and hit them where it counts.

 

[Gargoyle]

130gr TTSX at 3050fps muzzle dumped 2 cow elk at 350yds this year.

Dont over think it, they arent bullet proof, just do your job and hit them where it counts.

Hit them just above the front shoulder and the shock through the spine drops them like a sack of hammers.

 

[BigNate]

At that distance avoid the copper bullets. They need speed.

I'd use a 165ish that shoots well at top velocity achievable by your .308, my picks would be Nosler BT, Partition then accubombs, or even Sierra HP GK.

 

[35WhelenAI]

At that distance avoid the copper bullets. They need speed.

I'd use a 165ish that shoots well at top velocity achievable by your .308, my picks would be Nosler BT, Partition then accubombs, or even Sierra HP GK.

Examples of excellent performance within 400 yards were stated in this thread. The op isn't looking to go past 400 with 300 being most likely.

Can you share your experience with mono's that they don't carry enough speed?

 

[BryanL]

I can only relay additional info from what I’ve really dug into and found on the shelf.

Optics planet has Hornady interbond 165 if you want that. Accubonds are non-existent here in my area. I was able to find some 168gr TMK which will be pushed around 2800. I was able to locate some 175gr Game Changer TGK which are much thicker and more substantial according to cross cuts and people far more knowledgeable than me. Nosler Ballistic Tip 180gr are available and are also quite stout and have a different jacket profile than TMK or TGK. Then there are the widely available ELD-M or X in 168gr or 178gr. You’ll likely need to decide what type of bullet you feel will provide the terminal performance you seek.

Check out the .223 for deer, elk, bear, and moose thread. https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/223-for-bear-deer-elk-and-moose.130488/.

All my research and reading from some very experienced people on this forum and others have led me to use the 168gr TMK or 168/178gr ELD-M.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

Shot an elk with 180gr NP out my 18" supressed 308 this year...it's in my freezer. Out to 400 yds accubond or partitions will work fine on elk if you do your part with shot placement.

 

[BigNate]

Examples of excellent performance within 400 yards were stated in this thread. The op isn't looking to go past 400 with 300 being most likely.

Can you share your experience with mono's that they don't carry enough speed?

For me the narrow wound channel is reason enough to want them traveling faster. Close shots they're fine, but as the velocity drops the wound channel narrows.

If the OP is planning for 3-400 yards , I'd pick a bullet that performs best at the velocity it will going at 350. You've then chosen the best option for the expected range.

 

[EdP]

For my 30-06 I found the 180 GK shot better than the 165 and the higher BC made up for the slower MV at the distances you are talking. With that consideration, and because bigger bullets generally work better on bigger game, the 180 would appear the better choice in a non-mono bullet. My choice now would be the 180 Accubond but I used the Gameking in 2016 and it worked fine at 350.

 

[35WhelenAI]

For me the narrow wound channel is reason enough to want them traveling faster. Close shots they're fine, but as the velocity drops the wound channel narrows.

If the OP is planning for 3-400 yards , I'd pick a bullet that performs best at the velocity it will going at 350. You've then chosen the best option for the expected range.

Thanks BigNate. Do you recall the range you shot the mono at that didn't open up a big enough wound channel? Without being presumptuous, I gather you were successful and saw the internal damage. We are on the same page that internal destruction is more dramatic with a frangible bullet.

Gonna take a stab at this with some ballistic numbers. .308 Win, 130 TTSX (BC .350), 3200 fps MV, 7000' elevation as most elk are shot at least that high in the mountain west. Go higher up in elevation or velocity and the numbers below get higher.

300 yds retained velocity 2574 fps round to 2600 fps
350 yds retained velocity 2477 fps round to 2500 fps
400 yds retained velocity 2383 fps round to 2400 fps
450 yds retained velocity 2291 fps round to 2300 fps

OP, from experience, those velocities ensure expansion and incapacitated vital tissue that leads to very quick death.

EdP, agree with respect to more bullet weight in a non-mono bullet. When the numbers bear it out with terminal performance and accuracy, it's a good choice.

 

[35WhelenAI]

OP, you around? ...

 

[Chesapeake173]

I purchased several boxes of these federal copper 150gr for .308, but haven't had an opportunity to test on an animal yet. They grouped very well at 100 yards. I'm planning on hunting cow elk next fall, do you think the 150 gr is sufficient?

Definitely. In fact I’m moving from 168s to 150s to increase velocity and flatten trajectory.

These copper bullets retain nearly all their initial weight. So in a conventional bullet you might start with a 180 grain bullet that sheds weight after initial impact and you’re left with less weight (say 125-150 grains) to continue the penetration.

This bullet was recovered in the off side elbow from my deer this year. Think it only lost 6 grains of weight.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[35WhelenAI]

Definitely. In fact I’m moving from 168s to 150s to increase velocity and flatten trajectory.

These copper bullets retain nearly all their initial weight. So in a conventional bullet you might start with a 180 grain bullet that sheds weight after initial impact and you’re left with less weight (say 125-150 grains) to continue the penetration.

This bullet was recovered in the off side elbow from my deer this year. Think it only lost 6 grains of weight.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nice work on the deer. Yup, they don't lose weight and flat put critters on the ground.

At top .308 Win velocity, the 150 TTSX and 130 TTSX are virtual ballistic twins at 400 yards. That 150 TTSX should make you smile for many years to come.

The 130 TTSX from an '06 and 110 TTSX from a .270 have done fantastic work on the elk they have put in the freezer in our house.

 

[Dlgies]

The longer I western hunt, the more I realize the details aren’t that important. Try a 150 mono or 165-180 cup/core/bonded/partition and go kill an elk.

 

[Weldor]

Been using Nosler 150 's over 42 grains of Exterminator, DRT. 2650 ave fps 16" bbl suppressed. 18'' bbl.2750 ave. suppressed. Not a screamer but does the job. FPS all chron'ed

 

[ktm450]

I have killed a lot of elk with 165’s (Accubond, Interbond, ELD-X, and traditional Cup/core) over a max charge of Varget.

ranges varied from 80-350 and none of the elk moved more than 10-yards…well 1 died where it stood and slid down to the bottom of an avalanche shoot.