.308 Elk Hunters...What's Your Favorite Factory Load?

[jreyna]

And at what ranges have you hunted with it? I'm running a 20" CA Ridgeline Ti (with Dead Air Nomad can) this year and would like some good ammo recommendations for my cow elk hunt later this year. My hope is to get a good list of proven factory loads to test before my hunt. I am comfortable shooting as far as 450 yards in field conditions and would like to use up as much of that range if need be.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

 

[KsRancher]

And at what ranges have you hunted with it? I'm running a 20" CA Ridgeline Ti (with Dead Air Nomad can) this year and would like some good ammo recommendations for my cow elk hunt later this year. My hope is to get a good list of proven factory loads to test before my hunt. I am comfortable shooting as far as 450 yards in field conditions and would like to use up as much of that range if need be.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Following this thread. My son drew a rifle tag this year and am planning on him using the Hornady 165gr SST superformance

 

[Tnjones1247]

Took a cow last year at 150yrds.
308 with federal 165 trophy bonded tip.
1 shot right behind the shoulder. Went 5 steps.

 

[Boomtakem]

Nosler Trophy Grade 165 gr. Accubonds have done well for me on pretty much all North American big game in my .308.

Although, I shoot a .300 Win Mag for elk most of the time.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Killed bull in profile pic at 80 with Federal 175 grain Terminal Ascent. My Ruger American shoots the TA best at 1.5-2" at 200. It shoots the 165 and 180 gr Federal TBT around 2-2.5" at 200 yards. It also likes the 168 Hornady ELDM and 178 ELDX.

I could not get 180 Federal Fusion, 180 Winchester soft points, or 180 Rem Core Lokt to group well.

 

[RyanT26]

I used Hornady 168 ELD-M last year at around 200yards. It worked well.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

180gr Nolser Partitions...Federal, Nosler, ect. I shoot a 18" FC with a can. For cows I wouldn't be scared to use 150gr Accubond...use whatever works best in your rifle...don't overthink it.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Currently am using Federal TA in my 308 Win. But I'll be looking at picking up some 168 ELD-M SuperPerformance as the numbers look pretty darn good:

308 Win 168 gr ELD® Match Superformance® Match - Hornady Manufacturing, Inc

...

www.hornady.com

 

[Hopingforanelk]

Nosler Trophy Grade 165 gr. Accubonds have done well for me on pretty much all North American big game in my .308.

Although, I shoot a .300 Win Mag for elk most of the time.

You can't go wrong with accubonds

 

[tstith]

I am running the 178gr ELD-X or the 180gr Hornady Soft Point. My 20" +can 308 is giving me ~.75" groups at 200 yards consistently from a $400 Savage 110 Hog Hunter. They're darn near same point of impact/aim so I don't have to dial differently between the loads. Haven't killed anything with the 178 ELD-X but the 180 is a tried and true load

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

The good news is that all of the loads mentioned are way cheaper now than when I was preparing in early '21. The premium .308 Federal ammo and Hornady were regularly $55-75/20.

 

[nobody]

When I had a 308 my go to was the Hornady Black 168 AMAX, I would either go to that or the 168 ELDM factory Match ammo. Probably the Black sheerly from a cost standpoint.

 

[hunting1]

I would go with Nosler 165 gr NAB. My personal reloads are 168 NBT and have killed several with this load.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

178 Grain ELDX kills them really well.

My Tikka in .308 prefers the 150 grain SSTs which has also been really deadly for me.

 

[jazz3ring]

165 grain Accubonds or 150 grain Barnes TTSX

 

[Mountainrancher]

I killed a buck and a bull with the precision hunter 178 eld-x. Bull was at 80 buck at 200 both died within five feet of where they were hit. If I was planning on hunting with my 308 this year I would look for the 178 eldx or find some 168 eldm

 

[Mykolaivka887]

180gr Nolser Partitions...Federal, Nosler, ect. I shoot a 18" FC with a can. For cows I wouldn't be scared to use 150gr Accubond...use whatever works best in your rifle...don't overthink it.

Yep, 180 Partitions in the non-magnum .30 caliber cartridges.

 

[Nick992]

Another vote for terminal ascent

 

[MTSasquatch]

For my 308’s

Best grouping: 178 eldx
Best effects: 180 fed fusion

 

[mtnwrunner]

I'm working on a load now for my tikka 308. Trying to get it to shoot the 168 TMK (handloads) but so so with them. Going to try the factory 168 eldm and see what it does.
It shoots the federal match 168 very well.

Randy