.308 for elk

[Tbonespop]

Its exactly the same as a 30-06 minus about 75 yards (75 yards closer than you would shoot with a 30-06). My general rule is 165-168 grain Nosler Accubond or E-tip at <400 yards.

 

[mlabac72]

Just a thought but why not cut down you wm?? I have a 300wsm at 19" and a 300wm at 18" and both are great guns. My 300wsm gets 2850fps with federal premium 180g accubonds.

@AkRyan is that 2850fps with the 18 or 19 inch barrel? I have a Banish 30 showing up this week and want to cut and thread my Browning X-bolt stainless stalker 300WSM. I would like to make it as short as possible for elk hunting here in Colorado. Every elk I have shot is under 200 yards so not to concerned with velocity loss. At 18" I am at around .650 inches barrel diameter so 5/8 is not going to work or not recommended . Considering 9/16x24 or M13x.75 and use the and to get to 5/8.

 

[AkRyan]

@AkRyan is that 2850fps with the 18 or 19 inch barrel? I have a Banish 30 showing up this week and want to cut and thread my Browning X-bolt stainless stalker 300WSM. I would like to make it as short as possible for elk hunting here in Colorado. Every elk I have shot is under 200 yards so not to concerned with velocity loss. At 18" I am at around .650 inches barrel diameter so 5/8 is not going to work or not recommended . Considering 9/16x24 or M13x.75 and use the and to get to 5/8.

The 19" wsm gets 2850

 

[mlabac72]

Do you have velocity data on the 18" WSM? Assuming that is a sporter barrel so wondering what threading you went with?

 

[AkRyan]

Do you have velocity data on the 18" WSM? Assuming that is a sporter barrel so wondering what threading you went with?

The 18" is a .300wm and no data but I would assume it's withing 80fps of the wsm. All plenty enough to kill anything in the world and definitely everything in USA if you shoot under 400yrds give or take.

 

[dwhall20]

308 is very elk lethal. I like to keep my 308 shots under 400 yards though. So it depends what kind of shooting distances you are planning on.

 

[Mikenep]

168 gr, Varget will get the job done.

 

[slimC]

165 gr Accubond !

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

180 Federal TBT or Federal TA. Killed bull in my profile with TBT at 80 yards.

 

[kickedaside05]

I've come into possession of a Ruger Compact Mark II in .308 ... my father won it in a raffle before he died. I took it out last year and killed a cow elk and, later, a bull. I used Barnes TTX 168 grain bullets for both. My son shot a pronghorn buck with the same. Due to the sentimental value, it's my new favorite rifle. The compact size is great ... I'm done with toting a long-barrelled heavy rifle around when this lightweight rifle will work fine. No compromise on accuracy at "reasonable" distances of <350 yards, and I don't anticipate using it past that, anyway.

Happy to hear this. This year will be my first Elk hunt and the 308 with that round is what I have decided on for my set up.

 

[jimh406]

Very old thread, but in any case, you can use a lot of different calibers, but you just have to realize what your range is for that caliber and how much room for error you want. Sure, some people can't reliably shoot a 300 Weatherby Magnum, and that's ok. Don't forget you don't have anywhere near the range if you choose to shoot something with less power.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Happy to hear this. This year will be my first Elk hunt and the 308 with that round is what I have decided on for my set up.

Unless 350 yards is a self-imposed limit (near my personal maximum), your .308 will effectively reach out further than that assuming you do your part. If you step up to a round like the Federal 175gr Terminal Ascent (TA), a high ballistic coefficient (for the .308 anyways) bonded bullet, you can be confident out to 500. The 180 grain Federal Trophy Bonded Tip (TBT) also penetrates well and should be good 500.

On the flip side, if bonded bullets aren't your thing, there are a couple of "unconventional" options that others with far more expertise than me recommend for the .308. First, the 168gr Sierra Tipped Match King (TMK) is deadly on big game and can be found in loaded ammo from Browning and Black Hills and possibly others. The 168gr Hornady ELD match is another good option. Both of these are rapidly upsetting/fragmenting projectiles that are designed to maximize tissue destruction while meeting acceptable penetration. Thank you @Formidilosus.

 

[sneaky]

Becca shot her brown bear with a 308. Great testimony of trusting a cartridge to its fullest.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

I thought she used a 7mm-08 on that bear?

 

[realunlucky]

I thought she used a 7mm-08 on that bear?

It's been over 7 years but I'm sure your memory of the event is better than mine shortly after it happened.

 

[bruceleroy]

Funny how nobody tells a 300 wm shooter to know their limitations.

 

[aorams]

I ended up buying a Sako Finnlight and mounted it with a Z3 4-12x50. It has a custom turret and the single turn range of that turret is about 450 yards with a 150 grain Accubond load I worked up so as far as range limitations goes that’s pretty convenient. I still bring my 300wm with me on every elk hunt but one day I’ll backpack in far enough that I’ll take the 308 with me instead

 

[prm]

Funny how nobody tells a 300 wm shooter to know their limitations.

Yet I’ve been on a few hunts where the only animals lost were shot with 300wm. Put the bullet in the vitals and the headstamp won’t matter much. I suppose there may be a few very unique use cases where a 300wm may be beneficial, but any lower 48 big game inside 500ish yds is not one of them.

 

[roosiebull]

180 Federal TBT or Federal TA. Killed bull in my profile with TBT at 80 yards.

I’m in the process of putting a .308 together, and have 12 boxes of 175gr TA’s so far, going to get another few this week… it’s awesome going in and finding my preferred bullet on the shelf regularly… I love that bullet in the creed, and assume I’ll like it as much in 308.

For the ranges I hunt, I don’t know there is a better bullet out there, like a modernized partition

A lot cheaper in .308 as well, I think I have been paying 42$ per box

 

[Ondavirg]

I have killed a cow with the terminal ascent 308 and it worked flawlessly. I’m stocked up as well. I primarily use it for whitetails, but my most accurate rifle is a 308 and I use it for anything the situation allows.

 

[Muddslinger48]

Shot placement and keep it under 500 and you should be good.