All things .308 Win

[Leinad]

I'm not a big gun guy. I have a ruger American predator 308 with the 16 inch barrel that is threaded. I'm in the process of gettin a suppressor and really wanna dial this gun in a lil more before deer season. Right now I'm shooting federal fusion factory 165 loads. They shoot fine enough to kill a deer but I'm sure I can do better. It will definitely be a sub 300 yard gun, more like sub 200 yards with most shots under 100 yards. What bullets do you guys recommend? I do have the ability to get reloads but no more than I shoot I'd be more apt to shoot factory ammo. I'd like something that penetrates well, that's got some knockdown power, but also can make decent blood trails because it can be thick here where I hunt.

I know this is an older post but I’ve used a short barreled .308 with 150 fusion to successfully kill deer, pronghorn, hogs and cow elk. You will be fine with what you have. Not saying there aren’t better choices. Not saying a 130 ballistic tip doesn’t produce pretty spectacular results on pronghorn
I’m shooting match bullets now, but my two cents is don’t overthink it. The fusions have worked well to 300 ish for me. My longest kill with them was 330 ish.

 

[Leinad]

Anyone have any experience with the 168 ELDM Superperformance? My Sig Cross preferred the 178 ELDX's compared to the white box 168 ELDM's, black box 168 AMAX, and 150 SST Superperformacne. But the 168 ELDM Superperformance were on sale at the LGS earlier this week for $24 a box, so bought the last 5 boxes left and hoping for the best. The extra 140fps over the white box ELDM sure would be nice, as well as extend the 1800fps impact velocity another 100yds past the 178 ELDX.

I do. I have shot close to 1k rounds of it chasing some extra speed. Like you I found it on sale up here at three bears for 25 bucks a box and bought all I could find. I shot the last of that lot at the NRL hunter this last week. I liked it. Out of my 16 inch tikka it put average mv at 2640 on the garmin this winter. Did not chrono it before the match on our hottest weekend. And I suspect it gained some speed.
It’s not as consistent with accuracy as white box in my experience.
I’m under no illusions that I’m shooting the speed combo though, so I’m happy to shoot anything I can find with a tipped match bullet.

 

[Leinad]

Very interesting, what's the group-think consensus on 308 barrel length? I have a 22" on the T3x but I'm very tempted to chop shorter (18") and upgrade to the Unknown reflex suppressor for a very handy package

Chop if going supressed. I don’t regret it. Over a handful of .308s I’ve gone 24, 22, 20, and now 16 for my only remaining one (currently). I’ve run cans on 22, 20 and 16. Shorter is better. Especially for us .308 shooters. Let’s be honest, we don’t shoot it for the velocity.

 

[Leinad]

Anyone have experience with the federal premium tactical tipped match king? This ammo recently became available in quantity for a reasonable price in my area. I’m wondering if the bullet is a true TMK, in which case it’s a no brainer, or if they are using a different bullet and adding “tactical”.

 

[Formidilosus]

Anyone have experience with the federal premium tactical tipped match king? This ammo recently became available in quantity for a reasonable price in my area. I’m wondering if the bullet is a true TMK, in which case it’s a no brainer, or if they are using a different bullet and adding “tactical”.

It us a Federal exclusive version of the TMK terminally it is very good.

 

[01Foreman400]

I have never owned a 308 until 2 years ago. Since then I have killed over 30 whitetails with it. My boys and my best friend have killed 9 whitetails with it as well. I’m shooting the Bergara Wilderness Ridge with the 18” barrel. I load the Hammer HHT 154 gr. bullet with an average FPS of 2,947. It’s become my go to rifle.

 

[lelliott8]

I have never owned a 308 until 2 years ago. Since then I have killed over 30 whitetails with it. My boys and my best friend have killed 9 whitetails with it as well. I’m shooting the Bergara Wilderness Ridge with the 18” barrel. I load the Hammer HHT 154 gr. bullet with an average FPS of 2,947. It’s become my go to rifle.

Whats the load? I have been curious about these and the 138gr

 

[Bamban]

I have never owned a 308 until 2 years ago. Since then I have killed over 30 whitetails with it. My boys and my best friend have killed 9 whitetails with it as well. I’m shooting the Bergara Wilderness Ridge with the 18” barrel. I load the Hammer HHT 154 gr. bullet with an average FPS of 2,947. It’s become my go to rifle. View attachment 902967View attachment 902970View attachment 902971View attachment 902972View attachment 902975View attachment 902976View attachment 902977View attachment 902978

Refreshing to see kids to carry the tradition.

That's a fast running 18-inch barrel at 2947.

 

[doc holiday13]

Chop if going supressed. I don’t regret it. Over a handful of .308s I’ve gone 24, 22, 20, and now 16 for my only remaining one (currently). I’ve run cans on 22, 20 and 16. Shorter is better. Especially for us .308 shooters. Let’s be honest, we don’t shoot it for the velocity.

I'm shooting NRL and PRS with a 308 at the moment because I had a ton of components for it. My first NRL match the guys i was squadded with said "Oh . 308...... you chose the hard route" 2650 fps with 175's .. Most guys are shooting 6.5 creed

 

[SkeeterMcgiblet]

I'm shooting NRL and PRS with a 308 at the moment because I had a ton of components for it. My first NRL match the guys i was squadded with said "Oh . 308...... you chose the hard route" 2650 fps with 175's .. Most guys are shooting 6.5 creed

I've shot 2 NRLs this year with my 308 and gotten a lot of "god bless you"s from ROs and other competitors. I just tell them "its fat and slow just like me"

 

[doc holiday13]

I've shot 2 NRLs this year with my 308 and gotten a lot of "god bless you"s from ROs and other competitors. I just tell them "its fat and slow just like me"

The upside is that there is definitive no question if you've made an impact. I broke teh tail off one of the coyotes my last last match

 

[Leinad]

It us a Federal exclusive version of the TMK terminally it is very good.

Thank you

 

[Bluumoon]

Anyone have experience with the federal premium tactical tipped match king? This ammo recently became available in quantity for a reasonable price in my area. I’m wondering if the bullet is a true TMK, in which case it’s a no brainer, or if they are using a different bullet and adding “tactical”.

More importantly.. where is this a thing?

 

[Hondo64d]

Have been doing a little reading on “quick drop.” Looked up my current .308 load (168gr TMK at 2707) and 200 is .5 mils, 300 1.2, 400 2, 500 3, 600 4 and 700 is only .1 off at 5.1. If I rounded and used 1 mil at 300, I’m only 2” low, which I can live with on deer sized vitals. Pretty danged handy…

John

 

[onlybrowning]

Have been doing a little reading on “quick drop.” Looked up my current .308 load (168gr TMK at 2707) and 200 is .5 mils, 300 1.2, 400 2, 500 3, 600 4 and 700 is only .1 off at 5.1. If I rounded and used 1 mil at 300, I’m only 2” low, which I can live with on deer sized vitals. Pretty danged handy…

John

Haven’t read every single post on this thread, so apologies in advance if it’s been covered, but I’m thinking of putting together some 125gr Sierra TGK’s that I’ve got for whitetails. Seems like one could have an easy shooting load that would stone deer at short to moderate ranges. Anyone go that route and have any data to share?

 

[Hondo64d]

Haven’t tried that particular bullet, but with that bullet weight, I’d be looking at Ramshot TAC.

JOHN

 

[saltfork]

Haven’t read every single post on this thread, so apologies in advance if it’s been covered, but I’m thinking of putting together some 125gr Sierra TGK’s that I’ve got for whitetails. Seems like one could have an easy shooting load that would stone deer at short to moderate ranges. Anyone go that route and have any data to share?

I used to shoot the old game king 125 spbt in one of my 308s years ago. I killed a bunch of whitetails with that bullet, mostly within 200 yards. It killed really well. Pretty sure I was loading WW 748 at the time.

 

[FLS]

Haven’t read every single post on this thread, so apologies in advance if it’s been covered, but I’m thinking of putting together some 125gr Sierra TGK’s that I’ve got for whitetails. Seems like one could have an easy shooting load that would stone deer at short to moderate ranges. Anyone go that route and have any data to share?

4895, 8208 and Benchmark are good powders for 125 grain bullets in a 308. I was looking for a 308 gamer load for 3 gun ended up with 125 NBTs over H4885. Really accurate out of my AR10 and bolt gunsand hammered deer. Great low recoil youth load in a bolt gun.

 

[Blott2007]

First post. I got a tikka cut to 16 and threaded for my suppressed hunting rifle. I was concerned with velocity loss but this thread has made me believe I was over thinking it. I plan to use the 150 or 165 btsp sierra gamekings. Longest possible shot where I hunt is 500 yards, but most will be 200 max.

 

[Leinad]

First post. I got a tikka cut to 16 and threaded for my suppressed hunting rifle. I was concerned with velocity loss but this thread has made me believe I was over thinking it. I plan to use the 150 or 165 btsp sierra gamekings. Longest possible shot where I hunt is 500 yards, but most will be 200 max.

I’d make sure you have the velocity you want at 500 with that bullet. I can only retain 1800 fps with certain bullets (Amax, Eld, etc.) at 500 out of my 16.