All things .308 Win

[PC356]

Loaned one of my hunters my suppressed 16” Tikka .308 this past wknd as his rifle needed some tweaking we realized after his arrival. He took a really nice buck with it (MLD property). 90 yd shot shooting factory 125 gr NBTs around 2900. Knew that bullet was ridiculously accurate on the range and that it came recommended a lot for whitetail sized game. Yet to use it on an animal prior. Blown away with the damage it did internally. Lungs were absolutely decimated, blew the heart in 2, and still exited. As much devastation as I’ve ever seen from a non magnum caliber.

 

[SkeeterMcgiblet]

The 168gr AMAX is near tailor made for the 308- very good bullet. The 178gr ELD-X is also good from contact to 1,800’ish FPS.

Mr. Form,
Could we get a Form Friday S2H episode on the 308? Advantages, disadvantages, recommended hunting set ups & bullets, effective range, preferred factory loads, etc? I've married myself to a 308 t3x (its technically my wifes...) and want to optimize it as my 1-gun to practice & hunt with.

Also some specific factory load questions that I wanted to get your opinion on:

- Fed Gold Medal Match 175s (SMKs), any experience or opinion for hunting?
- Norma Bondstrike 180s - Cant find much terminal performance info, seem to be akin to accubonds
(I got some bulk for cheap and they shoot pretty well for me)
- Winchester Deer Season XP 150s - only round my wife has shot for hunting and she / her dad swears by

 

[NomadMeHappy]

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 just bought the same and put on a Magpul Hunter stock. Still deciding on a scope. This is my first .308. Can't wait to take it to the range. Curious what scope you put on yours?

 

[akmerle]

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.

 

[Formidilosus]

Mr. Form,
Could we get a Form Friday S2H episode on the 308? Advantages, disadvantages, recommended hunting set ups & bullets, effective range, preferred factory loads, etc? I've married myself to a 308 t3x (its technically my wifes...) and want to optimize it as my 1-gun to practice & hunt with.

Maybe.

Also some specific factory load questions that I wanted to get your opinion on:

- Fed Gold Medal Match 175s (SMKs), any experience or opinion for hunting?

I’ve killed a lot of animals with 175gr SMK’s. All SMK’s tend to exhibit variability in performances. They are not what I would choose to use over what is available. Federal Tru 168gr TMK is an excellent (if not the best) load for terminal performance.

- Norma Bondstrike 180s - Cant find much terminal performance info, seem to be akin to accubonds
(I got some bulk for cheap and they shoot pretty well for me)

Not much. Bonded bullets aren’t my preference.

- Winchester Deer Season XP 150s - only round my wife has shot for hunting and she / her dad swears by

They kill fine.

 

[glennjones]

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 tried them in an Ar10 and didn't get very good accuracy results. The white box eld m and federal gmm shot really well out of that rifle.

 

[SkeeterMcgiblet]

Maybe.




I’ve killed a lot of animals with 175gr SMK’s. All SMK’s tend to exhibit variability in performances. They are not what I would choose to use over what is available. Federal Tru 168gr TMK is an excellent (if not the best) load for terminal performance.




Not much. Bonded bullets aren’t my preference.




They kill fine.

Mr Form,
Really appreciate your response, and thanks for sharing you knowledge with the un-educated masses

 

[Erussell01]

Hey boys, I need a little help thinking through this. Im working on shooting more and different rounds to see what my gun prefers.
It appears that my gun prefers 150 grain core lokt tipped just barely over 168 amaxes.
Luckily for me, they are both Available here, although surprisingly the 150 core lokt tipped is more expensive.

So my question is, whats considered acceptable accuracy to you and what would make you choose a different load to try?

I shot a bunch today, and here is one of the samples. I did 10 shots of 168 amax black box at 100 yards. 10-12 mph left right crosswind that I did nothing to corecr for. I overlaid the numbers of which shot. These were shot 4 in the first group, wait 5 min, 3 more shots, wait 5 min 3 more.

Then I shot 3 core lokt tipped, overlaid the numbers in Green. I did not shoot 10, but group for group they appear to be about 3/4 of the group size.

I've done the same thing with 180 fusion tipped, 150 federal fusion soft point, and 150 NBT.

so far the 2 front runners for accuracy are the 150 fusion and 150 core lokt tipped with the hornady black AMAX being a close second.

Would you shoot a load that you believe has better terminal performance even if it didnt group the absolute best from your gun?


for reference im firmly in the 400 and in skills club so even if a load shot close to 2 moa it would probably be adequate in terms of accuracy for my average shot.

I'm just a tinkering fool and I can't help myself

 

[Erussell01]

Here is another small sample group of 150 corelokt tipped at 100 the top shot was my first and I broke the shot high by accident. The next 2 are more like I have been seeing from the gun. I ran out of them before I could shoot a 10 shot group so I'll have to get more to post.


This is slightly better than the average of the other loads ive tried. I've never been a fan of remington ammo, and I always thought core lokt bullets weren't for me but as I have circled back to try them again they seem to do well in this rifle.

 

[Erussell01]

Anybody got experience with the core lokt tipped stuff on game?

 

[Formidilosus]

Hey boys, I need a little help thinking through this. Im working on shooting more and different rounds to see what my gun prefers.
It appears that my gun prefers 150 grain core lokt tipped just barely over 168 amaxes.
Luckily for me, they are both Available here, although surprisingly the 150 core lokt tipped is more expensive.

So my question is, whats considered acceptable accuracy to you and what would make you choose a different load to try?

I shot a bunch today, and here is one of the samples. I did 10 shots of 168 amax black box at 100 yards. 10-12 mph left right crosswind that I did nothing to corecr for. I overlaid the numbers of which shot. These were shot 4 in the first group, wait 5 min, 3 more shots, wait 5 min 3 more.

Then I shot 3 core lokt tipped, overlaid the numbers in Green. I did not shoot 10, but group for group they appear to be about 3/4 of the group size.

I've done the same thing with 180 fusion tipped, 150 federal fusion soft point, and 150 NBT.

so far the 2 front runners for accuracy are the 150 fusion and 150 core lokt tipped with the hornady black AMAX being a close second.

Would you shoot a load that you believe has better terminal performance even if it didnt group the absolute best from your gun?


for reference im firmly in the 400 and in skills club so even if a load shot close to 2 moa it would probably be adequate in terms of accuracy for my average shot.

I'm just a tinkering fool and I can't help myself
View attachment 847440

That’s some pretty severe vertical stringing- what is the gun setup and rest used?

 

[Erussell01]

That’s some pretty severe vertical stringing- what is the gun setup and rest

Rifle is a savage edge 308 pencil barrel with a trigger kit, EGW rail, warne rings, burris fullfield 2 3-9 bdc.
Bipod is a harris

I just assumed it was me, do you think something might be up with the gun setup?

 

[Formidilosus]

Rifle is a savage edge 308 pencil barrel with a trigger kit, EGW rail, warne rings, burris fullfield 2 3-9 bdc.
Bipod is a harris

I just assumed it was me, do you think something might be up with the gun setup?

Take the build off and shoot from decent sandbags.

What is the barrel clearance in the forend like?

 

[Erussell01]

Take the build off and shoot from decent sandbags.

What is the barrel clearance in the forend like?

Ok! I'll go get a set of sandbags and I'll get more ammo to compare

Not much clearance, and that stock is really soft I know. It appears to not be making contact at rest but I wonder if when I'm braced and using the bipod it doesnt flex and make contact. I'll try to get a pic

 

[Formidilosus]

Ok! I'll go get a set of sandbags and I'll get more ammo to compare

Not much clearance, and that stock is really soft I know. It appears to not be making contact at rest but I wonder if when I'm braced and using the bipod it doesnt flex and make contact. I'll try to get a pic

Most likely. Sand it until the barrel is completely and totally free floated with a gap big enough to throw a dead cat through.

 

[Murder Mittens]

Nice to have place to discuss the .308! I don’t mean to hijack the thread, but I’d rather ask this to a group of .308 fans than a general discussion where I won’t get an answer, be told to get a 6.5 CM (which I have) instead, or just told I’m a fudd for appreciating the .308 for what it is.

I’m torn between putting a decent stock and trigger on R700 sps or going with custom action, prefit barrel, and nice stock with nice trigger. I carried M24/R700 in the Army and I am so sentimental for the 700 that I am leaning that direction even though it seems like a bad idea. 1 MOA accuracy is okay with me. The MRC Junction has my attention too. Any advice?

I have an extensive background with the field use of the M24 platforms. I agree on the sentimental attachment to them due to your history with them. The feeling you get when you get behind one is like coming home. Totally understand that! I still shoot variants of them to this day. That being said there is NO easy answer. If you want one due to nostalgia and you generally like the M24…Buy it! If you want to build a custom…Buy it! If you want an MRC…Buy it! Not quite the answer you were looking for, but there it is. I will say this-If I were purchasing/building another rifle tomorrow it would be a well built/properly timed CRF action.

 

[Ashcroft9491]

Love my 308

Thinned my rifles down recently and the 308 stayed
Very pointable for hunting and does the job on all our Deer
20" barrel, stiller spectre action, ASE moderator, with the last of my 155gr Amax is sub .5moa with 44gr of vit n140 in lapua brass @2650fps