All things .308 Win

[Rockpicker]

nearly covers it all, what about resale? does anyone even bat an eye on used 308's as potentially being 'shot out'?

As you said above, you hunt and nothing else, then no, there’s no worries about a 308 being “shot out”. It’s a rare day when you come across a rifle that’s had more than 1000 rounds through it. I did that this summer with a 223 and there’s more on the way come February when it starts to warm up a bit. 308 should be good for 8000ish before a person should start to worry

 

[Eric Bailey]

I just picked up a Ruger American Compact in .308 (18" barrel). Topped it with Leupold 1.5-4 20mm scope to make a quick-to-the-shoulder gun for still hunting in the timber.

I need help with factory ammo selection. I will hunt either elk or mule deer (not at the same time). Expect most shots inside 100, max range 300. Looking for factory cartridges that perform well in a short barrel and bullets that do their job.

For deer, was thinking of using something soft and heavy. Like Hornady Precision Hunter 178g ELD-X because it's heavy (lots of energy), pointy and has good sectional density (for initial penetration), and soft enough to expand and transfer energy. Of course I'd love it if the deer would stand up broadside or 1/4ing away, but I find that they commonly hear me and then stand 1/4ing-to staring at me (deer are funny). Would the ELD-X do OK on a 1/4ing-to shot through the front shoulder? Or should I be looking at a sturdier bullet so I could take that shot?

For elk, I was thinking of something tipped with a ~165g mono to ensure the bullet gets to the vitals.

Maybe a heavy bonded bullet would be a good all-around solution?

Do you all have opinions about these choices? And any experience around factory ammo that does well out of short barrels (fast burning)? Any favorite offerings?

I appreciate your help!

 

[Ajsomp]

I just picked up a Ruger American Compact in .308 (18" barrel). Topped it with Leupold 1.5-4 20mm scope to make a quick-to-the-shoulder gun for still hunting in the timber.

I need help with factory ammo selection. I will hunt either elk or mule deer (not at the same time). Expect most shots inside 100, max range 300. Looking for factory cartridges that perform well in a short barrel and bullets that do their job.

For deer, was thinking of using something soft and heavy. Like Hornady Precision Hunter 178g ELD-X because it's heavy (lots of energy), pointy and has good sectional density (for initial penetration), and soft enough to expand and transfer energy. Of course I'd love it if the deer would stand up broadside or 1/4ing away, but I find that they commonly hear me and then stand 1/4ing-to staring at me (deer are funny). Would the ELD-X do OK on a 1/4ing-to shot through the front shoulder? Or should I be looking at a sturdier bullet so I could take that shot?

For elk, I was thinking of something tipped with a ~165g mono to ensure the bullet gets to the vitals.

Maybe a heavy bonded bullet would be a good all-around solution?

Do you all have opinions about these choices? And any experience around factory ammo that does well out of short barrels (fast burning)? Any favorite offerings?

I appreciate your help!

 

[Fireflyfishing]

I just picked up a Ruger American Compact in .308 (18" barrel). Topped it with Leupold 1.5-4 20mm scope to make a quick-to-the-shoulder gun for still hunting in the timber.

I need help with factory ammo selection. I will hunt either elk or mule deer (not at the same time). Expect most shots inside 100, max range 300. Looking for factory cartridges that perform well in a short barrel and bullets that do their job.

For deer, was thinking of using something soft and heavy. Like Hornady Precision Hunter 178g ELD-X because it's heavy (lots of energy), pointy and has good sectional density (for initial penetration), and soft enough to expand and transfer energy. Of course I'd love it if the deer would stand up broadside or 1/4ing away, but I find that they commonly hear me and then stand 1/4ing-to staring at me (deer are funny). Would the ELD-X do OK on a 1/4ing-to shot through the front shoulder? Or should I be looking at a sturdier bullet so I could take that shot?

For elk, I was thinking of something tipped with a ~165g mono to ensure the bullet gets to the vitals.

Maybe a heavy bonded bullet would be a good all-around solution?

Do you all have opinions about these choices? And any experience around factory ammo that does well out of short barrels (fast burning)? Any favorite offerings?

I appreciate your help!

Please read the entire thread. Lots of folks using lots of different ammo/projectiles and they’re all touting success!

 

[ACHILLES]

I put my buddy on a 75lb sow with his 16” 308AR10. He was running fiocchi 175smks at 2390fps. Shot was 50yds broad side. He put it right behind the shoulder. Had a 1.5” entrance wound and a small pc of bullet passed through. Made it 40yds with a great blood trail from the entrance and the exit had blood coming out also. It worked pretty well and I was surprised at the large entrance wound.

 

[Time2fish]

I just picked up a Ruger American Compact in .308 (18" barrel). Topped it with Leupold 1.5-4 20mm scope to make a quick-to-the-shoulder gun for still hunting in the timber.

I need help with factory ammo selection. I will hunt either elk or mule deer (not at the same time). Expect most shots inside 100, max range 300. Looking for factory cartridges that perform well in a short barrel and bullets that do their job.

For deer, was thinking of using something soft and heavy. Like Hornady Precision Hunter 178g ELD-X because it's heavy (lots of energy), pointy and has good sectional density (for initial penetration), and soft enough to expand and transfer energy. Of course I'd love it if the deer would stand up broadside or 1/4ing away, but I find that they commonly hear me and then stand 1/4ing-to staring at me (deer are funny). Would the ELD-X do OK on a 1/4ing-to shot through the front shoulder? Or should I be looking at a sturdier bullet so I could take that shot?

For elk, I was thinking of something tipped with a ~165g mono to ensure the bullet gets to the vitals.

Maybe a heavy bonded bullet would be a good all-around solution?

Do you all have opinions about these choices? And any experience around factory ammo that does well out of short barrels (fast burning)? Any favorite offerings?

I appreciate your help!

Just using my limited experience Inside 300yrds a lot of bullets will work. I shot a smaller WT quarrying too with 175gr terminal ascent @ 210yds and the performance was great. I’ve also used the 178gr eldx on bear and mule deer out to 417yrds and that bullet performs very well also. Both out of a 20” suppressed barrel.
The jacket separates on the eldx sometimes.
Both will be slow out of you 18” but again inside 300yrds you’ll be good.
T2F

 

[General RE LEE]

I’m “308-less” right now and it hurts. I’m thinking a T3X Lite in stainless would be fun.

 

[Stinky Coyote]

I’m “308-less” right now and it hurts. I’m thinking a T3X Lite in stainless would be fun.

Bought one along side my 90 peak 308, a little kicky as normal for stock lites, bolt open full mag inserted and barrel pointed down just a tap on the stock it will feed itself slick but does flatten poly tips in mag under recoil. For some considerations to ponder, typical Tikka-isms. No suppressors up here to help with recoil softening. I’d still love to play with a Ruger Hawkeye hunter one day but no rush with a Sako 90 peak in-house just wouldn’t mind a wood stock 20” stainless red recoil pad crf hinged floor to back it up.

 

[General RE LEE]

Bought one along side my 90 peak 308, a little kicky as normal for stock lites, bolt open full mag inserted and barrel pointed down just a tap on the stock it will feed itself slick but does flatten poly tips in mag under recoil. For some considerations to ponder, typical Tikka-isms. No suppressors up here to help with recoil softening. I’d still love to play with a Ruger Hawkeye hunter one day but no rush with a Sako 90 peak in-house just wouldn’t mind a wood stock 20” stainless red recoil pad crf hinged floor to back it up.

I’m in the mood for a non threaded sporter like the T3x.

 

[MHWASH]

I do the multi-charge groups with every barrel I do load development for when finding max for that barrel. They will mostly do something similar to what you posted above, but none other than the .308 barrels have ever printed less than 1/2 inch for multiple different charges like the group I posted above. Here’s another. Five different charges with .4gr between each. This one measured .31”

John

What is your bench set up that allows you to shoot groups like this?

 

[Hondo64d]

I don’t guess I have a pic with a full view of my bench, but you can see a little of it in this pic. It’s a 2 7/8 welded oilfield pipe frame, concreted into the ground with 2x8 treated lumber top. Groups were shot off a bipod with a rear bag.

John

 

[MHWASH]

That answers my questions. I was wondering if you were shooting prone vs shooting bench and bipod vs shooting bags.

Today I used Lonny’s portable shooting bench and bags for these two groups. It felt more stable than shooting prone in my pickup bed with bags.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I usually shoot 165 grain Accubonds out of my Remington Model Seven SS with a 20” barrel at 2745 fps. This year I’m using a new load with 125 grain Accubonds at 3100 fps. Can’t wait to shoot one with that load.

 

[freezerfull]

I usually shoot 165 grain Accubonds out of my Remington Model Seven SS with a 20” barrel at 2745 fps. This year I’m using a new load with 125 grain Accubonds at 3100 fps. Can’t wait to shoot one with that load.

The 165 AB and 308 Win go together like bread and butter, a classic combo.

Those 125s should do great on deer. I’ve done some dabbling with light for caliber bullets in the 308 but had a hard time matching the accuracy of 150, 165 and 175 class bullets in my examples.

 

[bnewt3]

In case anyone is interested

There is a website that rhymes with gridmay view essay that has some factory overrun 308 supposedly with Berger 167(I suspect 168) and Lapua brass, 100rds for $110. Lapua brass alone is $105 for 100.

 

[Moose83]

Not sure if it's been mentioned in this thread at all... has anyone used SRP brass in the .308? If so what was your experience with it? My use case would probably be mostly practice/training as I have a good stockpile of srp's.

 

[freezerfull]

In case anyone is interested

There is a website that rhymes with gridmay view essay that has some factory overrun 308 supposedly with Berger 167(I suspect 168) and Lapua brass, 100rds for $110. Lapua brass alone is $105 for 100.

Ive had my eye on those but really don’t need more brass. Have you purchased and shot this stuff? If so, how’d it shoot?

 

[bnewt3]

Ive had my eye on those but really don’t need more brass. Have you purchased and shot this stuff? If so, how’d it shoot?

I havent

 

[Gstew1930]

Not sure if it's been mentioned in this thread at all... has anyone used SRP brass in the .308? If so what was your experience with it? My use case would probably be mostly practice/training as I have a good stockpile of srp's.

Works just fine

 

[saltfork]

168 AMAX
272 yards
311 yards
130 yards