Is 308 good enough

[sylvest]

Why are you shooting 165gr coppers out of a .308?

You need to drop weight to run them faster. A 150 would be a better choice, I shoot 130’s out to 400 and my fiancé killed 2 elk at 350yds this past fall with that load.

My wife shoots 130TTSX or 165 Accubonds. I'm with you on not shooting 168 coppers. I would shoot 150gr max

 

[Short Track]

Why are you shooting 165gr coppers out of a .308?

I brought a box off the shelf for shiits & giggles, and my Tikka loves them !!! 200 yards, touching holes off sand bags. 11 twist. I didn't need to try any more ammo. So I figured I get on the leftist copper rage.

So accurate, I shot my Elk at 3x zoom, all the way zoomed out, 190 yards, 4 shots through the boiler room. Not happy about the non-expansion, but the Elk absorbed so much energy, he just stood there. He stood there long enough to take 4 hits while cycling the bolt action.

 

[MT-nuffgun]

I’m sticking with lead as long as I possibly can. much more “effect” on target, but to each their own. I have never had an issue with cup and core bullets not penetrating enough to be fatal. That includes close range- extreme high velocity frangible 55 grain pills out of a 22-250.

 

[commandoNate]

I have a really nice early 70's browning BLR in .308 that I really like to hunt with because it is so much shorter and lighter than my Rem 700 in .30-06. Plenty of stoping power with 165 accubionds and 178 ELD-X's. I'm working on some hand loads with Barnes bullets this off season. Not sure how the slower twist rate of the BLR will like the longer projectiles but we'll see.

 

[commandoNate]

I have a really nice early 70's browning BLR in .308 that I really like to hunt with because it is so much shorter and lighter than my Rem 700 in .30-06. Plenty of stopping power at reasonable range with 165 Nosler Accubonds and 178 Hornady ELD-X's. I'm working on some hand loads with Barnes bullets this off season. Not sure how the slower twist rate of the BLR will like the longer projectiles but we'll see.

 

[WCB]

There is nothing at normal hunting ranges that a .270 does noticeably better than a .308. without purposely picking out completely different projectiles or purposely weighing the favor towards the .270.

 

[fishbeafraid]

My wife shoots 130TTSX or 165 Accubonds. I'm with you on not shooting 168 coppers. I would shoot 150gr max

Although the general rule with coppers is to drop weight in order to gain velocity and thus better terminal effect... this doesn't quite hold true with the Barnes TTSX. Per my conversation with a Barnes engineer, the 168 .30 cal TTSX bullet is in fact the ORIGINAL LRX bullet (you'll notice there's no 168 LRX). It actually expands at lower FPS than either the 150g or 165g .30 cal TTSX. The 165 was designed for .30 cal magnums and the 168 was designed for .308 and 30-06 velocities. So, in the .308., the 130 and 168g TTSX will have better terminal performance.

 

[sneaky]

There wasn't much difference in the damage on the elk at 100 yard (150 ttsx .308) versus 400 yards. LRX is supposed to be even better, so i'm switching to that (-and 6.5 creedmoor). More energy beyond 400 yards than .308 AND 20% ish less recoil. Flatter shooting too.
So, the 308 is definitely good enough, and the 6.5CM is even better. I'm sure this will start a war

*edit, you could argue the 308 is better under 400, but more recoil won't help the most important thing, shot placement...

That's why the 7-08 is better than both . 140TSX, 145LRX kills everything. 120TTSX for deer is bad medicine. Recoil is nonexistent with the 120s.

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[Trackselk]

That's why the 7-08 is better than both . 140TSX, 145LRX kills everything. 120TTSX for deer is bad medicine. Recoil is nonexistent with the 120s.

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6.5 lrx, flatter and less recoil

 

[Trackselk]

6.5 lrx, flatter and less recoil

- i'm probably wrong. Guessing it takes the 140/143 eldm&x to be flatter...

 

[ElfOR]

Probably beat to death but here goes.

Is a 308 good enough for elk?

I have 2 300-win mags and the more I shoot them the more I find that I don't care for the recoil (getting old I guess)
So I have been rethinking my caliber choice for my Elk hunt, Thinking 308 would be a good compromise of bullet weight and recoil. I already have one in the safe.

So what do you all think? My longest shot maybe 400 yards but I will always try to get closer.
Also considering the 270 that I use for Deer hunting.

Thanks in advance.

The reason I went .308 is that it's readily available and shooting more/being accurate is always the most important thing for me. My buddy and I both took cow elk in colorado this year at 150 and 250 yards. Both lung shots, both down in seconds. we always try to get as close as possible, but I trust that round completely if I shoot well. BTW we shot 150gr. maybe a little light but it worked fine.

 

[sneaky]

6.5 lrx, flatter and less recoil

Than a 120 TTSX? What are you smoking?

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[Sled]

The .308 doesn’t have nearly enough recoil to be a viable elk cartridge. Maybe juvenile coyotes at best. You need to use a minimum of a 378 weatherby in case you make a bad shot because big bores always make up for bad marksmanship.

I would agree. A 308 used to work on elk but in the last decade or so the elk have become tougher. I blame the gluten. It takes down millennials by the thousands but gives the elk their superpowers.

 

[Trackselk]

Than a 120 TTSX? What are you smoking?

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Too lazy to look up numbers, but less drift anyhow. Splitting hairs though, like an elk would know the difference...

 

[Leatherneck]

My wife shoots 130TTSX or 165 Accubonds. I'm with you on not shooting 168 coppers. I would shoot 150gr max

I'm super interested in the performance of the 130 TTSX .308 ammo. It has near identical ballistics to the Barnes 130 .270 out to at least 400 yards.

 

[DiabeticKripple]

I'm super interested in the performance of the 130 TTSX .308 ammo. It has near identical ballistics to the Barnes 130 .270 out to at least 400 yards.

It works great.

My fiancé shoots it in a Tikka 308 at 3150fps.

This last fall she dropped 2 calf elk at 330yds. My brother also used it to take his first deer, as well as my buddy who just started hunting.

Every animal died within 30yds. The elk dropped like a hammer hit them on the head.

Here is the hole my buddy put through a WT buck at 75yds. I have never seen a Barnes create this big of a hole.

Entrance


Exit

 

[Short Track]

I use the 168 TTSX, and it does not work well. Does not expand in Elk. Maybe too heavy ??
I need to try the lighter TTSX.

My Tikka loves them, so I continue to use them. I tried other brands, but they don't group as well.

 

[Andrew12gauge]

Too many responses I don’t have time to read them all, but no a .308 won’t kill an elk, you need minimum of .50 BMG to kill an elk


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[11boo]

Looks like it. Couple cows with the 16” gun too. 165 gr accubond works even at 2500.

 

[Five-Pointer]

Probably beat to death but here goes.

Is a 308 good enough for elk?

I have 2 300-win mags and the more I shoot them the more I find that I don't care for the recoil (getting old I guess)
So I have been rethinking my caliber choice for my Elk hunt, Thinking 308 would be a good compromise of bullet weight and recoil. I already have one in the safe.

So what do you all think? My longest shot maybe 400 yards but I will always try to get closer.
Also considering the 270 that I use for Deer hunting.

Thanks in advance.

Probably beat to death but here goes.

Is a 308 good enough for elk?

I have 2 300-win mags and the more I shoot them the more I find that I don't care for the recoil (getting old I guess)
So I have been rethinking my caliber choice for my Elk hunt, Thinking 308 would be a good compromise of bullet weight and recoil. I already have one in the safe.

So what do you all think? My longest shot maybe 400 yards but I will always try to get closer.
Also considering the 270 that I use for Deer hunting.

Thanks in advance.

I’m new to the forum- but really enjoyed this thread. I own a Savage model 99E in .308- handed down as gift from my dad when I was a teen. It’s the best rifle I’ve owned! Taken many elk with it since then- including my first bull- a five point two years ago. I now use Barnes- TTSX in 165 grain. Hands down- best bullet shot out of it. Very accurate!

I own a 7MMM Mag and had a .300 Weatherby for years that pelted my shoulder with bruises year after year. No longer have that .300- but keep the 7MMM just to change up when I feel like it. My go to though is the gift that just keeps giving- the trusty ol’ reliable .308!