.308 users, what’s your go to hunting load?

[3006Sprng]

What is everyone else loading in their .308win for hunting.

Currently loading

165gr hornady interlocks (flat base, no boat tail) @ 2.750” oal
44.5 grains of varget
Seeing about 2700 fps average at 0C
(32f)

Took a >350 lb black bear with this load, never recovered the bullet, pass through.

 

[Sawtooth]

150 grain Barnes TSX Boat tail
46.0 Grains IMR 4064 (Top end of safe pressures in my rifle. Make sure to work up any load in your rifle.)
2940 FPS average at 70 F.

A few Mule deer, Elk out to 480 yards. and an antelope.

 

[3006Sprng]

150 grain Barnes TSX Boat tail
46.0 Grains IMR 4064 (Top end of safe pressures in my rifle. Make sure to work up any load in your rifle.)
2940 FPS average at 70 F.

A few Mule deer, Elk out to 480 yards. and an antelope.

Any close range hunts with the Barnes load?

 

[Mallardsx2]

Max load of IMR4064

 

[blackbeard]

45.5 grains of BLC-2, 165 sst. Daughters doe at 30 yards had zero complaints

 

[3006Sprng]

Max load of IMR4064

View attachment 394515

Been looking at the 165/168 Btips

 

[Caseknife]

137 HH with a case full of AR-Comp

 

[Sawtooth]

Any close range hunts with the Barnes load?

One deer was shot inside 50 yards. Double lung pass thru. The bullet appeared to have doubled in size with a larger exit wound. Deer got back up, ran thirty yards or so and tipped over. Most of the others were shot between one hundred to two hundred yards out. None required a difficult tracking job. Most dead right there.

 

[Mallardsx2]

Been looking at the 165/168 Btips

I shoot them because they are cheap. They don’t hold together. Know that.

 

[Alpine01]

I have two that have worked very well for me.
165 gr Trophy Bonded Tip; 43.4 gr Varget; 2820 fps; 0.75 MOA - Elk at 181 and 243 yds, deer at 220 and 80 yds.
175 gr Terminal Ascent; 43.2 gr Varget; 2596 fps; 0.55 MOA - deer at 195 and 310 yds. Haven't taken it elk hunting with the TA load yet.

 

[tkhuntsman]

What is everyone else loading in their .308win for hunting.

Currently loading

165gr hornady interlocks (flat base, no boat tail) @ 2.750” oal
44.5 grains of varget
Seeing about 2700 fps average at 0C
(32f)

Took a >350 lb black bear with this load, never recovered the bullet, pass through.

150 grn noslar partition over 4350, win brass and a fed. GM match.
22" browning A-Bolt clipping along at about 2780ish. Sub MOA guns and load out to 500 and it's good enough for me.

 

[R.K.]

Barnes vortex, 168gr. It’s the factory loaded TTSX. First few were DRT, had to track a couple of the last few at most 20 yards. No elk, just pronghorn and a mix of deer.

 

[MTLabrador]

165 grain Nosler Ballistic tip over Varget. 2730 in a 22” Tikka T3X. I’d happily shoot anything from antelope to moose with it.

 

[TN2shot07]

Barnes factory 130 ttsx, I get about 2950 out of a 16.5 inch barrel.

My rifle didn’t like the 150’s for whatever reason and I don’t shoot past 300 anyway so the bc of a bulldozer doesn’t bother me.

 

[Wolfshead]

I handload Barnes 130 grain ttsx with 50.4 grains Ramshot TAC.
Muzzle velocity is an average of 3170 fps.
This is out of a 20” barrel.
Just a week ago I took a Buck at 270 yards ranged, and that load dropped him right in his tracks.
New York has been playing with non-lead on state lands, and with the results if had so far with this load, it has become my go to.

 

[Robert N]

For deer hunting, let's get honest here. $9.99 Federal Blue Box 150's. I get sub MOA performance and 2,650 fps out of a 16.5" shorty.

For a universal handload, 165gr. BT/AB/E-Tip over 44.0 of Varget for 2,625 fps. in the same 16.5" shorty.

For a target load, 175 gr. Nosler Competition over 44.0 Varget for 2,530 fps. One ragged hole...again, same Christensen Arms Ridgeline Shorty.

 

[3006Sprng]

I handload Barnes 130 grain ttsx with 50.4 grains Ramshot TAC.
Muzzle velocity is an average of 3170 fps.
This is out of a 20” barrel.
Just a week ago I took a Buck at 270 yards ranged, and that load dropped him right in his tracks.
New York has been playing with non-lead on state lands, and with the results if had so far with this load, it has become my go to.

That 130 seems like a really good bullet in the .308. 3200 fps would work wonders out to 3-350 yards.

 

[3006Sprng]

45.5 grains of BLC-2, 165 sst. Daughters doe at 30 yards had zero complaints

BLC-2 works pretty dang good in the 308.

 

[Bowmannate2000]

For deer hunting, let's get honest here. $9.99 Federal Blue Box 150's. I get sub MOA performance and 2,650 fps out of a 16.5" shorty.

When was the last time those were $9.99 a box?

 

[Robert N]

When was the last time those were $9.99 a box?

About 3 years ago. I also picked up a case of Norma Whitetail 150's for $9.99 a box. I figure I have enough ammo to hunt whitetails for the rest of my life.