308
- Thread starter dmarsh38
- Start date
Topgun 30-06
Active member
Further than most people should be shooting at an animal!
nwihunter
Well-known member
I’m interested in this question too. Thinking about getting one for elk hunting.
wannakillabigbull
Well-known member
1800 FPS and 1250 FT-LBS is what I believe Big Fin states as his reasonable limit, and what I choose to use. For a factory 165 Nosler Accubond at whatever conditions they test at then your max effective range would be right around 550 yards. Most elk hunts will occur at higher altitudes so you’re likely to get a little more range than that. Like Topgun says, that’s farther than most people should be shooting at live animals.
CUElk
Well-known member
my son shoots a 308, there is plenty of range with it. however, as with all calibers, we should be shooting where we are comfortable. we try to keep our shots at 300 or less.
p_ham
Well-known member
I don't know what Nosler's load is, but my load is doing 2790fps at the muzzle with 165gr sierra game kings. At 450yds its moving at 1865fps for 1274ft lbs. That being said, I would put 350-400yds for max range as far as ballistic energy goes. Imo 1200ft lbs is not enough grunt for something as tough as an elk.
Cerebral Stalker
Active member
In my opinion, around 300-400 yards is the max range to ethically shoot at an elk with a .308. Can they be killed from much farther distances with a .308? Of course they can and are, but are those shots high percentage shots and ethical for a .308? Certainly not!
Other factors that could reduce the ethical range include wind drift (would make a poorly placed shot more probable), how the animal is quartered, inappropriate bullets, and poor marksmanship.
I believe the main thing is to shoot frequently, know the capability of yourself/the rifle/the bullet, and establish an ethical max range before the hunt and hold true to it. And remember, the best hunter is the one who can get the closest shot not the one who can make the longest one.
I've noticed Big Fin seems to get this question quite often during Elk Talk Live. Unfortunately, there just isn't a perfect answer.
Other factors that could reduce the ethical range include wind drift (would make a poorly placed shot more probable), how the animal is quartered, inappropriate bullets, and poor marksmanship.
I believe the main thing is to shoot frequently, know the capability of yourself/the rifle/the bullet, and establish an ethical max range before the hunt and hold true to it. And remember, the best hunter is the one who can get the closest shot not the one who can make the longest one.
I've noticed Big Fin seems to get this question quite often during Elk Talk Live. Unfortunately, there just isn't a perfect answer.
Idahoarcheryhunter
Well-known member
this is such a loaded question but I would think 500 would be plenty far for that round, just shoot a RUM makes life easier.
No, it doesn't.
mtmuley
Ben Long
Well-known member
"Further than I want to shoot." My human frailties as a marksman factor in long before the capacity of the cartridge.
Idahoarcheryhunter
Well-known member
I shoot a 7 anyways probably not your cup of tea.
HighDesertSage
Well-known member
I think your looking at this backwards. How far can you accurately place rounds consistently inside an 18" circle? The .308 will kill elk much farther than most should be shooting.
Rancho Loco
Well-known member
just checkin' to see if it's in the sewer yet..
I don’t worry to much about energy numbers just as long as the bullet has enough velocity to expand. You will run out of velocity that the bullet is designed to expand at before you run out of enough energy majority of the time. 357 with 180 grain bullet has like 600 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle. An elk isn’t shrugging that off
JohnCushman
Well-known member
I was wondering when 'ethics' would be brought up, and it only took 7 posts...
MT.PERCHMAN
Active member
I agree on the distance with a 308 and I agree on the Rum !! It's a great caliber and it hammers at both ends !
Topgun 30-06
Active member
You better go back to the drawing board with your 357 and 600 ft/lb statement, as that energy at the muzzle doesn't produce diddly at any distance to be hunting elk with it.
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