Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Bullets for .308 Winchester

Looking for a bullet for a .308, will be used mainly on deer and elk. I'm not a real long range shooter, simply not good enough yet to go really far. Besides, the area's I'm hunting will usually limit things to maybe 300 yards.

Was reading the penetration testing thread in the Hunting Rifle forum, and the 168gr BT did very well so I wanted to try it. I can't seem to find it anywhere, but the 165 is more readily available. Obviously 3gr won't matter, just wondering about differences in construction? Any others to take a look at?

165 nosler partition or 165 or 168 ballistic tip would do.

I'd skip the Nosler and go 155 Scenar...

150 gr. TTSX for hunting.

A quick check in Ballistic Explorer's database found 28 matches for 0.308", 168 grain, BT bullets. Ignoring match, competition, tactical, and plastic tip bullets here are 5 you might consider.

Barnes 168g TSX BT catalog #30844, G1 BC: 404, length: 1.315"
Berger 168g Hunting VLD catalog # 30510, G1 BC: 0.473, length: 1.265"
Berger 168g Classic Hunter catalog # 30570, G1 BC: 0.496, length: 1.250"
Hornady 168g BTHP catalog 30501, G1 BC: 0.450, length: 1.215"
Hornady 168g A-Max BT catalog # 30502, G1 BC: 0.475, length: 1.265"

Get Partitions and worry about something else.

One of the great virtues of the .308 Winchester (like other moderate-velocity big game cartridges) is that just about any bullet works well, because they're not stressed by too much impact velocity.

I agree with the BT suggestions but for the shots you mention taking in your area I would try the 165 gr Sierra HPGK. It has been extremely accurate in every rifle I've loaded it for and its performance on game has been perfect.

I have to throw in with those recommending Nosler Partitions. They are never a mistake. And, for the .308 I'd go with the 165gr.

Also with a 100 1" high zero with the ranges mentioned would be a point shoot affair. 308 is perfect tool for making deer steaks inside 300 bang pass the gravy.

Ballistic tip would be the value bullet but partitions smack like the hand of God.
TSX, TTSX ETIPS and the like are really at their best running faster than a 308 pushes. Just my observation you certainly have lots of choices.

Can't speak to construction difference w/ 165, but 168s are ready to ship tomorrow here:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/19...308-diameter-168-grain-spitzer-box-of-50

Another partition vote.

For elk I can't speak. For deer just the plain old 165 grain interlock. At 300 you have no need for a boat tail. Deer just are not that hard to kill.

Elk + 165 grn partition = dinner

Sierras get a lot of flack around here, but I've had good luck on deer with them in the .308 and '06. They do make a pretty big hole so keep them away from the eating meat if possible.

I haven't shot anything with the 165 BTs yet, but my son whacked one using them out of my .308 last year during a cull hunt in VA and said it blew a big hole also. Let's face it, anything in the .308/'06/.270 class is a lot of gun for whitetails in the woods.

Can not speak to elk but deer really do not like a 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip. If you can get partitions to shoot in yours I would say go with them. Neither of my .308s liked them.

Thats why I like the Hollow Point Game King. They are quite a bit tougher than the 165 Sierra Spitzer Game King and they really shoot well.

Have used the Sierra Spitzer Game King in the 308 Federal Premium load for about 20 deer. Opens up nicely, but will occasionally not exit on closer shots. Never had a deer go more than a few steps, most not even that. Most accurate load in my particular rifle.

Probably wouldn't use it on elk, would look to a bit stouter bullet.

Pretty much whatever your gun shoots from 150 to 180 grains will be fine. My .308 was fussy. It liked 165 grain Accubonds, 165 grain partitions, 180 grain speer roundnose, and that's about it. I messed with 150s including X and E-tip, and the 130 grain TTSX ... no go. 5-6 inch groups.

So I mostly shot the Accubonds.

At 308 velocities you can use a 180BT without worrying about 'blow-up". Yes, the old ones had a bad rap, but the new ones are Not a grenade. The BT has been my 1st choice to try in any rifle, because I've found if I can't get it to shoot well, there's probably a problem, and it's not the bullet.