Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting .308 Factory Load Advice - Brush Gun

Thank you.

Just about any factory 308 load meant for deer will do the job. I'd start cheap and stay in the 150-165 grain range and see what shoots the best. I shoot 165 grain Hornady Interlockt out of all my 308 and 30-06's. My sons shoot 150 grain Remington Corelokts. All of us shoot off-max reloads.

When you find something that works, buy yourself as much of it as you can and sit on it. That way, you're not reinventing the wheel before every season.

It sounds like you need a bow. If you don't have safe shots, don't hunt there.

IMO there are a couple idea's I'd look at, to overcome your lack of ability to custom tune a load for the OP's parameters outlined.

Since higher MV speed's usually means longer range capability, the faster 150's IMO will generate more ricochets than say a 180 or 200gr'er & +1 on using a Round Nose or Soft Point bullet too...except for mebbe a Hornady SST with it's soft "fragile" front end.

But since down range speed is a potential problem, at least in the OP's mind, I'd also look at the Reduced Velocity/Recoil factory ammo for the OP's desired solution.

I came within a gnat's eyelash of doing this same exact thing last month, when I bought a 308 T3 closeout from Darrik, but changed my mind and was able to trade the 308 on a 6.5x55 Swede in the same exact gun with a 'fire member....to get the T3 SL into a "less felt recoil" area & be able to use on hand components from another 264.

Since I DO reload, and have for 40+ years, I was going to, and will, if I ever do pick up a 308 for this application ... run some 30-30 RN 170 gr'ers at about the 308 factory RV Lite Load MV's in the 24-2500's in what ever bullet brand groups best...only for the reduced recoil aspect of the project in my case. I've already sold off all the 308 diameter components and guns I'd had 90 days ago. ..and only bought the 308 out of thoughtless reflex whem the inventory of T3 SL's was down to the last couple on the shelf.
Ron

If you are worried about the bullet going too far hunt from an elevated stand so you're shooting at a down angle.

If you have any interest in reloading, your criteria sound perfect for shooting cast boolits.

I am so confused. How is the 45 70 the king of ricocheted? I thought I was behaving prudently, I have lots of 308 s and what not to shoot instead. But the higher the velocity the more it sounds like a spaghetti western out here in the rocky mountains?

big heavy bullets have a lot of momentum. And a big bullet at lower velocity tend not to deform as much on impact with hard soil, for instance, and can keep on going. A study on shotgun slug vs rifle (big slow projectile vs faster light projectile)was done by the pa game commission in 2007 here http://www.ihea-usa.org/_assets/documents/AFWA_Presentation_9-18-07.pdf

Interesting how far a big heavy slug goes after impact.

Upshot is, nothing is better than a shooter aware of what backstop is beyond his target.

By the way I used to use a shotgun slug as we are fairly populated here, and after seeing slugs bounce across fields, switched to 30-06, 308, and 223 for my deer hunting.

Edited to add:
I wouldnt stop using the 45-70, just dont get complacent thinking it wont go far. The 45-70 is great.

Same to the O.P., just use a good 150-165 or whatever bullet that shoots well.

I'm just going to load up the 155 scenar for shots near and far.

I like the Rem reduced loads. Hits about like a .243, much easier recoil, and does the job.

Just buy 3-4 different brand and weight loads and shoot the ones your gun groups best.

As for your safety concerns,it's not an issue that can be addressed by ammo selection. Follow laws and good sense about how far to be from roads and residential property. As others have said set up in a tree stand. Strategically place your stand. For instance,be at the top of the ridge instead of half way down so you will be shooting into the ground on any shots. I don't think you have to be concerned about ricochet off the ground.That would only likely be a danger at a very shallow angle to a very close unintended target. Just don't shoot toward any houses,even if you have a couple hundred yards of trees in the way. I wouldn't hunt with a rifle where I could see houses around me.

Any good brand 150 grain ammo will kill deer. Practice some before you go hunting. Lots of videos on shooting rifles.

How about the 150 grain Hornady SST? I used to use the 165 SST's in my 30-06 and man were they explosive! They killed the hell out of deer though. I have to think they wouldn't "over penetrate". Hornady loads it in their Superformance ammo.

The Hornady American Whitetail and/or Winchester/Olin Deer Season XP 150 grain loads shoot good groups for me.