Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Just 1 bullet for the 308 Win and elk sized game....

Okay experts/writers.....I think I have worn out the search function on this site, and figure I may as well post the question. I am putting together a BP hunting rifle in 308 Win. I have been searching components with elk as the targeted game. The 150/165 Partition, 150 TTSX, 150 E-tip, and Hornady 165 BTSP are being considered.

All things considered, if you were an Eastern hunter who only gets to make one trip West for big game each year, what ONE bullet would you trust most for shots out to 300 yds at 308 Win velocities?

165 Accubond or 168 TTSX would be my frontrunners.

You might PM Brad. He's killed some elk with the .308.

I shot a cow elk with a 308 Win using 180 Nosler Solid Base at 297 yards. It went thru an onside rib, thru the vitals, smashed the off side front leg bone and stopped under the offside skin with 100 grains left in one piece.
Since those bullets are no longer made, I would suggest 180 NP or 180 AB.
My son used a 165NP successfully in a 308 on a cow elk also.
No reason not to use any of these on a bull or cow, but I have only shot bulls with 270 Win or 284 Win with 150 and 160 grainers.

I use 150s here in MI.
jmho
Tim

165 Partition

150gr E Tip

165 Horn or the 165 Sierra HPBT along with Varget

Dober

I'd roll with the 165gr Partition...

Thanks for the quick answers thus far. The Partition is supposed to never be the wrong answer, and where I was leaning.

I like the TTSX concept but am am not super comfortable at 308 speeds. I emailed Barnes the they said the 150 TTSX would open up down to 1600 fps....I am a little skeptical.

That 165 BTSP Horn sure seems to be popular...I almost wish it cost more to feel like I am paying "enough".

I'd love to hear further opinions.

I settled on the 165 BTSP in my '06, & likely would in a .308, too, providing it shot well. It just seems to do all that it ought to, reliably, predictably, yadda yadda yadda. Sort of the "Correctol" of sub-magnum velocity .30' cal bullets.

However, I'm intrigued about the accounts of the 130 TSX in .30 cal. Maybe some .308 guys can chime-in on that one .

FC

My first choice wouild be the 180 gr. Nosler Partition. At 2500-2600 fps. out of a .308, it should open quite well out to 300 yds. or more. That's because the similar 7mm 160 gr. versions have for me at similar velocities.
My second choice would be the same bullet in the 165 gr. weight.
In factory loaded ammo, I'd go for the Federal Throphy Bonded Tipped ammo. E

Took this bull last fall at a skosh over 400 yds with the 165 Horn out of my Mom's 06



Dober

I am facing the same question and problem. I have killed 7 elk with a 270/150 partition, so for my 308 I am leaning torward a 165 gr partition to get the best combo of speed and penetration out ot 300 yards.

The beauty of the .308 is you aren't dealing with warp speed velocities, so I'd say you'd be hard pressed to find a 165-168 gr bullet that wouldn't be flawless in the .308.

+1 and followed by a 165 Horn BTSP or a 165 Sierra HPBT.

The truth is that most any 165 -168 gr bullet will do.

I would pick the bullet that was the most accurate in my rifle.

The 168 NBT would be another good one

Dober

I've never used Black Powder in the 308. What's yer charge?

Chucklin'

Pete

Say what?

Dober

Just funnin'. The OP said he was putting together a BP hunting rifle.......

I knew what he meant, but it never ceases to amaze how easily we fall into "textspeak".

Pete

Gotcha, thought I was being my normal slow self..grin

Dober

I'd probably start with the 165/8 TTSX, and if shot well enough, stop there. If not I would move on to the 165 Partition and see if it shot. Then I would go to an accubond, probably.

Some people might be surprised that my top choices are the TTSX and the Partition, since they have very different performance profiles, particularly in terms of weight retention. But I have confidence in both, and that is what matters to me.