Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Need some bullet advice for a Cooper 308.......

So I had dreamed of a Cooper m54 308 win for a while. Finally found one and purchased it. I don't reload, but I didn't think it would be too hard to find a premium bullet that would shoot as I prefer to find one all around load for a rifle and call it good. I have had good luck with vortx ammo and tried the 150 gr ttsx load and it grouped around 3" at 100 yds, federal 150 grain copper load did the same, ironically, federal blue box 150 and 180 shoot great, hornady 150 gr interlocks shoot great as do the fusions. I guess my preference is to shoot a monometal bullet feeling like a good shooting 150 gr or 165 gr copper bullet covers all my bases from deer to bear to moose. Looking for advice or maybe someone with Cooper experience. I guess I could just shoot the 180s if needed or 150s most of the time, I just hate how much meat gets messed up from those softer 150 grain bullets. I have t tried a heavier interlock and have had my eye out for some of the gmx ammo as well. After all the expense of ammo, I should find the time to reload but that time is not currently ing the cards..... Lemme know what your experiences are, thank you.

I'd say it's time to start reloading.

you are prolly right

What bullet weight did they test in the rifle for the accuracy card?

Sounds like you have 150 or 180 grain bullets that your rifle prefers from the sounds of it. If you don't like the 150's then you are stuck with the 180's unless you experiment and find 165 or 168 loadings you like?

I like the 165 Hornady BTSP bullet for everything in a 308 or 30.06.

If you are unhappy with factory ammunition it is time to start making your own.

There are several 308 factory loads, so if you have the money and patience I imagine a factory load will produce your desired results in the end game?

They used a 168 gr Sierra on the target. Had a bad Sierra experience a while back so not even entertaining the thought of trying them

No but look into a 168 Nosler Ballistic Tip or Barnes TTSX? That will replicate the weight and maybe just the ticket?

I had a finicky Cooper 7mm-08! They used a 130 grain bullet, it was a Sierra Matchking as well? Who in the heck hunts with that?The answer is no one! I tried all types of powders, bullets, primers, depth changes and was fed up since a 379.00 Walmart special Remington ADL 700 could outshoot it! I finally figured out that H414 and IMR 4064 were what this rifle was faithful with along with a 130 Speer BTSP or 140TTSX.

I am keeping an eye out for the 168 ttsx and also some nosler partitions as well, something will work, or I will just shoot what it likes and pick my shots

Check out ABM ammo. Brian lizt Applied Ballistics is loading bergers for the 308. Hunting, target and tactical.

the fusion is a tough bullet, if your gun shoots those well I think you will be happy with the results on game

Thanks for the information on the fusions. It really likes the 150's and they do load a 165 gr, that may be a good choice

You don't need premium bullets and critters die slow deaths from cooper bullets.

I'd shoot Core-lokts for everything. Best ever.

No real need for premium bullets in 308. The tsx will be great but don't overlook the rem cor loc..

Just set up two of the same rifle one loved nosler 165 gr bt factory load and the other loved the nosler 165 accubond load both shot under 1/2 " at 100 yards

I was thinking about trying to find some accubonds when I look for partitions, thanks for the info. And I have to agree, somewhere in the back of my mind, I know core lokts or fusions, or federal blue box, or hornadys would be just fine

165 Nosler Ballistic Tip...45 or 46 grns of Varget. Never seen a .308 that doesn't love it and at .308 speeds, it performs perfectly. (...and I'm a Barnes guy.)

Those ballistic tips don't get messy? Last ones I used were years ago, made a mess on a shoulder shot, swore them off after that.

Many hunting Bal Tips have been stiffened over the years. You're shooting a 308, which isn't a speed demon. I've punched clean through a good sized buck with a 150 out of one of my 308's, shoulder on the exit side, no muss no fuss.

I have a pile of federal 165 trophy bonded bear claws and no gun to shoot them. I think I have 265 rounds.

Only if you're really close and you hit solid bone, but they still penetrate.

I do believe that the ballistic tip is the most under rated hunting bullet out there.