A) 308 caliber, 165 grain Partition at 2700 fps B) 308 caliber, 180 grain Partition at 2650 fps or C) 338 caliber, 210 grain Partition at 2400 fps
All of those would work. I'm assuming A would be 308w, B would be a 30-06, and C 338-06? Looks like fairly mild loads for all of them. I'd run the 30-06 with 180's, if that is indeed B in your list. However, if you can stand 30-06 loaded with 200gr partitions, that would be my absolute pick. That bullet just plows stuff in the grand ol 06...
Originally Posted by raybass
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style.
Originally Posted by Pharmseller
You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole.
The few elk I have killed (4) with two different .308 lever actions used cartridges with 165 gr Sierra Boat tails or 150 gr WW Power Points. They did good jobs.
I could go also go along with the 180 grain NPT if need be. The 180 gr Partition is what I have used in most of my "06 elk loads for many years.
A) 308 caliber, 165 grain Partition at 2700 fps B) 308 caliber, 180 grain Partition at 2650 fps or C) 338 caliber, 210 grain Partition at 2400 fps
All of those would work. I'm assuming A would be 308w, B would be a 30-06, and C 338-06? Looks like fairly mild loads for all of them. I'd run the 30-06 with 180's, if that is indeed B in your list. However, if you can stand 30-06 loaded with 200gr partitions, that would be my absolute pick. That bullet just plows stuff in the grand ol 06...
Close! A) a 308 Win with 24” barrel, B) 30-06 with 22” barrel, and C) a 338 Federal with 22” barrel.
My 30-06 was one of my first centerfire rifles and I killed a lot of bucks with it. Bad weather and hunting from a tent led me to buying only weather resistant/stainless rifles in recent years. Because the 30-06 is wood and blued, it has no left my safe in 4 or 5 years. I may use it anyway or maybe even buy a 300 WSM.
.338 WM with 210 Partition, if the Partition were the only, but very good, choice! Well, that would be my wife’s choice! memtb
Last edited by memtb; 01/12/20.
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
The 165 at 2700 would be the most versatile in my opinion. While not a long range hunter having a 0-350 range without a bunch of thought wouldn’t stink for me.
A) 2 votes B) 5 votes C) 0 votes (the way I was leaning slightly)
I may buy a 300 WSM and that would get me a 180 grain at about 2900 fps. I think I would buy it in a Browning BAR. I’m not sure if the extra speed would be worth the added weight and likely recoil. I have been considering buying one for a few years, though, so it might happen.
I also could buy a stainless 30-06 and load for it. I may be crazy but using my old 30-06 in the rain stresses me out. I am not particular at all about maintaining my rifles and I like having less to worry about with stainless.
Of those you have, the 30-06 is only giving up 50 fps at the muzzle but with a 180 vs 165. At 300 yards, it will carry more velocity (2116 vs 2082 fps) and energy than the 165. Drops are virtually identical at ~ 8.8" at 300 yards (200 yd zero). That's from plugging your numbers and specific bullets into RCBS.load's external ballistic calculator.
I shot my largest bull with a 210 partition out of a 338 Fed. It was the only bullet impact I've seen that ever impressed a bull elk. I hated the rifle as it was a kimber montana and punched me in the cheekbone every time I fired it but it hammered that bull.
memtb 