Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting 400yd 308 whitetail load

Every January I get the opportunity to thin out several does for a local farmer on his wheat fields. That late in the season 3-400yd shots are sometimes what you have. My Remington 5R is shooting good out to 400 with 168gr matchings and 4064. I'm thinking the 168gr long range accubond might be my best bet for hunting at that distance. Anybody have a better idea?

I’ve had great results from the 185gr Berger Classic Hunter pushed by Varget.

John

That sounds like an easy answer to your question - same load, just switch bullets. However, I don't think you need Long Range Accubonds for whitetail deer. Plain old Ballistic Tips would be fine, as would about any cup and core 165-168 grain hunting bullet.

The 168 ABLR is the first bullet that came to mind, although I also agree with the post above, that a standard Ballistic Tip should be fine at that range. The tipped match bullets like the TMK or ELD would probably work too, as impact speeds would be moderate.

My Remington 700 5R shoots the 168 MK very well, but that bullet usually shoots very well in many rifles. I tried the 168 ABLR but never got consistent accuracy with it. It's no MK, but I saw much better results with the 168 Ballistic Tip.

Yep. I like that bullet

I'd probably just use the Matchking you shoot now since it's shooting to your satisfaction. Or maybe try the tipped version of the same if you just want to tinker.

Lots of good bullets available. Berger VLD Hunting, Hornady ELD-X, Sierra Game King, etc. way to many to list. I would try a few and see what it shoots best, I would choose the most accurate over bullet construction.Whitetail Doe's are not difficult to kill. I'm sure some will disagree, but I have killed many whitetail deer with matchkings. They drop em just like any other bullet. Just don't shoot em on the point of the shoulder. If you want the most meat return, don't shoot them in the meat. put it just behind the shoulder.

I have legally culled a large number of deer over the years, using every caliber from 222 up through 300 RUM. A good number of them I culled were taken with my M1A in 308. My preferred load was 42 grains of 4064 with a 168 SMK. So long as you didn’t hit the shoulder blade, it worked fine. My longest kill with that combo was a 633 yard heart shot.

I’d go with the 130 TTSX or 150 ballistic tip in a heartbeat. As you can see based on the responses there are lots of good answers and a dedicated long range bullet isn’t necessarily required at 400 yards

I use both the 130grTTSX and the 150gr AccuBond in my 308s. Both bullets have performed perfectly for me.

155 Lapua Scenar over 45.5 Varget, CCI 200 primer for the win.

^^^^^^^^^^
This is another good choice. Lapua Scenars are very accurate in my Sako. They will drop em in their tracks.

That's what I was going to say, except 46 grains and a federal primer. At 400 accuracy is more important than a super high BC. The 155's is high enough and it's one of the most accurate bullets I've used in a .308.

I’d go with the 150 Ballistic tip.

The 165 SGK has the exact same POI as the 168 SMK (with the same IMR4064 load) in my rifle. The 165 SGK is a great bullet on game - BC isn't stellar, but at that distance...

The Berger 168 VLD Hunting and IMR 4064.

My 5R Milspec does very well with the Berger 168 VLD. Maybe try them and see.

100grNP, the 130 TTSX or the 150 will serve you well....little over 3100 fps in the 130's handloads is screaming out of a 308 and at your ranges will drop them if placed right. Most accurate bullet out of a Model 70 I have tried....little pricy but you get what you pay for. Never recovered a bullet complete pass throughs and less meat damage than heavier bullets I have found.
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Can't see them or safely shoot at whitetails from 400 yards where I hunt in Misery. 20 yards is more fun for me. Be Well, Rustyzipper.