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

I bought a Vanguard in .308 Win a couple of years ago, mainly for inexpensive range practice at the 200, 300, and 430 yard gongs. Most of our gongs are 15" diameter, 2" thick steel. I almost get bored ringing the 430 yard gong, and my load of 150 grain Sierra Pro Hunter bullets in front of 45.0 grains of Varget rings the gongs with authority. Over the years I've had good results with Sierra GameKing and Pro Hunter bullets on a variety of animals from deer and antelope to bighorn rams and elk

Have you tried more than 45 grains under those 150s?

Depending on brass I use as much as 46 under 168s.

I’ve also used 46gr of Varget with 168gr stuff and W-W cases.

In WW cases I used to shoot 45 grains under the 178 AMax.

Haven't found many .308 loads that wouldn't consistently kill whitetails at 400, pretty damn quickly, even factory. But whatever.

These days I don't usually load my 308s full throttle. I shoot several combinations that mimic the old Lake City match 168s at 2550 to 2600 depending on barrel length

I went out and shot my 20" 308 Milspec today. Only 100yds with factory Federal Gold Metal 168SMK, but still I cannot imagine the bullet being at fault if something gets away.


Can't post a pic but the average for 4 groups was .42"

168 ballistic tip

125 Ballistic Tip or 130 Accubond is where I would be for those ranges.

Shoots flatter than one might think and w minimal recoil you can probably spot your hits.

My .308 go-to is a Hornady Interlock, 150-grain, loaded to 2940 fps, using CFE223, from my Ruger American. It is very accurate and I have not had a white-tailed doe walk away with one yet.

46 grains Varget with Nosler 150 gr AccuBond!

Any decent c&c between 150-165 grain. Hornady IL, Speer H-C, Sierra P-H or GK, Nosler B-T come to mind. Which ever shoots the best in your rifle.
We’re talking deer out to 400 yds. Not Cape buffalo, grizzly or even elk. Bonded cores, partitions or monos need not apply. (Unless, of course, one of these happens to shoot the best in your rifle.)

Yes, but 45 grains were the most accurate in my rifle.

155 or 167 scenar and a lot of varget or 4064

I use a Speer 165 grn. BTSP with 748. Works good. Like someone said, you`re not shooting Buff`s..

Burger VLD's work great in my 308 beyond that on deer and antelope, I wouldn't hesitate to use it on elk either at those ranges. personally I would start there, but out to 400 you should be able to fine many bullets that perform just fine.

That light bullet at 308 speed should put quite the exit hole on one for sure.

Not as bad as you would think.

At least not on antelope.

155 Lapua Scenar gets the job done for me, every time.

The 125s work really good at x39 slower speeds. Caliber entry and dime or less exit. I'd just imagine that above that much more its going to get ugly. Maybe not. You never know. I try not to shoot stuff that leaves bit exit holes. Dime size is plenty big for an exit.