Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Best .308 bullet weight for whitetail

In 308, I've used the following to kill deer

130 ttsx at 3050
150 accubond at 2850
165 nosler BT
165 accubond
150 sst
150 interbond

I can't tell a difference

My current flavor is 130 ttsx driven as fast as accurate

Well I have a large sample of two kills with the 308. One a 110 lb doe and the other a 190-200lb buck. On the smaller I used a 165 gr hornady btsp and on the buck a 150gr ww power point that I bought in the classifieds here on the fire. Both died pretty quick and both were pass throughs so it would seem a toss up to me. I will probably stick with the 150's since I have a supply. If I wanted one bullet for both deer and elk and I didn't have a supply of the 150's I would probably go with the 165 and call it good though I have no doubt the 150's would do fine in that dual roll.

YEP!!

They work, near/far, fast/slow. I've used them in 30-06 & 308, from 2850-3000fps.

Some others don't like vel above 2900 fps. As in they won't hold together as well.

Good Luck

At 308 velocities awful hard to beat 150 Horn sp or the 150 gr Rem Corelokt day in day out they get the job done. Magnum Man

Best is subjective.

My favorite bolt gun in 308 has seen only 185s in it for years now. They have been doing about all I've ever wanted so far, so I keep running em. ANd plenty of steam out there past 500 so far too.

I've shot deer with the 125, 150, and 180 grain bullets in the .30-06. 150's have definitely given me the best results but I commonly use 180's because our deer season opens right after our bear season and I don't want to resight in during the few days in between.

The 150 gr Hornady SP or BTSP out of a 308 is about as ugly as life can get for deer chest cavities.
jmho
Tim

A good 180 gr will never let you down

I've killed two now out of my 308 with 150gr Hornady SPs. Both dropped right there (bigger bodied deer by WV standards), one at 40 yards, one at 100. Very happy with terminal performance. I've seen another half dozen killed with the same bullet out of a 30-06 at a mild load that chrony'd 2800fps. Same results.

180gr here as well, though now my only 30cal is a 300wsm. still like to hit'em hard, and watch them fall. nothin closes the coffin on deer quite the same as a 180gr e-tip.

I standardized on Hornady 165 gr SST's in my 1:11 twist Tikka. I like the added mass and the 2 deer I've taken with it (a large doe and smallish buck both around 100 lbs) dropped where the stood and barely twitched. Less than 100 yards each.

That being said it probably doesn't really matter....whatever your rifle and wallet like.

I would say try any nosler BT in the weight that you like. If it don't shoot like you want it to move to next closest weight. I will shoot one of them I'm shure.
I shoot nbt or AB in most all my rifles. Tried about all the bullets but have had none do better, some as good. If it works why change. JMO

150 grain Remington Corelock. DRT

Adonis3333,

While I have never killed a whitetail, I have shot a fair share of mule deer. I used 165 grain Hornadys when I used my .308 Win, which seems to have become my primary rifle. I have yet to shoot an elk with it, but on my next elk trip I will use this same load. I have yet to have to use more than a single bullet on mule deer. I suspect a single bullet ought to produce the same results on elk.

Core-Lokt bullets are beyond excellent. I believe they're now available in 165 grain bullets. When I run out of Hornady, which might take a while if deer keep dying with one bullet, I might go 165 grain Core-Lokt.

BTW, I use 165 grain bullets for everything because I figured sighting my rifle for one bullet that will work on deer & elk will simplify my life. And they shoot about .5".

I've been using the Hornady 165 gr. interlocked for many years with total satisfaction. Put one on top of 46gr of Varget and every deer will die promptly. Total pass through on over 40 deer on the past 22 years. Two deer on the 2nd went DRT.

always thought the name corelokt was funny. I've seen more dang core seperations in them than maybe any other bullet other than a BT possibly over the years. Just can't seem to hold onto the core for some reason. Which isn't all that bad a thing for typical deer shots and wanted results for most folks.

180 gr. round nose core lokt.

IMO the 150 core- lok is hard to beat. I figure I have put them through over one hundred whitetail or more and have yet to be dissatisfied with the result when I did my part. They are inexpensive and my 700 will shoot sub moa with them all day long.

I don't call them Core-loss for nothing. Miserable bullet, except in a 35 Remington and maybe a 30/30.