308 hunting vs match weights?

[bwsmith]

I am curious why most 308 hunting rounds are 150 grains and it seems like most match ammo is 165-168 grains. If 150 is the optimal weight why aren't match ammo the same? If 168 is the most accurate the why isn't huntimmo 168?


Please remember that I said most, not all. Personally I shoot 165 gmx to get some extra thump on hogs in my deer hunting areas.

 

[Ar180shooter]

Most .308 Win hunting rounds are 150gr? That's news to me. I see lots of 180 and 165gr Sierra and Nosler loads (among others, such as Norma, and even the cheap 180gr Federal blue box). The reason match bullets are around the 168-175gr mark is they have BTHP rounds with a high BC, but don't diminish the case capacity enough to loose too much muzzle velocity.

 

[Mobuck]

Totally unscientific and maybe not even correct-but here goes. Traditionally, hunting bullet weights for 30/06 and 308 have been 110, 125,150,180, and 220(30/06)/ 200(308). In the past, target/match type bullets were 168, 175, and less prominant 190. The heavier match type bullets were chosen to optimize both accuracy and retained velocity for long ranges. In some cases, this was dictated by how heavy a bullet could be and still maintain supersonic velocity at some given range.
The 165 grain hunting type bullets are a fairly recent addition(generally speaking since they've actually been in use and/or available for handloading for many years) meant to compromise between 150 and 180(165 is about the optimum weight for velocity and energy retention in a .30 cal).
With the bullets available currently, there is little need to go heavier than 165 in a .308 for any game for which the cartridge is suitable.

 

[bwsmith]

Most .308 Win hunting rounds are 150gr? That's news to me. I see lots of 180 and 165gr Sierra and Nosler loads (among others, such as Norma, and even the cheap 180gr Federal blue box). The reason match bullets are around the 168-175gr mark is they have BTHP rounds with a high BC, but don't diminish the case capacity enough to loose too much muzzle velocity.

Glad I could help . Go into any sporting goods store, at least in the south, and there are 2-3x as many 150s as any other weight. That constitutes "most". But even at midway and ctd I see more 150s than 180s or 165s.

So if the heavier bullets are more stable, is there an advantage to using lighter 150 grains? Is a bthp more accurate than a bt sst or similar?

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[Ar180shooter]

Glad I could help . Go into any sporting goods store, at least in the south, and there are 2-3x as many 150s as any other weight. That constitutes "most". But even at midway and ctd I see more 150s than 180s or 165s.

So if the heavier bullets are more stable, is there an advantage to using lighter 150 grains? Is a bthp more accurate than a bt sst or similar?

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I work in a hunting store, and we carry more 165 and 180 gr .308 rounds than 150. In other local stores, I see similar trends. About a 40/20/40 split for 150, 165 and 180gr .308.

My comment was to illustrate that the market has moved beyond simply having 150gr SP rounds for a .308.

 

[jmr40]

I think that the 150's offer about all the performance most guys need in a 308 with a little less recoil than 165's. Also most 168 gr bullets are designed for target shooting and not hunting. Some are, but most are not.

You'll find that 165's are pretty popular among serious hunters who reload for the 308. Especially those who shoot at longer ranges or hunt larger game than deer. I get a little more accuracy, and very little less velocity with 165's. Even so, I still usually stay with 150's for most whitetail hunting.

 

[bwsmith]

Nice to see I am not crazy for only buying or loading 165 sst or gmx for hunting. I thought I was missing something.

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[rcmodel]

I settled on the 165 being the best big game bullet weight in 1968.

Guess I was ahead of my time?

People buy 150 because they don't know the 165 will shoot flatter at longer range, and penetrate almost as well as a 180.
And because it costs less, kicks less, and Walmart sells it..

Those that still use 220's don't have a real good reason they know of for doing it.

rc

 

[browningguy]

And some people shoot 150's because that is what their gun likes best.

 

[Gordon]

I shoot 150s on the light deer around here as it has decent penetration yet really opens up quickly in a short barrel. I shoot the match stuff for precision shooting . If I feel the need for more weight in a .30 cal. I move up to larger case cartridge.

 

[bwsmith]

Thanks for all the great information.

 

[Ar180shooter]

I think that the 150's offer about all the performance most guys need in a 308 with a little less recoil than 165's. Also most 168 gr bullets are designed for target shooting and not hunting. Some are, but most are not.

You'll find that 165's are pretty popular among serious hunters who reload for the 308. Especially those who shoot at longer ranges or hunt larger game than deer. I get a little more accuracy, and very little less velocity with 165's. Even so, I still usually stay with 150's for most whitetail hunting.

The local game will have an impact on what bullet weight hunters choose. I could see that in some areas of the U.S., there would be no need for anything larger than 150gr bullets, as the largest game is whitetail, and they are shot at distances below 200 yards. Up here, we have whitetail, in addition to Moose, Elk and Black Bear. If you want to go for these critters, you'll want 165 or 180gr projectiles. Many hunters will also only want one bullet weight for hunting various types of game, so if they want to go for heavier ones like Moose, they will use the same heavier bullet for deer, just out of convenience.

There are also other issues like accuracy that come in to play. When I had my Winchester M70 in 30-06, it preferred heavier bullets, and would shoot close to MOA, even with the cheap Federal blue box 180gr.

 

[bwsmith]

That is a good point. I have always loaded 165. I may get a box of 150s and see how the accuracy is.

 

[heeler]

And to echo what Browninguy mentioned,I own an older carbine length 18.5 inch barrel Remington 600 in 308 that shoots Federal Premium 165 gr. in a very tight group with an average muzzle velocity according to a friends Ohler chronograph of 2550 FPS.
On the other hand I also own a Remington 700 Light Varmint in very rare 308 that shoots 150 grain Remington Corelockts and Federal Blue box in a group that is much better than the various 165 gr factory loadings I have tried.

 

[hardluk1]

It would depend greatly on what you hunt and where is to bullet weight and constrution. Like many that hunt main mid sized deer a 150gr is plenty large enough at 300 yards. If I was to take a 308 to upper canada i would use a 165gr bonded or barnes.

Years ago we did not have as many bullet designs to pick from and nothing solid copper or bonded. so you had to use the heavie bullets for larger game . No so to day.. Also hard to change what many older shooter use. Some thing for was good 40 years ago is still the only bullet to use today.