Factory .308 loads for Elk?

[THR4L]

I'm curious about folks with successful elk hunts with .308

I know some are in the "heavier/slower" camp and others in the "lighter/faster" one. Success stories with either?

Is a 150gr Remington PSP sufficient, or are the newer "bonded" and Partition type bullets significantly better? Also, am I correct in the belief that ~250yds is the maximum "humane" range for taking an elk with .308 due to terminal ballistics?

Thanks!

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Personally, I'd go with Hornady Lite Magnum or Federal V-Shok (I lean toward the Nosler Partition Jacket bullet) factory loads. If you handload, I'd get a premium bullet (again, I like the Nosler PJ) and develop a load the rifle really likes.

I don't know where you'll be hunting, but 250 yards is a long shot anywhere, and 300 is about all most people can handle. Your .308 ought to do just fine at that range.

 

[warriorsociologist]

My favorite "heavy" .308 load is Remmy's new 180gr Core-lokt Ultra bonded (click here). In fact, since they released this round, it has been the only factory ammo I shoot in my hunting rifle (2002 manuf. Sako Finnlight topped w/ a Leupold VX-III 2.5-8x36mm).

 

[Cpt. Jack]

I killed a young 4x5 bull elk many years ago with a .308 Winchester. The shots (3) were at just under 100 yards, and the load was a Speer 165 grain at 2615 FPS. He was standing broadside and all three hits were in the lower forward chest. He didn't react at all to the first 2 hits and just stood there looking around, then started to walk off. I was seriously doubting my own accuracy when I chambered a 3rd round and saw through the scope, a big
red blotch on his side, right where I had aimed the first 2 shots. I wasn't missing...the bullets just weren't getting the job done. The third one put him down. I've been hunting elk long enough to know that regardless of what caliber you're shooting, it isn't often a big bull just drops in his tracks, but that whole sequence just didn't feel right.

There's nothing wrong with the .308, or the Speer bullet...I did go home with plenty of elk meat, so it would be hard to complain about the outcome. But, I still wasn't pleased with the fact that under optimum conditions, my intended game could take two hits through the lungs and give me the clear impression he was so unimpressed with those hits that he wasn't even aware of them. The 3rd hit was through the large arteries at the top of the heart. Recovered only 1 bullet from the offside hide. It had mushroomed well and appeared to have performed as it should have. Still, the whole sequence left me with the feeling that I wasn't using enough gun for elk.

I moved on to the .30-06, and eventually to the .338, both of which have performed with more authority on 5 subsequent elk. For whatever it's worth, the .308 does not give me the confidence of the faster .30 cals. or larger calibers as an elk gun. Naturally, others may have entirely different experiences, but you ask about .308 performance on elk, and that's how it performed for me.

Happy Hunting,

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I've seen elk killed with the .308, and don't think it's inadequate.

Having said that, a lot of the elk hunters I know like the 7mm Remington Magnum, or the .300 Winchester Magnum. A few like the .338 Win Mag, and I have seen the occasional .375 H&H.

Me? I'm different. My elk rifle is Bigfoot Wallace, a custom '03 Springfield in .35 Brown-Whelen (the most radical form of the Whelen.) It drives a 225 grain Nosler Partition Jacket at an honest 2,800 fps.

 

[pete f]

i agree with Mr Humphrey, although people can and do kill elk with 243's i think anything under a 200gr 30-06 is really underpowerd for 90% of the shots you are going to get while elk hunting. If you choose to shoot the 308, makes sure you use the heaviest PREMIUM bullet you can find. 180 grainer Win fallsafes or Rem swift a frames would be the absolute minimum I would feel comfortable.

I used a 338 06 in a 7600 pump on my two. now i would use a 338 or at the very least a 300 of some type magnum.

 

[H&Hhunter]

The best factory Elk load for the .308 win is the federal 180 Nosler PT high energy. Been there done that got the T-shirt. Second best is the Federal HE 165Gr trophy bonded.

I shoot hand loaded 168gr Barnes TSX moving along at just under 2900Fps. Those little suckers will penetrate like a well digger on crack who's getting paid by the foot.

I can get a 180gr TSX moving along at right around 2700. I haven't played with this load yet but probably will. that should be THE elk load for the .308.

 

[formerflyer]

From pete f:
"i agree with Mr Humphrey, although people can and do kill elk with 243's i think anything under a 200gr 30-06 is really underpowerd for 90% of the shots you are going to get while elk hunting. If you choose to shoot the 308, makes sure you use the heaviest PREMIUM bullet you can find. 180 grainer Win fallsafes or Rem swift a frames would be the absolute minimum I would feel comfortable."

I don't know where you folks are finding these nuclear-powered elk with kevlar-hides. I guess that my grandfather was just lucky he never ran into one during all those years he hunted elk with a 30-30. True, he did prefer to use the heavier (170 gr) bullets, but none of his 27 elk seemed to notice that it was woefully underpowered. Just dumb luck, I guess.

For myself, I'm gonna continue to take my chances with Core-lokt 180 grain .308's, and hope I don't run into any of these "up-armored" elk. So far, so good.

Wish me luck.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Quote:
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I don't know where you folks are finding these nuclear-powered elk with kevlar-hides. I guess that my grandfather was just lucky he never ran into one during all those years he hunted elk with a 30-30. True, he did prefer to use the heavier (170 gr) bullets, but none of his 27 elk seemed to notice that it was woefully underpowered. Just dumb luck, I guess.

For myself, I'm gonna continue to take my chances with Core-lokt 180 grain .308's, and hope I don't run into any of these "up-armored" elk. So far, so good.
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Nobody says you can't kill an elk with a .308 -- or with a .30-30. However, ek ARE tough and an elk can wind up dying in some awful places. A hunter on foot has a heck of a job when he downs an elk, regardless of where it falls -- and if it goes down a thousand feet into a steep canyon, that makes it all the tougher.

Therefore it makes sense to use first of all a good bullet -- I once shot through both shoulders of an elk, a severe test for any bullet. Thankfully, I was using a .35 caliber Nosler Partition Jacket. It was up to the job, and I found the elk about 100 yards down slope, with his fighting tines dug into the earth. If he had been able to hobble even on three legs, getting him out would have been really tough.

Next, after a good bullet, I would say choose a rifle you can shoot well and have confidence in. Most people can shoot less powerful rifles better than the big boomers. A 150 to 180 grain Nosler PJ from a .308 through the shoulder into the pump room is a lot better than a 300 grain bullet from a .375 H&H behind the diaphram.

Finally, look at the power of your chosen rifle. Obviously, no one in his right mind would hunt elk with a .22 Hornet. Lots of elk have been killed with .30-30s and .243 Winchesters. But most of us would not choose those two calibers if there were something with a bit more punch available.

There is a saying among elk hunters, "Nothing below .30 caliber. The 7mm Remington Mag is an exception." That may overstate the case a bit -- I wouldn't sneer at the .270 with a premium bullet. But given a choice, I'd take something with a bit more authority.

 

[junke]

if i you can take an elk with a 100 grns travleing at 300 ft per second then 180 grns @ 2700 fps should be more than enough. any bow hunters here agree

 

[GooseGestapo]

My brother has been quite successful in hunting elk with his pre'64 Win. mod70 featherweight in .308.

He has dropped 3 of 4 with a single shot, the 4th was lost due to poor shot placement because of a nasty crosswind. (I lost my cow too, same distance 20ft from his, with a .338. Mine just left a little wider and longer blood trail! A rear/low lung shot is a very low % shot placement!!! Both were located and taken by some other hunters the next day, after 8 more shots! Sounded like they were shooting cannons too! They had horses however and got to them sooner than we could on foot).

He has not yet recovered a bullet from an elk he's shot with his .308. However, he does use the Nosler 150gr Partition, except for the single one he used a 165gr load because he was given the bullets (by me!).

His load does chrono 2,900fps, seen on two different chrono's, but he does load them HOT, but, the brass is ok, and the rifle shoots them under 1" for 5 rds.
Except for a previous owner putting a recoil pad on it, the rifle is "stock" except for the 3x-9x Leupold he put on it.

Just stick with the .308 if you shoot it well.

No rifle is a "magic BB" if it has the wrong bullet.

Not even my .338 with a bullet that didn't expand sufficiently !

Next trip to Colorado, I'm taking my 7lb Rem mod7 in 7mm-08 and some Nosler Partitions. Beats an 11lb .338 any day !!!
Did I mention both the .308 and 7mm08 are waaayyy more than enough for deer or pigs ??????
I normally use a .223 for deer, and haven't ever lost one shot with it. I can't ever remember shooting one twice either.

I can't say the same for my .338!