WANTED: A good handload for deer in a .308 Win...

[marksman13]

For some of you guys who roll your own, my recent thread about Remington Core Lokts in a .308 got me thinking. I've always said that I wouldn't want to start reloading, but now I think I have changed my mind. The price of premium ammo is atrocious!!! A friend and I have decided that we are going to load some rounds for this season.

I was wondering if any of you guys would be willing to share your favorite white tail loads for a .308. This would be a hunting specific load. I would like it to be as accurate as possible, but I also want good performance on game animals. I understand that some of you may be reluctant to share your recipes, but any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance and good hunting.

 

[dakotasin]

165 hornady, cci primer, winchester brass, varget powder, seated as long as possible.

terminal performance is great, and accuracy is better than any factory load you've shot.

 

[Art Eatman]

I wouldn't go any heavier than a 165, although I've always used 150-grain bullets.

Art

 

[eliphalet]

I have been reloading 308 , 30-06 with 150 grain Remington Core-Lokt's for deer and elk over 20 years now, for myself and some family members. What I've read and seen here and and other places I see no reason to change to the so called "premium" bullets for accuracy or performance.

 

[Harve Curry]

Using Lake City match brass my Savage 99A likes 150gr Hornady Spire points, and near maximum charges of IMR 3031 powder.
You'll have to try some different charge weights to find the one your rifle likes.

 

[Kingcreek]

165gr Sierra Gameking over IMR4895 (or 3031) powder and winchester rifle primers.

 

[GunTech]

Be warned that 165 Sierra game kings tend to blow up at short range. I dropped a small white tail buck at 150 yards with a 165 game king and the exit wound was around 4 inches, almost blowing off the leg and shattering 3 ribs.

I'd pick a better constructed, lighter bullet - or on with less expansion like the Barnes TSX.

I run 168gn Barnes TSX over 41.5gn H4895 in WW brass and CCI BR-2 primers.

 

[Kingcreek]

I've not had any problems with the Sierra GK in .308 with my load/velocity. I liked them so much I tried them in my .300WM, one time, with spectacular bullet failure but the whitetail buck dropped like a sack of wet concrete dead where I shot him.

 

[cracked butt]

165 gr sierra game king and IMR 4064.

Never had a problem with the game king myself. If anything, it expands less than I like because my loads are no where near max.

 

[Mantis]

Lapua brass, Federal GM210 primers, IMR 4064 (approx. 95% of max load), and 150g Sierra Pro Hunter bullets seated mag length for my Rem 700VS. At 300 yds and under, I've had better accuracy with the flat base Pro Hunters than I've had with the boat tail Game Kings, but YMMV.

 

[Bacchus]

Another vote for Rem 165 Core-Lokts, remington primers, and Win 748 powder.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Another vote here...

for the 165 grain Sierra Game King. Worked up a load for a bud of mine to reload, for his .308 Win, using these over H 380 powder. Last week he simply clobbered a 5-point buck with it.

IMHO, the 165 grain bullet is an ideal weight for the .308 diam. bbl. Have been using that weight for years on deer, never had one escape yet. (Although I can't match Art E's record of years, or deer, with his beloved 150 grainers!)

Gun Tech--I have to take issue with your warning. One bad experience does not a bad bullet make. Lots and lots of deer have been successfully killed with SGK's over the years. And there are SO many factors which affect a bullet's performance in any one instance. BTW, my understanding of the Barnes TSX is that it is for heavier game, and will expand in a deer very little, thus leaving you with a .30 cal. entry hole, and a .30 cal exit hole--not the best situation for creating a blood trail. Me, I'd prefer "excessive" damage leading to copious external bleeding.

 

[highbrow]

Got a bulk pack of 165gr Rem Corelokts back when they were $65 per K. Use them for nearly all my hunting, from antelope to elk. 42.5gr IMR 4064, CCI #200 primers, case of choice. 1" in most of my rifles. This is not a max load, but would start at 40gr and work up. Actually used 41gr for a long time with excellent results. As always, YMMV

 

[MCgunner]

48.5 grains of Win748 ball powder (meters fantastic) with either a 150 Nosler Ballistic tip at 2773 fps (great penetration and expansion) or a 140 Barnes X (for heavy game) to 2822 fps. The barnds shoots 2.5" high at 100 while the nosler with the same sight in in my M7 Remington shoots 2" high and is zero at 200. Max PBR for the Barnes is 273 yards

All that's in my notes. Both of these loads shoot 1 MOA. I like the barnes bullet if I think I'll want to shoot a BIG hog, but really, from what I've seen on deer, that Nosler would do the trick. I shoot the Nosler mostly out at my place and have taken everything I've shot out ther with that load because I will never have a shot over 200 yards down there and the 200 yard sight in is perfect for the Nosler. I have taken one coyote and 3 hogs with the Barnes bullet at other locations.

Loads use a CCI200 primer and assorted military brass.