308 And Elk

gethuntin

Member
I know a 308 is more than capable for killing an elk but i need help in choosing the right bullet. One of these years i might draw a tag and want to be ready. My concerns is to explosive or too hard of a bullet at 308 speeds.Shots may be point blank to 400 yards. And what bullet weights i am leaning towards the 165 but am shoting 150 grain SST's and Interonds very well.
I am thinking along the lines of the Interbond (Hornady),or Hornadies new GMX all copper bullet.
 
My buddy swears by the Remington bulk Core-Lokt 150 grain.
He has shot more than his share of elk with his 308.
He buys them in bulk from Cabelas in quantities of 500.
They are currently $105/500 but he bought them for under $70/500.

I like the 80-100 grain 6mm version personally on deer and antelope.

On elk I use Sierra Game King 200 grain in a 300Win Mag.
 
If you go with a 150, make sure you use something along the lines of a nosler partition. If you use a 165, it won't be quite as critical and most of the quality bullets will do. The worst thing you can do is use a bullet that is too light. I've seen people shooting 150's out of a 300 Win mag and they just blow up. The worst thing you will have happen with a heavy bullet is it will go through and still kill the animal.
 
I think 400 yards is stretching the 308 envelope for elk. TwoDogs is giving you good advice. I like more gun, but I hunt some really steep country and even a dead elk that can run a hundred yards usually does so downhill into the bottom of a nasty canyon. I use an 8mm Rem mag with 220 grain Game Kings and break their front shoulders.

My 2 cents.
 
For elk I'm shooting a 165 gr. Nosler Partition, but I've seen a bunch of them killed by my dad using the 180 Core-Lokt. 400 yards is pushing it, but the Partition has a dead-soft front core and it will open up at low velocity as well as anything, and won't blow up point-blank. Swift's A-frame is a similar design, I would think it might work as well.

I saw my dad kill a big bull at over 400 yards, one shot DRT but I really prefer to get inside 200 if it's at all possible. The .308 shoots a 165 a lot flatter than a 180, but I prefer the 180 where I hunt now since a 400 yard shot is very unlikely due to terrain/brush. I'd actually pass on a 400 yard shot and try to stalk in closer. I really don't like to wound animals, and i don't trust my rifle/ field accuracy enough to have the confidence for that shot, especially with guessing the range. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
I think you'll like the 165 grain SST's at .308 velocities. My dad shoots them out of his .30-06 in front of a mild load. I've shot two deer with it and the first was at 75 yds and it dropped in his track, second deer was at 300 yds and fell dead after a short 20 yd run down hill. My dad took a five point elk at 50 yds last year and I've never seen an elk die so quickly. It ran maybe 5 yds and was dead.
 
I shot an elk right in the shoulder that quartering towards me at 180 yards with a .308 and a 150 grain X-bullet. The bullet went right through the shoulder bone, heart, lungs and every thing in between and ended up way back the in the guts almost into the rear ham, a couple "drunk steps" and DRT. The bullet penetrated over 3 feet. I give my vote to the barnes x-bullet. I would shoot anything over 150gr depending what shoots best out of your rifle.
 
Well i looked at Hornadys website and the GMX looks like it doesnt open up much at 2000 fps which is about my speed at 400 yards and a 308. CJ i actually have some 165 SST's to load up and think i narrowed it down to SST or Interbonds.
TD i also looked through Barnes website and they sure do a good job of advertising i about bought some last night online bc of there website but i have heard mediocre accuracy with them especially at longer ranges. I like how they fully opened through 2" of gelatin and keep all there weight but they are spendy..
 
Quote:
If you are bringing it down to sst or interbond, then I'd for sure go with the interbond!



My dad and I couldn't get the interbonds to shoot well out of his gun... He can shoot 5 shots under and inch with the SST's and we haven't had any problems with animals getting away. I think you run into problems with the SST's when you shooting them in the higher velocity calibers where they don't get enough penetration but with the .308 the velocities should be just about perfect for the SST's.
 
I can see where the slower velocities would help. The only animal I've ever seen killed with an SST was a hog. 150 grain from an '06. Was a terrible mess!

I've killed two elk with 180 X bullets and the penetration was complete and death sudden without destroying the front half of the animal.

Those weren't out of a .308, but muzzle velocity was about 2600 fps and range about 45 yards. They are picky in the accuracy department though.
 
My dad killed an elk this year with a .308 and used that new federal ammo that uses all copper. No lead. It's an issue here in AZ because of the Condors getting lead poisoning on carcasses. The bullet performed great!
 


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