Pelt Friendly .308 Round

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OpTic BoLTsKi

New member
The only gun I can use right now to hunt predators is a .308. I would like to save the pelts and not blow the animal into multiple pieces. Eventually I would like to use a smaller gun but for right now this is all I have. I have read other posts trying to find and answer, So what specific round won't blow coyotes and foxes into a bloody mess. Thanks.
 
Big hammer, small nail. If you load your own you can load light bullets way down. If you shoot factory ammo you really can't plan on much. Stay off the bones
 
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Sounds like a good reason to buy a new gun. I HATE IT WHEN THAT HAPPENS LOL. May can try FMJ and neck shot.
Safe shooting
Doug
 
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You might be able to hand load something light enough, but I think it would be worth your while to get a new rifle if you're wanting to save pelts. Just my two cents
 

Pelt saving is an issue with a lot of cartridges, even smaller ones. The .308 is a good size round. Finding just the right bullet will be the problem, and it may take a lot of experimenting with a lot of coyotes on the ground before you reach some conclusions. Since you mentioned "predators," you no doubt are considering bobcats and fox too, which are thin-skinned animals, making it even more difficult to find a proper bullet, if indeed there is one. Even FMJs sometimes will expand and tear up more tissue than you might think. As well, from all the readings I have done, those bullets are not reliable killers, and the limited number of animals I have shot with FMJs bear that out. While I'm sure there are some guys who hunt predators with .308s, I imagine the numbers are few. In a nut shell, a .308 is not known to be a fur-friendly round.

Due to pelt saving, I purchased a .17 Remington this past summer and have taken two coyotes with it already, both were "drop-dead at the scene" with no exits. However, even the .17 Rem is sometimes destructive on light-skinned fox.


 
I have had decent luck with 147- 150gr ball or fmj ammo. Not as good as a smaller caliber, but better than a soft point or a ballistic tip.
 
Remember the old sabots we used to be able to get, 30 cal with a 223 stuffing.

I had some loaded down 308 before, a total blast to shoot and hardly any recoil. Can't remember exactly, 100 gr Hornady short jackets I think. Cast light lead boolit with gas check maybe too.
 
FMJ sucks on a number of points and is illegal for hunting purposes in many states. I would try the Remington Managed Recoil 125 gr. load with the 125 gr. bullet. Stay away from the shoulder if you can.
 
Originally Posted By: GCFMJ sucks on a number of points and is illegal for hunting purposes in many states. I would try the Remington Managed Recoil 125 gr. load with the 125 gr. bullet. Stay away from the shoulder if you can.

Yes it surprises me how few know this...

It may help to call them in and stop them at about 250 yds for the shot. Other than that there probably will be disappointment after the satisfaction of kill shot.
I did attempt to save a hide once with my deer rifle. after shooting three times across the canyon he went down. Then a long hike down and back up the other side. His nose was gone, teeth were shot out, one eye gone the other hanging, and he had mange.
So shoot in front of the ears.
 
My step nephew. Yes there is such a thing. Shot a rather small but albino coyote whilst deer hunting with his 30-06 that actually made decent taxidermy fare. I'd call it gut shot but it worked quite well considering.
 
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