.308 bullet selection

[richidaho]

Just recently put together a AI stocked Remington 700 S/A action 26" barreled .308 1/8, glass Leupold mark 4 4-16x50 (12lb). I broke the barrel in using a David Tubb's final finish system shot 50 bullets. I'm currently shooting Speer 165gr BTSP, 41.6gr H335. I'm shooting out to 500m at this time with good results. Hitting steel pie plates with very few misses. The gun is shooting sub MOA if the operator can achieve good breathing and squeezing of the trigger. I currently have 12 pounds of H335 and will be shooting that behind a new bullet. I plan on shooting this gun out to 800m ranges but I hunt not target shoot; nothing bigger than deer with this gun. I need a bullet that I can get; not bullets that are on back order.

Thanks
Rich L

 

[Doeboy]

Sorry bud, but ever body is looking too, good luck

 

[SOE_technician]

155 Scenars work great in my 24'' Savage with 44.5 gr IMR 4064 in Nosler brass.

 

[Stangs55]

Take a look at the 180gr Scirocco bullets. Some of the best expansions I've seen in a 30 cal in S. Texas whitetail.

In stock: Swift Scirocco 2 Bullets 30 Cal (308 Diameter) 180 Grain Bonded

 

[l115a3]

175 smk

 

[Mac 181FA]

175smk is the first choose
155 palmas would be the second
Both will down a white tail no problem

 

[bigfish_7]

175 berger vld

 

[MeanDoggy41]

I haven't had any problems getting Sierra 168 or 175 gr match king projectiles, check gunbot.

 

[jasonnorcal]

For hunting I think you want the 178 amax. No idea on their availability though. Smk's are not for hunting

 

[Stangs55]

Smk's are not for hunting

This...please don't use SMK on deer.

I don't know about the A-Max's in medium game, but I do know that they are designed for punching paper...

 

[Djstorm100]

Not knowing a lot on the subject but what would be the difference purpose of the round? Shape?

What's the difference in a hunting designed projectile vs paper punching. Never though to ask so I am now lol


Using tapatalk

 

[Nortex]

Not knowing a lot on the subject but what would be the difference purpose of the round? Shape?

What's the difference in a hunting designed projectile vs paper punching. Never though to ask so I am now lol


Using tapatalk

The theory most give is that the mk us designed to punch paper and that's it. Sierra doesn't put much thought into what it does after it impacts paper accuracy is the goal not expansion or penetration.

That being said if you put the bullet just behind the shoulder it will work just fine. Amax's work just fine very similar to a nosler bt.

 

[Djstorm100]

The theory most give is that the mk us designed to punch paper and that's it. Sierra doesn't put much thought into what it does after it impacts paper accuracy is the goal not expansion or penetration.

That being said if you put the bullet just behind the shoulder it will work just fine. Amax's work just fine very similar to a nosler bt.

Interesting. I did find a thread here on the hide talking about how game are harder to kill vs a human. Doesn't the Military use the SK match king (77 grain) rounds in the DMR rifles?

 

[Nortex]

Medium game like mule deer, white tail, antelope or pig's are not difficult to kill. If you put the bullet in the right area. Nothing will die quickly from a poor shot.

The military does use the smk in several different rounds and some nosler cc for a brief time. Some speculate that the reason for Sierra labeling them "non hunting" bullets is to keep the government contract as hunting style bullets or HP are not allowed under the geneva convention. I'm not sure about that but it has been said more than once. Hornady in the last year or so has changed their reloading manual as stating that the Amax is for target as well where the previous books list it good for medium game.

 

[Djstorm100]

Thanks for the info.

What defines a bullet as HP? Military rounds have that hollow point to help with basllistic/performance but they aren't classified as hollow points. Is this because they do not expand like a HP defense round?

 

[richidaho]

Thanks for the input. I pickup 200 Sierra game-king 180gr bullets. Pick this bullet mostly due to availability, BC, and cost. Hate to pay $30+ for 50 bullets. The BC is over .500 and the cost is just over $30 per 100.

Thanks
Rich L

 

[richidaho]

Over the summer I'm going to shoot some of the Sierra game-kings and want to try the Sierra 155 gr palma hollow point boat tail. After running the numbers I like this bullet.

Thanks
Rich L

 

[lrgrendel]

Sierra MATCHKING 175 readily available

 

[Nortex]

Over the summer I'm going to shoot some of the Sierra game-kings and want to try the Sierra 155 gr palma hollow point boat tail. After running the numbers I like this bullet.

Thanks
Rich L

I've shot a pig or 2 with the 155 palma. I didn't do any in depth look into how the bullet performed all I know is the pig's dropped when the bullet was put in the right spot.

 

[LRShooter101]

Bullet selection comes down to application, and there is usually NOT a "Jack of All, and a Master of All".

Best bullets in terms of long range accuracy are not going to be the best bullets in terms of hunting / terminal ballistics. Likewise the best bullets for hunting / terminal ballistics, and not going to be the best for long range accuracy.

There are some bullets that are an attempt to do the best at both, but they will never truly perform 100% with both.

Per above, with proper shot placement, any decent bullet will work, however if shot placement is not optimal, then that is where a high quality hunting bullet with very good terminal ballistics will pay off.

Given the current reloading market, it is about impossible to say what if anything will remain readily available. As everyone knows the shelves can be full one day and empty the next. As such:
- it is actually recommendable to NOT put all of your eggs into one basket, and to have multiple loads that you can go to
- when you find a bullet that works, stack it deep and high, and never get to a point where you don't have a back-stock

Per above,
Sierra 175 should not be a go to for hunting , obviously works well for target. They seem to stay readily available
Berger 170-180 grain, unless you want to chase the lands, go with a LRBT or Hybrid for targets. They also have the hunting line. Availability is hit or miss on some of the newer hybrid bullets, but the others are around, and they are bringing additional production online.
Hornady AMAX or SST, very good bullets, but for me the availability has not been there.

IMHO, you are ultimately going to have to decide what is more important to you, the bullet performance, the availability, or some combination?

 

[WT1]

I think it is a good question about the Speer 165 BT's. That's an incredible BC for a hunting round in 308.

 

[spife7980]

Not knowing a lot on the subject but what would be the difference purpose of the round? Shape?

What's the difference in a hunting designed projectile vs paper punching. Never though to ask so I am now lol

Target bullets dont expand, they just poke straight through with little to no expansion. Thats due to both design purpose of the round and shape but more often than not its internal differences which dont lend itself towards causing terminal performance. A hunting bullet is designed to mushroom out and cause a much larger wound channel. Typically that expansion has a negative effect on accuracy potential but thats not to say that a hunting bullet cant be very accurate in its own right. It just wont be winning contests.

My favorite hunting round is the nosler partition but I have opted for sierra gamekings as they are like half the price.

 

[GhengisAhn175]

178 BTHP, 178 eld-x or even m