Precision hunting round

J

Jon Rinaldi

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Mar 10, 2017
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#1
i want to build a badass hunting round for under 200 yards for hogs . I bought a 24” .260 but I wanted something more compact should I go with the old .20” .308 I wanted to be closer to 3000 FPS . Was thinking maybe a 6.5 saum ? I run a 8” suppressor as well .
 
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#2
Hogs aren't hard to kill. I've killed a truckload with a .223 to the head from an AR-15. Where we hunt you mainly see groups, with and occasional lone boar. I would much rather have the capacity of an AR platform than a bolt action, YMMV
 
#4
Under 200 yards, there's no reason to go with anything other than the largest, heaviest chunk of lead that you can throw down range. 45-70 would be a good option. That said, I am assuming that you want to be able to shoot suppressed, and that your can is 30-caliber (simply since it is the most common)... so I'd go with a .30 of some sort. In all honesty, the advantages of the 6.5 mm projectiles won't make a significant difference (over 30-caliber) at that range.
 
#5
Ar's are the way to go for a pure hog hunting rifle, after the first shot they start running everywhere. 223 puts them down just fine.
2 years ago i went on a heli hog hunt in texas with my brother. went up in a R22 with a AR and FMJ 223 (wolf if i remember). they died just fine.
and i am the first one to say never use FMJ on anything but paper or bad guys...hogs didnt know the difference.
even took 2 coyote when flying around.
we actually tied one to the skid of the copter to make stew out of for thanksgiving, the guys were laughing their ass of when we came in with it.
 
#7
after the heli hunt we had 3 days of ground hunting, i brought my (new for hunt) rock river 260. heavier/larger than a 223 but, shot very well with factory ammo, 3/4-1" consistently, i almost always use factory stuff for hunting.
with the 260 i was hitting steel at 1000.
being a bolt action guy i was very surprised.
 
#8
I'm getting 2800 fps with a 20" 308 suppressed running 150 gr. Bullets. I am getting almost 2800 fps with a 18" 308 and 150 sst using imr4895
 

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#9
I run a 22" 308 loaded with the 178 ELD-X at around 2650FPS( You can probably get the same results with the hornady superformance). Seems to do its job on hogs out to the distances you are talking about. Once the shooting stand is up I will report on 350 and 600 yds.
 
#12
Do you reload? Under 200 yards, a 220 round nose ought to lay the smack down inside of 200 yards out of a 308 or 30-06. I was going to say 300wsm, but the blast from a short barrel would be impressive. (I once traded into a 16" barrel 300 win mag, so I know from experience) A 338 federal or 358 win might be fun also.
 
#14
slm9s said:
Do you reload? Under 200 yards, a 220 round nose ought to lay the smack down inside of 200 yards out of a 308 or 30-06. I was going to say 300wsm, but the blast from a short barrel would be impressive. (I once traded into a 16" barrel 300 win mag, so I know from experience) A 338 federal or 358 win might be fun also.
Click to expand...

Dead and cooked at one shot. Knowing how impressive the fire is from my 16" 308, I can only imagine the flame you would get from a shorty magnum!

A short barreled 308 would do nicely to those ranges.
 
#15
Man 308 is hard to beat. You can get close to 2800-2900 with 150 gr or you can go 180 gr and get some serious energy down range. 200 yards is cake for 308. So many people nowadays think 6.5 because they want to hit >1000 once in a while. I don’t get it, but that’s just me. I love 308 and the versatility.
 
#17
Either, animals are not armored, find a bullet that groups well and shoot em


I used a 30-30 for hogs and deer for a while, killed a lot with it, even out to 200yds, not the best round but it works when it hits

A 308 with a hunting type bullet vs a 260 with a hunting bullet, neither you or the deer/pig will know the difference after the shot


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#19
I love how my Henry Big Boy .44 magnum takes them, one shot - done. They're dead before they hit the ground and that rifle is beautifully accurate out to 200 yards. I've never shot it for groups but it hits pigs just fine.
 
#20
308 is more than enough energy providing shot placement is proper. I have harvested plenty of hogs with a 22'' bolt action. On the other hand I have shot several large boars in the over 200 lb category in between the eyes and on the side of the head and have them run off. This past Friday night at 23:30 while using my thermal on a 6.5 Grendal AR I confirmed everything I had read about the energy of this cartridge. More energy than a 30-30 out to 400 meters. Granted my shot was only 110 meters but it was DRT. Copper Creek VLD Hunting 130 grain Berger. Recoil from this cartridge is literally non existent. IMHO this cartridge does not get the recognition it deserves.
 
#21
9.3x62 is hard to trump for emphatic results. Steyr make a very good one too:

<a href="https://imgur.com/YtFpoZZ"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/YtFpoZZ.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>
 
#22
I have a 16.5" .308 that's nice and compact with a 7" suppressor. 168 A-max drops hogs like a sack of potatoes. Only real downside is that while compact, in its current configuration it's ~12.5lb which makes it a bit hefty for carrying around in the woods. If your interested in the barreled action, I'm considering selling mine.

If you're really only going to be taking shots on deer and hogs with a max range of 200 yards. I would seriously consider looking at one of the large bore AR-15 cartridges. 458 Socom would be the obvious choice, but factory ammo is kinda pricey. I'm currently waiting on my form 1 to be approved so I can finish my 12.5" 6.5 Grendel. It's super compact and roughly half the weight of my .308, but should be plenty sufficient for shots on hogs/deer under 300 yards.
 
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#26
If you want to kill pigs then get a Sauer 202 in 270 Winchester, top it with an Aimpoint 9000 and learn how to shoot like Franz-Albrecht Oettingen-Spielberg, the German Pig Assassin




Or for faster pig killing German style use a Merkel Helix straight pull bolt action.
[video=youtube_share;-CRRgi8bXMU]https://youtu.be/-CRRgi8bXMU[/video]
 
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#28
I assume you have a 30 caliber suppressor? If so its hard to argue against getting a 308 for what you describe. A 300 blackout would also fill your needs. If suppressors were easier to acquire then things like 338 FED or 358 WIN would be good for a 200 yard gun.
 
#29
6.5 Grendel. Plenty of punch for deer and hogs at 200 yards, capacity for multiple bogeys (hogs), minimal recoil for quick follow-up shots, suppressor compatible (assuming it's not a 22 cal can).

Be sure to post pics of weapon and kills when you can.

Sorry, i was thinking of a semi-auto platform, but you posted in the bolt section. That being said, a short action bolt in 6.5 Grendel that takes magazines.
 
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#30
While I approve of a suppressed barrel for the application, I doubt that a subsonic load is the way to go, and the loads above suggest employimg substantial velocity to the application. With the shorter barrel, I would prefer a lighter weight bullet to allow as much velocity out of the shorter barrel as it can generate.

Remington makes a reduced recoil 125gr .308 Win PSP load. Not especially big on energy, but it is adequate for deer out to distances of about 150yd. Personally, I would up the ante to a handload driving the 125gr Nosler Ballistic Tip at about a max load.

Why high velocity? Well, info posted on this site has suggested that the way to defeat ballistic armor is with high velocity, and I figure that about describes the application when taking on shots at pigs that involve larger bones.

One advantage; the higher velocity should flatten out the trajectory, making for a smaller degree of vertical when employing Max Point Blank Range principles.

Greg
 
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#31
Agree with Greg in the above post. My 16” shorty 308 runs the 150 Hornady SP into 3/4 inch at 100 yards at a velocity of 2746, SD of 9.8. That rifle weighs in ab 7 lbs with scope loaded. Pleasure to carry, shoot, and effective,
 
#33
Greg Langelius * said:
Remington makes a reduced recoil 125gr .308 Win PSP load. Not especially big on energy, but it is adequate for deer out to distances of about 150yd. Personally, I would up the ante to a handload driving the 125gr Nosler Ballistic Tip at about a max load.

Why high velocity? Well, info posted on this site has suggested that the way to defeat ballistic armor is with high velocity, and I figure that about describes the application when taking on shots at pigs that involve larger bones.
Click to expand...
A lightweight ballistic tip driven fast is a recipe for disaster against thick animal bones. I know everyone loves to be tacticool and shit but sometimes varmint and anti-personnel loads are best left to their intended uses and instead hunting ammo is used to kill wild game.

There's a reason why bullets like the Nosler Partition and Swift A Frame exist.

 
#34
308 with however short you want the barrel to be (as long as your suppressor will handle it at that length and you obey the law). But if you want something a little different that will still shoot from an AR platform, so you have quick follow up shots for multiple hogs, but will really put them down. Check out the 45 raptor. Shoots out of the 308 AR platform, will shoot 250 gr 45 caliber FTX's at about 2400-2500 fps out of a 16" barrel. Cartridge was designed to have a +/- 3" flight trajectory from muzzle to 200 yards, you can zero at 175 yards and basically have dead on hold for vitals from 0-200 yards. It's based off the .460 S&W cartridge. You'd need a new suppressor though...
 
#35
308pirate said:
A lightweight ballistic tip driven fast is a recipe for disaster against thick animal bones. I know everyone loves to be tacticool and shit but sometimes varmint and anti-personnel loads are best left to their intended uses and instead hunting ammo is used to kill wild game.

There's a reason why bullets like the Nosler Partition and Swift A Frame exist.
Click to expand...

While, yes, a partition will penetrate better a 125 BT isnt the worst choice in the world for pigs, and especially not for deer. A pigs not gonna be around to complain after taking one. But I dont necessarily think that Greg was saying it was optimal. Im not sure where Greg got off onto the subsonic tangent but never the less it is what he was discussing. I guess he just equated silenced with subsonic. A 125 BT supersonic will do much more damage than a 220 partition subsonic. No ifs ands or buts about it.

That said, greg, silenced doesnt equal subsonic and subsonic is not the greatest choice for anything and doesnt really have any place in this discussion about someone looking to run 3k fps.

The partition is my #1 recommended hunting bullet, its simply devastating on any and everything.

For under 200 yards a "bad ass hunting round" can be virtually anything over a mild 223. A 22-250 with 60 BT will blow the neck off of a deer. A 338 federal wont stop for anything. If pigs and deer the 20" 308 will be perfectly well suited despite not being 3k fps.

Edit: I just figured out where Greg got off on the tanget, out of a 308 the 125s will be the only thing approaching 3k fps.
 
#36
I've dropped boatloads of hogs and whitetails with a 100 gr partition out of a Rem Model 7 .243 with an 18" barrel. In fact, it makes me wonder why I play with other stuff, but hey, that's part of the fun I suppose.
 
#39
I'm about to rebarrel my .308 with a 16.5" 1:7 or 1:8 twist chambered for the .210vld's. it will stay on my XLR evolution chassis. Not sure what kind of velocity to expect but I don't really care bc it will be dedicated as a bush gun. 300 yards and in. Not to mention how kick ass it's going to look with the can on it.
 

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#40
Of all the other things, why not have the barrel chopped on your current rifle? Saves you a return on investment, and with the right bullet and proper bullet placement the hogs and deer will fall...

just my 2 cents
 
#41
I was looking for accuracy and flat trajectory, and less for Hammer of Thor terminal performance. The OP put a preference for 308 and velocity into the intro, and I was following up.

I did equate the suppressor to subsonic, but really wonder why one would use the suppressor at all, since a high velocity round is going to be quite loud anyway due to the sonic crack.

I am not (yet) a hog hunter, but I've given it some thought and am always working up capabilities with my firearms.

If I were starting with a clean slate, I'd suggest something a bit different. I have a pair of carbines, a 16" Upper, and a Mossberg .223 MVP Predator. They both shoot quite nicely enough with the Federal 62gr MSR Fusion load, which is touted as a deer slayer. 20rd in a GI mag ought to translate into quite some hog mayhem.

Since I figure a hog hunt is pretty much always going to turn into a furball, I like a low-or-no magnification optic. For in close, the 16" Upper uses a Vortex SPARC, and for further out, the MVP uses a Bushnell 3-12x40 AR Drop Zone 223 Optic. The MVP, MSR Fusion, AR Optic combination is a well suited ensemble. The same round, an AR Carbine and the SPARC are well suited for fast action in close.

Greg
 
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#42
125 N BT at win mag speeds vaporizes. Small doe at a little over 100yds shot just below where the head meets the neck resulted in near decapitation (only some hide left intact). I wouldn't expect deep penetration. Not sure how it'd react on deer at 308w speed.
 
#43
You need, a 26 Nosler. Sitting in a tacticool chassis. Loaded with the highest BC bullet available. Topped with a NF Beast optic. Its the only REAL solution, for the serious, marksman and hunter. Besides that, animals are tougher in 2017, and the older cartridges just doesnt kill anymore. You need new.




Or, you could get a 18-20" 308. Shoot any hunting bullet and call it a day.
 
#44
Killing a hog isn’t rocket science, and there’s no need to split hairs over which rifle will do it better than any other. A 16-18” bolt action in 308 or 6.5 Creedmoor will do the job just fine. Personally, I rarely see just one at a time and after that first well placed shot there’s always opportunities for follow-up shots on additional moving targets. With that in mind, my favorite hog hunting rifles are AR-15’s in Grendel or 6.8 SPC, stuffed full of factory Hornady SST loads. Topped with an Aimpoint or a quality 1-4, and SBR’d with a 12.5” barrel if at all possible.

Hornady SST ammo is cheap and gets the job done pretty well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#46
jda2631 said:
308 with however short you want the barrel to be (as long as your suppressor will handle it at that length and you obey the law). But if you want something a little different that will still shoot from an AR platform, so you have quick follow up shots for multiple hogs, but will really put them down. Check out the 45 raptor. Shoots out of the 308 AR platform, will shoot 250 gr 45 caliber FTX's at about 2400-2500 fps out of a 16" barrel. Cartridge was designed to have a +/- 3" flight trajectory from muzzle to 200 yards, you can zero at 175 yards and basically have dead on hold for vitals from 0-200 yards. It's based off the .460 S&W cartridge. You'd need a new suppressor though...
Click to expand...


Is the 45 raptor going any faster than a 450 bushmaster? I'd pick the bushmaster; factory ammo and ar15 not ar10. AR10's are so much bigger and heavier that in that caliber I'd try to go smaller and lighter. I do have the 450. It will really mess a pig up and i bet it'd flatten deer even better. Mine gets left at home cause I don't have a 45 caliber can, and who wants to hunt pigs without a suppressor?
 
#47
SUIScide said:
Is the 45 raptor going any faster than a 450 bushmaster? I'd pick the bushmaster; factory ammo and ar15 not ar10. AR10's are so much bigger and heavier that in that caliber I'd try to go smaller and lighter. I do have the 450. It will really mess a pig up and i bet it'd flatten deer even better. Mine gets left at home cause I don't have a 45 caliber can, and who wants to hunt pigs without a suppressor?
Click to expand...

The creator of the round says you get about 300 fps more with the raptor over the 450 bushmaster.
 
#48
I’ve got a 308 with 20” proof carbon barrel in manners elite hunter stock. It is my #1 hunting rifle. I keep a AAC TiTan on it.

308 still has good velocity out of a 20” and should take down anything I need it to (whitetail, hogs, beavers, and coyotes)
 
#49
Why so big and fast? As mentioned Hogs are not difficult to kill as are whitetails. I'm more about light weight and short. I hate carrying heavy rifles. A short 308 in a light bolt action would be maximum for me in a larger caliber. My go to all around hunting caliber is the 6.5 Grendel. Loaded with the Barnes 130g TTSX at 2500 FPS they are flat out killers. Mine is an SBR with a 12" barrel and my Ultra 9 can on the end. It's wicked quiet, virtually no recoil and weighs just 6lbs with optic and can. These pics show a Lancer stock and a 16" barrel but I now have the Battle Arms Vert Stock on the BAD LW556 receivers and Brigand Arms CF rail. The Grendel is an underrated hunting round. I ran my SBR all the way to 1000 yards making hits on 12" steel plates.
 

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