The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - No Blood Trail, Rifle Not Powerful Enough

bamaranger · November 2, 2014, 12:32 AM

Much ado about nothing. A .308/150 is a classic deer load, I'd think more than enough for a TX whitetails and hogs, irregardless of barrel length/velocity or lack of it. The OP claims to have shot 3 animals, recovered two, and the third may or may not have been a hit, and may not have been a good hit.

The next three may drop on the spot, with or without exit wounds. How dead does the deer need to be?

Bamaboy and I each killed a mature buck last season with the .308 Hog Rifle and 1st generation 180 gr Nosler B-tips. Slightly quartering shots, and neither yielded an exit, we recovered both bullets. Both deer went 10-20 yds before piling up. We care not a bit. We shot the 180's cause the rifle likes'em, and I traded for a couple of hundred. Also have had good luck with Sierra flat base 150's, from two other rifles, and one of those has a stubby barrel too.

If you've lost confidence in the load, why not change if that might boost confidence, but I'm claiming any 150, cup and core bullet from a .308 will work for you, just give it a chance.

November 2, 2014, 12:32 AM	#56
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,308	too hasty Much ado about nothing. A .308/150 is a classic deer load, I'd think more than enough for a TX whitetails and hogs, irregardless of barrel length/velocity or lack of it. The OP claims to have shot 3 animals, recovered two, and the third may or may not have been a hit, and may not have been a good hit. The next three may drop on the spot, with or without exit wounds. How dead does the deer need to be? Bamaboy and I each killed a mature buck last season with the .308 Hog Rifle and 1st generation 180 gr Nosler B-tips. Slightly quartering shots, and neither yielded an exit, we recovered both bullets. Both deer went 10-20 yds before piling up. We care not a bit. We shot the 180's cause the rifle likes'em, and I traded for a couple of hundred. Also have had good luck with Sierra flat base 150's, from two other rifles, and one of those has a stubby barrel too. If you've lost confidence in the load, why not change if that might boost confidence, but I'm claiming any 150, cup and core bullet from a .308 will work for you, just give it a chance.