.308 bullet selection help - Page 2

Lloyd Smale · October 13, 2012, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Does anyone sell (yes, sell) reloads using the 165gr Game King?

federal premium 165 ammo is loaded with sierra bullets.

340 Weatherby · October 14, 2012, 04:17 PM

Lloyd is right Robertsig, The Federal Premium 165Gr. Gamekings have shot real well in two .308 rifles I've played with. Try the cheaper loads first though as they may do quite well in your rifle. As I understand it the Tikkas generally shoot quite well.

stubbicatt · October 17, 2012, 09:23 AM

+1 on AMAX 155 bullets from Hornady. IMO, these are probably the perfect bullet for the 308, given it's relative powder capacity, range, and performance. It is a "target" bullet, but it penetrates well and expands well for hunting use.

I really appreciate its accuracy and performance in this round.

Else I shoot the Lapua 155gr Scenar bullets for long range. They work well, but I do not know whether they would be considered a hunting bullet. They take the jump to the lands well.

robertsig · October 17, 2012, 10:13 AM

GameKing, SST, A-Max. I can't decide! I assume my Tikka will do well with all of them, but I don't have the time to test much at the moment.

Art Eatman · October 18, 2012, 11:08 AM

I've always had sub-MOA groups with Sierra hunting bullets in .223, .243 and in .30. That goes back to before the name "Game King".

Eppie · October 27, 2012, 11:30 AM

Regardless of the bullet that you pick if long range is your objective you can't neglect the enviromental factors. The use of balistic software can make a difference.

Have you had the opportunity to see "Magpul: The Art of the Precision Rifle"

I've found it interesting and instructional.

Eppie · October 27, 2012, 01:28 PM

I'm a beginner reloader and I've been thinking about some of the same things you are brought up.

My objective is to replicate/improve the performance of the Federal GMM 168grain HPBT. But use a Hornady 150 grain SP bullet. Why Hornady? Because I got 500 of them for free when I bought my Lock n Load AP press.

I know its going to be difficult because of the BC difference between the two bullets. So what I did is take a couple of Federal GMM apart.

The Varget powder is on the left and the powder from the Federal GMM on the right. I measured both of the federal and they came out to 43.9 and 43.8 grains.

As you can see the color is different but otherwise the powder looks very similar. Obviously I will be following the manual powder recomendations for the bullet I'm using, but I thought you guys might find this info interesting.

allaroundhunter · October 27, 2012, 03:34 PM

I have killed 3 pigs with Matchkings out of my .308. Through the neck or behind the ear, they won't know the difference between it or a Barnes TSX.

However, I have also killed them with M193 5.56 ammo, so that .308 Matchking was a step up

Eppie · October 27, 2012, 03:45 PM

Pigs is exactly what I'll be going after in January. A friend has a ranch near Amarillo and like everyone else he has a pig problem that he would like some help with. I've done very little hunting, mostly Nutrias, Racoons, Possums etc... so I'm debating between my POF 308, Savage 10 or Mossberg 930SPX with slugs.

What do you think would be best?

allaroundhunter · October 27, 2012, 03:51 PM

Your POF. Especially if you are allowed to take more than one pig.

Hluhluwe · May 11, 2016, 10:31 AM

Hi

If you don't want the hassle of reloading. The 150gr Federal does have good take down ability - shot two blue wildebeest with them this weekend and both didn't go too far - I shot the one actually a bit high and still found it 15m further .
I wanted to use the Sako Hamerhead but the Federals somehow found their way into the magazine - lol

Hope this helped

emcon5 · May 11, 2016, 11:43 AM

Since this post is from 2012, I really hope he came up with something in the past 4 years.

cw308 · May 11, 2016, 06:11 PM

308 is my favorite round. I reload , shooting buddy also shoots a 308 he does not reload. Shoots Hornady A-Max 168gr. 3/4 " groups at 200 yards.

Jack O'Conner · May 12, 2016, 06:21 AM

I've found SIERRA bullets to produce consistent high accuracy for me.

Jack

October 27, 2012, 11:30 AM	#31
Eppie Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2010 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 802	RobertSig Regardless of the bullet that you pick if long range is your objective you can't neglect the enviromental factors. The use of balistic software can make a difference. Have you had the opportunity to see "Magpul: The Art of the Precision Rifle" I've found it interesting and instructional. __________________ "Socialized Medicine is the Keystone to the Arch of the Socialist State.” -Vladimir Lenin "I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." - Thomas Jefferson (An early warning to Obama care)

October 27, 2012, 03:45 PM	#34
Eppie Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2010 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 802	Pigs is exactly what I'll be going after in January. A friend has a ranch near Amarillo and like everyone else he has a pig problem that he would like some help with. I've done very little hunting, mostly Nutrias, Racoons, Possums etc... so I'm debating between my POF 308, Savage 10 or Mossberg 930SPX with slugs. What do you think would be best? __________________ "Socialized Medicine is the Keystone to the Arch of the Socialist State.” -Vladimir Lenin "I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." - Thomas Jefferson (An early warning to Obama care)

May 11, 2016, 10:31 AM	#36
Hluhluwe Junior Member Join Date: May 9, 2016 Posts: 1	150gr Federal Hi If you don't want the hassle of reloading. The 150gr Federal does have good take down ability - shot two blue wildebeest with them this weekend and both didn't go too far - I shot the one actually a bit high and still found it 15m further . I wanted to use the Sako Hamerhead but the Federals somehow found their way into the magazine - lol Hope this helped

May 12, 2016, 06:21 AM	#39
Jack O'Conner Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2005 Location: Manatee County, Florida Posts: 1,976	I've found SIERRA bullets to produce consistent high accuracy for me. Jack __________________ Fire up the grill! Deer hunting IS NOT catch and release.

October 14, 2012, 04:17 PM	#27
340 Weatherby Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2012 Posts: 139	Lloyd is right Robertsig, The Federal Premium 165Gr. Gamekings have shot real well in two .308 rifles I've played with. Try the cheaper loads first though as they may do quite well in your rifle. As I understand it the Tikkas generally shoot quite well.

October 17, 2012, 09:23 AM	#28
stubbicatt Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2007 Posts: 1,707	+1 on AMAX 155 bullets from Hornady. IMO, these are probably the perfect bullet for the 308, given it's relative powder capacity, range, and performance. It is a "target" bullet, but it penetrates well and expands well for hunting use. I really appreciate its accuracy and performance in this round. Else I shoot the Lapua 155gr Scenar bullets for long range. They work well, but I do not know whether they would be considered a hunting bullet. They take the jump to the lands well.

October 17, 2012, 10:13 AM	#29
robertsig Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 262	GameKing, SST, A-Max. I can't decide! I assume my Tikka will do well with all of them, but I don't have the time to test much at the moment.

October 18, 2012, 11:08 AM	#30
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	I've always had sub-MOA groups with Sierra hunting bullets in .223, .243 and in .30. That goes back to before the name "Game King".

October 27, 2012, 03:34 PM	#33
allaroundhunter Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2012 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 1,670	I have killed 3 pigs with Matchkings out of my .308. Through the neck or behind the ear, they won't know the difference between it or a Barnes TSX. However, I have also killed them with M193 5.56 ammo, so that .308 Matchking was a step up

October 27, 2012, 03:51 PM	#35
allaroundhunter Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2012 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 1,670	Your POF. Especially if you are allowed to take more than one pig.

May 11, 2016, 11:43 AM	#37
emcon5 Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 1999 Location: High Desert NV Posts: 2,850	Since this post is from 2012, I really hope he came up with something in the past 4 years.

May 11, 2016, 06:11 PM	#38
cw308 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2010 Location: Plainview , Long Island NY Posts: 3,863	308 is my favorite round. I reload , shooting buddy also shoots a 308 he does not reload. Shoots Hornady A-Max 168gr. 3/4 " groups at 200 yards.