308 for Large Game

drewsdiablo · July 15, 2010, 07:38 PM

I consider myself to be very big fan of the 308 Win. and since i've heard people push the 308 out of the ring when it comes to taking larger game such as Elk, Moose and Grizzly Bear, what kind of ammunition should i use and what is the maximum effective range.

338shooter · July 15, 2010, 08:11 PM

I would use ammo loaded with a 180 gr. premium bullet such as Barnes TSX, Swift A-Frame or Nosler Partition. You could probably use it out to 200 or 250 yards for elk and moose, but not for grizzly. In my opinion it's not really enough gun for grizzly, unless there will be someone nearby who can back you up, in case something goes wrong. Also in that case, the shots should be limited to about 100 yards.

PRONE2 · July 15, 2010, 08:26 PM

In my view if you can kill it with a bow, you can kill it with the 308!!
Just my view though

Mobuck · July 15, 2010, 08:51 PM

If your shots are more than 200 yds, I would go with a Nosler partition 165 grain to keep velocity up and flatten trajectory.

riverwalker76 · July 15, 2010, 08:57 PM

You can easily kill any of the game you mentioned with a .308. I know of one Elk that was taken with a .223 this past hunting season in Eastern Kentucky. One shot and the Elk dropped to his knees.

jaughtman · July 15, 2010, 09:31 PM

and including Elk. In fact, a buddy of mine went Elk hunting last year and thought he could use it as an excuse to buy a larger rifle. The guide told him that Elk were not that hard to kill, and a good .270 or 308 would be just fine if that is what you currently deer hunt with/are good with it. Now, IF I was hungry and/or in danger, I would not hesitate to kill a moose or griz with a 308 - it just would not be my first choice. And in the case of that Griz, would be happy to stay back about 200 yards and unload the entire magazine on it.

J

THORN74 · July 15, 2010, 09:51 PM

its abour shot placement. with the right shot placement, a .308 will take damn near anything.

ADB · July 15, 2010, 09:59 PM

What I've always heard from experienced hunters is that .308 will take down anything that's found in North America.

maqueswell · July 15, 2010, 10:56 PM

Quote:

its abour shot placement. with the right shot placement, a .308 will take damn near anything.

+1 Thats all I've been hearing over the past 31 years.

tachunter · July 15, 2010, 11:12 PM

Keep it inside 300 and shot placement is everything. Once you push 500 shot placement will not be the most critical factor. Energy will be. Especially with a Moose.

bamaranger · July 15, 2010, 11:51 PM

I will likely never hunt any of the 3 you mention, but I'm a big .308 fan myself.

Modern powders and premo bullets put all of our game ctgs "up" a notch, including the .308. I'm thinking that a 165 premo will keep the velocity up and the trajectory flat enough to be useful to 300 yds on elk and moose.
Provided you have enough bbl length to guarantee the velocity.

A griz, since he can eat you, is another animal entirely in my book, and maybe the 180 has a place there with the added weight and more of a promise of penetration.

I thought the Failsafe bullet was the ideal, with a hollowpoint and a tungsten heel. Guess there gone now, though there are plenty for sale in my area as components. I've never shot a Barnes but I read good things.

Sure wish I could tell you I've been there and done that.

A modern stoked .308 is the complete equal of an '06 from 10-15 years ago, and that was plenty for elk and moose, and while perhaps not ideal, griz too.

phil mcwilliam · July 16, 2010, 03:22 AM

When I travelled to Africa on a plains game hunting safari, the outfitter provided me with a rifle - 308 caliber. Dropped everything I shot with one shot including Eland. The hunting guide told me the 308 is very popular in Africa as a plains game cartridge.

teeroux · July 16, 2010, 03:44 AM

Any thing the 30-06 can take down the .308win can take down and the 06 can take down anything in North America and lots beyond.

Lloyd Smale · July 16, 2010, 06:07 AM

no real need to got with 180s in the 308. A good premium bullet like a 150 or 165 nos partition speer grand slam or barns will take care of about any pentration dutys and wont take up so much powder space and reduce velocity as much in a short case like the 308. The o6 is much better at handling 180s.

Kreyzhorse · July 16, 2010, 06:48 AM

Any thing in North America is fair game to the .308.

Bigfatts · July 16, 2010, 07:39 AM

For Elk and Moose sure, but for Grizzly I say no. You have to think about more than will the perfect shot kill it with game that cand and will eat you. What if he sees you first and decides he doesn't like you? What if your perfect shot gets botched by something? I'd much rather be carrying a little more beef than a .308 if it were my hide on the line.

Dannyl · July 16, 2010, 07:52 AM

Quote:

If your shots are more than 200 yds, I would go with a Nosler partition 165 grain to keep velocity up and flatten trajectory.

Hi, most members in the shooting/hunters club to which I belong use the .308 and each season they take large animals like Wildebeest, Oryx and Kudu with this caliber. their bullet of preference is the 165 Gr' Nosler Accubond, but partitions will do just as well (and so will any other premium bullets suitably loaded).

We are in the midst of our hunting season and they have all done superbly well with the .308.

I'd use it for large game such as bucks but for any animal that can stomp or bite me I'd go with something that can fire heavier bullets.

Like with any other caliber, shot placement is critical, but you already knew that.

Brgds,

Danny

P-990 · July 16, 2010, 08:20 PM

Just to add, .308s are real popular around here in New England as deer rifles, and get used as moose guns too. Moose hunting is lottery-draw in New Hampshire, and I know many deer hunters who put in "just cause" and then use their deer guns to kill a moose.

Moose hunting as I understand it is a close-range affair, typically within 100 yards. They like to live in swampy, wet, dense places. A .308 with something like a 165gr Nosler Partition would work fine IMO. Actually, I think you'll find more than a few killed each season with plain old 170gr .30-30s too...

BusGunner007 · July 16, 2010, 08:31 PM

I was once told "You can hunt everything in North America with a .308 and a .45-70."

I immediately went out and bought a Remington 700 POLICE 26" bbl. and a Marlin 1895 22" bbl.

Now, what do I do with my .30-06; 7mm Rem.Mag.; and the .375 ULTRA MAG???

jaughtman · July 16, 2010, 10:07 PM

Quote:

I was once told "You can hunt everything in North America with a .308 and a .45-70

but with a 30/30 and 45/70 as the rifles....I guess they were not shooting much more than 200 yards.

Edward429451 · July 17, 2010, 12:46 AM

I am a big fan of the 308/180 combo.
Max range? How far can you shoot?
I think MPBR for308/180 is ~250 yards but that's further than I would take the shot.

teeroux · July 17, 2010, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Now, what do I do with my .30-06

You can send that 06 to me I need one and will give it a good home.

csmsss · July 17, 2010, 07:14 AM

I love the .308 just as much as the next guy, but...were I out in places with animals that might just take an interest in killing me (which pretty much just means Alaska and parts of BC if you're limiting yourself to North America), I'm pretty sure I'd want something with a bit more authority - like a .375 H+H or the like. I'm all for giving myself additional margin of error when it comes to critters with large, sharp fangs and claws and nasty dispositions.

James R. Burke · July 17, 2010, 06:31 PM

Just me 338Shooter is correct.

NWCP · July 18, 2010, 12:16 PM

I love my .308s and they will take most any animal found in the lower 48. For large elk, moose, or bear I prefer my .338 Win Mag. It's not that the .308 can't do it, it's just that the .338 will do it. No ifs ands, or buts. Why take a chance when the the proper tool exists?

July 15, 2010, 07:38 PM	#1
drewsdiablo Junior Member Join Date: July 8, 2010 Location: Arizona Posts: 13	308 for Large Game I consider myself to be very big fan of the 308 Win. and since i've heard people push the 308 out of the ring when it comes to taking larger game such as Elk, Moose and Grizzly Bear, what kind of ammunition should i use and what is the maximum effective range.

July 15, 2010, 08:11 PM	#2
338shooter Member Join Date: March 20, 2010 Posts: 43	I would use ammo loaded with a 180 gr. premium bullet such as Barnes TSX, Swift A-Frame or Nosler Partition. You could probably use it out to 200 or 250 yards for elk and moose, but not for grizzly. In my opinion it's not really enough gun for grizzly, unless there will be someone nearby who can back you up, in case something goes wrong. Also in that case, the shots should be limited to about 100 yards. __________________ Rifle Scopes Boresighter

July 15, 2010, 08:26 PM	#3
PRONE2 Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2009 Location: St.Louis Mo. Posts: 113	Love the 308! In my view if you can kill it with a bow, you can kill it with the 308!! Just my view though

July 15, 2010, 08:57 PM	#5
riverwalker76 Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2010 Location: Kentucky Posts: 993	You can easily kill any of the game you mentioned with a .308. I know of one Elk that was taken with a .223 this past hunting season in Eastern Kentucky. One shot and the Elk dropped to his knees. __________________ *Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto* - “You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass.”

July 15, 2010, 09:31 PM	#6
jaughtman Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 868	I vote for it all the way up to.... and including Elk. In fact, a buddy of mine went Elk hunting last year and thought he could use it as an excuse to buy a larger rifle. The guide told him that Elk were not that hard to kill, and a good .270 or 308 would be just fine if that is what you currently deer hunt with/are good with it. Now, IF I was hungry and/or in danger, I would not hesitate to kill a moose or griz with a 308 - it just would not be my first choice. And in the case of that Griz, would be happy to stay back about 200 yards and unload the entire magazine on it. J

July 15, 2010, 08:51 PM	#4
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	If your shots are more than 200 yds, I would go with a Nosler partition 165 grain to keep velocity up and flatten trajectory.

July 15, 2010, 09:51 PM	#7
THORN74 Senior Member Join Date: May 30, 2010 Location: Chicago 'Burbs Posts: 543	its abour shot placement. with the right shot placement, a .308 will take damn near anything. __________________ Sig P226 .40s&w/9mm -- Kimber Pro CDP .45ACP -- Radom P64 9X18mm Makarov -- Dan Wesson RZ-45 Heritage .45ACP -- Ruger SR22 .22LR -- M&P9c 9mm Springfield Armory Inc. M1A Scout 7.62X51mm NATO -- Kar 98AZ (1917 Erfurt) 8mm Mauser -- Marlin Model 60 Glenfield .22LR -- Marlin 795 .22LR -- Marlin 915y .22LR -- AR15 5.56x45mm NATO -- Springfield Armory M1 Garand 30-06

July 15, 2010, 09:59 PM	#8
ADB Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2009 Posts: 399	What I've always heard from experienced hunters is that .308 will take down anything that's found in North America.

July 15, 2010, 11:12 PM	#10
tachunter Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 2009 Posts: 196	Keep it inside 300 and shot placement is everything. Once you push 500 shot placement will not be the most critical factor. Energy will be. Especially with a Moose.

July 15, 2010, 11:51 PM	#11
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,303	up to.......... I will likely never hunt any of the 3 you mention, but I'm a big .308 fan myself. Modern powders and premo bullets put all of our game ctgs "up" a notch, including the .308. I'm thinking that a 165 premo will keep the velocity up and the trajectory flat enough to be useful to 300 yds on elk and moose. Provided you have enough bbl length to guarantee the velocity. A griz, since he can eat you, is another animal entirely in my book, and maybe the 180 has a place there with the added weight and more of a promise of penetration. I thought the Failsafe bullet was the ideal, with a hollowpoint and a tungsten heel. Guess there gone now, though there are plenty for sale in my area as components. I've never shot a Barnes but I read good things. Sure wish I could tell you I've been there and done that. A modern stoked .308 is the complete equal of an '06 from 10-15 years ago, and that was plenty for elk and moose, and while perhaps not ideal, griz too.

July 16, 2010, 03:22 AM	#12
phil mcwilliam Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2007 Posts: 573	When I travelled to Africa on a plains game hunting safari, the outfitter provided me with a rifle - 308 caliber. Dropped everything I shot with one shot including Eland. The hunting guide told me the 308 is very popular in Africa as a plains game cartridge.

July 16, 2010, 03:44 AM	#13
teeroux Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 2006 Posts: 1,512	Any thing the 30-06 can take down the .308win can take down and the 06 can take down anything in North America and lots beyond.

July 16, 2010, 06:07 AM	#14
Lloyd Smale Junior member Join Date: February 11, 2005 Posts: 822	no real need to got with 180s in the 308. A good premium bullet like a 150 or 165 nos partition speer grand slam or barns will take care of about any pentration dutys and wont take up so much powder space and reduce velocity as much in a short case like the 308. The o6 is much better at handling 180s.

July 16, 2010, 06:48 AM	#15
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,463	Any thing in North America is fair game to the .308. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

July 16, 2010, 07:39 AM	#16
Bigfatts Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2005 Location: Lutz Posts: 1,528	For Elk and Moose sure, but for Grizzly I say no. You have to think about more than will the perfect shot kill it with game that cand and will eat you. What if he sees you first and decides he doesn't like you? What if your perfect shot gets botched by something? I'd much rather be carrying a little more beef than a .308 if it were my hide on the line.

July 16, 2010, 08:20 PM	#18
P-990 Senior Member Join Date: May 2, 2002 Location: Only1/2WayThere Posts: 1,316	Just to add, .308s are real popular around here in New England as deer rifles, and get used as moose guns too. Moose hunting is lottery-draw in New Hampshire, and I know many deer hunters who put in "just cause" and then use their deer guns to kill a moose. Moose hunting as I understand it is a close-range affair, typically within 100 yards. They like to live in swampy, wet, dense places. A .308 with something like a 165gr Nosler Partition would work fine IMO. Actually, I think you'll find more than a few killed each season with plain old 170gr .30-30s too... __________________ NRA Master, Highpower Rifle, Across-the-Course NRA Expert, Highpower Rifle, Mid-Range Prone

July 16, 2010, 08:31 PM	#19
BusGunner007 Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2001 Location: Upper Left Coast Posts: 2,116	I was once told "You can hunt everything in North America with a .308 and a .45-70." I immediately went out and bought a Remington 700 POLICE 26" bbl. and a Marlin 1895 22" bbl. Now, what do I do with my .30-06; 7mm Rem.Mag.; and the .375 ULTRA MAG??? __________________ "...if you're not havin' fun, you're workin'..."

July 17, 2010, 12:46 AM	#21
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	I am a big fan of the 308/180 combo. Max range? How far can you shoot? I think MPBR for308/180 is ~250 yards but that's further than I would take the shot.

July 17, 2010, 07:14 AM	#23
csmsss Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Orange, TX Posts: 3,078	I love the .308 just as much as the next guy, but...were I out in places with animals that might just take an interest in killing me (which pretty much just means Alaska and parts of BC if you're limiting yourself to North America), I'm pretty sure I'd want something with a bit more authority - like a .375 H+H or the like. I'm all for giving myself additional margin of error when it comes to critters with large, sharp fangs and claws and nasty dispositions.

July 17, 2010, 06:31 PM	#24
James R. Burke Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2009 Location: U.P. of Mich/Quinnesec Posts: 1,897	Just me 338Shooter is correct.

July 18, 2010, 12:16 PM	#25
NWCP Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2006 Posts: 1,903	I love my .308s and they will take most any animal found in the lower 48. For large elk, moose, or bear I prefer my .338 Win Mag. It's not that the .308 can't do it, it's just that the .338 will do it. No ifs ands, or buts. Why take a chance when the the proper tool exists?