Deer load

[Micro man]

I am trying to come up with a load I can use here in Michigan for deer hunting. I have a Ruger American in 308. I have IMR 4895 powder.I need some advise on bullets and brass. I am trying to stay on the cheaper side for components if possible, but do not want to sacrifice accuracy and killing power. Most shots will probably be between 50 and 150 yards. Any advice is appreciated.

[mxsailor803]

What part of the country are you hunting? I've used a 125gr Sierra Prohunter for a number of years on SE whitetails and 1 Mule in Oregon. I like the Sierra's because they are roughly the same price for 100 when Barnes are only 50ct.

[Micro man]

I am hunting in Michigan,specifically northern michigan where there is lots of trees.

[ATPBULLETS]

Click here to get your brass...

http://txbrassworks.com/product/lake-city-308/

click here to get your bullets...

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.co...oint-100-Count
Now consult your loading manual for the powder recommendations of the powder you have. my books go from about 38 grains to 46 grains.

There is 100 pieces of brass and bullets for all your hunting needs. Very affordable and a load worked up in your rifle will be of excellent accuracy and enjoyable in the process knowing you yourself created the round for your gun and your hunt.
Happy loading and hunting.

[hartcreek]

Ther also are vendors here that have OFB.

[mehavey]

For your ranges (50-150), I go with:

- Winchester cases (likely least expensive)
- Either Speer or Sierra 150gr round nose soft point (whichever least expensive)
- Either Federal or CCI large rifle primers (again, best price)
- IMR 4895/43gr for ~ 2,650-ish fps

That's a mid-range load that's flat (at at your ranges) and will do everything you ask.

[GeauxTide]

Agree with Mahavey on components; however, I've had great success with Hornady Interlock and Sierra Game Kings on deer. I don't use RN for bolt guns.

[Blindstitch]

Are we talking northern michigan or the real northern michigan of the U.P.

It can make a difference. I hunted Baraga and Marquette county and unless you're hunting a farmers field or logging clear cut a 150 yard shot is near impossible unless shooting down a skidder trail. Average shot for me was 20-50 yards. My dad hunted a hill top for maybe 15 years down into an old skidder trail and his max was 70 yards but most shots were 25.

Of course all rifles were ready and willing for 150-200 yards but seldom was there a necessity or availability.

Beyond that the guys above have the right info for you.

Only thing I can add there is most bolt rifles like pointed projectiles but there are those that need big round nose bullets like the 30-40 krag.

Hornady Interlock is a great projectile.

[603Country]

Mehavey's advise is good, though I'd be more inclined to use the 150 gr Sierra Gamekings. The medium load is all you need. You could probably use mixed headstamp brass and get acceptable accuracy. No need to get really fancy.

[skizzums]

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/815...free-box-of-50

[Thunderkiss]

Agree with Mehavey's advice but will add 150 gr hornady interlock soft points are shooting just as good as the 150 gr SGK in my Savage .308.

[jmr40]

Any 150 gr bullet loaded 2700-2800 fps will work just fine. Don't over think this.

[Micro man]

Blindstitch-good point I will be hunting Northern lower peninsula. There are a few open fields where the DNR has cut the pines on state land.

[MightyMO1911]

Only thing I would add is do yourself a favor and upgrade the bullet slightly. Most of the ones mentioned are in the 26 dollar for 100 range and don't get me wrong. They work. Dead deer, no question. However, in my very humble opinion, you'll be much happier with say a Nosler ballistic tip. They run 22 bucks for 50 bullets. I've shot the Hornady interlock btsp, the Speer and Sierra versions of that same basic thing and the Nosler just blows them away, again, imo. Having said that, any good hunting bullet will do the trick. Load em and shoot em.

[Blindstitch]

Micro man,

Good luck next year above the shotgun zone and below the U.P. My family hunted in the Gaylord/Grayling area for years. Now they just go there for turkey.

As jmr40 said

Any 150 gr bullet loaded 2700-2800 fps will work just fine. Don't over think this.

I don't 100% believe (more like 75%) that but I do think it can be reached for $30/hundred. And when you find that combination don't change a thing unless you really need to. And stock up on that combo because although projectiles don't change as quickly as other components someday it may be harder to find your lucky bullet.

I also suggest if you have to pick up a few boxes of good ammo and see how it shoots compared to your reloads. You never know when a component doesn't get into your hunting pack and fouls things up.

On a final note good luck next year and don't forget putting in your scouting time. This year was downright horrible for the midwest deer hunters showing 30 percent lower numbers.

[hgmeyer]

WWW.shootersproshop.com sells Nosler overstocks and "blems" (cosmetically) for very good prices.......

[WVMountaineer]

I'd get me some brass. Not particular to a certain brand but, I'd get matching head stamps. For bullets, I'd personally buy Hornady interlock or SST in 165 grain in 100 count boxes. Great bullets. Very affordable and can be bought for the same price as other companies sell theirs for the 50 count. They just work and do so very well. The SST is Hornady's version of the Ballistic tip by Nosler and the interlock is Hornady's version of lead core mushrooming bullet like a core-lokt. Both proven deadly. I prefer the interlock myself but, both are great bullets at the velocity you are going to push them.

I'm not real familiar with I 4895 load data on the 308 but, if it is a faster powder, just substitute the 165 grain bullets with 150 grain bullets. Just check your load manuals to ensure the weight bullet you get is compatible with your powder.

I'd go heavier for the obvious reasons you aren't sacrificing anything by doing so. And in the case you do get a long range shot, that 165 grain bullet shines in the 308. God Bless

[MightyMO1911]

Originally Posted by hgmeyer

WWW.shootersproshop.com sells Nosler overstocks and "blems" (cosmetically) for very good prices.......

I sure wish I lived close enough to pick them up. After shipping I only save 2 dollars on 100 bullets. Bummer.

[Snyper]

Try several bullets in the 150-165 weight range, and use the most accurate, since performance will pretty much be identical as long as the placement is correct

[Mike / Tx]

What I did with mine, and I can already hear the buzzing in my ears.

When I initially purchased the rifle I also picked up two boxes of Remington factory 150gr CL's. I was headed hunting that coming weekend and simply wanted to put something on paper and be able to hunt with it. Funny thing is they averaged just over an inch groups at 100yds from the pencil thin short barrel on that Ruger Compact. Oh and they slapped the snot outta feral hogs as well. Another plus.

So after having this rifle for close to a dozen years or so I am loading H-4985 under the Rem 150gr CL I purchased in bulk from Midway when they had them in stock. The load is only running about 2650 which is simply due to the barrel length, but so far it is holding around 1/2 - 3/4" groups at 100yds which is even better than the factory stuff would. I really only started loading for it due to running out of the cheap factory stuff I had been stocked up on. Since it had shot so well, I was buying 10 boxes each fall when it would go on sale for about $10 - 12 per box. I got down to three boxes and WOW it's up to almost $20 per box if you can even find it that cheap.

Those CL's have worked time and time again on hogs, deer, and anything else they got sent after. I know the deer are bigger up there, but if they will put a 3-400# hog down with one shot they should do fine on any whitetail provided you do your part. Best thing is when you get them in bulk of around 500 or so you DO save a bit over the others. If your not in a serious hurry, I would give the 150 and 165's a try and load up on which ever shot the best when they come in stock.

[Thunderkiss]

When I initially purchased the rifle I also picked up two boxes of Remington factory 150gr CL's.

That's what I did before I started reloading and will still pick up a box from time to time if I see a good price on them. The Hornady SST's and Interlocks shoot so good in the majority of my guns, and have yet to loose a deer to either one that it's just what I've stuck with. My .308 and .30-06 both shoot good with Sierra and Hornadys. They are not picky at all.

I've shot the Hornady interlock btsp, the Speer and Sierra versions of that same basic thing and the Nosler just blows them away, again, imo.

How does the Nosler BT blow those other bullets away?

[603Country]

Pretty much all I shoot are Ballistic Tips, but I have found that SST's and Sierra GK's are also very accurate in the rifles I've tried them in. So, though I favor the BT's, I very much doubt that they are tremendously better than the other bullets. They are really accurate, and they do a fine job on pigs, coyotes, and deer. That, and the fact that I have a whole lot of them, will keep me using them.

[Unclenick]

In the past we've had posts suggesting that some rifles just love the Noslers but some don't. If you sandwich one between caliper jaws, you can see by the crack of light that they have a slight taper along the bearing surface. In some guns that seems to help them line up, but not in others. It will turn out to have something to do with throat geometry, I suppose.

Anyway, the bottom line is, you just have to try different things to see what your gun really likes best. If you aren't able to that at this time, then I would figure that none of the major brands will perform poorly, even if they are not necessarily producing the last word in accuracy in your gun. Based on that, I would just buy what is both available and economical among them and trust that I'd be able to get at least a fair load developed with them, the Nosler included. That's all you need for deer at close range.

I like the suggestion of H4895 for a couple of reasons. One is that Hodgdon finds you can reduce it more than most rifle powders, so you have a fairly wide range of load possibilities there for tuning to a sweet spot with the bullet you get. The other is that it is one of the Hodgdon Extreme powders with extra wide temperature range performance consistency. The chart at the bottom of this page shows it over 8 times more consistent than IMR4895 over the range of 0°-125°. A Hodgdon tech told me that while that temperature range is what they publish, they actually test over a rather wider range than that before it starts to slow or speed up.

[skizzums]

WWW.shootersproshop.com sells Nosler overstocks and "blems" (cosmetically) for very good prices.......

those are some good prices, especially on 308. thanks for the link. shipping is steeper than grafs, but ill just have to buy enough to make up for it. I haven't ever actually used nosler bullets before