.308 Win Deer Loads

[PowderBurn14]

I bought a new Howa 1500 in .308 Win this spring. I have been loading and testing the last few months and have put together a good deer load. I am using the Hornady 180 gr SST, 45.4 grs Varget, Federal 210M primers and new Winchester brass. The COL on this load is 2.850'', just short enough to fit in the magazine and cycle in my rifle. I am getting great accuracy, ( 5 shots in half an inch at 100yds) and consistent velocity over my chronograph, 2600 fps in my 20'' barrel. Anyone who loads for the .308 Win knows that heavy bullets can be a challenge because they take up powder space. I can load the 180 SST out to 2.850'' and make a bit more powder space. Of course I started low and worked up to 45.4 grs of Varget, looking for signs of pressure with every shot. I never had a sticky bolt lift, no flattened primers, no extractor marks on the case head and no abnormal velocity. I know this is a max load and I won't up it any more. From my standpoint the load works. Who else here loads heavy bullets for the .308 Win ? What hunting/target loads work for you? Thanks

*Disclaimer- The above load works for me and my rifle with my loading methods. Any use of the above data is at your own risk.*

[Sigfan220]

Why a 180 for deer?? I could see for bear or elk. Have you considered 150's or 165's?

[PowderBurn14]

I want the 180's because all of my shots will be in the woods at close range, less than 100 yards. Heavier bullets at modest velocities are less explosive, hold together better and penetrate well. If I was on the edge of a field or out west I would look hard at the 150/165 grain bonded bullets. Then again my 180 gr SST's only drop about 1.5 inches at 200 yrds when zeroed at 100. I did load quite a few 150 and 165 gr Sierras but the 180 SST's shot so well that I stuck with them. My Howa has a 1 in 12 inch twist and it likes the 180's. The deer may be so close to my stand that I could get some shots with my Blackhawk .357 mag. We will see what happens.

[cobb]

Heavier bullets at modest velocities are less explosive, hold together better and penetrate well.

I have taken many deer with a 180 grain bullet out of a 30-06 and a half dozen or so with 130 grain bullets out of a 270 and it seemed that the 270 left me with more damaged meat than the 180's out of an 06.

[Bignuts]

Ever use 150 out of a 270? I worked up some 150s for mine but never hunted with it.
Slower velocities help with less damage. Imo

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

[CJB]

I took a doe last year at 225 across a swamp with a .308 180gr. That's all I use. I get the fancy ones in the orange and yellow holographic box whatever those are... Fusion or something

[Holland&Holland]

Ever use 150 out of a 270? I worked up some 150s for mine but never hunted with it.
Slower velocities help with less damage. Imo

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

Using a 150 load out of a 270 this year for the first time. I will let you know how it performs.

[farmerj]

just sayin'....

I have used 150 gr exclusive in a .308.

Never had issues with knocking them down out to 450 yards.

The "weirdest" deer I shot with it was a 100 yard head on to me. I hit it square in the chest. You could see the puff when it hit. Just to the left of center sternum.

We waited for it to die almost 10 minutes and finally decided to finish it off. When we field dressed it, imagine our surprise when we opened up the chest cavity and there was ZERO damage inside. Nothing.

When we got it home and skinned it, we followed the bruising and the bullet had followed the ribs up and around UNDER the skin and stopped finally in the backstrap.

I would have never guessed the way we watched the deer drop to its belly when shot. The was no jacket separation either. It was completely intact. I usedFederal Powr shok 150 gr.

[PowderBurn14]

Thanks for your input guys, it looks like I am on the right track with my hunting load. I am interested to see how the SST works on deer. The tough choice will be the close range shots, rifle or pistol? I want to put em down hard but I hate grape jelly.

[Holland&Holland]

Thanks for your input guys, it looks like I am on the right track with my hunting load. I am interested to see how the SST works on deer. The tough choice will be the close range shots, rifle or pistol? I want to put em down hard but I hate grape jelly.

Let us know how it works. I have not had the best of luck with the SSTs myself. Used them in a 7x57 Hornady superformance load. I think they were just too hard of a bullet moving too fast that they would punch through and the deer didn't even know it was hit. Unless you hit bone in which case it was mush messier than some other loads I have tried.

[OldmanFCSA]

For whitetail deer hunting:

I use 90's in the 243WIn and 6mm Rem.
I use 100's in the 25-06Rem.
I use 150's in the 270WIN.
I use 139's in the 7mmTCU pistol.
I use 140's in the 7mm-08Rem.
I use 150's in the 280Rem.
I use 160's in the 7mmRem Mag.
I use 170's in the 30-30WIN.
I use 150's in the 308WIN.
I use 165's in the 30-06Sprg.
I use 180's in the 300WIN Mag.
I use 300's in the 444Marlin, both rifle and pistol.

I have never used 750Amax in the 50BMG, but want to try it sometime on deer at range of over 600 yards.

I have used Hornady 180 XTP's in 357Magnum for whitetail deer hunting with a max charge of WIN296 and WIN Magnum Pistol Primers. Leave the rifle at home, limit your shooting range, practice, practice, practice, and hone your stalking skills.

I have taken whitetail deer with a 22LR in a Ruger Single-Six at a range of 2" from back of head from treestand.

I don't deer hunt anymore, but have taken more deer with a 12 gage deer slug than all rifles combined.
I used to pick a different cartridge every year, develop a load for it, hunt with it, and then add to my other safe queens.

[45Badger]

I use 165 gr Hornady BTSP over 4.7 gr IMR 4895. Has dropped all deer nicely

[OldmanFCSA]

I use 165 gr Hornady BTSP over 4.7 gr IMR 4895. Has dropped all deer nicely

Deer must have died laughing with that load = barely enough powder to make it go BANG.

Next time try a bit more. ( TYPO )

[Seismic Sam]

I just about die laughing when somebody sharts themselves, and I'm sure that's what 4.7 grains of powder would sound like...

Unfortunately, being OLDER than Tootise and having one foot in the grave, I'm the ShartER more than the ShartEE...

[45Badger]

I use 165 gr Hornady BTSP over 4.7 gr IMR 4895. Has dropped all deer nicely

Deer must have died laughing with that load = barely enough powder to make it go BANG.

Next time try a bit more. ( TYPO )

That's why I use a tall tree stand. Gravity helps

41.7............