Hunting deer with .308 WIN

[tim]

My MarkV shot the 165gr Hornady SST very very well so that's what I'm going to use. I wasn't able to pull the trigger last year due to being in a buck only zone and only having a shot at does. This year will be different though, if there are no bucks I will be able to shoot one of the dozen does that stopped and posed for me last year.

A good friend used my rifle in northern WI last year and took 2 deer with it and the 165gr SST Hornady, he didn't want to give me the gun back. He also didn't want to pay me what it was worth!

The Hornady SST has had excellent reviews. Costs more than standard Core Lokt Rem but still cheaper than Federal Premium.

I picked 165gr to try cause it was between the 150 and 180, and it worked, so there we are.

[mnmike59]

I'll be using Hornady SST 150gr. this year.

Hornady Ammo Rocks! My .308 LOVES it!

[Mjollnir]

Thank you for everyone's input. You've given me a lot to think about.
I am in the beginning stages of reloading, and I stumbled on the Hornady website's and their H.I.T.S. calculator.
http://www.hornady.com/hits/calculator
Punch in the bullet weight, diameter, and fps, and it will tell you the size of the game you should take with it.
There's also a link to a ballistics calculator and chart.

I won't shoot my own reloads for hunting... yet.

Now I need a good leupold scope for my Ruger scout rifle.

[Pinnacle]

Thank you for everyone's input. You've given me a lot to think about.
I am in the beginning stages of reloading, and I stumbled on the Hornady website's and their H.I.T.S. calculator.
http://www.hornady.com/hits/calculator
Punch in the bullet weight, diameter, and fps, and it will tell you the size of the game you should take with it.
There's also a link to a ballistics calculator and chart.

I won't shoot my own reloads for hunting... yet.

Now I need a good leupold scope for my Ruger scout rifle.

Why not roll your own for deer season? Just take a few out and shoot em. No biggie I assure you.

[45Badger]

165 grain pills for my family's .308 deer slayers

[AutomaticAron]

I'm thinking any factory .308 will do the job just fine. You could probably go in and grab the first box of .308 soft points you see and be golden.

[grousemaster]

Any suitably constructed hunting bullet chambered in a factory round for the .308 will kill any deer on the planet with one shot.

By suitably constructed, you mean bonded?

Nope. Core-lokt and Powershock type bullets (and any cup and core) are fine for deer in a 150 grain bullet.

I witnessed a Federal Power Shok completely shatter upon contact with a deers shoulder blade last fall. It was a 50yd shot out of a .270 Win.

[smurfman]

I witnessed a Federal Power Shok completely shatter upon contact with a deers shoulder blade last fall. It was a 50yd shot out of a .270 Win.

What did you expect when a deer is shot with a coyote gun? Let the flames begin! LOL.!!!

[grousemaster]

I witnessed a Federal Power Shok completely shatter upon contact with a deers shoulder blade last fall. It was a 50yd shot out of a .270 Win.

What did you expect when a deer is shot with a coyote gun? Let the flames begin! LOL.!!!

Point taken though. .270 is a great deer round, don't think many will argue that, but I had the suspicion that the close range of the target (40-50 yds I'm guessing) and the high velocity of the 130 grain bullet had something to do with it. I was pretty disappointed, I don't like to see an animal suffer when the shot should have been a quick death. I ended up having to get out of my stand and find the deer. The second shot from about 10 yards with the powershoks liquefied the heart and lungs. I know it's kind of a fluke, but I had no doubt at the time a bonded bullet could have avoided the situation. I almost lost that deer to a slow painful death (front leg/shoulder was jello but still running on 3 legs). This was just last season.

[farmerj]

most high velocity rounds are overkill and won't perform like they should under 100-150 yards.

That just gets in to terminal ballistics.

[grousemaster]

most high velocity rounds are overkill and won't perform like they should under 100-150 yards.

That just gets in to terminal ballistics.

Shouldn't the chances of the bullet at least staying together increase with a quality bonded bullet? That's what I'm hoping. I hunt in northern Missouri where you can get 10 yards shots and 600 yards shots on the same morning.

[45Badger]

most high velocity rounds are overkill and won't perform like they should under 100-150 yards.

That just gets in to terminal ballistics.

Shouldn't the chances of the bullet at least staying together increase with a quality bonded bullet? That's what I'm hoping. I hunt in northern Missouri where you can get 10 yards shots and 600 yards shots on the same morning.

A Nosler partition will work fine. A Ballistic tip in 130 grain will blow up.

[farmerj]

velocity is too high out to a point. Was reading a study on terminal ballistics. Lord help me if I can find that one again.

http://www.rathcoombe.net/sci-tech/ball ... myths.html

That's one of about a dozen or so articles I have read over time.

Basically, most bullets are not able to withstand the extreme high velocity at close range. The extra velocity actually is too much for the bullet and you destroy it.

Especially when they are really close. 50-70 yards, really doesn't surprise me to hear what you describe there. Even with a high quality bonded bullet.