Lets talk bullets .308 cal

[HuntinCrazy]

Hey guys and gals,

I've been reloading for some 30+ years anything from 22-250 to .338
So my question is which brand of bullets do you load? I've got Serria, Hornaday and Speer on hand but looking for a new bullet to work up loads for my 30-06 and 338 win mag. North America big game. Reading about the Berger with its devastating wound cavity vs Barnes TSX with its ability to stay in one piece.

Right now I have Serrias loaded up with 180 and 215 boat tails but after reading about bullet break up I think I'm second guessing my self. I've shot deer and elk with both will no problems......so far

.308  180-190 gr
.338  200-250

Thanks for your opinions

[Magnum_Willys]

Load up some 250 accubonds in that .338 and you are good to go if you find a load your rifle likes.

[jrebel]

Nosler accubond or nosler partition....both great bullets. 

[DoubleJ]

Accubond is the only bullet I've found that my rifle likes.  Great bullet too.  Great expansion and great weight retention

[Stein]

I use the TSX in 168 grain for everything.  Great hunting bullet.


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[theleo]

My first choice for the 06 with 180's would be the trusty old Hornady Interlock, if you need new I'd play with the 190gr Accubond LR. I've shot a number of animals with the standard Accubond and personally feel that they are a stouter bullet than I like for deer, great on elk though. The long range version is supposed to be a bit softer but I've got no first hand results on game with them.

[Buzz2401]

I have harvested a dozen elk with the Barnes TSX and never had a failure yet but longest shot was 250 yards.  I really like the near 100% weight retention of them.  But honestly unless your buying a full metal jacket bullet I don't think you can go wrong with any of the bullets on the market today.

[Hilltop123]

  But honestly unless your buying a full metal jacket bullet I don't think you can go wrong with any of the bullets on the market today.

 

[fishsticks]

Nosler accubond or nosler partition....both great bullets.

Agreed.  180 gr out of a 30-06 works for pretty much anything.

[Curly]

Depends on what ranges you plan to shoot. 

Under 350 yards it is hard to argue against 168 gr Barnes tsx.

Bonded bullets like the Accubond would do well from up close to way out there.  Probably 180 gr for the 30-06.

A new bullet I'm trying this year is the Hornady ELD-X.  It has high BC and supposedly 50 - 60% retention. Probably not the best choice if you expect closer shots but should be real good for long range.
 

[carpsniperg2]

A new bullet I'm trying this year is the Hornady ELD-X.  It has high BC and supposedly 50 - 60% retention. Probably not the best choice if you expect closer shots but should be real good for long range.
 

I just took my 10th animal with a eldx in a 6.5 143g. The eldx is proven to me now and it a great choice at any range.
I shot my elk 3 days ago 100% dead center the leg bone at 75 yards. 3200 fps and it destroyed the bone went all the way through the vitals and stuck in the meat of the off side shoulder. The first one I have recovered in any of the animals with that rifle bullet combo but the damage and killing power and wounds have been impressive.

I have yet to weigh the bullet yet with going through so much bone and at 3200fps!!! I bet it is around 40% which is impressive at that range and velocity and bullet weight 143g. A bigger 180 or so will for sure hold up with more weight as the diameter will help with that.

[HuntinCrazy]

Thanks guys. One thing I noticed is no one said anything about Serria.  I think ill just use them for range days

[Magnum_Willys]

Thanks guys. One thing I noticed is no one said anything about Serria.  I think ill just use them for range days

Nothing wrong with the sierra.s.  The 300 gr SMK in a big .338 is tough to beat.   Lil heavy for the 338 wm tho. 

[carpsniperg2]

  I have killed a couple big game animals with smk's they work alright. I run them sub sonic in 300blk. Then sub and super in my 308 win. They are a super accurate bullet and my go to coyote bullet. However there are better choice for a all around big game bullet IMHO.

[Jolten]

Thanks guys. One thing I noticed is no one said anything about Serria.  I think ill just use them for range days

I use the 165gr hpbt gameking and I've had no issues. York did a test with some of them at insanely high volciity and they held up pretty well

[Curly]

A new bullet I'm trying this year is the Hornady ELD-X.  It has high BC and supposedly 50 - 60% retention. Probably not the best choice if you expect closer shots but should be real good for long range.
 

I just took my 10th animal with a eldx in a 6.5 143g. The eldx is proven to me now and it a great choice at any range.
I shot my elk 3 days ago 100% dead center the leg bone at 75 yards. 3200 fps and it destroyed the bone went all the way through the vitals and stuck in the meat of the off side shoulder. The first one I have recovered in any of the animals with that rifle bullet combo but the damage and killing power and wounds have been impressive.

I have yet to weigh the bullet yet with going through so much bone and at 3200fps!!! I bet it is around 40% which is impressive at that range and velocity and bullet weight 143g. A bigger 180 or so will for sure hold up with more weight as the diameter will help with that.

That's good to hear. I've got a load worked up with 200gr in my 300wm at 2960 fps. I hope to test it out on a bull this year.

[Okanagan]

For the past dozen years my 30-06 hunting bullets have been Hornady 165 grain Interbonds and Swift A-frame in 180 grains.  The 180 Swifts print one inch higher than the 165 Hornadies at 100 yards, vertically aligned.  I can and do shoot those two bullets on a hunt with no need to adjust the scope.  Have no idea if that would be true in another rifle. 

The 180 Swift A-frame has the most consistent terminal performance on game of any bullet I've hunted with.  Large wound channel and deep penetration in a straight line every time, for nearly 20 years.  Have shot moose, caribou, mule deer, elk, blacktail deer and black bears with it at ranges from 20 feet to 250 yards.  Consistent.  It is over kill for coastal blacktails but it works! 

I added the Hornady 165 Interbond because I have always liked 165 in 30-06 and have used it primarily for deer and one caribou. 

There are many other good bullets out there that I have not shot.  The Swift and Interbond work extremely well for me.  I am working up a load for 165 Hornady GMX and if it performs well, will likely shoot everything with that. 

Re Sierras:  I shot 165 boattail Sierras at everything for 20 years in the 70's and 80's.  They were the most accurate bullet I've worked with but fairly often they shed their jacket and stopped penetrating at that point.  I'm sure that they are made to hold together better now but I moved on, first to Nosler Partitions, then to Swift, and added the Interbond later. 

[yorketransport]

I'm moving over to the Hammer Bullets line for all my hunting guns. They perform like a Barnes and shoot little a Berger. I shoot the 303gr Hammer Hunter 338s as a target bullet in the 338 SnipeTac pistol it shoots so well.

They have a variety of weights and styles that would probably work for you.
https://hammerbullets.com/

[JDHasty]

I'm shooting the same blemished 200 grain Nosler Partitions that Chub gave be a quart ZipLock bag of back in the 1980's.  Two shots cut one hole and they work on game out of my 300 Wby.  But they copper foul like no tomorrow.  But I don't care.  At the rate I am using them up, I don't need to buy another big game bullet in my lifetime. 

[cooltimber]

For the past dozen years my 30-06 hunting bullets have been Hornady 165 grain Interbonds and Swift A-frame in 180 grains.  The 180 Swifts print one inch higher than the 165 Hornadies at 100 yards, vertically aligned.  I can and do shoot those two bullets on a hunt with no need to adjust the scope.  Have no idea if that would be true in another rifle. 

The 180 Swift A-frame has the most consistent terminal performance on game of any bullet I've hunted with.  Large wound channel and deep penetration in a straight line every time, for nearly 20 years.  Have shot moose, caribou, mule deer, elk, blacktail deer and black bears with it at ranges from 20 feet to 250 yards.  Consistent.  It is over kill for coastal blacktails but it works! 

I added the Hornady 165 Interbond because I have always liked 165 in 30-06 and have used it primarily for deer and one caribou. 

There are many other good bullets out there that I have not shot.  The Swift and Interbond work extremely well for me.  I am working up a load for 165 Hornady GMX and if it performs well, will likely shoot everything with that. 

Re Sierras:  I shot 165 boattail Sierras at everything for 20 years in the 70's and 80's.  They were the most accurate bullet I've worked with but fairly often they shed their jacket and stopped penetrating at that point.  I'm sure that they are made to hold together better now but I moved on, first to Nosler Partitions, then to Swift, and added the Interbond later.

I use the same 165 interlock and have had great performance on mutable elk.