168grn 308WIN Hunting round discussion

[lamrith]

I have found that my gun much prefer's the 168grn bullets in general and am in search of a good projectilesbullets for hunting in that weight.  Initial target is deer, but also will hunt elk when opportunity arises.

I am wondering what some of you have used for a good hunting bullet/load/round in 168grn for 308Win.

I am not against buying factory ammo, but would much prefer to load my own so any bullet or load recommendations would be great.  I will do my own load work up, but always nice to have an idea what works for others to narrow choices.  I do have Varget, TAC, WC844(more 223 oriented I think) powders onhand.

[JJB11B]

Probably gonna catch flak but the Federal Gold Match with the 168 SMK flat smash some things...Coyotes, head shot a couple things with that round too. not good photos to post. but it works

[Jolten]

165hpbt Sierra gamekings, varget, and blc2 works pretty well for me.

[Fl0und3rz]

165 gr. partitions and Varget, for me.  Book loads. Standard hunting rifle barrel profile and length.

[Biggerhammer]

Love these terms like “Projectile”. Is that anything like a “Bullet” meaning what you stuff into a case to make a “Cartridge”?

The 165gr Nosler Accubond is flat deadly, doesn’t matter if your launching it from a .308 Win or a .300 Win Mag. In the same breath. The Hornady plain Jane Interlock is just  as deadly as a hunting bullet.

The world record California Sheep was smoked with a handloaded 150gr Hornady Interlock, funny how some feel that a Barnes, Swift, or other custom bullet would have made that Sheep more dead that it already is.

[WapitiTalk1]

Ooh, pick me, pick me . Underwood Ammo 165 GN Accubond, they’ll out shoot the shooter. Absolutely the most accurate round I’ve found for my Weatherby Vanguard 2.

[h20hunter]

165 gr accubond, 45.0 gr Varget. I run it in my AR10.

[jackelope]

Love these terms like “Projectile”. Is that anything like a “Bullet” meaning what you stuff into a case to make a “Cartridge”?

The 165gr Nosler Accubond is flat deadly, doesn’t matter if your launching it from a .308 Win or a .300 Win Mag. In the same breath. The Hornady plain Jane Interlock is just  as deadly as a hunting bullet.

The world record California Sheep was smoked with a handloaded 150gr Hornady Interlock, funny how some feel that a Barnes, Swift, or other custom bullet would have made that Sheep more dead that it already is.

It’s “more deader” good sir.

[jasnt]

The 165gr nosler bt’s Have worked well for me in the past as much as it pains me to say that.   

[Cab]

My Howa really enjoys the Federal Fusion 165gr. Certainly on the budget side but I found it to be very consistent for me and reliable. 

[BigGoonTuna]

Love these terms like “Projectile”. Is that anything like a “Bullet” meaning what you stuff into a case to make a “Cartridge”?

kinda like the guys that call a scope an "optic" eh?

[Stein]

168 TSX, on of the more proven bullets out there.


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[lamrith]

Man tough crowd around here!  Trying to use my SAT words to sounds like a grown-up and you guys are crushing my feelings. 
 

[Cab]

My best advise as someone that just got a new 308 this year and had to find what it liked: Buy the cheap stuff first and see how it works with your gun. There is no reason to spend double the price if your rifle will group close to the same with ammo that cost half as much. If this works out for you then you will have a load you can buy for cheaper which equals practice is much more affordable(and hopefully you will get to practice more). I also start with very common ammo so that if for some reason I lost my ammo, forgot it or what not I could go into almost any place that sells ammo and be able to pick it up as well as buy it in bulk online for better prices. just my 

[lamrith]

My best advise as someone that just got a new 308 this year and had to find what it liked: Buy the cheap stuff first and see how it works with your gun. There is no reason to spend double the price if your rifle will group close to the same with ammo that cost half as much. If this works out for you then you will have a load you can buy for cheaper which equals practice is much more affordable(and hopefully you will get to practice more). I also start with very common ammo so that if for some reason I lost my ammo, forgot it or what not I could go into almost any place that sells ammo and be able to pick it up as well as buy it in bulk online for better prices. just my 

Def good points.  I tried 150grn off the shelf ammo a year ago and this gun hated them. 3-4moa.  I tried reloading with 150grn bullets as well with same results. 

Ran some PPU 168grn match ammo and was sub MOA, hence the search for similar weight bullets/ammo. 

I have no problem trying Factory, but as a reloader I have an aversion to spending $1.00+ a round when I can make it for 1/2 that.  I will track down some common stuff though if for no other reason than to know how they perform for those emergencies you mention.

[mountainman]

168 TSX, on of the more proven bullets out there.


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Awesome round (or bullet, projectile, or whatever silliness folks want to make an issue with. Tomato/ tamato). Proven "bullet" for me from coyote to Eland...and many in between👍

[bullfisher]

165grn SST

[dmoua]

I've been using Berger 168gr Hunter Classics for the past few years in my .308. Works great IMO.

[JJB11B]

168 TSX, on of the more proven bullets out there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Awesome round (or bullet, projectile, or whatever silliness folks want to make an issue with. Tomato/ tamato). Proven "bullet" for me from coyote to Eland...and many in between👍

they’re “pills”

[hunter399]

I don't use 308 , But have a few friends that do.They where telling me that they won't use any bullet in 308 over 150 grain,cause it drops like a ton of bricks.

[h20hunter]

Clearly they are wrong and should be running a 270 but thats an argument over beers.

[hunter399]

Clearly they are wrong and should be running a 270 but thats an argument over beers.

So true 

[h20hunter]

My ballistics say im just over 1800 fps at 500 yards. Personally I'm good with that and if i need to carry further ill move up to my 7mm rm.

[mountainman]

168 TSX, on of the more proven bullets out there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Awesome round (or bullet, projectile, or whatever silliness folks want to make an issue with. Tomato/ tamato). Proven "bullet" for me from coyote to Eland...and many in between👍

they’re “pills”

Or "Slugs"👍

[Biggerhammer]

Every single bullet manufacturer has got it wrong. I have dug through over 100 boxes of assorted manufacturers bullets in my reloading room and I can’t find the word “Projectile” on a single one. The word “Bullet” is printed everywhere. In the bold, the small print.  Bullet, bullet, bullet. It’s almost ridicules how many times the word “Bullet” is printed on some of these boxes. Even if a alien (Outerspace type🙃) was to hold one of these boxes, he would report his findings here on earth. That he had in fact held a box of bullets. That’s of course if the said alien (Outerspace type) has a basic understanding of the English launguage or of course a translator. Someone needs to start making some calls to some of the major bullet manufacturers and let them know that they need get with it. Ditch “Bullet” and get the “Projectile” thing rolling.

The one thing all these boxes have in common, they all say “Bullet”. Strangest thing.

It’s almost as big of a brain twister as. I don’t shoot a bullet, I “Send” a bullet. Uuuuuh, OK? Always wondered what type of stamp do they use when “Sending” a bullet? Some tough adhesives there, to hang at those velocities.

[JJB11B]

168 TSX, on of the more proven bullets out there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Awesome round (or bullet, projectile, or whatever silliness folks want to make an issue with. Tomato/ tamato). Proven "bullet" for me from coyote to Eland...and many in between👍

they’re “pills”

Or "Slugs"👍

High Speed Implants

[mountainman]

168 TSX, on of the more proven bullets out there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Awesome round (or bullet, projectile, or whatever silliness folks want to make an issue with. Tomato/ tamato). Proven "bullet" for me from coyote to Eland...and many in between👍

they’re “pills”

Or "Slugs"👍

High Speed Implants

I like that!😂

[Biggerhammer]

I may have read into this wrong. You may be more interested in custom bullets, not the standard cup & core and or bonded type. I looked at all my “Hammer Bullet” boxes and my “Cutting Edge Bullet” boxes. I never found the word “Projectile”? If I were ever to sway to the “Projectile” way of terminology, it would be in reference to custom lathe turned bullets such as the prior mentioned.

https://hammerbullets.com

https://cuttingedgebullets.com/?SID=2psrg8j0gr5qsrs0m5rim335t4

[lamrith]

Fixed OP since it appears I used a trigger word for some, my apologies.

[mountainman]

And don't forget the Nosler Ballistic Tip 168gr projectile. At .308 velocities it is a pretty darn good performer on the game animals you mention👍

And don't worry about sensitivities of folks here..tough skin and they get over it👍

[jamesjett]

168 gr. TTSX. 45.0 BL-C2.  Seat them deep..Win Mod 70

[mountainman]

168 gr. TTSX. 45.0 BL-C2.  Seat them deep..Win Mod 70

Who ever said Barnes projectiles don't shoot!
Nice group👍

[jamesjett]

168 gr. TTSX. 45.0 BL-C2.  Seat them deep..Win Mod 70

Who ever said Barnes projectiles don't shoot!
Nice group👍

Just have to know how to load them.  I can get the same group with 165gr. Accubonds but .030 seat depth. 

[ac_156]

168gr combined technology.

[Biggerhammer]

And Accubond terminal performance is second to none!

[jamesjett]

And Accubond terminal performance is second to none!

I've killed both deer and bear with Nosler Accubonds and Barnes TTSX's.  Hands down Barnes out performs the Accubonds.  I still shoot both but much better penetration with the Barnes. 

[Biggerhammer]

And Accubond terminal performance is second to none!

I've killed both deer and bear with Nosler Accubonds and Barnes TTSX's.  Hands down Barnes out performs the Accubonds.  I still shoot both but much better penetration with the Barnes.

Just don’t care for the the crap BC of a Barnes and the junk they leave in a barrel. But hey at the average distance most game is taken , under 200 yards. Any bullet will work, for across the board shooting from A-Z. Point blank to beyond 600 yards. I’ll take the Accubond every time. There are only two reason I would shoot a Barnes type bullet. Super fast chamberings such as the .257 Weatherby Magnum because a light bullet at those speeds needs to be stout, especially in close. To prevent bullet failures on high velocity impacts and in the case of big bores when you need a stout bullet for penetration due to the fact that whatever your shooting can eat or stomp your hindend. Then in those two cases I wouldn’t even shoot a Barnes. I would shoot a CEB or in most cases now. I would go with one of the flavorings Hammer Bullets is offering. Now that Hammer Bullets is cranking out a bigger selection of bullets with a better design and way higher BC’s than Barnes.  I see the serious been there done that crowd swaying Hammers way in the future and they don’t copper the heck out of your bore and they are way more forgiving and less finicky when it comes to seating depth.

[mountainman]

And Accubond terminal performance is second to none!

I've killed both deer and bear with Nosler Accubonds and Barnes TTSX's.  Hands down Barnes out performs the Accubonds.  I still shoot both but much better penetration with the Barnes. 

Several head of African plains game downed with the TTSX. All 1 shot, bullets exhibited perfect performance with most just under skin on off side. Accubonds and Partitions would have shown similar performance possibly, maybe not..but the Barnes worked perfectly, every shot, every time👍. Have had the same performance every time here in the states on mulies, elk, and bear.real world performance and proof proven by experience. Says alot

[jamesjett]

And Accubond terminal performance is second to none!

I've killed both deer and bear with Nosler Accubonds and Barnes TTSX's.  Hands down Barnes out performs the Accubonds.  I still shoot both but much better penetration with the Barnes. 

Several head of African plains game downed with the TTSX. All 1 shot, bullets exhibited perfect performance with most just under skin on off side. Accubonds and Partitions would have shown similar performance possibly, maybe not..but the Barnes worked perfectly, every shot, every time👍. Have had the same performance every time here in the states on mulies, elk, and bear.real world performance and proof proven by experience. Says alot

 :tup:Very nice!