.308 BT Question?

[jr1968]

I'am wondering how 125gr BT's work on WT deer, shot out of a 308 win. Or should I go to 150's?


Thanks,
jr1968

 

[DrMike]

The 125 BTs will certainly work. I personally prefer 150s.

 

[JD338]

The 125 gr BT would work on WT deer, just keep the impact velocity at 3000 fps or less. I would personally go with a heavier bullet weight, such as the 150 gr or 165 gr BT.

JD338

 

[rick smith]

I load the 125gr BT in three different rifles, 308x1.5 Barnes, 300 Savage and a 308win. All three have taken deer without a problem. Velocities from these three range from 2500fps to 2900fps. It all has to do with shot placement not type of bullet or weight.Rick.

 

[SJB358]

I load the 125gr BT in three different rifles, 308x1.5 Barnes, 300 Savage and a 308win. All three have taken deer without a problem. Velocities from these three range from 2500fps to 2900fps. It all has to do with shot placement not type of bullet or weight.Rick.

I have loaded the Sierra 125gr Pro Hunter for my wife in the 308 for a few years. I use Varget and push it around 2900. Very soft recoil, excellent accuracy and man, we haven't ever recovered a bullet. It smashes deer to the ground. Great load. I have some Nosler 125's that I plan on trying to see what they do, and I can't imagine they would be any different. Scotty

 

[Elkman]

I would use the 150's, the e-tip is not the best hunting bullet. Any bullet will kill game as do the lighter constructed bullets, however every shot is not a perfect shot. I like them a little heavier so that in those non perfect cases I have some penentration, to go with the shock.

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

It pays to be careful for sure. I tend to lean towards the heavy side on my bullet selections too Elkman. I have seen some crazy kills with just the most abstract bullet weights and constructions there are out there but still there are those times where people get caught with their pants down. My Dad a few years back was deer hunting with me. I was carrying a 308 with some 150 grain SP handloads that printed 3 on top of each other in my Savage 99 and he was shooting his 22-250 remington with 55 grain b-tips which are not deer bullets. Dad has however taken tons of deer with them. That day though he shot a small three point twice in the ribs at about 100 yards and we never found him. I think some hunters down the draw from us got him is why but still, he made too many tracks for my liking. Dad since then went back to using his old 250-3000 for deer. Nothing like too light of a bullet to make you feel like a lousy hunter. On the other hand, if you use a little bit heavier bullet, well, I have never lost anything due to using too heavy of a bullet.

Personally I dont use anything lighter in my 308 for deer than a 150 grain bullet, just nice to know I have that extra 25 grains of bullet I guess. For what its worth...

 

[baltz526]

Great 300 savage bullet. I have tried it in my 308 but it likes 150gr ballistic tips better. My stepson just loaned my scoped 300 savage back to me :lol: I need to make sure i have some 125bt loaded.

 

[1Shot]

I have killed a few hundred WT deer in the past 40 years with most being in the past 20 years which 15 of those years I helped my hunting buddy control a big farm in NC where we had to take 100 deer a year for crop damage purposes. We have shot deer with a VAST AREA of calibers and bullets. As of the past few years in all my current 30 cal weapons I use nothing but the 125 gr Nosler ballistic tips. I shoot a 308 win 3000 fps, 30X47 HBR 2850 fps in rifles and a 14" barrel T/C Contender pistol in 30-30AI 2670 fps. In the past 5 years I have killed upwards of 30 or so deer with the 125 BT. Only 2 ever took a step after taking one. I have shot them from 40 to 300 yards and some have been pretty good body size deer 180 lb live weight size. The two that took a step did not go over 3 jumps before they discovered that they were dead as soon as the bullet hit them. As has been said keep them under 3000 fps and they really do a great job. I have turned a number of people on to the 125 BT for deer and they can't believe how it just drops deer in their tracks dead. Work up to this load for the 308 win but it has proved to be very accurate and runs around 3000 fps average by a number of people in different rifles.
46 grs IMR 4895, WW case, CCI BR2 primer, 125 ballistic tip, OAL in my rifle 2.742

 

[HeathSexton]

A friend loads 125NBT over much W748, 52.5grs I think, it's straight from Nosler's Manual, for his .308 with no complaints.


Myself, I load 180's from my 30/06 with no complaints. I like heavy bullets.

 

[velvetant]

I would use the 150's, the e-tip is not the best hunting bullet. Any bullet will kill game as do the lighter constructed bullets, however every shot is not a perfect shot. I like them a little heavier so that in those non perfect cases I have some penentration, to go with the shock.

Can you elaborate on your comment about the E-tip?

Randy

 

[velvetant]

I have a couple friends back east that use the 125NBT.
One out of a 309 JDJ and the other out of 30-30 AI.
Both guns are TC Contenders and they report phenomenal results on whitetails.
Personally I like a little heavier bullet.
I've only shot blacktail and mule deer and have no experiance on whitetails.

 

[Bigfoot]

What's the damage to the meat look like? I gather that it's at it's best aimed low and behind the shoulder but how critical is placement. Will I be trowing away meat if the shot goes a bit high?

I'm hoping to find an accurate load around 2800 or 2900 fps.

 

[SJB358]

I would use the 150's, the e-tip is not the best hunting bullet. Any bullet will kill game as do the lighter constructed bullets, however every shot is not a perfect shot. I like them a little heavier so that in those non perfect cases I have some penentration, to go with the shock.

Can you elaborate on your comment about the E-tip?

Randy

I imagine Bill meant BT not E-tip when he wrote that.

Scotty

 

[velvetant]

I would use the 150's, the e-tip is not the best hunting bullet. Any bullet will kill game as do the lighter constructed bullets, however every shot is not a perfect shot. I like them a little heavier so that in those non perfect cases I have some penentration, to go with the shock.

Can you elaborate on your comment about the E-tip?

Randy

I imagine Bill meant BT not E-tip when he wrote that.

Scotty

Scotty
Seems obvious now that you pointed it out.
just another senior moment on my part.

Randy

 

[SJB358]

No sweat buddy. I know Bill is busy so it might have been awhile for him to get back.

Have you been shooting that 358NM much Randy? Scotty

 

[velvetant]

No sweat buddy. I know Bill is busy so it might have been awhile for him to get back.
Scotty
Have you been shooting that 358NM much Randy? Scotty

I've put about 35 rounds trough it in the last month or so.
I love it but them 35 cal boowits get expensive.
Been playing around with my 300 Winnie trying to get a load with Accubonds.
Just when something looks promising the next trip out goes to crap.
Thought I had something with the 165gr doing well on a few trips but did not pan out in the long run.
Tried 165,180 and 200gr with not much success. Starting to think it hates a boat-tail design.
Going back to Partitions for hunting, trying to tweak them a bit so they group better.
Supposed to rain/snow Sunday but I'm going stir crazy and I'm heading out anyway.
Randy

 

[bbearhntr]

i know ive taken a number of deer with a 115gr balistic tip out of my .257 weatherby an none of them made it more than 40 yds after the shot. i just loaded 125 bt's in my 30-06 and have no reservations on using them on whitetails when i get the chance. i will agree with previous posters that the bullets will fragment on impact when pushed at very high velocity but i would have no second thoughts about using them in a 308 win. good luck!

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

One Shot.

Thanks for the great report.
I load the 125gr BT's in my 7.62x39, but haven't shot anything with them yet. I'd also considered loading them in the .308 as a reduced recoil load for my girls. I've only heard good things about their on game perforance, but numbers like yours can really up the confidence factor. We have a friend that shoots EVERYTHING with a sporterized Enfiled, and the 125gr NBT. This including a 6x6 bull elk under 100 yards. Bang, flop, bull never knew what hit him. It's not my first choice for an elk bullet, but it works for him.

 

[6mm Remington]

If it was me and the 150 gr. Accubonds shot well in your 308 I would use them. Less meat damage and a better bullet in my opinion, and if need be you can use them for something larger and you know they will still hold together and give you excellent penetration.
David