308 Partition for elk, 165 or 180

[BillH]

I will hunting elk and mule deer in Colorado this fall. My primary rifle is a 30.06 loaded with a max load of Winchester 760 and 180 Nosler Partitions. I am bringing my .308 as a spare, and have been working up some loads for it. I read differing opinions on the best bullet weight in the .308 for elk. I have both 165's and 180's.
Thanks.

 

[jmad_81]

If it were me I would go with a 150 ET/PT or a 165 PT. Anything bigger than that and you start to run out of speed and case capacity pretty fast in a .308. My bro used to shoot 180 ABs and TSX out of his and couldn't get them to open up in the dirt at 300 yards. His .308 now carries the nickname Rainbow Rock Chucker; Trajectory like a rainbow and hits like a chucked stone. Now he is shooting 130 TTSX and is getting 3250 from a 26" tube, so I can't really make fun of it anymore.

All in all I guess it depends on how far your going to shoot it.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

I'm agree with Jmad. With a 165gr bullet and a good load of H/IMR 4350. Once you go above 165gr, you begin to loose muzzle velocity quickly.

 

[JD338]

I also agree that the 165 gr PT would be your best choice for the 308 Win.

JD338

 

[Divernhunter]

+1 for the 165PAR in the 308. Win748 has given me the best speed and great accuracy in the 308Win cartridge.

 

[Greg Nolan]

Ditto!

 

[DrMike]

There you have it! It is hard to beat the 165 PT for the .308. jmad_81 has it right that larger bullets bite into your powder column.

 

[BillH]

Thanks for the help, I'll go with the 165's

 

[DrMike]

Good choice. You'll be pleased with them for this hunt.

 

[baltz526]

I was out shooting sunday, testing the 22" 308. max loads of varget gave me 2700fps with the 165gr AccuBond with great accuracy. 2900fps with the 150gr Partition. A draw each will get the job done

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

Baltz, I'd be happy to shoot your elk with either one of those loads! :grin:

 

[Big Squeeze]

For your 308, the 165 is the better all around choice. If you`re going to be in terrain where the shooting distances for the elk will be shorter, the 180 gr from the 308 with less velocity will also do the job.

For some fun, use an external ballistics calculator like on the Hornady site. Type in the BCs of your bullet choices, estimated velocities, sight-in zero yardage, temps etc. and compare the downrange velocity, energy and trajectories #s for the 165 vs the 180........Very informative!

 

[baltz526]

Baltz, I'd be happy to shoot your elk with either one of those loads! :grin:

Come on out, i'm hunting an over the counter cascade elk tag this year. then you could shoot your own elk with them. Oct 17th - Oct 23. nonresident license=$76.50+nonresident elk tag $361.50. Odds of success about 20% for an average hunter, but a fantic elk hunter can boost that up into the 50% plus odds area. This is an any bull tag so if it has antler it dies

 

[FOTIS]

165

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

nonresident license=$76.50+nonresident elk tag $361.50.

That's what I was afraid of. Still sounds like a nice hunt.