Which bullet for 308 and Elk

[clearwater]

Have a super lightweight 308 with a 2-7 power scope I have been using for mule deer in steep mountains. Best bullet so far accuracy wise is a 178 ELD X at 2550 fps.

Would like to us the rifle for elk in the steep and wondering which bullet I have on hand to use. Distance is limited by the scope.

I have Nosler 150 and 180 accubonds, big batch of Nosler 168 grain BT's, and even some 212 ELD-X I use in 06.

Is it worth trying to load one of these or just keep using what I already have loaded up?

 

[JD338]

You can't go wrong with the 180 gr AB

JD338

 

[RL338]

You can't go wrong with the 180 gr AB

JD338

This

 

[Todd NE WY]

Second what @JD338 said.

 

[SJB358]

You can't go wrong with the 180 gr AB

JD338

I’m with JD here and the 168 BT as a solid runner up in a 308.

 

[6mm Remington]

Either Accbond but if it was me which it is not I would use the 150 gr. AccuBond in the 308 over the 180 gr. Both will certainly work though.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

I'm a little different, maybe a lot depending on who you ask but my first choice given the velocity would be the 168 BT followed by the 180 AB. That BT will hold up since you're not likely to be running it at speeds that exceed its optimum range plus will give you some less drop than the 180 should you need to stretch the barrel on your 308. Not a lot but some. Either one your call.

 

[West Fork]

You definitely can go wrong with the BT and ELDX. One of the Accubonds…most definitely is the obvious choice.

Elk ain’t deer. I would never base my choice of an elk load on its performance on deer.

 

[Blkram]

If all goes well, and the bullet is placed accurately, they will all kill an elk.
But as stated above, elk are NOT deer, and require a bullet that will perform properly even when the shot does not go well, and the bullet is not placed as accurately as planned or desired.
For this, the 180 gr AccuBond will out perform the rest of your options, giving you an edge in the performance category if large bone is encountered on this tenacious animal, due to its binded construction, good mass, and great sectional density for penetration qualities on large, tough game. With less velocity from the 308, a tougher bullet that will hold together on thick hide, heavy bone and muscle, is more appropriate than other bullets designed more for lighter game and rapid expansion.
You do not want your first experience to end with tracking a wounded elk, or worse, losing that animal.

If you do not want to load to check potential, try the Nosler factory 180 gr AB ammunition first.
Or, if you want to look at another option, try the Federal 175 gr Terminal Ascent ammo. This is rated for 2600 fps, and produced 2570 fps from my 308's 22" barrel. This retains over 2000 ft lbs of energy at 200 yards (which the old pros desired for elk, and I still prefer), and still retains almost 2000 fps at 400 yards, and over 1500 ft lbs of energy at this distance (which today's experts claim is required for elk).

While I have not taken as many elk as some here, I have taken over two dozen over the years, and guided for several more, and have experienced a wide array of bullet performance on elk from several calibers, cartridges, and bullet makers over the past 28 years.

 

[salmonchaser]

I’ve told this story a couple of times so I’ll cut it down a little bit. With an AccuBond and a “proper elk cartridge” you can muff your 400 yard quartering away shot, take him at the knee, enter the body at the last rib, pick up a little gut, through the lungs and pop out the brisket on the far side. Not many bullets will give you that. One of my brothers uses a 308 on occasion, He’s been able to break both shoulders on an elk with 165 gr. AccuBond at Roosevelt elk distances.
The ballistic tip is a great bullet, tougher than they use to be. As has been stated they will work when everything goes right on elk size game. I’ve killed 40 + a few elk, guided to 30 more and been part of a camp for about 60 years that routinely kill elk. We simply got lucky, grand dad’s spot became a wilderness area and remains largely intact. Elk bones will destroy bullets and even a perfectly executed trigger break becomes a less than perfect shot because the elk wiggled just as that trigger broke. Use a bullet that gives you the best chance when things don’t go perfect.
Have a great hunt.

 

[clearwater]

"You do not want your first experience to end with tracking a wounded elk, or worse, losing that animal."
My experiences bow hunting. The black bears were living high on the "hog".