Factory .308 Win load recommendations for plains game

[Badger Matt]

Anyone have some recommendation for factory .308 Win loads (brand and bullet weight, please) for plains game? I'm taking a buddy with my to RSA and he'll be using his .308. Assume shots from 50 to 200 yds. He's blind and uses an iScope to hunt. He's successfully taken bison, whitetail, pronghorn, and hogs already.

 

[Patton63]

My son used 165 gr Federal Premium Trophy Copper in .308 this past summer. He took a gemsbok, Kudu, Black wildebeest, and springbok (all at ranges from 125 yds to 250 yds). The black wildebeest ran 30 yards before falling. The other animals all either dropped where they were shot or went less than 10 yards. He’s since taken a Red stag (at 267 yds) and a 300 lb Russian boar (75 yds) with the same rifle/ammo combo. That ammo has more than proven its worth to me.

 

[Divernhunter]

The above 165gr bullets will work. Also 150gr Barnes TTSX(NOT TSX) is another good choice. Truth be told a regular bullet like a Rem Cor-Lok will also work but I like the added trust in less than perfect shots that a better bullet give you. After all the bullet is the cheapest yet mo0st important part of the hunt.

 

[mdwest]

My wife's PG rifle is a .308. She uses 165gr Barnes Vor-TX . With that combo she has taken: Blue Wildebeest, Kudu, Zebra, Gemsbok, Blesbok, and Impala so far at ranges between 50-150 yards. I also took an impala using her rifle on my last trip over at a range of about 110 yards.

She's also taken large hogs (biggest was 265lbs), whitetail, aoudad, corsican sheep, and a cow elk with that same rifle/bullet combo here in the US.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Anyone have some recommendation for factory .308 Win loads (brand and bullet weight, please) for plains game? I'm taking a buddy with my to RSA and he'll be using his .308. Assume shots from 50 to 200 yds. He's blind and uses an iScope to hunt. He's successfully taken bison, whitetail, pronghorn, and hogs already.

Do you hand load or need factory ammo?

 

[wesheltonj]

I would take Norma American PH in 180g. Use an Oryx bullet.

 

[Badger Matt]

Do you hand load or need factory ammo?

Factory ammo. I handload, but I'm in SC and my buddy is in FL. I won't see him again until we meet in Atlanta to fly out.

 

[Shootist43]

Just wondering, how does your buddy get to practice? It is absolutely amazing that technology can enable a "blind" person to hunt with a rifle. Both of you are to be commended. Will you be hunting on your own as well? Do you have any photos of the two of you shooting? If so would you mind posting them? I don't mean to hijack this thread but I'm curious as to how it is done.

 

[Badger Matt]

Just wondering, how does your buddy get to practice? It is absolutely amazing that technology can enable a "blind" person to hunt with a rifle. Both of you are to be commended. Will you be hunting on your own as well? Do you have any photos of the two of you shooting? If so would you mind posting them? I don't mean to hijack this thread but I'm curious as to how it is done.

Yes, I'll be hunting as well. I've only been to RSA once, for PG and buffalo, and didn't have any plans to go back anytime soon. Well, Joel, who I met 10 years ago at the VA hospital and with whom I struck up a friendship called and asked me to "guide" him on an African hunt. My wife, the keeper of the funds, said "it's Joel, you have to say "yes"" so off we go... We've never hunted together, so I'm really looking forward to this trip.

I hope this links works -

It shows my friend, Joel, on an earlier whitetail hunt.

 

[mdwest]

pretty awesome video. thanks for sharing.

 

[Shootist43]

Badger Matt, that is just plain AWESOME like mdwest said. There are no other words to describe it. Pure joy and elation come to mind, but somehow they seem inadequate.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Factory ammo. I handload, but I'm in SC and my buddy is in FL. I won't see him again until we meet in Atlanta to fly out.

I'd be looking for factory A-Frames, Accubonds or TSX in 165gr.

 

[Shootist43]

Dittos on Phoenix Phil's recommendations.

 

[CAustin]

In terms of factory loads I have used Winchester Ballistic Silvertips.

 

[Buckleyguy12]

Wonderful technology! That's great!

In regards to your question about the ammo, I run two loads in my 308 ... Federal Trophy Copper and Federal Fusion (both in 180 grain). The Trophy Copper shoot just a little tighter groups and have slightly better penetration, but the Fusion has great expansion for larger exit wounds!

 

[kesha]

Vortex Ttsx 150 or 165 grain