308 loads for Hoosier deer

[Broom_jm]

I just ordered 100 Hornady 165gr Spire Point Boat Tail bullets to load in my 308 for deer hunting this fall. This gun shoots the 155gr A-Max bullets very well, so hopefully the 165gr SPBT's group somewhere around an inch.

Anybody else loading up 30 caliber or 243/6mm loads for deer hunting in Indiana this fall?

 

[RMC]

I like using 165's in my 308. The get the job done at close range and extended ranges.

 

[djones]

40 grains of IMR3031 in LC brass under a Speer flat base 165 hot core 2.800" OAL. I look forward to using my 308 for opening weekend then I will probably break the 35 Rem or 45 colt Marlins out for the remainder of season.

David

 

[Leadeye]

I'm taking the old Winchester's out to hunt this year, 1894s and 1895s in 30-30, 30-40, and 32-40. I think they all deserve to go hunting after what has probably been decades of absence.

 

[djones]

My dad has some 30-40s. The actions are super smooth. Always admired the 30-40s just never could do much with them here. Looks like a new day for the 30 cal here in Indiana

 

[Broom_jm]

My guess is we should enjoy the 6mm rounds and 30-caliber rounds as much as we can for the next few years...cuz after that, it will probably be wide open to just about any rifle cartridge.

 

[HuntMeister]

I have some 150 grain Hornady Interbonds over IMR4350 that my 06 really likes and I also have some 80 grain GMX's setup up for my 243. It is good to have choices!

 

[Sling10mm]

I just ran some 308 Winchester's loaded with 155 gr GMX's and 165 gr SST's today. The best load (approx. .75" @ 100 yards) was the GMX and IMR-4895, but unfortunately I don't think I will get the velocity I need out of my 20" barrel for the GMX to perform. I might try the SST with IMR-4895 and see if it likes it better than Varget.

 

[indyjohn]

[STRIKE][/STRIKE]

I just ran some 308 Winchester's loaded with 155 gr GMX's and 165 gr SST's today. The best load (approx. .75" @ 100 yards) was the GMX and IMR-4895, but unfortunately I don't think I will get the velocity I need out of my 20" barrel for the GMX to perform. I might try the SST with IMR-4895 and see if it likes it better than Varget.

IMR-4895 is marginally slower than Varget so you stand a better chance of getting into the [STRIKE]2800s[/STRIKE] 2700s before you see signs of high pressure. I didn't catch what gun it was?

I don't know what the GMXs want but if it is beyond 2600 fps at the muzzle, I'd say you're looking at IMR-4064 to get there.

 

[Sling10mm]

IMR-4895 is marginally slower than Varget so you stand a better chance of getting into the [STRIKE]2800s[/STRIKE] 2700s before you see signs of high pressure. I didn't catch what gun it was?

I don't know what the GMXs want but if it is beyond 2600 fps at the muzzle, I'd say you're looking at IMR-4064 to get there.

I'm using a Savage 10 FCM Scout. My understanding is that the GMX needs 2700 fps minimum to expand, and I don't think I'll be there at 200-300 yards, the furthest I would feel comfortable taking a shot. The gun likes 125 gr SST's with Varget, but I have read those don't perform consistently on deer-sized game. I wonder how a 125 gr GMX would do on white tail?

 

[indyjohn]

I'm using a Savage 10 FCM Scout. My understanding is that the GMX needs 2700 fps minimum to expand, and I don't think I'll be there at 200-300 yards, the furthest I would feel comfortable taking a shot. The gun likes 125 gr SST's with Varget, but I have read those don't perform consistently on deer-sized game. I wonder how a 125 gr GMX would do on white tail?

So with a bolt gun you can push pressures just a little higher. If you're reading GMXs need 2700 then I would wager that is muzzle velocity, not impact velocity, so a 200 yd shot across a field is within reasonable limits. As for what a 125 gr GMX would do, I don't know but if hunters are taking down deer with .223 rounds, I'd say you have no worries.

 

[Sling10mm]

Sorry, I misspoke/typed. Hornady says they will expand from 3400 down to 2000 fps, but I saw on Chuck Hawks some testing that showed expansion at 2000 fps was minimal. At 2700 fps the expansion was good, but I think it might be a challenge to even get the MV up to 2700 fps out of this shorter barrel. Guess I need to break out the chronograph and see where I am. Maybe if I'm still at 2300-2400 fps at 300 yards the expansion would be adequate. Of course, then I will need some ballistic software to figure out the impact velocity at that range…. it's always something.

 

[indyjohn]

Sorry, I misspoke/typed. Hornady says they will expand from 3400 down to 2000 fps, but I saw on Chuck Hawks some testing that showed expansion at 2000 fps was minimal. At 2700 fps the expansion was good, but I think it might be a challenge to even get the MV up to 2700 fps out of this shorter barrel. Guess I need to break out the chronograph and see where I am. Maybe if I'm still at 2300-2400 fps at 300 yards the expansion would be adequate. Of course, then I will need some ballistic software to figure out the impact velocity at that range…. it's always something.

I've used this app on my android phone for target shooting. If I put in good data, it's provided very good elevation and windage info out to 1,000 yds. Shooter - Ballistics Calculator for iOS and Android

 

[Sling10mm]

Thanks John, good info. Hornady just mentions that the bullets are made to expand between 3400 and 2000 fps. The Chuck hawks article actually calls out impact velocities of 3400, 2700, and 2000 fps, and the picture they show says it is courtesy of Hornady. At 2000 fps it just barely expands at all, but I would hope at 300 yards I would have greater than 2000 fps. Good point about deer and 223.

 

[two70]

I'm using a Savage 10 FCM Scout. My understanding is that the GMX needs 2700 fps minimum to expand, and I don't think I'll be there at 200-300 yards, the furthest I would feel comfortable taking a shot. The gun likes 125 gr SST's with Varget, but I have read those don't perform consistently on deer-sized game. I wonder how a 125 gr GMX would do on white tail?

Personally, I would choose the 125 GMX over the 165 SST if you want to ensure complete penetration. I don't have direct experience with either in .308 but have used a 150 gr SST and 110 gr Barnes TTSX in .270 on a Texas whitetail and a hog. The SST did a tremendous amount of internal damage but left a roughly bullet diameter exit on a behind the shoulder shot. With our much larger deer and a shoulder shot, I wouldn't expect a full pass through. The 110 Barnes TTSX entered a 170 lb. hog from just behind the right ear and lodged just under the skin behind the left hip, penetrating through neck vertebrae, chest cavity, and hip bone for about 34". From what I have read the GMX is a bit tougher than the TTSX.

 

[Broom_jm]

Personally, I would choose the 125 GMX over the 165 SST if you want to ensure complete penetration. I don't have direct experience with either in .308 but have used a 150 gr SST and 110 gr Barnes TTSX in .270 on a Texas whitetail and a hog. The SST did a tremendous amount of internal damage but left a roughly bullet diameter exit on a behind the shoulder shot. With our much larger deer and a shoulder shot, I wouldn't expect a full pass through. The 110 Barnes TTSX entered a 170 lb. hog from just behind the right ear and lodged just under the skin behind the left hip, penetrating through neck vertebrae, chest cavity, and hip bone for about 34". From what I have read the GMX is a bit tougher than the TTSX.

Having hunted big deer in Wisconsin and Michigan, using plain old cup-n-core bullets, I can assure you that a 165gr SST, fired from a 308 Winchester, is VERY likely to exit, even on a shoulder shot.

I'm not saying the TTSX or GMX bullets aren't tougher, but for thin-skinned medium game, the SST gets the job done very well.

 

[Hookeye]

Have not decided on a bullet yet.
For my rigs it'll be 4350 (have 4# left).........in .243 win.
Pops has a pre 64 Win 94 with very good wood, FAL and a Savage bolt rig in '06.
In any of them I figure a cup n core 150 would be fine. Maybe 130.
All my shots will be under 200, most likely under 100.

If the regs blow wide open in 4 yrs I'd really like to take the TC custom out in .256 Win.
Anemic, but the cool factor pretty high IMHO.

 

[avboiler11]

I'm planning to use the 168gr Amax in a 700 Varmint cut back to 18", running between 2500-2600fps at the muzzle with 8208XBR or Varget.

 

[kludge]

110gr RNSP or 90gr XTP. idk. I'm still mulling it over.

 

[Broom_jm]

110gr RNSP or 90gr XTP. idk. I'm still mulling it over.

Huh?

Are you talking 243 bullets? 90gr XTP?