Thread: 308 - short barrel loads for medium-long range

168-178 eldm and 2206h would be worth a look I shoot them in two different .308s both laser accurate

You’re trying to root a Great Dane with a chihuahua. Just get the right tool for the job.

My Tika 308 16.5 doing 2540 with 168eldm.
Regularly shooting deer to 400+m effectively.


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Been there and it does work.

But so does a corolla 1.3l in a formula one race.

Found I was better off turning my shorter barrel rifle into a more bush/hack rifle and picking up a longer barrel rifle for longer shots with abit more horse power.

500m is a long way. I also found once I got the bigger rifle I still crept in closer on game cause I didn't back my self to take longer shots to miss a decent animal. Snuck down to under 300 every time....

Originally Posted by andyanimal31

My Tika 308 16.5 doing 2540 with 168eldm.
Regularly shooting deer to 400+m effectively.


Sent from my SM-A226B using Tapatalk

I get the same in my rig, instant kills on lung shots out to 440m after that they have slower kills needing tracking which is OK since I use a dog. At 560m I get 1600 fps and 1000 f/lb energy , wind is the biggest hassle at that distance than the number of clicks on turret for the elevation.

I highly rate the 168gr ELD-M, A-max, TMK projectiles at distance for a short a short barrel 308win.

168gr ELDM and a stiff charge of Benchmark 8208 works well out of a 16" barrel

Another tick for the 168gr eldm/amax.
Just one of those combos that work better than it should. Mine load through a 16" is 45gr 2208 giving me 2520fps. Furthest deer was 635 yards.

Originally Posted by TLB

Another tick for the 168gr eldm/amax.
Just one of those combos that work better than it should. Mine load through a 16" is 45gr 2208 giving me 2520fps. Furthest deer was 635 yards.

Currently run 168gn eldm's in my 22" 308 @ 2622fps they are devestating on reds and were super easy to get shooting. I have a couple boxes of 178gn eldx which are meant to perform even better at longer ranges that I'm gonna try but for your shorter barrel they would probably struggle to get the velocity needed to make using them viable.

Had a howa 16inch was running adi brass with 42.5grns 2206h with 150grn speer btsp at 2690 did a good job on most things

Originally Posted by dannyb

Currently run 168gn eldm's in my 22" 308 @ 2622fps they are devestating on reds and were super easy to get shooting. I have a couple boxes of 178gn eldx which are meant to perform even better at longer ranges that I'm gonna try but for your shorter barrel they would probably struggle to get the velocity needed to make using them viable.

I'm running the 178x with 44g of 2208 in a 1/11 twist Sako at 2580 out of a 22 inch barrel.

Originally Posted by flock

I'm running the 178x with 44g of 2208 in a 1/11 twist Sako at 2580 out of a 22 inch barrel.

How you find them ? Were they easy enough to get shooting ? Performance on game ?

Don't get out much, so have not whacked any animals with these, normally I have to pay & use private land, only want 1 or 2 meat animals a year, as the misses gets sick of it. 600 sauages in bunches of 6 usually end up giving a heap away.
Tried the M but didn't shoot as well, but the X were Awesome & with a slightly better BC as well. Tested at 2ooM and got consistant half inch groups. Haven't tried them further out, but think they will be excellent, way good enough for futher distances, just their ability to expand is in question, have read varying reports.
By contrast the 165 speers btsp shot half inch at 100 and I almost flicked them, but surprise weren't not much worse at 200 and they are a heap cheaper, bc not quite as good, heard goods things about there killing ability.
The only 2 projectiles I have a the moment, thinking about the targex 175 rbthp, especially considering 1/11 twist is pushing it with a 178g pill.

Originally Posted by flock

Don't get out much, so have not whacked any animals with these, normally I have to pay & use private land, only want 1 or 2 meat animals a year, as the misses gets sick of it. 600 sauages in bunches of 6 usually end up giving a heap away.
Tried the M but didn't shoot as well, but the X were Awesome & with a slightly better BC as well. Tested at 2ooM and got consistant half inch groups. Haven't tried them further out, but think they will be excellent, way good enough for futher distances, just their ability to expand is in question, have read varying reports.
By contrast the 165 speers btsp shot half inch at 100 and I almost flicked them, but surprise weren't not much worse at 200 and they are a heap cheaper, bc not quite as good, heard goods things about there killing ability.
The only 2 projectiles I have a the moment, thinking about the targex 175 rbthp, especially considering 1/11 twist is pushing it with a 178g pill.

Valid point about the speer 165gn btsp likewise have heard good things but in reality they aren't that much cheaper than 168gn eldms and they are also fantastic.
I think it was @stug I was talking to about the 178gn eldx in 308win, I think one of his mates uses the 178eldx out to longer ranges as they kill better out 200yards further than the 168gn eldm's or something like that.

168 eldm with win760 was good in my old kimber 18 inch. 0.2 moa accurate
The precision hunter Hornaday ammo in 168 was the same

Something to consider - if choosing to run 178gr weight class of projectiles in such a short .308 with 1/10 - 1/11 twist - is that going to be enough to stabilise them out at 400+m when theyre only going circa 2500fps?