Thread: Low recoil 308 loads for the young fella

Originally Posted by Flyblown

Trailboss won't get the bullets to expand properly, that's my experience. Tried it just recently.

The 30/30 advice is the way to go. Use a soft, heavy projectile that will expand at modest velocities, and do the damage.

A Speer 165gr BTSP is a very soft, fast killing bullet. You don't really want to mess around with hard bullets in a short barrel with low velocity.

In my 18" .308 with full power, at longer ranges - say 400m - its only doing 1900fps but it still opens up nicely and flattens smaller deer. So if you are shooting deer within 150m or so, loading it for a muzzle velocity of 2100fps or so will get you the same result, with a whole lot less recoil.

AR2208 (Varget) will do that for you with the short barrel, 38gr or so, well within the safe load range for that powder in .308.

That generates about the same recoil as a .243 with a full speed 100gr bullet, or a 6.5 Grendel with a 120gr bullet.

You nipper will be well proud of himself if he gets to nail a deer with that.

Thanks mate, never thought of slowing down a heavier projectile. Just to throw a spanner in the works - I do have a half box of Hornady 168gr ELDMs floating around that I could potentally give a go? Being a target designed round they should be a fair bit softer and stay together at a reduced load (slower velocity). Whats your thoughts on this?