Thread: Q - Mildest 308 load that would reliable kill deer sized game ?

Question - what's the mildest 308 load that would reliable kill deer sized game ?
Assuming a lightish rifle (7.5lb) with a 16-18 inch barrel, suppressed and for arguments sake the rifle shoots them the same accuracy etc.
What route would you go ?
a. - something lightish say 130 gr doing around 2700 fps
b. - something heavier 165 gr doing around 2400 fps
c. - something else ?

I've been looking at 30-30 loads which seem the obvious route but ideally would like to shoot out a bit further to say 300 yards if possible.
Thanks in advance.

3030 is perfectly capable out to 300 yds but irons limit what people think it's capable of.
A 170 grain round nose going at 23 to 2400 fps will with a 200 yds zero only be about 4 inches high at 100 and 12 low at 300. A bdc reticle, and rangefinder and your sorted. No need for or advantage at those ranges or speeds from pointy boat tail bullets in fact quite the opposite.
Well that's my 2c worth plus gst of course.

The old rule of thumb used to be 1000 ft lbs of retained energy to kill a light animal eg fallow, deer. 1000 ft lbs looks quite anemic on paper though with say a 308 shooting a 150 gr still having ~twice that at 300.
That would depend obviously on shot placement and projectile specs.

Myself, I've always loaded between middle and max. Gives you that slight safety margin over a "light" if you stuff up.
Mind you a bottom jaw blown off with a powerhouse or light usually has the same result. Deer scrarpers, dies elsewhere.

I load my bush 308 (Bergara 16.5" suppressed) with the 30-30 pointed style Hornady 160gr FTX at 2350fps, mainly because my 30-30 didn't like them. Shoots well to 200m, I haven't tried them at 300 but they should be better than the flat nose projectiles. They make big holes in deer at 50m.

Trailing 125 prohunters at 2600 Begara 18inch barrel 1/12 twist suppressed. Goes well on paper, recoils like a 223 unsuppressed
Yet to whack an animal but confident it will get the job done, after expansion & a past threw & hopefully not as much meat damage, dependant on distance.

Well, you can kill a deer with a 147 grain FMJ loaded over 14 grains of AP70, going about 1500fps....just not at 300 yards.

You have two choices:
Go light and fast bullet, or heavier slow,

So a light 125 grain bullet at 2800 fps (with your short barrel) or

Load round nose Hornady 170 grain bullets to 2200 - 2400 fps.


I would choose 125 grain ballistic tips and run them fast as I could in that short barrel.

One of Roberts 151gr HP with a caseload of Trailboss. Will be just supersonic and get excellent expansion.

I used to run 125gn accubonds in my short Bergara before I sold it, certainly no issue dropping large body reds at 300yards and very light recoil.

Originally Posted by stug

One of Roberts 151gr HP with a caseload of Trailboss. Will be just supersonic and get excellent expansion.

My estimate of a full case (Lapua) was just under 15 grains of Trailboss.
A load of 14 grains behind Robert's 151's gave me 1565fps, it would be interesting to work out the ballistics to 300m.

the125grn ballistic tips kill deer deader than a dead thing at bush ranges when pushed out of the wee 7.62x39mm case..bang flop type dead.
so do speer 130grn HP......
either when pushed fast from .308 make big messses and kill fast,they both work well not quite so fast too....ideal for lighter recoiling load. BUT being the contrary fella I am....I would suggest you go both routes at same time..... 180grn round nose at mild velocity gives a shove not a boot..the winchester 180grn factory load is awesome bush load....... so go heavy at mild speed for up close and work up a good accurate lighter load...so that when you do see that deer at 250yards across gully,you can slip in lighter load and be confident of hitting and killing cleanly while still keeping recoil mild.
roberts 151 HPs work well at subsonic but much better a little faster.

Originally Posted by Cigar

My estimate of a full case (Lapua) was just under 15 grains of Trailboss.
A load of 14 grains behind Robert's 151's gave me 1565fps, it would be interesting to work out the ballistics to 300m.

hold the line caller......

ok so will use something SIMILAR
Nosler 150 grn flat point

my data in manual only goes down to 1800fps but will give idea....
zeroed at 100yrds
-13.9 at 200 yards
-49.2 at 300 yards
only has 1079ftlb energy at MUZZLE down to 762 by 100 yards

Thanks guys, I know its one of those questions that you pretty much cant go wrong either way and both will get the job the done, but good to hear some opinions / options.......thanks

Cant find 125 gr BT's or Accubond's at the moment but a few 30-30 round nose options available;
Speer 130 gr Hotcor FN
Hornady Interlok 150 Gr RN
Sierra ProHunter 170 Gr FN
@Micky Duck I like the 2 load option (and interesting read on that other thread covering this) but if I can get it done with 1 load / bullet combo then all the better.

if just going with one of the above...would have to be 150grn interlok.........and have marked hotter loads for longer shots..still a dual load but two power levels...the beauty of two different projectiles is you can tell at glance.
heck we loaded the 150grn hornady spirepoint interlok 3 grns below max.....from MEMORY 45grns 2206 for son to use and he killed lots of stuff without fuss,including a big bull thar.

I run a 7mm08 with 120bt and 44gn of 2206h out off a 16inch barrel with a suppressor gets me just short of 3000fps, Kills real fast.
A similar loaded 308/125gn combo will probably work even better as i hear the 30 cal is slightly more forgiving of a short barrel.

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