180 gr 308 Hunting ammo

[tjf76]

Anyone ever hunt with 180gr ammo from a 308? I got a bunch cheap but think its heavy for a 308

Any hands on experience ? Im going to use it for my Elk this yr

Its 180gr Accubond from Black Hills

[thumbcocker]

It's all I use. I have only shot one deer with mine though, but a buddy of mine has killed more than he can remember with 180 core lokt round nose.

[quickdtoo]

Same here, that's all I've used on deer and elk in my BLR, Rem Core-lokts, Failsafes and a few Partitions, all 180gr.

Tim

[JASmith]

Sight it in 2.5 inches high at 100 yds and aim at the center of the heart.  You'll be good with that all the way to past 250 yards.  Beyond that the sights should be elevated to keep the bullet impact in the vital zone.

The only worry would be how well the Accubond opens at .308 Winchester velocities -- I'm sure our fellow forum contributors will weigh in!

[quickdtoo]

The minimum impact velocity for the Accubond is 1800fps, same as the Partition.

Tim

http://www.noslerreloading.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1347

Trajectory for Nosler .308 dia. 180 gr. AccuBond at 2600 Feet per Second
At an Elevation Angle of: 0 degrees
Ballistic Coefficients of: 0.507   0.507   0.507   0.507   0.507
Velocity Boundaries (Feet per Second) of: 2160   2160   2160   2160
Wind Direction is: 0.0 o'clock and a Wind Velocity of: 0.0 Miles per hour
Wind Components are (Miles per Hour): DownRange: 0.0   Cross Range: 0.0   Vertical: 0.0
Altitude: 0 Feet with a Standard Atmospheric Model.
Temperature: 59 F
Data Printed in English Units
Range   Velocity   Energy   Momentum   Drop   Bullet Path   Wind Drift   Time of Flight
(Yards)   (Ft/Sec)   (Ft/Lbs)   (Lb-Sec)   (inches)   (inches)   (inches)   (Seconds)
0   2600.0   2701.4   2.08   0.0   -1.7   0.0   0.000000000
25   2556.5   2611.7   2.04   -0.16   -0.24   0.0   0.029090840
50   2513.3   2524.3   2.01   -0.66   0.89   0.0   0.058678848
75   2470.6   2439.1   1.97   -1.5   1.67   0.0   0.088776757
100   2428.2   2356.2   1.94   -2.69   2.1   0.0   0.119397661
125   2386.3   2275.5   1.91   -4.25   2.16   0.0   0.150554728
150   2344.8   2197.1   1.87   -6.2   1.84   0.0   0.182261408
175   2303.7   2120.7   1.84   -8.54   1.13   0.0   0.214531670
200   2263.0   2046.4   1.81   -11.29   0.0   0.0   0.247380116
225   2222.6   1974.1   1.78   -14.46   -1.55   0.0   0.280821986
250   2182.7   1903.9   1.74   -18.07   -3.54   0.0   0.314873080
275   2143.2   1835.5   1.71   -22.14   -5.98   0.0   0.349549686
300   2104.1   1769.1   1.68   -26.68   -8.9   0.0   0.384868521

Trajectory for Nosler .308 dia. 180 gr. AccuBond at 2500 Feet per Second
At an Elevation Angle of: 0 degrees
Ballistic Coefficients of: 0.507   0.507   0.507   0.507   0.507
Velocity Boundaries (Feet per Second) of: 2160   2160   2160   2160
Wind Direction is: 0.0 o'clock and a Wind Velocity of: 0.0 Miles per hour
Wind Components are (Miles per Hour): DownRange: 0.0   Cross Range: 0.0   Vertical: 0.0
Altitude: 0 Feet with a Standard Atmospheric Model.
Temperature: 59 F
Data Printed in English Units
Range   Velocity   Energy   Momentum   Drop   Bullet Path   Wind Drift   Time of Flight
(Yards)   (Ft/Sec)   (Ft/Lbs)   (Lb-Sec)   (inches)   (inches)   (inches)   (Seconds)
0   2500.0   2497.6   2.00   0.0   -1.7   0.0   0.000000000
25   2457.4   2413.1   1.96   -0.18   -0.13   0.0   0.030259166
50   2415.1   2330.9   1.93   -0.71   1.07   0.0   0.061045405
75   2373.3   2250.9   1.90   -1.62   1.9   0.0   0.092371943
100   2331.9   2173.1   1.86   -2.91   2.35   0.0   0.124252370
125   2291.0   2097.4   1.83   -4.61   2.4   0.0   0.156700842
150   2250.4   2023.7   1.80   -6.71   2.03   0.0   0.189732163
175   2210.2   1952.1   1.77   -9.25   1.24   0.0   0.223361753
200   2170.4   1882.4   1.73   -12.23   0.0   0.0   0.257605572
225   2131.0   1814.7   1.70   -15.67   -1.7   0.0   0.292480040
250   2092.0   1748.9   1.67   -19.59   -3.88   0.0   0.328002004
275   2053.4   1685.0   1.64   -24.0   -6.55   0.0   0.364188742
300   2015.3   1622.9   1.61   -28.94   -9.74   0.0   0.401057994

[tjf76]

Looks like I am good to go with the accubond


Thanks for all the help

 

[Sourdough]

For 15 years I only carried a .308.  here in Alaska I only used 180gr Nosler Partitions.  Did fine all those years.

Just thinking about it, Haven't shot that gun on over 30 years.  Lost interest in it when I got my first 30-06.

[Sweetwater]

I load for a Pal's 308. All he wants is 180's. Last year he took a whitetail buck with 180 accubonds and this morning he dropped an elk with a 180 Sierra. Guess 180's are OK in the 308!

Regards,
Sweetwater

[mcwoodduck]

308 was my only hunting rifle for a number of years.
180 grain rem round nose bullets knocked down all of my deer and very few got back up, but did not go far.
the good thing about deer on the farm is the run right for the fields (where the truck is) when hit.
Hope your elk does the same and dies at the bumper.
Good luck on your hunt.

[tjf76]

I'm willing to give the accubond in 308 a chance this yr, will limit my shots to under 300rds. I have been shooting grand slams and like them alot.

[huntswithdogs]

My ole 788 loves 180gr bullets. I've been loading and shooting Midway's bulk pack Corelokts for a few years with great success. Speer makes a 180gr RN that I'm shooting this year.


HWD

[emsemt911]

I use Noslar partitions at 180 gr

[john keyes]

my 308 is probably a glorified 30-30. I shoot 180 grain bullets at mid powered loads so its probably not much better than a 30-30.  Its a savage 99 with a vintage weaver 2x7.  a few years ago on the way to the dentist I bought 5 boxes of sierra 180 gr pro hunters and that is all that I have used, besides some hornady SST that shoot 6" higher for some reason. 

note to self:  buy a chronograph

[Sweetwater]

The mid-powered 308 seems to work for you. Any problems with taking game? If they work, and you are satisfied, then it's not terribly important how fast they are.

As to the Hornadys hitting higher; that's just the way it is. All bullets of the same caiber and weight do not necessarily hit the same point of impact, even though they may be the same shape or not

FWIW: I love my Chrony.

Regards,
Sweetwater.

[Brithunter]

Hmmm looking at the charts posted by quickdtoo it seems the ole 303 British is not so lowly after all  180 grain at 2450fps (std velocity) just works.

In the .308 I used mainly 165 grain bullets but recently have tried the 130 grain Hornady's and the most recent addition in .308 loves em  the bullet works on deer as I use it in my hopped up 30-30 (custom bolt gun) and at 2800fps they are deadly on deer  . First used Sierra 180 Pro Hunter #2150  with 42.0 Grns of Reloader 15 in my Brno ZKK 601 .308 but was unhappy when the core came apart and the jacket fragmented at about 90 yards on a 35lb Roe Doe so switched to Speer and Nosler 165 bullets.

Now I just need to get some 180's for the ole 303 and get reloading  . and if I can afford it some 150's too for comparision.

[Sweetwater]

My 180gr Sierra is the Game King. It held up well on the elk my pal shot with his 308 last Friday.

My Dad used to use it in his '06, before he retired his guns. Guess there is a significant difference between the Pro Hunter and the Game King.

Nolsers I like, and Sierra and Hornady, BUT I draw the line at Speer and get very selective. Speer 8mm 150gr are the only bullets I've witnessed blow up on an animal. We are talking flesh wound on the rib cage with zero penetration at less than 50 yards on a 165lb field dressed whitetail. Not a giant animal and not a real short distance. BUT blow up they did, three times. Finished him with a 220grKeith from my 41mag.

Regards,
Sweetwater

[nomosendero]

Looks like I am good to go with the accubond


Thanks for all the help

 

Yes you are!!

[Sourdough]

May I ask what you will be hunting.  If it is Elk, Moose, Bear, or Hogs, OK the 180 will do the job.  But if it is just for Deer, I'd use the 165gr bullet.  That is the optimal bullet for the .308.  Yes as I have said before it will shoot the 180, and even the 200gr Nosler OK, but only for close range work.  The 165gr has far more range and versatility.

When In Arizonia and New Mexico I loaded 110gr for varmints, and 165gr for Deer.