best bullet for .308

[44man]

This is my first time posting a question. Been reading this site for years and has really helped me a lot.
Would like to have your views on the perfect brand/type of bullet to load for .308 Win. for WI. black bear over bait.
(50 yds. max.)  Friend of mine used a 180gr. Nosler Partition last year, shot a 250 lb. quartering away at 40 yds.
Shot it at dusk and didn't find till next morning. Bullet entered behind last rib, clipped a lung and pieces of it were in far shoulder.
I realize would have killed quicker with more than 1 lung but didn't think bullet should have fragmented as much.
Was this a fluke? Should I be afraid to load Nos. Partitions? I think I'd like to stay with 180gr. bullets. Here's a list of ones I'm pondering:
Nosler Partition PP, Norma Oryx PP, Barnes TSX, Woodleigh PP.    .....What's your thoughts.

[45-70.gov]

first  post???
someone  else  has a name  much  like  yours

you  found the  bear  so  it  worked
one  shot does not  tell you enough
i  ''think''  you are better with the heavy  weights  at  close range


seeing  this  was  your  first  post  i wanted to be the first  to answer

i use  150  in  my  308...just  cause  thats what it  likes
shot  a  large [140lb] doe  last year    it never  took another step
factory winchester  150 grain

[Graybeard]

Without seeing the bullet I can't speak to what you refer to as fragmentation but I suspect it did what Nosler PT bullets are designed to do. That is a problem lots of folks don't understand what the bullet is designed to do so are surprised when it does exactly that.

ALL Nosler PT bullets are designed to wipe off most if not all of the nose forward of the partition. How much if any lead is left up front of the partition is a function of impact velocity. At such close range I'd not expect any lead to still be attached to the nose. Generally speaking the jacket material peels back but mostly stays intact with the bullet. The rear core should all be there and all rear core lead intact tho at times a bit can protrude from the hole in base but I've never seen one spit the rear core. Retained weight is normally about 60% at such close ranges.

It is a bit odd it failed to exit as they usually do. I don't think you can find a better choice for the use you mention than a 180 PT tho there are others just as good. Barnes X bullets are about the only thing other than solids that will out penetrate a PT.

[jk3006]

165 Interbond.  End of story.  If it's good enough for Jim (jjhack), it's good enough for me. 

[45-70.gov]

at  50  yds  get  a 45-70 gov

[Cheesehead]

Save yourself some money and use 180 grain Core Lokt. I have butchered at least 20 shot with that bullet, they always completely penetrate and are very destructive, accurate and economical. Yea, I know a deer is different from a bear. I would bet the Core Lokt would treat them the same.

Cheese

[Drilling Man]

Without seeing the bullet I can't speak to what you refer to as fragmentation but I suspect it did what Nosler PT bullets are designed to do. That is a problem lots of folks don't understand what the bullet is designed to do so are surprised when it does exactly that.

ALL Nosler PT bullets are designed to wipe off most if not all of the nose forward of the partition. How much if any lead is left up front of the partition is a function of impact velocity. At such close range I'd not expect any lead to still be attached to the nose. Generally speaking the jacket material peels back but mostly stays intact with the bullet. The rear core should all be there and all rear core lead intact tho at times a bit can protrude from the hole in base but I've never seen one spit the rear core. Retained weight is normally about 60% at such close ranges.

It is a bit odd it failed to exit as they usually do. I don't think you can find a better choice for the use you mention than a 180 PT tho there are others just as good. Barnes X bullets are about the only thing other than solids that will out penetrate a PT.

  I'm with you, your experience with NP's has been exactly the same as mine.  I'm thinking the origional poster never found the "rear partition", and after finding the front fragmented, figured the whole bullet blew up!  I've had a few NP's that didn't exit, but i've never had a NP completely blow up, like so many other bullets do...

  As for TSX's, i don't think they will expand enough at low velocities, or on lightly constructed animals, even though they do penetrate VERY deeply.  I'm not willing to give up that soft nose the NP has!

  DM

[1sourdough]

 I would go 165 or 180 grn partition or similar in a 308, even a Hornady 'interlock' would be fine. Of course placement is key.

[wild country]

I have shot both the barns x and the PT.  I find them both to be great bullets, the barns is a bit harder to reload, for me.  I would lean twords the PT because I have seen it work on moose, deer, elk, brown bear, and black bear.  My daughter shot her bear at a little over 12 feet quartering away, and we had no exit, that was a 180 PT from an 30/06.  Angle has everything to do with it as well as shot placement.  Get out of the trees and on the ground, you will take out both lungs every time.....

[Ak.Hiker]

For close range work on black bear I would second the Remington Core-Lokt. I see they still load a 180 grain round nose. May be worth picking up a few boxes to test out.

[Redhawk1]

If you are a reloader as I suspect you are, slow down your bullet for close shots. I don't see a need for a fast bullet for close range work. I don't see the Nosler Partitions as a bullet that would give people problems, I have had very good success with them in the past. But my preference for hunting bullets in rifles are Barnes bullets. I have taken more game animals with Barnes Bullets than any other bullets in my rifles. Handguns nothing but hard cast.

[teddy12b]

I don't think either a partition or barnes would fail you based on their reputation.  Just depends on what you prefer for whatever reason.  I don't doubt that core-lokt or any other bullet will work just fine, but this is probably a very rare or special hunting trip and you don't want to chance it on a bullet that saves you less than $1 per round. 

If it were me in a 308 I'd give the new tipped tsx a good look because they are supposed to open up quicker because of the new tip, not that it would really matter.

[jk3006]

Talking about which bullet to use can be a lot of fun, but in reality any number of bullets (probably a dozen or more) will work just fine for 95-99% of all hunting situations a person would likely ever find themselves in.  I say Interbonds and TSX's have to be on the very short list if you're looking for the ultimate performer. 

[BBF]

Any of the standard 180 gr RN bullets would be my choice. I see no need for Partitions or Barnes unless you can find some of their originals. Load them to approx.23-2400 fps MV.

[ihookem]

I had the same thing happen with my 270 win. I found the bear the same night but it was a close call I will go with a 45-70 next time because the 270 holes (pass through) got clogged up with loose fat. It blead for 50 yards but went 100 yards. I shot behind the shoulders and never hit bone except the rib. I am sure a 45 caliber would make it bleed more. A 270 bullet through the lungs is a dead bear but it ran 100 yards in about 10 seconds. You will kill the bear but you might not find it before it spoils.

[Sourdough]

With the .308 the 180gr is the max bullet.  The 200, 220, and 250s are for .300 WMs.  The Nosler Partition can not be beat, there are other bullets out there just as good, but they can not beat it.  I use nothing but Noslers period.  In my .308 the 180 and the 165gr partition are the only bullets I load. 

For black Bear I had just as soon use a 165gr Nosler as the 180gr.  I only load the 180s because I am more likely to run into a Grizzly than a Black Bear.

[Ultra25-06]

165 Interbond.  End of story.  If it's good enought for Jim (jjhack), it's good enough for me. 

I have to agree, I dont use a .308 but my wife does. Her first big game animal was a black bear. She took it with her .308 Rem M700 with a handload 165gr Interbond, 164yd shot, 1 shot dbl lung heart shot fell in its tracks, she also uses this for deer and elk.

[swifty22]

I've killed several in NE Wa. State w/a HVA 308 using max loads of I-4064 and the 165 Nosler part. protected point bullets (no longer made but simply file a spitzer back to just above the mouth of the jacket for the same thing). They have been from 15' to over 200 yards from various angles, all have fully penetrated and left good blood trails, or were dead on the spot. All were carefully shot through the center of the shoulders (takes out top of heart, generally the front part of both lungs and sometimes breaks bones) or in the center of the chest if facing me (also top of heart). I also keep shooting till they quit kicking and approach only from above and behind and touch the eye w/the muzzle with the saftey off, if it blinks-BOOM! at the base of the skull. I have also used the .243 100, Nosler PT but the exits holes are too small due to the fact that most are shot not too long before hunting hours end and following a black bear blood trail with a flashlight is one of life's exciting, but not necessarily fun,events. Good Luck

[obiwankabaldi]

I would agree with CHEESEHEAD, the remington core lokt are great. My son hsot a nice bear with 180 gr. 30.06 and mine was a 165 gr. .308 and both did a fine job. Not expensive either.

[44man]

Thank you all for your input.  My friend settled on Barnes 180 TSX.  Loaded some and are moving at 2450 fps.
He is loaning this same rifle to another friend of his to use next week for bear.
In anyone's opinion would it be wise to shoot square through the shoulders at 35 yds. with this combo?

[swifty22]

Absolutely! through the center of the shoulder if from 90 degrees, otherwise aim for the center of the far shoulder. Please let us know about the hunts!-Muddy