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Short barrel 308 ammo recommendations |
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Lockjaw
Optics Journeyman Joined: May/17/2016 Location: Chelsea Status: Offline Points: 434 |
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Posted: June/03/2016 at 05:34 |
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I am doing a single purpose deer rifle. It's a Ruger Hawkeye, 16.5 in barrel. It's going to have a Zeiss Conquest Duralyt 2-8x42 on it. It's going to be a close quarters gun, mainly in thick cover.
Accuracy aside, what would be a good option for ammo selection? I was thinking about the 165 gr Hornady American Whitetail load. The gun shoots the 150 grain well, just thinking maybe a 165 might be a little better in thicker cover. I know the shorter barrel will knock some of the velocity down. I want to be able to anchor my deer. I've shot 2 deer with it using the 150 HAW ammo, both dropped in their tracks. They were just doe's tho. I have a box of Hornady 165 gr BTSP I got last year when one of my local gun stores was running a sale. I thought it was the 150 SST, which I had been buying as well. I think its basically the same as the AM ammo, just it has a boat tail instead of a flat base. I do not like Core Lokts, so please don't suggest them. Any benefit to a 165 over a 150?
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DCAMM94
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: April/19/2008 Location: Fort Worth Status: Online Points: 3484 |
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In thick cover you're not going to need to worry too much about velocity. Any of the bullets loaded in the ammo you suggest will have ample energy to expand at velocities from a 16.5" barrel within 200yds. With that said, I think heavier is better for "anchoring" game, plus, the lower velocities produce less cavitation, and therefore less bloodshot meat. When I was young, I used to think faster and flatter was better. Now that I'm more experienced, if my hunting will be within max point blank range, I go with heavier bullets every time. Hope this helps.
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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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Heavier is better.
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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The only advatage lighter will have is possibly lighter recoil.
Heavier will retain more energy, penetrate deaper, retain better velocity, less wind drift. All around better option. |
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JGRaider
Optics Master Joined: February/06/2008 Status: Offline Points: 1540 |
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Nosler partition. The standard by which every hunting bullet is judged, and has been for over 60 years. I'd go heavier as well.
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Lockjaw
Optics Journeyman Joined: May/17/2016 Location: Chelsea Status: Offline Points: 434 |
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Well gun is 5.75 pound and no recoil pad. I'm adding about a pound and half for scope and rings. I didn't think it was to bad with 150 grain. Less than my 270 with 130s. And it's heavier to boot.
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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I have a 300 wsm that is right a 7 lbs. i shoot 180 grain out of it. U definitly notice when u pull the trigger. :).
I just bought a mossberg .308 with 16" barrel. Its great fun. I am a fan of short barrels for sure. I would even consider 180s for your ruger. Lots of benefits to heavy |
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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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I hand load, so it's tough to make the "factory ammo" call. My brush gun is an 16" barrel AR10 throwing 180 Barnes TTSX at about 2600FPS, and I love the setup.
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13181 |
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180gr copper bullet at 2600 out of a 16" barrel is pretty peppy. I am sure you know what you are doing, but it would make me worry about pressure.
ILya |
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13181 |
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I would start by getting a recoil pad. With ammo, i am with everyone else here: go with the heaviest quality bullet you can easily get. ILya |
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Kickboxer
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I wouldn't, PERSONALLY, be particularly afraid of it, but have never seen the 180TTSX loaded above about 2650-2700fps out of a 16in barrel. Please PM me some info on your load, RC… If it is working well for you, I would love to try it.
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Steelbenz
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I use RL-17 with my heavies but out of a bolt gun not an AR platform.
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Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
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Dan, I can't tell you, it is super secret, I don't use powder, I use C4 as the propellant and it is mall ninja---typo sorry, 2500 on the 180s, or thereabouts. Will look up the specs but it is a compressed load of varget over a bullet seated to max mag length.
2600 would be sporty indeed! |
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Kickboxer
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I just took a load, for a slightly larger bullet (approximately 1500gr) rated at max range of 4500 meters to 7300 meters. There were definitely some overpressure signs in the brass, but the gun held up well. Some of the brass was very old and showed extreme pressure signs, some of the newer stuff did very well. No one had ever done it before, at least not "recorded". |
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Lockjaw
Optics Journeyman Joined: May/17/2016 Location: Chelsea Status: Offline Points: 434 |
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Stevel610
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I have a Ruger RSI with 18.5" barrel in 30-06. It too is a brush gun. I'm making a load which mimics a 30-30. 150 gr. Sierra flat point using H4350. It shoots 1.5" at 100 yards. I haven't chrono'd it yet, but by load weight and velocity reduction for the short barrel, it should be just at 2390 fps.
I have a nice low power load using the same bullet with H4895 that shoots the same grouping. Only chrono'd at 2124 fps which makes it a 125 yard load. Using a fixed 6x for load development, but will be switching to an NECG rear Ruger sight once the load is developed. |
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Stevel610
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Using 150's because they group better than 165's or 180's out of this gun.
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Lockjaw
Optics Journeyman Joined: May/17/2016 Location: Chelsea Status: Offline Points: 434 |
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I don't want a low power load simply because I could be in a situation where I could be presented woth a longer shot. I killed a deer 2 years ago with this rifle off a PowerLine and it was easily 150+ yards.
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Ernie Bishop
Optics Professional Joined: January/26/2010 Location: Gillette, WY Status: Offline Points: 765 |
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Hornady TAP (168 grain)
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Ernie
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nralifer
Optics Apprentice Joined: July/26/2016 Status: Offline Points: 165 |
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I have a 308 Savage action with a 20" Douglas barrel. It is my favorite hunting rifle. As far as what factory ammo to recommend I would try a variety of brands and settle on the one or two that shoots the best out of your rifle. Bullet placement is all important. Heavier is better, and 180 grain bullets do very well.
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