Max distance for 308 on game?

[Bigcat_hunter]

My friend wants to hunt black bears his .308. What do you think the max distance would be to kill bears? He is shooting 165 accubonds and can shoot accurately to 1000 yards. I personally shoot a .338 RUM w/300 smk's so I am not too concerned about distance but a 308 with 165's seems light to me past 500 yards.

 

[James Jones]

On any critters over 300lbs I'd say 500 would be a good max , I might choose anotherbullet other than the Accubond out of the 308 at long range though its toughness might keep it from expanding well at the reduced speeds of the 308. I'd probably lean toward a 180 Ballistic tip , higher down range energy and better inital expansion coupled with a higher Sectional Density that would help with penitration would likely do better at long range. Black bears arn't realy to heavly built not nearly like an elk so a tough bullet woulden't be my first concern. I have killed a deer at just over 600yds with a 175gr Sierra Match King bullet out of a 308 and it expanded well left about 1/2 dollar sized exit and the deer only went about 30-40 yrds and died.

so your friend has shot the 165 Accubond to 1000yds accurately from a 308?

 

[Bigcat_hunter]

On any critters over 300lbs I'd say 500 would be a good max , I might choose anotherbullet other than the Accubond out of the 308 at long range though its toughness might keep it from expanding well at the reduced speeds of the 308. I'd probably lean toward a 180 Ballistic tip , higher down range energy and better inital expansion coupled with a higher Sectional Density that would help with penitration would likely do better at long range. Black bears arn't realy to heavly built not nearly like an elk so a tough bullet woulden't be my first concern. I have killed a deer at just over 600yds with a 175gr Sierra Match King bullet out of a 308 and it expanded well left about 1/2 dollar sized exit and the deer only went about 30-40 yrds and died.

so your friend has shot the 165 Accubond to 1000yds accurately from a 308?

Yeah, I have heard horror story's about ballistic tips though(bullets exploding etc). I guess that has to do with too much velocity. 2500 fps or so should do it w/ a 180 grainer I suppose.

 

[James Jones]

I shoot the 165gr BT's from a 15" 308 pistol at about 2500fps with awsome results out to 300yds on deer , even the ones shot at 25-50yds never had a bullet "explode" they will open up realy fast and ruin some meat but they all ahve alwasy passed through even when hitting s houlder on the way in.
The 180 out of a 308 rilfe should have the same effect maybe better penitration due to the bullet being longer aka SD

Hornady also makes abullet called the SST thats just like the Ballistic tip but some say that the jacket is a little thicker and the lead alloy is a little harder making for a stronger bullet , if this is the case it might be a good option for the 165 class in the 308

 

[Brown Dog]

He is shooting 165 accubonds and can shoot accurately to 1000 yards. .

Bigcat,

I think there's a requirement to define 'accurately to 1000yds' in 308 terms.

Apologies for quoting myself, but here are my thoughts on the same question regarding deer:

I feel the issue is not one of energy (appropriately placed; a firmly planted knitting needle has enough energy to kill a deer) but of accuracy.



Is the 308 suitable for hunting at 1000yds?

....well here's another way of looking at it:



If you are capable of making your wind call over the whole 1000yds to within 1mph; then yes.

If you are able to notice 1mph wind changes over the whole 1000yds ; then yes.

Otherwise; No.



Why?

(Taking Factory 175gr GMM as an example)

A 10mph wind will push the bullet 98.7 inches at 1000yds.

This means every 1mph change pushes the bullet 9.87inches at 1000yds (lets call it 10 inches for ease).

So

Even if you are capable of grouping with a 308 to 0.0001MOA at 1000 yds (and you won't be),

for every 1 mph you misjudge the wind, you will miss your POA by 10 inches.

Miss a 2mph wind change and your bullet goes 20inches wide of the aiming point.



...and that's forgetting the natural dispersion of your group compounding the error.

So, to answer the original question again :

If you're capable of consistently shooting your 308 within 0.5 MOA of your POA (ie shooting a sub 1 MOA group centred on your POA) at 1000yds and can make your wind calls and note changes over the whole 1000yds to within 1mph; then 'maybe', you'd be able to contemplate attempting a deer at that range, humanely, with a 308.

But it would be a poor and unforgiving choice (and the animals would the ones paying the price).

If you're not at that standard (and I'll wager there's not a man on this site that is); please forget using a 308 on game animals at 1000yds

For the requirement you've alluded to, I'd recommend strongly pointing your friend away from a 308

The whole thread is at:

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f26/new-long-range-308-winchester-any-good-24403/index3.html