400-500 yard 308 bullets

[Takem406]

I've been shooting Barnes 150 TSX bullets on deer from my 308 and 22-250 for years! I've never had any issues inside 300yards. My last doe was a big mulie at 378 and the bullet worked flawless.

However I'd like to shoot a heavier bullet with better BC to go a little further this year for mulie bucks. Also in Montana we fight the wind a lot. So even a bullet with better BC would help wind drift inside 200 yards.

What weight should I start with? 168? My rifle is a 1—12.

I've heard things about Barnes bullets not expanding at lower velocity and the 308 is no speed demon. Would the 168 grain TTSX work well out to 500?

What's the deal with Berger hunting bullets? I've heard they are accurate but I've also heard they break up too easily. But when your a Barnes fan boy everything breaks apart too much.

Also looking at Nosler Ballistic tips. Seen good reviews and the price is cheap enough I could shoot a lot for cheap. The BC seems very well too. That or would the Accubond be "better"?

I like Hornady but Nosler has better BC.
Thanks guys!

 

[Takem406]

Done some reading and see guys are running AMaxes for deer? How well do they work? I know they shoot very well, all I shoot from my 22—250 for prairie dogs.

What about SMK's?

 

[kweidner]

I too was a Barnes or Berger only until a year ago. I now exclusively swage my own. If I didn't have the tooling, I would use a berger for that particular scenario. As a matter of fact my swage dies are modeled after the VLD except I use a rebated boat tail. I have a .308 I use for just 5-600, It is a flatbase though and is lights out accurate to 850 with that long secant ogive. Effective killing range to 600. Making it a boat tail really doesn't increase it's effective killing range that far due to it's really high bc in flatbase form. I have found flatbases more accurate to around 600yds. After that boat tails take over but in your scenario in .308 is pushing the energy envelope anyway i would use at least the 168 berger maybe even the 175 as it should stabilize in that twist. Berger is a bang flop affair at distance that is why I modeled my bullets after them.

 

[gohring3006]

I think the 178gr Amax should stabilize in a 1-12 its a cheap bullet that is really easy to get to shoot at mag length. I hear guys liking the 185 berger vld but i don't have any experience with them I don't know if you can load them mag length or not. It may not make any difference to you I just prefer to load my mag if I can..

 

[Unofficial Gun Addict (UGA)]

I've been using the Berger 168 Vld hunting bullets with great success. They do like to be run long however so if you have a standard length mag... They may not be your best choice.

On the other hand, I've heard really good things about the berger hybrids which aren't finicky about seating depth and appear to shoot awesome from mags with SAAMI specs. I don't know personally, however I've read such good things... I bought 400 215s for my 300wm. If they work as well as many say, I'll go with them in 168 for my 308 once my Vld hunting bullets have run out.

Good luck.

Ps... I'm using Nosler BTs in my 7mm on Sunday for deer. They shoot well, but I've heard good and bad results in the field with them. Hope I'll find out. Will post back results here..good or bad. Running 2250 fps out of my pistol... 7mm IHMSA, and just hope I'm not the one running after a buck with a well placed shot in the vitals after having a bullet not perform.

 

[Takem406]

I've kind of put off getting a rifle ready until now. I wasn't planning on deer hunting this year due to EHD destroyed my uncles whitetail herd. However word is he has a few big mulie bucks!

So I'll probably be shooting factory ammo, I know blasphemy considering I have a new Dillon in my basement.

So I impulse bought a box of Nosler Trophy 165 Accubonds in 165 grain. Should I have done with a 180 or is the 165 area a good spot? I guess I have good brass at least. Guys on Midway were raving about these. But most weren't shooting game at 400 yards.

I see Nosler says they need 1800 fps to expand... Probably should go BT and not worry about it because they are softer? I hate choices!

 

[MudRunner2005]

1:12 twist can handle up to 185 VLD's. I suggest for inside of 500 yards, the 168 VLD's will work fine. The 185's will hit a little harder.

 

[Unofficial Gun Addict (UGA)]

So I'll probably be shooting factory ammo, I know blasphemy considering I have a new Dillon in my basement.

So I impulse bought a box of Nosler Trophy 165 Accubonds in 165 grain. Should I have done with a 180 or is the 165 area a good spot?

The 165s should serve you very well... And accubonds are lethal. I tend to save mine for elk... But you said they were big mulies. I think you'll be just fine with what you have. Actually... I loaded up some rounds this evening as our controlled hunt opens Sunday, and I took out a few accubonds and thought about loading up several for the hunt. As I was half way through loading BTs, I just went ahead and finished up with them. No sense second guessing! Use what you have. People kill deer with a lot less than what you've got.

 

[Hondo64d]

I've used the 155gr Hunting VLD with great success on whitetails and pigs. I've not used another bullet that puts animals down quicker. Accurate, flat, and when pushed to 2900 or so, bucks the wind very well out to 600. It only gives up an inch of wind to a 168gr VLD at 600 but hits with a higher impact velocity, which I like.

Another that shoots as well is the 155gr Scenar. I've only shot a pig and a coyote with them so far, but first impressions are that the Scenar is a bit harder than the Hunting VLD. Still resulted in dead animals though..

John

 

[Dgd6mm]

I've shot longrange target (paper and steel) with the Hornaday 178 Amax out of my .308 and it performs good in wind. I'm in Florida but have shot a lot out west. I have harvested every Deer that I've shot with any Amax.

 

[jonthomps]

168 or 178 amax, 180 vld, and the 180 accubond would be great choices for mulies. The 168 amax is death on whitetails here in Missouri.

 

[birddog67]

I Run 175 VLDs in my 308 , I am getting right at 2690 out of a 22" barrel , the pigs and deer in Texas definitely do not like this combo , it stops them in their tracks , I have taken pigs and coyotes to 750 with this gun .

 

[Unofficial Gun Addict (UGA)]

Yesterday... I took a buck with the 168 VLDs out of my 308 at 246 yards. A .3 hole going in and a silver dollar sized hole going out, through a smashed shoulder on the far side. One shot and the deer folded, only lifted his head a couple of times, and that was it. Doa when I got to up to it.

I'm sold on the VLDs, and like the above deer, I've never had to give chase when using them. It's why I've got 4 boxes of 215s that are arriving today for my 300wm. Good luck choosing. I know there are a lot of good bullets there. I think the VLDs are among the best.

 

[Takem406]

The 165s should serve you very well... And accubonds are lethal. I tend to save mine for elk... But you said they were big mulies. I think you'll be just fine with what you have. Actually... I loaded up some rounds this evening as our controlled hunt opens Sunday, and I took out a few accubonds and thought about loading up several for the hunt. As I was half way through loading BTs, I just went ahead and finished up with them. No sense second guessing! Use what you have. People kill deer with a lot less than what you've got.

No issues of them not opening up at lower velocity?
What's the skinny on Swift bullets?