308 as a 500 Yard Whitetail Cartridge?

[General RE LEE]

My Tikka T3 groups the factory Federal Terminal Ascent 175 grain sub MOA. I'm going to deduct 100 FPS off the published velocity because my Tikka has a 22" barrel. I'm probably about 2500 FPS which is on the slow side but my Hornady 4DOF app has it carrying 1100 lbs KE at 500 yards.

I have a 24" barrel Tikka T3x in 6.5 Creedmoor that might be a better fit for whitetail out to 500, but what about the 308? Anyone a fan of the 308 for shots over 300 on whitetail?

 

[CastIronSkillet]

I put a 600 yd limit on my 308 w/ a 20" barrel. I haven't made a 500 yd shot on deer that far yet but, I did smack a 200lb hog at 460 with a 165 game king.

If you are comfortable with the shot and its the only one you think you may get and the range is 500yds I would take it for the right deer and almost any hog.

 

[tankgijohn72]

Would be a good idea to get exact MV in your rifle and practice at that range. Federal says expansion down to 1400 fps, so 500 yds should not be an issue if you put it through the lungs with your 308.

 

[308win]

Whitetail are not exactly bullet stoppers....the trusty ol 308win is plenty at that range. I suggest Bergers or the ELD-X for expansion at slower speeds to take advantage of the remaining energy. My 155VLD is still running 1990fps and 1370ft lbs at 500yrds (2000ft elevation), fills a lot of tags.

 

[sierracharlie338]

I'd have no qualms taking a 500 yard shot with a 308 on a whitetail

 

[General RE LEE]

Would be a good idea to get exact MV in your rifle and practice at that range. Federal says expansion down to 1400 fps, so 500 yds should not be an issue if you put it through the lungs with your 308.

There is a You Tube video of a guy shooting the Terminal Ascent 6.5 Creedmoor into gelatin at 1300, 1600 and 2000 FPS. There was little to no expansion at 1300 and 1600 FPS. Maybe his testing was flawed but it did lower my confidence in the Terminal Ascent properly expanding at sub 1800 FPS velocities.

 

[swe123]

The 6.5 ManBun does not do anything better than the 308 at 500 yards.

 

[SamuelBerryhill308]

I have shot whitetail out to 310 and 306 with my 308 when hunting on sc power lines I wouldn't have any problem shooting one out to 500 just havnt had the chance to

 

[ButterBean]

As long as you do your part let her eat