Heavy bullets in .308 Win - 200 grains and up

[Mike D Texas]

Anyone shoot heavy bullets in a .308? I'm not talking about shooting 800 yards but for say 400 yards and in. If so how does it shoot and how is terminal performance on game?

I have a R700 5R Milspec 20" .308 with a 1-11.125 twist and am thinking of loading up some 205 Elite Hunters. It currently shoots 175 VLDs into 1/2" groups at 2800fps. I have an M5 DBM on it so I can seat out to 2.950. This rifle has so much free bore that I am still about .050" from the lands.

 

[jpd676]

I shoot a Remington 700 LTR, 20", with Hornady 208's. It shoots amazing! My load with reloader 17 is at the bottom of the powder scale but it shoots one ragged hole at 100 yards; 2400 fps. I have killed plenty of deer, antelope and elk with the 208 in this rifle. The furthest elk I shot was 300 yards and it was DRT. I regularly shoot this out to around 950 and then it is dropping like a rainbow.

 

[Outlaw6.0]

A guy named MudRunner or something like that used to be very fond of the 210 in his .308... but that's about all I can remember about it



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[AZShooter]

Broz wrote about the 215 Berger in a larger cartridge BUT he mentioned velocity and performance on antelope. This can give you some real data on what your 308 will do:


From Broz' old thread on 210 vld vs 215 hybrid:

802yds with an impact velocity of 2191 fps.

1005 with an impact velocity of about 1937 fps

and the one at 1285 yards with an impact velocity of about 1677 fps.

More:

Exits on the 1005 and 1285 were smaller. About 2" for the 1005 yard shot with an impact velocity of 1937 and a beautiful 1 1/2" exit for the shot at 1285 yds with an impact velocity of 1677 fps. I like the fact that every antelope we have shot at any range the bullet has entered before expanding. Most of the close shots have included a good amount of bone so that could be some of the large exits. But for sure they are killing pretty darn good at all distances. I look most at what the bullet does at the longer ranges with lower impact velocity. I need a bullet that will expand for the long shots first and foremost. So if I have to have a little more carnage at the shorter distances I can live with it. Dead is dead! With the heavier target jackets I didn't expect this good of performance at slowed velocities / long shots on these soft antelope.

All have expanded well. In fact, I like what they are doing below 2200 better than above for what I like to see"

Unfortunately your rifle's 1 in 11 twist may not stabilize this bullet. Berger's stability calculator says: Your bullet stability is marginal. You may shoot good groups under these conditions, but the BC of the bullet will not be optimized. It would have a reduced g7 BC of .315.

I ran some numbers for 2400 fps and it looks like your 308 Win will have sufficient velocity for expansion well past 400 yards. Heck even with a muzzle velocity of 2200 fps velocity is around 1800 fps at 400 yds.

 

[codyadams]

I loaded up some 215's in both a 20" and a 24" .308 win using Reloder 17. In the 24" with Hornady brass, I got initial pressure signs @ 2575, best accuracy and moderate pressure @ 2525 fps. In the 20" using Lapua brass, first signs of pressure were at 2530 fps, best accuracy was at 2500 fps. Both were factory Savage barrels with 1-10 twists, both shot exceptional.

I would suggest checking your stability prior to using up components, keep in mind, rotational velocity and stability does play a role in terminal performance, not just bc, and your twist may not be sufficient.

Bergers seem to expand down to 1600 fps, with 1800 fps being a good conservative minimum. Run your ballistics to figure out how far they are effective at your DA. At my elevation, the 20" gives me about 800 yards until 1800 fps, and a little over 1000 to 1600 fps.

The 24" dropped a 6x6 bull in it's tracks at 150 yards with a full pass through, not really surprising, just about any .308 load will do the job at ranges like that. Lot's of info out there on the 215 Berger to reference.

Also, the 20" was seated to 2.975", which was about a .115" jump. The 24" was at 2.950" to feed from an AICS mag, with a little bit longer jump as they had similar throats. This should give you an idea on heavies in a .308

 

[Mike D Texas]

Thanks gor the feedback so far. I'm wanting to move up in weight. It seems the 175 VLDs are blowing up even on small Texas whitetail. I haven't had a pass through on the last 3 I've shot ranging from 80 to 300'ish yards. Looking for something to give an exit when tracking in CRP and mesquite/cedar brush.

 

[asd9055]

Mike, for Texas deer, I always used 150 Ballistic Tips in my 30.06 or 180 Ballistic Tips in my 300WBY. Shoulder shots dropped it there, shots where they are "supposed" to be always had big exit. Africa plains game, I used accubonds.

 

[FEENIX]

Broz wrote about the 215 Berger in a larger cartridge BUT he mentioned velocity and performance on antelope. This can give you some real data on what your 308 will do:


From Broz' old thread on 210 vld vs 215 hybrid:

802yds with an impact velocity of 2191 fps.

1005 with an impact velocity of about 1937 fps

and the one at 1285 yards with an impact velocity of about 1677 fps.

More:

Exits on the 1005 and 1285 were smaller. About 2" for the 1005 yard shot with an impact velocity of 1937 and a beautiful 1 1/2" exit for the shot at 1285 yds with an impact velocity of 1677 fps. I like the fact that every antelope we have shot at any range the bullet has entered before expanding. Most of the close shots have included a good amount of bone so that could be some of the large exits. But for sure they are killing pretty darn good at all distances. I look most at what the bullet does at the longer ranges with lower impact velocity. I need a bullet that will expand for the long shots first and foremost. So if I have to have a little more carnage at the shorter distances I can live with it. Dead is dead! With the heavier target jackets I didn't expect this good of performance at slowed velocities / long shots on these soft antelope.

All have expanded well. In fact, I like what they are doing below 2200 better than above for what I like to see"

Unfortunately your rifle's 1 in 11 twist may not stabilize this bullet. Berger's stability calculator says: Your bullet stability is marginal. You may shoot good groups under these conditions, but the BC of the bullet will not be optimized. It would have a reduced g7 BC of .315.

I ran some numbers for 2400 fps and it looks like your 308 Win will have sufficient velocity for expansion well past 400 yards. Heck even with a muzzle velocity of 2200 fps velocity is around 1800 fps at 400 yds.

Yep, Jeff (BROZ) and Shane (Montanamarine) did some serious stretching of the .308 Win's capability.

https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/215gr-berger-hybrid-in-the-308win.104197/

https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/308-win-and-the-berger-215.122434/page-2

 

[dennisinaz]

My favorite load in one of my 308s was a 200 grain Partition over 4350. Shot sub ½ moa. Carried it for grizzly/ moose for a year in Arctic. I've played with 200 grain Bergers and they shot great. Never killed anything with that bullet.

 

[waveslayer]

The 215 is a killing machine! But good luck finding any. They are next to all the Unicorns...

People often forget that the original Bergers were all hunting jackets and that they switched to a thicker jacket on their target bullets years into it.

 

[rustyshackleford]

Just curious but have you considered the 180 elite hunters? The 180 has such a low form factor the 205 may not be getting you as much as you'd think and it'll keep your velocity up. I was entertaining buying one bullet across 308, 30-06, and 300 wsm and it looked like a very strong contender

 

[Mike D Texas]

Just curious but have you considered the 180 elite hunters? The 180 has such a low form factor the 205 may not be getting you as much as you'd think and it'll keep your velocity up. I was entertaining buying one bullet across 308, 30-06, and 300 wsm and it looked like a very strong contender

I have some 180 Elites. While I've not killed anything with them, they don't seem to offer much if anything over the 175 VLDH that I am currently unhappy with.

 

[fxol]

Anyone shoot heavy bullets in a .308? I'm not talking about shooting 800 yards but for say 400 yards and in. If so how does it shoot and how is terminal performance on game?

I have a R700 5R Milspec 20" .308 with a 1-11.125 twist and am thinking of loading up some 205 Elite Hunters. It currently shoots 175 VLDs into 1/2" groups at 2800fps. I have an M5 DBM on it so I can seat out to 2.950. This rifle has so much free bore that I am still about .050" from the lands.

2800fps with the 175's from a 20" barrel is a pretty handy combo! Would love to know what powder you are using.

 

[Mike D Texas]

2800fps with the 175's from a 20" barrel is a pretty handy combo! Would love to know what powder you are using.

Reloader 17.