DLJ6
Well-Known Member
Buy a box of each and use whichever one your rig shoots the best. They are all capable of meeting your specs.
I handload for my 308's most of the time but my brother has used the Fed Fusion a good deal with perfect results on Deer and they are one of the best factory loads in accuracy with the 165's. But as many have stated about any factory load will do from 300yds and in as the OP suggested he would do. Match bullet/Berger BC's will not be important inside 300yds.If you can find them, federal fusion 150's or 165's have made my hand loads look embarrassing in most rifles. They are cheaper and amazingly accurate as well as devastating on deer!!! Could not recommend a better factory load than those
Every 308 I own love the 150 Power Points.150 PowerPoint Winchesters or 150 Corelokt Remington are where I would start. Federal Fusion is another good option. Hornady SST also. 308 and whitetail is pretty simple, hit them decent with just about anything 150 grain and you will find them in less than 30 yards if they don't pile up sooner. I use 168 A-max handloads lately but that really is only because my 308 shoots them very well and I have a bunch of them, my son has shot a handful of deer with 150 PowerPoints and not one has made it over 20 yards, 3 out of 6 dropped on the spot. The PowerPoints are less damaging to the meat as well if you get a little too far forward going in or out, the A-max will ruin shoulders quickly.
I have to disagree with you on the Barnes. They almost always leave a better blood trail just from the fact they get full penetration, leaving an exit wound. As always, you need to match the bullet to the size of the game. The 130 TTSX is a great choice for whitetail shot out of a .308!Accubonds but I would drop to 150 grain with the shorter barrel. 150 grain Partitions would be another good choice if you can find factory loaded ones.
Remington core lokt or the new tipped core lokt (which is likely the Sierra Game Changer bullet) would also be good choices. I killed a mountain of deer using core lokt bullets when I lived in Mississippi.
I like Barnes bullets but they need velocity to perform best and they don't typically leave the blood trails that a cup/core bullet does.