.308 bullets for caribou
- Thread starter Chez
- Start date
Finaddict91
New member
180 Swift A Frame
AK Bearcat
Well-known member
I load Sierra 165's for caribou. Caribou are not hard to harvest and any good bullet will get the job done. I do use some of the top end bullets for my large caliber, but they are not needed in most cases for caribou.
Roger45
Well-known member
I had an interesting experience with a .308 a couple of years ago that had a spread of about 18 inches at 100 yards. My neighbor is a big time reloader and he loaded up a variety of different loads using different amounts of different powders, all using 180gr nosler partitions. Got it down to maybe 12 inches, but nothing better. Went to a couple of different gunsmiths, no answers there either. Next we went to different weight bullets and different powders. Long story short at this point, my .308 is "made" for 160-165gr, ANY factory or handload 165 seems perfect. I had quite an education with that gun. Find the grain that works best, then go for the specific. Next, figure out your maximum comfortable distance to shoot, then look at the charts that show the energy out to that distance. That's where you begin and then go for the bullet that holds it mass at that distance and can penetrate.
I should have mentioned my gun of choice is a ruger gunsight scout. Your statement above is something I've experienced with a couple handguns. I have not had the time to play with different powders and bullets and I'm pretty much done experimenting with powders, just too many out there and for what I do I can make one powder work well enough for multiple guns and calibers.
I would like to find someone in my area to experiment with and we can split the cost on different weight bullets and brands, anyone near Soldotna??
Redlander
Member
Up here, I can never get over the fact that you might bump a bear, so I always gravitate to a tough bullet. For reloading, I don't see how you can go wrong with a Barnes TTX in 150 or 165'grains. I wouldn't go heavier for caribou to maintain bullet expansion and decent trajectory.
hodgeman
New member
Hard to go wrong with an Accubond, Partition or a even a Ballistic Tip "Hunting" in the 150 to 165 range.
tlingitwarrior
Well-known member
Have taken several moose with the 165 grain accubond. Fantastic round.
First hand experience with a .308 on a small caribou at 250 yards using factory winchester 150gr silver tip bullets. Broke both front legs on a perfect side shot. Nice exit wound without fragments or a bunch of meat loss.
I personally like a better constructed bullet in case I find a more robust target. Read bear or moose.
I use the 168 TTSX hand loaded to 2650 fps. It did fine a big black bear less than 50 yard. Shot through the head. I would use it for a moose to 200 yards and a black bear again. Not sure about a Grizz.
I personally like a better constructed bullet in case I find a more robust target. Read bear or moose.
I use the 168 TTSX hand loaded to 2650 fps. It did fine a big black bear less than 50 yard. Shot through the head. I would use it for a moose to 200 yards and a black bear again. Not sure about a Grizz.
For the .308 Win. I would look at the 165 grain bullet weight, specifically the Nosler Partition. It is a reliable bullet and should drift less in the wind then a lighter bullet and should give expansion at lower velocities on long shots. It also should work for moose or interior griz.
