old man
Active member
Go with whatever weight bullet gives you the best accuracy. I get 1/2 in with 150s but every thing else is over 1inch. Bottails are even worse.
Is the .308 Win adequate for Elk
- Thread starter Bowhunter60
- Start date
El Jason
Well-known member
Your .308 is fine. There is absolutely no reason to go with a 180 bullet for elk. A 150 grain Barnes or Nosler would be plenty to do the job.
LopeHunter
Well-known member
I used the .308 Win for several years. I use the .338 Win Mag now but would not hesitate to dust off the .308 for an elk hunt. The .338 punches a slightly larger entrance hole, pushes a larger chunk of lead, bucks the wind a bit better and has a bit more wallop as get beyond 300 yards. Most of my hunts that end with a shot are taken under 200 yards so the .338 provides me a bit more of a few things but the .308 is a fine choice.
sbhooper
Well-known member
Great choice! 4831 will probably be too slow. Varget, 4895, or Re15 will probably do much better.
Bowhunter60
New member
Agree
For my rifle's 22" barrel, I opt for the Varget due its faster burn. I haven't reloaded with 4895, but, I'll certainly look at it if my results with Varget aren't what I'm hoping for.
However, so far, Varget has been outstanding.
For my rifle's 22" barrel, I opt for the Varget due its faster burn. I haven't reloaded with 4895, but, I'll certainly look at it if my results with Varget aren't what I'm hoping for.
However, so far, Varget has been outstanding.Barrel length has nothing to do with the burn rate of the powder. The powder that produces the highest velocity will do so regardless of powder burn rate. That said, I've read of a lot of folks having good luck with Varget in a 308.For my rifle's 22" barrel, I opt for the Varget due its faster burn. I haven't reloaded with 4895, but, I'll certainly look at it if my results with Varget aren't what I'm hoping for.
sbhooper
Well-known member
Your post is confusing. B60 said that he was using Varget in the 22-inch barrel, which is a good choice due to barrel length vs burn rate. Correlating the burn rate to barrel length definitely makes a difference. A slow powder in the same situation would produce less velocity and probably would not allow enough to be put in the case. Burn rates will definitely make a difference in velocity and that is why only certain burn rates are used in some cartridges.
If you go down through a complete list of powders and try every one, generally, only a few in the same "zone" will produce like velocities. They will usually be the best accuracy, too.
What I meant to type is that the powder that produces the highest velocity will do so regardless of barrel length. The fastest powder in a 20" barrel will be the fastest powder in a 26" barrel.
Since you post there, do a search for this topic on 24 and look for the info Barsness has posted.
Since you post there, do a search for this topic on 24 and look for the info Barsness has posted.
sbhooper
Well-known member
It may be, but not in reverse. A fast powder in a 20 will be fast in a 26, but a slower powder that is high velocity in a 26, won't be fast in a 20-inch. Won't happen. That is where burn rates come in.
Bowhunter60
New member
You are correct
Barrel length has nothing to do with 'burn rate'. The issue in my opinion is residual powder exiting the barrel that continues to burn on exiting the barrel.
This may not be a viable concern for the hunter, for the most part. And frankly, my 22" barrel has performed quite adequately with .308 and .22-250.
Barrel length has nothing to do with 'burn rate'. The issue in my opinion is residual powder exiting the barrel that continues to burn on exiting the barrel.
This may not be a viable concern for the hunter, for the most part. And frankly, my 22" barrel has performed quite adequately with .308 and .22-250.
Bowhunter60
New member
Okay...
Try comparing 308 pistol data from 308 rifle data form the same company after you look up the posts on 24.
How much powder do you think is actually exiting the barrel??? Might it not be the gases igniting when hitting the O2 in the atmosphere?
Try comparing 308 pistol data from 308 rifle data form the same company after you look up the posts on 24.
How much powder do you think is actually exiting the barrel??? Might it not be the gases igniting when hitting the O2 in the atmosphere?
sbhooper
Well-known member
So, what you are telling me is that the OP should go with the mentioned H4831 in lieu of Varget because it does not matter?! Show me how that works out-not.
A-con
New member
As many have said, the .308 is a very capable elk round.
Another way to look at is this.
The .308, 30-06 and .300 mag all shoot the same bullets, just at different velocities.
As the bullets move down range and shed velocity, there is always a point where performance is nearly identical at slightly less distance.
A .300 Win. Mag. shooting a 180 Partition slows to about 1,800 FPS, and 1,300 Ft/Lbs at 500 yards.
The same bullet out of a .308 hits these same numbers at about 450 yards.
The difference is only about 50 yards !
Now on to getting an elk tag.
Colorado & Idaho over the counter, and Montana left over tags are your friend.
If you want a quick education and lots of tasty meat, let me suggest a cow tag.
Also, I see that you play with Archery and muzzleloaders, lots of good hunts can be drawn with less points than a rifle tag.
The very best tags can take 15 or 20 years to draw, but lots of good tags can be drawn with 3 to 6 points.
If I were you, I would start building points NOW.
You have 3 days left to get in on the Colorado drawing, they have a code for “Points only”
Too late for Arizona, but jump in next year (Arizona has amazing elk hunting).
This summer, you can buy a point only in Wyoming.
Another way to look at is this.
The .308, 30-06 and .300 mag all shoot the same bullets, just at different velocities.
As the bullets move down range and shed velocity, there is always a point where performance is nearly identical at slightly less distance.
A .300 Win. Mag. shooting a 180 Partition slows to about 1,800 FPS, and 1,300 Ft/Lbs at 500 yards.
The same bullet out of a .308 hits these same numbers at about 450 yards.
The difference is only about 50 yards !
Now on to getting an elk tag.
Colorado & Idaho over the counter, and Montana left over tags are your friend.
If you want a quick education and lots of tasty meat, let me suggest a cow tag.
Also, I see that you play with Archery and muzzleloaders, lots of good hunts can be drawn with less points than a rifle tag.
The very best tags can take 15 or 20 years to draw, but lots of good tags can be drawn with 3 to 6 points.
If I were you, I would start building points NOW.
You have 3 days left to get in on the Colorado drawing, they have a code for “Points only”
Too late for Arizona, but jump in next year (Arizona has amazing elk hunting).
This summer, you can buy a point only in Wyoming.
So, what you are telling me is that the OP should go with the mentioned H4831 in lieu of Varget because it does not matter?! Show me how that works out-not.
Try some reading comprehension. I never suggests he choose either. Just stated that the powder that produces the best velocity does so regardless of barrel length. Your itching for a fight that ain't there.
Ben Long
Well-known member
I'll "third" the Barnes bullets in 308. I've only shot a few elk with that load, but have yet to recover a bullet. They zip right through. I am a believer in exit holes, even though none of those particular elk needed much by the way of blood trailing.
8andcounting
Well-known member
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