308 for roe deer
- Thread starter Mikew344
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These from a roe buck shot yesterday at a measured 115 paces (I’m 6’2”) using the 123gr Norma.
The placement was high heart, the buck dropped to the shot.
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The placement was high heart, the buck dropped to the shot.
Entry:
Exit:
I am using 155gr amax as I had 400 from previous target shooting rifle.. they will cause excessive meat damage if you hit the shoulders but so will any bullet travelling at these velocities unless you use an fmj or similar extreme hard bullet.
Don't hit shoulders or spine and no damage..
Don't hit shoulders or spine and no damage..
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Namman
Well-Known Member
the more you apply as" little damage as possible", the closer you will get to a lost deer. Back to your original post, most any 150 grain soft point eg Sierra prohunter, hornady interlocks or Nosler ballistic tips. Even PPU! Deer are soft targets and don't require so called "premium bullets."
Handloader.uk
Active Member
180 GN game king
Homeloading I used 165gn INterbond and 150gn Pro Hunters - both were acceptable, with the interbond making slightly more of a mess.
Factory ammo I used 150gn Federal Power Shok and the damage again was acceptable.
I would avoid lightweight bullets (sub 150gn) as this will boost speed and with it the damage, and if you're regularly close in then you might find 180's are better.
But in general any decent cup and core bullet in the 150-180gn range that your rifle likes should be fine.
Factory ammo I used 150gn Federal Power Shok and the damage again was acceptable.
I would avoid lightweight bullets (sub 150gn) as this will boost speed and with it the damage, and if you're regularly close in then you might find 180's are better.
But in general any decent cup and core bullet in the 150-180gn range that your rifle likes should be fine.
delta wolf
Well-Known Member
150 grain hornady interlock
I use 165gr. Hornady Interlocks on everything. Even munties.
It is interesting reviewing this thread.
I would hazard a guess that most here - myself included - tend to simply recommend the rounds we use, for no better reason than we use them. To that extent I wonder how much objective analysis has really gone into that selection? As a result we seem to have ended up with as many options here on bullet weight and make as there have been replies, with little if any real consensus.
In my case I used to load my own (150gr Nosler) and shoot other factory rounds (150gr and 180gr Federal) before settling on the 123gr Norma. Those other rounds did the job, but no better than the 123gr. Carcase damage was sometimes certainly noticable, however. Excessive damage is something I am keen to avoid, particularly now that I am processing all carcases myself.
On the ground I stalk it is nearly all muntjac and roe, of which 99% are shot under 150m and 90% of those under half that. In my eyes with the 123gr I have now found a round that delivers consistent and predictable results, so long as I keep my end of the bargain.
I posted photos because I thought the OP might be more interested in seeing the practical results of my using the 123gr bullets on roe, rather than just my anecdotal comments. It is good to see some other photos as well. That said, my guess is that if everyone had posted photos then in a blind test most of us here - again, me included - would find it difficult, if not nigh on impossible, to distinguish one bullet from another.
I still think that bullet placement is far more important than bullet weight - certainly in the marginal weight range differences we are talking about here. Your experiences might well be different, however, and that's just fine too.
I would hazard a guess that most here - myself included - tend to simply recommend the rounds we use, for no better reason than we use them. To that extent I wonder how much objective analysis has really gone into that selection? As a result we seem to have ended up with as many options here on bullet weight and make as there have been replies, with little if any real consensus.
In my case I used to load my own (150gr Nosler) and shoot other factory rounds (150gr and 180gr Federal) before settling on the 123gr Norma. Those other rounds did the job, but no better than the 123gr. Carcase damage was sometimes certainly noticable, however. Excessive damage is something I am keen to avoid, particularly now that I am processing all carcases myself.
On the ground I stalk it is nearly all muntjac and roe, of which 99% are shot under 150m and 90% of those under half that. In my eyes with the 123gr I have now found a round that delivers consistent and predictable results, so long as I keep my end of the bargain.
I posted photos because I thought the OP might be more interested in seeing the practical results of my using the 123gr bullets on roe, rather than just my anecdotal comments. It is good to see some other photos as well. That said, my guess is that if everyone had posted photos then in a blind test most of us here - again, me included - would find it difficult, if not nigh on impossible, to distinguish one bullet from another.
I still think that bullet placement is far more important than bullet weight - certainly in the marginal weight range differences we are talking about here. Your experiences might well be different, however, and that's just fine too.
terrier1
Well-Known Member
Shot these on all six species of deer and shot a lot of muntjac with them cracking round.
welshwarrior
Well-Known Member
I used a 165grain pro hunter I’m a big believer in big and slow. The 165 load at a medium pace kills cleanly but also doesn’t do too much meat damage.
...
The OP requested...
I am not sure about objective analysis, but I can claim empirical observation and Google research in my selection.
I equated the OP's "little damage as possible" to little wasted or discarded meat...so the non-frangible copper / monolithic win hands down...it is the main reason I use them.
I did presume Max ranges of 200metres as none was specified.
The frangible lead core bullets (SSTs, Nosler BTs, Powershok, Super Hammerhead and etc) I have used have all been much of a muchness with the monolithic as far as effectively killing Fallow, Roe and Muntjac at the ranges I shoot, which are similar to yours...mainly sub 100metres.
The bruising (jelly) between the muscle groups from hydraulic shock has also appeared to be more to do with POI than bullet type, though the monolithic do certainly produce their fair share it...but at least with the monolithic you can just scrape the jelly away and use the meat.
If you follow the recommendation of the removal and discarding of all meat within 6" / 150mm of a frangible lead bullet wound tract, you have to waste so much more...that is almost the whole far shoulder of Roe if H&L / Hilar Shot.
You missed out my 130gr Fox from your list, and you could add the 115gr Lehigh Defense Controlled Chaos monolithic as they have an interesting variation somewhere between the 99% retention monolithic and the frangible...close to they shed three or four petals and at greater range / lower velocity they rely on expansion alone.
Alan
Dan Gliballs
Well-Known Member
Little damage?... 308?
Whatever bullet you use isn’t going to make a jot of difference to the damage. Slip the bullet between ribs and you’ll not make much mess, hit the blade with the same bullet it’ll write off that shoulder, possibly up in to the neck and down the flank.
dead is dead, the damage is collateral.
Whatever bullet you use isn’t going to make a jot of difference to the damage. Slip the bullet between ribs and you’ll not make much mess, hit the blade with the same bullet it’ll write off that shoulder, possibly up in to the neck and down the flank.
dead is dead, the damage is collateral.
My experience with 20 plus years with the 308 differs from this in that the main determinant of carcass damage other than shot placement is in fact bullet construction. Velocity does not make a marked difference with monometal projectiles but does so with lead to a far greater extent. I have seen some horrific exit wounds with Hornady interlock soft points at modest velocities then the next few will be fine. Monometal Bullets are much more consistent in my experience
Namman
Well-Known Member
spot on!
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