308 for roe deer

[Namman]

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

I have used .308s for UK deer since the early 1980's. Bullets used have been 150gr Winchester power points, 150gr Imperial sabre tips, 150 gr speer hot core and boat tail, 150gr sierra prohunter and gameking, 150gr Nosler solid base and ballistic tips, 150gr Hornady interlock and boat tails. All at around 27 to 2800 fps. Many friends have used the same assortment and one still uses 150gr PPU's. All work and I believe that shot placement determines carcase damage more than anything else. My current load is Hornady 150 gr boat tails and I don't experience any more carcase damage than the others listed above. There are many factors involved in carcase damage. The worst damage I have seen was from a .458 500 gr soft point on a fallow pricket! I don't believe that bullet expanded!
I have not tried monometal yet .

 

[paulbshooting]

130 grn barnes TTSX. Ideal on roe, munty, fallow and Red hinds

 

[willie_gunn]

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

Thanks Alan, for the very informative reply.

I deleted the list because I realised that keeping it updated would be never ending.....which has turned out to be the case!

 

[Selous]

Here is today’s buck with the TTSX at 200 yards. Bullet hit the heart and missed both shoulders. Bottom of heart separated from the top so I guess this shows that the 130 TTSX does expand well at 2400 fps

 

[Corvid8x57]

I have always used 150gn Winchester Super X for everything but have just switched to Fox 130gn non toxic. Very accurate & will find out how they perform for real in Scotland the week after next

 

[Woodsmoke]

Here is today’s buck with the TTSX at 200 yards. Bullet hit the heart and missed both shoulders. Bottom of heart separated from the top so I guess this shows that the 130 TTSX does expand well at 2400 fps

How many bullets did you hit it with???? Is that typical of the TTSX?

Below are entry, and exit holes from my .270 at 280 yards. In this case, even hitting bone hasn't caused the bullet to expand . . . .

 

[Selous]

How many bullets did you hit it with???? Is that typical of the TTSX?

Just one !!

Yes the TTSX does a great job of damaging internal organs and causing rapid death in my experience.
I will try to remember to take photos when it is skinned

 

[Woodsmoke]

Just one !!

Yes the TTSX does a great job of damaging internal organs and causing rapid death in my experience.
I will try to remember to take photos when it is skinned

I've edited my post to show a roe hit with a 130 grain from my .270. I down-load from factory speeds to increase the versatility of my rifle. This roe was shot at around 280, and you can clearly see how the bullet has pencilled through without expanding. To my mind, this is showing just how much energy it's lost, and it would be at the extreme end of any shots I would take with it (but only on roe, I wouldn't risk it with a larger deer as I don't think the bullet would have sufficient retained energy to be humane) I know I've shown the damage from a .270, and it's a particular shot, but I think it serves to illustrate that the behaviour from any bullet can be influenced by the target, the load, and the range it's fired at.

 

[Selous]

I've edited my post to show a roe hit with a 130 grain from my .270. I down-load from factory speeds to increase the versatility of my rifle. This roe was shot at around 280, and you can clearly see how the bullet has pencilled through without expanding. To my mind, this is showing just how much energy it's lost, and it would be at the extreme end of any shots I would take with it (but only on roe, I wouldn't risk it with a larger deer as I don't think the bullet would have sufficient retained energy to be humane) I know I've shown the damage from a .270, and it's a particular shot, but I think it serves to illustrate that the behaviour form any bullet can be influenced by the target, the load, and the range it's fired at.

Which 270 bullet and at what velocity?? Doesn’t look to be expanding properly. Perhaps more velocity would be helpful??

 

[Woodsmoke]

Which 270 bullet and at what velocity?? Doesn’t look to be expanding properly. Perhaps more velocity would be helpful??

It's a 130 grain SP at around 27/2800fps. As I said in my post, it's definitely losing energy at that range, but that's a direct result of my taming it from factory speeds. The range this deer was taken is at the extreme end of what I would expect from this home-load, and only then on smaller deer such as roe. At ranges up to 200 or so it expands very well. This was the result of my requirements to reduce the reach and energy of the ,270 to make it more versatile for my needs. Guess what though? Even though it's performed superbly for me I intend to go back to factory speeds, and have recently had a variation supported for . . . . you guessed it, a .308

 

[muddy42]

I favour 308 over 243 for roe. I have used both in the same brand of rifle 150 grain for 308 and 100 grain for 243. The 308 just seems have that little more knock down energy and fewer runners. This is a big benefit when shooting roe when there is thick cover about. Ballistic experts also tell me it is better suited to a shorter barrel etc. A 243 just seems to be on the edge of its abilities and only just UK deer legal (for all deer) where as a 308 does everything comfortably.

 

[Selous]

308 is a great calibre for Roe!!
On roe I seldom get runners, I had my first for ages on Saturday and it only went 20yards with a great blood trail

 

[Selous]

I said I would post skinned photos of the deer above as often the degree of damage isn’t apparent with the skin still on. Entrance on the right side of the deer and exit on the left. I’m happy with that level of damage

 

[markha]

Nosler 150gr do the job as well as anything.
Horses for courses really.

 

[Inyati]

Sako 150 gr super hammer heads

I'm a fan of these. Very little meat damage and they seem to be grouping very well to.

 

[TomTalks]

Resurrected thread......deleted

 

[Heym SR20]

This thread has been resurrected from a couple of years ago.

Lots if comments about wanting minimal damage and that of the bullets - ballistic tips in particular cause huge damage on small deer such as.

2 years later and monolithic bullets are now well established and widely used and deliver all the requirements of accuracy, good killing characteristics yet leave a clean carcass.

Yet go to most other ammo threads and there a plenty saying how fantastic lead bullets are etc etc.

 

[randello88]

Anyone know a good 308 round to use on roe deer with as little damage as possible

I don't consider getting as little damage as possible to be a good idea when choosing a hunting bullet. Anyway i have had very good experience with geco 170 gr softpoints. Rws DK 165 gr, which i used when i had to kill also boars in selective hunting, performed generally well but in one occasion a shot in the center of the chest didn't kill the animal for at least 15 minutes. After killing the roe, I found that the bullet pierced both lungs but didn't expand at all, there was a .308 caliber exit hole on the left side of the chest. Also consider that those cartridges are better to be used inside 250 meters because of their low BC.

I am testing some rounds suitable for further distances at the moment, i will let you know

 

[Scotty99]

I use Sierra Gameking 150 grn. Only minimal meat damage on exit and yet they deliver really good terminal energy. I’ve even used them to good effect on large Fallow bucks. The Sierra ProHunters are essentially the same bullet but they are flat based rather than boat tail.

 

[6.5-06 TIKKA]

Sako 123gr Gamehead.
Used them for years, then reload the brass with 125gr Nosler.