.308 Sako Super Hammerhead - Carcass Damage

[barkertim1]

Have seen a few threads discussing carcass damage with specific rounds and the merits of various bullet weights for .308 calibre rifles so I thought I’d add my own experiences. I recently bought a new .308 and have found Sako 150gr Super Hammerheads to be very accurate straight out of the box. Didn’t even bother trying the 123gr as I was happy with the grouping I was achieving (cloverleaf at 100m).

First deer I took with it were today and I was pleased with what I perceive to be minimal damage to the carcasses (though I’m open to discussion and comparison)! Below are some pictures of the Red hind I shot this morning and the entry/exit wounds. I failed to get any pictures of the 2 Roe I shot but there was less damage to them both than to the Red. The Red dropped about 10m from the shot site and both Roe dropped on the spot following typical reaction to a heart/lung shot with back legs kicking out.

For completeness, the hind was shot at 174m, off sticks, slightly quartering towards me. Rifle is a Sako 85 Synthetic with a Stalon W110 mod.

Hope this is of interest to someone.

 

[VSS]

Once you get the skin off you'll see the full extent of any damage. Even if the holes are quite small you can find a massive amount of hemorrhage under the skin (hydrostatic shock I think is the correct term?) and within the meat with some ammunition, enough sometimes to condemn a whole shoulder even if the initial damage didn't look too bad.

 

[BigFish]

Went straight for the 150gr too for the slower, heavier less damage approach.

 

[barkertim1]

Went straight for the 150gr too for the slower, heavier less damage approach.

Exactly my thoughts. How’ve you found them?

 

[BigFish]

Exactly my thoughts. How’ve you found them?

Good all round and documented for weight retention and non fragmenting which is precisely what I want for shot meat.

 

[Leupsak]

I used them for a number of seasons with my .308 and found them to be accurate and predictable, a very good bullet for Fallow & Muntjac. Reloading them I was able to get a nice medium paced, consistent, accurate round; by the photos and write up you found the same

 

[wildfowler1]

Getting good accuracy, I only shoot engine room but they are going a fair distance before dropping. Not impressed at all. Used Norma 150 forever but they don't do them anymore ,never a bad result e xcept human error. I shoot a Sako 75 with a T8 mod. Won't be using Sako ammo again. Wf1

 

[AN DU RU FOX]

use 150 fed power shock factory or 150 pro hunters homeloads.

 

[Overlay]

Went straight for the 150gr too for the slower, heavier less damage approach.

In my Sako 6.5 I had some bad reactions to 120 grn on heavier beasts, changed rifles and on testing different weights etc and carcase damage, surprisingly the 165 grn SP turned out to be the best on accuracy and carcase damage

That’s all I use now for deer, 120 grn bt for foxes is a showstopper with a re zero thrown in, does the job