Anyone shooting heavier copper in .308?

[tmac]

My fairly new 308 rifle seems to like 160+g ammo and I wondered if anyone is shooting this heavy in copper?

Not bought any yet, and don’t home load so just seeing what others have experienced with heavier grain bullets on live quarry in terms of terminal impact?

A few I know have had pencilling at 150g.

 

[HonestJohn]

162g Sako powerhead blade in .308, group like a dream and expand well with no excessive damage on roe and red; reds out to 225m, longest runner was around 50yds and due to me putting the bullet a touch low and lung-ish.

 

[Acm]

I’m using a 175grn Barnes LRX in my .30-06. Works great, good expansion, good accuracy, great knock down performance on game.

 

[paulbshooting]

About to try the 150 grain fox in my 308. Like most I went lighter and faster but seems same grain or heavier as was using in lead seems to be the way forward.

 

[Andrewslater]

Copper doesnt weight as much as lead. Its likely the projectile length that your rifle favours rather than the weight. you will achieve this projectile length from a lighter copper bullet.

 

[half-baked]

Hunted a couple of seasons with the 168 gr Barnes Tsx. Good results on whitetail deer. This from a .308 with a 1:10" twist.

Have since moved to 130 gr bullets.

A friend uses the 170 gr Lapua Naturalis for Moose, also from a .308. No complaints from there, either.

 

[half-baked]

Just a sidebar note: Should the Barnes turn out to be your cup of tea, make certain to use the 168 gr model. The 165 gr one is much harder and designed for magnum velocities.

 

[NullMac]

It depends on the range. It has to have enough velocity at impact to expand. So bullet slows down => at some range it will stop expanding.

It is obviously heavily dependent on muzzle velocity and the specific bullets construction

 

[paulbshooting]

Copper doesnt weight as much as lead. Its likely the projectile length that your rifle favours rather than the weight. you will achieve this projectile length from a lighter copper bullet.

Yes probably. Keen to reduce carcass damage and whilst the 130 grain fox did the job, seen less damage with the 150 by others so keen to try. Also getting my lightweight 308 rig ready for roe bucks so a chance to use that too.

 

[Andrewslater]

Yes probably. Keen to reduce carcass damage and whilst the 130 grain fox did the job, seen less damage with the 150 by others so keen to try. Also getting my lightweight 308 rig ready for roe bucks so a chance to use that too.

I use 150gr ttsx in my .30-06 and find them not too destructive. However i mince any damaged shoulders for my dogs with offal so i’m not overly fussed if i take a shoulder on the way through.

 

[pob]

I use 165gr RWS HIT in my 308 and 162 gr Sako Powerblade. Both kill really well on fallow, though accuracy is a lot better with the RWS.

My rifle seems to prefer the heavier bullets. The 110gr was like firing a spandau.

Due to lack of availability I'm being forced to change ammo. The 136gr RWS Evo green are excellent for grouping. Yet to try on live quarry, but I will let you know. I'm going to try some more 165gr Fox and the Hornady Outfitter 165gr.

As somebody said above, I wonder if part of the accuracy difference is down to length, not weight. I've heard 308 shooters who are happy with all different weights of bullets; you'll just have to see what works for your rifle.

 

[tmac]

I use 165gr RWS HIT in my 308 and 162 gr Sako Powerblade. Both kill really well on fallow, though accuracy is a lot better with the RWS.

My rifle seems to prefer the heavier bullets. The 110gr was like firing a spandau.

Due to lack of availability I'm being forced to change ammo. The 136gr RWS Evo green are excellent for grouping. Yet to try on live quarry, but I will let you know. I'm going to try some more 165gr Fox and the Hornady Outfitter 165gr.

As somebody said above, I wonder if part of the accuracy difference is down to length, not weight. I've heard 308 shooters who are happy with all different weights of bullets; you'll just have to see what works for your rifle.

Out of interest what rifle you on?

 

[pob]

Out of interest what rifle you on?

I'd rather not say. A lot of people don't R8 them.

 

[paulbshooting]

I use 150gr ttsx in my .30-06 and find them not too destructive. However i mince any damaged shoulders for my dogs with offal so i’m not overly fussed if i take a shoulder on the way through.

Thanks. Tried the 110 and 130gr TTSX and both did the job. Fine on munty and roe but more damage on fallow. I have a theory on why relating to the fat and chest cavity difference on the fallow but anyway! The 150 gr Fox will mainly be for roe bucks. Shorter ranges, slower round and hopefully effective.

 

[mike308]

I have been using Fox 150 grain for 4 years now on red, roe and silks out to 250 yards and have no problems with them. No more runners than with lead, as long as you hit them in the right place.

 

[WH308]

I was quite pleased that when I loaded some 150gr peregrine VLR4’s, the point of impact was spot on the same as the 150gr hornady interlocks I’ve used for years. The two loads are completely interchangeable without any scope adjustment.

Only did the load development the other week so yet to try a peregrine on a fallow.

 

[Smudger687]

I was quite pleased that when I loaded some 150gr peregrine VLR4’s, the point of impact was spot on the same as the 150gr hornady interlocks I’ve used for years. The two loads are completely interchangeable without any scope adjustment.

Only did the load development the other week so yet to try a peregrine on a fallow.

Don't suppose you've chronoed that load? What's the load data if you don't mind sharing?

 

[WH308]

Don't suppose you've chronoed that load? What's the load data if you don't mind sharing?

I’ll have it written down at home. I’ll look it out for you.

 

[Smudger687]

I’ll have it written down at home. I’ll look it out for you.

Appreciate it, thanks

 

[TundB]

I have same rifle which shots copper well regardless of grain however I try to use heavier grain to get cleaner carcasses.
I prefer;
Federal Trophy Copper
Hornady CX
Barnes TTSX
Federal HP copper

I avoid;
S&B Blue (I think)
Hornady GMX
Geco Zero
RWS Evo Green
Sako Blade (haven’t tried newer version)