Moving my 308 to lead free- suggestions and thoughts please

[Utectok]

Most of my stalking is fallow and roe. But I do take a fair amount of munties and CWD as well each year. Clearly 300wm is a touch overkill for most small/medium deer in this country however it can’t be too dead right!!!
I do remember the first .30.06 lead free ttsx I used and it was a high seat waiting for a fallow. An adult muntie buck came out at last knockings and I took him and he was 33m away. I then thought oh no I’ve just ruined any chance of meat harvest there?
However on the inspection and gralloch min meat damage entry of approx 5 pence piece and exit of 50 pence piece and max destruction inside which surprised me.
I’m not sure about other lead free offerings but I know the ttsx is designed to expand on impact and dump 95-100%of its weight in the animal. It is designed to expand within 18 inches which I agree is approx red stag width not roe or muntjac. It is not designed for head shooting or really neck shooting.
The rws eco greens in my opinion at shite as they go too fast and just pencil straight through and I got runners every time. Found them but after a follow up

These bullets work mate in my limited experience of them. BUT they do need to be sent out quicker so light for calibre is the way to go. So if you usually shoot for arguments sake a 150gr lead .308 then drop down to a 130gr bullet in the ttsx.
Most of my perms now are lead free and both game dealers I use now won’t take any animal unless lead free is used. Sad fact of life I’m afraid.

I agree wholeheartedly. I note your comment on head and neck shots... I neckshot one roe recently with Barnes ttsx 130gn going 2940fps and although the doe died pretty much where it stood that was because it bled out through the jugular. Never had that experience with lead that usually takes the neck apart.. this bullet just missed the bone and seemed to leave modest entry and exit wounds. Having said that I very rarely neckshoot unless it’s the only option and the 6 other deer I shot over those two days with ttsx, all roe, were chest shot and went at most 20m. Some bruising but pretty tidy carcasses. They were all chest shot between 100-150m.

 

[5pointer]

I use Fox 150gr in my .30-06 and it’s superb. Will shoot half inch groups and has performed fantastically on deer - good and reliable expansion and good wound channeled, with limited carcass damage.
I had previously tried RWS HIT 160gr (iirc?) and it was far too hard and pencilled straight through. My circle of friends who also stalk have now all gone over to the Fox offerings and are also very impressed.

 

[Grannysmith]

Dont