308 18" on Elk bullet selection

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nortac

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Mar 12, 2019
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I plan on a Elk hunt next fall in Colorado and would like to use my short 18" barreled suppressed that I am very very accurate with out to 500 yards and have taken multiple deer, coyotes and hogs within that range. Velocity with the Nosler BT 168 grain is 2660. I have a super accurate load out to 500 with the Nosler 168 BT and that bullet has killed everything I have hit it with. Nothing elk size though. Just curious thoughts on bullet selection at lower velocities and if the 168 BT would be acceptable out to 400 yards? At 400 still pulling 1500lbs + energy and the lower velocity should help keep the bullet together.
 
Pat Sinclair killed a HEAP of critters including several elk with a 308/155 scenar and many of these were hundreds of yards beyond 500. He's the authority on the 308 with 155's in my opinion.
 
At this slower velocities, I would go with a mid-weight cup and core. The BT, ELD-X or -M, or Berger.

If I was reloading, I’d try to get a load with the 168 Berger.

Factor ammo, I’d try the 178 ELDX-X.


>>>——JAKE——>
 
Don’t even consider foot pounds in your thinking. Take your load you have now, run it through a ballistic calculator with the atmospherics you will be hunting and where it hits 1800 fps, is your maximum range. Compare that with other bullets using posted BC’s and you can estimate muzzle velocities for different weights if you don’t have direct data. Most factory numbers are for a 24” so 6” more than your 18”. 25fps per inch. Then subtract 1” to allow for the freebore boost from your can. So 25x5 in this case, or 125 fps less than box velocities. That will be close enough for the exercise to compare bullets and their maximum terminal range.
 
Thanks for the info so far. I hand load for all my rifles with chrono work and multiple calculators, Shooters Calculator, Strelok and Leica.... My 18" pushes the 168 BT at 2660fps at 500ft and 80F. The 1500lbs of energy was just a figure for reference more than anything. At 500 yards over 1500lbs of energy and still pushing a little over 2000fps based on the .490 BC and elevation of 7,000ft. My concern was simply using the 168 Nosler BT since I have a really accurate and tested load for it. My other option was switching out and going through the long process of doing load work for the 180 Accubond (I have those on hand). Although lower velocity seems to be my friend on the 168 BT. I haven't purchased factory hunting ammo in over 15 years so I probably will not start with that now. I did consider the 178 ELD-X but looking at cross cuts of the bullets the 168BT seems to have a thcker jacket than the ELD-X especially at the base.
 
nortac said:
Thanks for the info so far. I hand load for all my rifles with chrono work and multiple calculators, Shooters Calculator, Strelok and Leica.... My 18" pushes the 168 BT at 2660fps at 500ft and 80F. The 1500lbs of energy was just a figure for reference more than anything. At 500 yards over 1500lbs of energy and still pushing a little over 2000fps based on the .490 BC and elevation of 7,000ft. My concern was simply using the 168 Nosler BT since I have a really accurate and tested load for it. My other option was switching out and going through the long process of doing load work for the 180 Accubond (I have those on hand). Although lower velocity seems to be my friend on the 168 BT. I haven't purchased factory hunting ammo in over 15 years so I probably will not start with that now. I did consider the 178 ELD-X but looking at cross cuts of the bullets the 168BT seems to have a thcker jacket than the ELD-X especially at the base.
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I'd stick with your 168gr BT. You already have an accurate load for it and the bullets are designed to expand at 1800 fps or greater. At 400 yards you'll still be above 2000 fps. At 500 yards you're still above 1900 fps.
 
Just stay off the shoulder if you happen to get a close shot and you’ll be fine with the current load.
 
I’ve got an identical build. Running 165 TGKs. As others have said, ignore energy and look at speeds. 1800fps is the cutoff


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You arent the only one overthinking. I have same setup. Mine shoots 165 and 168 Federal bonded tips well. But thinking i wanted something like ELDX, ELDM or NBT for more expansion. Im not going as big as elk mainly WT, Hogs, Maybe Nilgai antelope or Aoudad.
 
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22Conch said:
You arent the only one overthinking. I have same setup. Mine shoots 165 and 168 Federal bonded tips well. But thinking i wanted something like ELDX, ELDM or NBT for more expansion. Im not going as big as elk mainly WT, Hogs, Maybe Nilgai antelope or Aoudad.
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I can tell you Nilgai are tough animals. Their heart is further forward and they can soak up a 180 accubond at 3100fps and run like nothing happened. The idea is to break their shoulders so they cannot run. They are exceptionally tasty! :)
 
nortac said:
I plan on a Elk hunt next fall in Colorado and would like to use my short 18" barreled suppressed that I am very very accurate with out to 500 yards and have taken multiple deer, coyotes and hogs within that range. Velocity with the Nosler BT 168 grain is 2660. I have a super accurate load out to 500 with the Nosler 168 BT and that bullet has killed everything I have hit it with. Nothing elk size though. Just curious thoughts on bullet selection at lower velocities and if the 168 BT would be acceptable out to 400 yards? At 400 still pulling 1500lbs + energy and the lower velocity should help keep the bullet together.
Click to expand...
I have killed several elk with 308 168gr TTSX, 20” barrel. They all fall pretty quick. I don’t think you’ll have issues with your current load if you shoot them in the boiler room
 
I know target bullets are the fad here but you can get a 130 TTSX going 3k at 18 I ches and it is a stone cold killer.

Quit the ft lbs BS and just calculate min impact speed for expansion. The 130 Barnes does well to 1800 easily.
 
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