Need a little help making my mind up. I expect this is gonna be close on a few of these bullets, but would like your opinions.

Thanks

Question:
Hunting everything from Whitetail to Antelope and Elk. Loading for a 308 and looking for best bullet choices in a 165 gr

Thanks

Choices:
Hornady Interbond 165
Sierra Gameking HPBT 165
Accubond 165
Swift A-Frame 165
Berger HPBT 165 Hunting bullet (orange box)

 

Sorry, you forgot the champion of them all:

The 168 gr. Barnes Tipped TTSX:

S.D. B.C.

.253 .470

always had good results with the 165 speer hot core

i use 180gr partitions for everything in the west, but you may want to try the 165gr partitions

For deer I've used bulk 165 gr Remington Core-Lokt's with good success. For everything else I like the Nosler partition or the TSX. Both are GREAT bullets.

Not a bad choice in the bunch. I am of the belief the premium bullet craze is just a marketing gimmick. The best is the one most accurate in your rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by 30378:
Not a bad choice in the bunch. I am of the belief the premium bullet craze is just a marketing gimmick. The best is the one most accurate in your rifle.

++++1!!!!

Nosler part are what I would use if my rifle shot them well enough.Good Luck

My favorite bullet in the 308 is the 165 Trophy Bonded Bearclaw.
The wife and I have used this bullet in the Federal factory load from game such as bobcat, coyote, to deer, wild pigs, zebra, wildbest, heyena, honey badger.

It does not "blow up" the small stuff, and it kills the big stuff...

I have used, and like, a lot of different bullets in the 308, but if I could have only one, that would be my choice.

Barnes TSX

quote:

Originally posted by mstarling:
For deer I've used bulk 165 gr Remington Core-Lokt's with good success.

+1

In my totally unprofessional opinion, Corelokts are the best bullet for the price. I have killed quite a few head of game (deer and hogs) and never had a failure, and accuracy with them has always been excellent.

Don't forget he mentioned elk as game.

I would be very hesitant to take a front quartering shot at a bull elk with a .308 Winchester using the Corelokt.

I have used a lot of bullets in the 308 over the years.

I have been hunting with it for 34 years.

For deer and antelope it is hard to pick a bad bullet, but when the game gets bigger, and the bones are tougher I like a premium bullet.

It is like insurance. I want a bullet that will work from ANY angle.

In truth a 165 or 180 Nosler Partition would be hard to beat. while not needed on the deer sized stuff, it works great on the bigger game.

Several of my 308 rifles have shot into the same group with Sierra 165gr HPBT Gamekings, 165 Nosler Ballistic Tips, and 165 Nosler Partitions loaded over the same powder charge. And because these bullets all have a different "nose" it is easy to tell them apart.

This powder charge is 39.5gr of IMR 3031.

It is MY 308 load. I have also used it with 168 Matchkings for competition.

It is a fairly light load suitable for M1A's, M1 Garands, FN/FAL's and H&K 91's.

I have killed antelope with it at 550 yards.

I also use the same powder charge with 180gr bullets...

You can load a 308 "hotter" but I have never seen the need...

165 Woodleigh PPSN. Everytime.

Edit: http://www.australianhunting.n...ex.php?topic=37182.0

quote:

Originally posted by Code4:
165 Woodleigh PPSN. Everytime.

If I lived in the Land Down Under, that would be my choice...

Woodleigh bullets have performed perfectly for me.

I killed a black bear with my Blaser K 95 in 308, with the Federal factory 180gr Woodleigh Soft...

I do not think Federal offers that load any longer...

But I have several boxes in reserve...

Woodleighs are some of the best bullets on the Planet...

They are my favorites in the 9,3x74R, 450/400 and in the 450 No2...

t-c,

Good Poll and for sure; you've already received respsonses that run the gamut from A-Z.

I had to vote for the 165 gr. Sierra HPBT - only because I've shot more of them at game over the years than any of the bullets mentioned (including others).

IMO you can't go wrong with pretty much any 165 gr. .308" bullet on the market today; there just aren't too many flops & duds in the myriad of offerings or they won't sell - period. I'm sure the marketing managers & R&D staff at the various bullet companies are sitting around complacently allowing the competition to manufacter a better mousetrap than their's while simultaneously watching their market share plumet. IMO we've got some seriously good bullet offerings in the marketplace today and they all don't have to cost upwards of $2.00 each to be good, either.

quote:

Not a bad choice in the bunch. I am of the belief the premium bullet craze is just a marketing gimmick.

Appears 303, wetdog and myself included (+3) are pretty much on a mind meld here when it comes to "premium" bullets. They have their place in the Grand Scheme of Things but for an everyday "Go To" 165 gr. .308" bullet outa a .308 Winchester or .30/06 Sprg. a Remington, Speer, Hornady, Sierra or Nosler (in all of their SKU's; BTs, ABs, IBs, ILs, HCs, K-Ls, Partitions) are pretty "tough" to beat for both accuracy & terminal perfomance out of anything less than an Atomic Rocket Launcher.

Life's all about "Choices"; in Namibia this summer we used Swifts' & Barnes' on heavier game and last week I did the Nose-in-the-Dirt Trick (=perfect accuracy & terminal perfomance) on 4 Red Deer Hinds with a box of (if I read the packaging label correctly) Hornady 165 gr. SPBT's (#3045) that were manufactured in 1982 out of a .30/06 Sprg. - go figure.

I imagine on this Forum you're not gonna get too many occaisional shooters/hunters but seriously passionate & dedicated reloaders and hunters with vast expereince shooting 100's if not 1,000's of bullets annually; and therfore a pretty broad spectrum of honest "what work's for me" answers.

Good luck with your bullet choice in your .308 Win....

Ooops! I didn't read 308 in OP. My post is for a 30-06.

I do not recommend a 165 for Elk; 180's would be so much better for them. I would have voted for Nosler Ballistic Tips for the smaller critters, mule deer on down, but since it wasn't there and you did want one for elk, I went with Accubond. I have been thinking of switching to them someday anyhow.

Lots of good bullets to choose from! I went Accubond but have had great experience on deer sized game will GameKings and Interbonds as well.

A buddy and I loaded up some Interbonds a couple of years ago for my 300 WSM. The accuracy hasn't been great, but acceptable in a hunting range of 300 yards or so. I loaded 150s, and am in the process of loading up some 165s and 180s. Word is that these Kimber Montana's like the heavier loads a lot better. I've killed approx. 5 or 6 deer with the 150s and only had to track one. The doe that I had to track was shot from 30 yards, and I'm thinking the bullet went through and never opened up. The exit was just about the same as the entrance. She went about 100 yards, but it was through some of our thick Alabama briars etc. and straight down a hill. She was dead when I got to her 1 hour later, and did bleed out good.

Overall, I've been happy with the Inerbonds, but do want to develope some different loads for different guns.

I am going to load some Accubond 180s for the Kimber 300WSM. I would think that would be a pretty sweet Elk load, and the Montana is no doubt a pleasure to carry.

I appreciate all the info. any other ideas on powders, and loads is very welcome.

quote:

Originally posted by Gerry:

quote:

Not a bad choice in the bunch. I am of the belief the premium bullet craze is just a marketing gimmick.

Appears 303, wetdog and myself included (+3) are pretty much on a mind meld here when it comes to "premium" bullets. They have their place in the Grand Scheme of Things but for an everyday "Go To" 165 gr. .308" bullet outa a .308 Winchester or .30/06 Sprg. a Remington, Speer, Hornady, Sierra or Nosler

I don't understand this mentality. You talk like you shoot 365 deer and 365 elk each year with the "everyday go to" comment. When shooting a 308 Winchester, I would use the absolute best bullet available. The irony is the premium bullets are just as accurate or more so.

ar: Don't understand why you don't understand.

Can't speak for 303, but for "everyday use" (in my case that means deer/hogs/antelope, etc) I see no advantage in a premium bullet for cartridges such as the 270/280/30-06/308 etc.

Regular cup and core bullets work just as well as premiums, and generally cost less.

Now perhaps the Speers/Sierras, etc are not the "best" (not sure how "best" would be defined) but they work, for this particular application just as well....maybe better.

Same rationale for me as buying regular unleaded gasoline. May not be the "best", but it works in my truck just as well as premium, and it costs less.

I like Hornadys and speers for deer. I bet they would work good on elk also. If cheap kills just as goods as spendy I don't see buying the spendy bullets. But yet I sure do like the 200 grain Accubonds and Partitions in my 8X57.

Totally agree with the Core Lokt bullet. If I went elk hunting with a .308 and a 165gr bullet, I would step up to a NP or a Grand Slam.

Obviously the Accubonds is an overwhelming favorite in this poll. Interbond is second, but Abonds still got twice the votes.

I appreciate the help.

I'm going to shoot some of all of these, but will more than likely use the Accubonds and Interbonds the most, and for the more serious hunts. (serious being hunts requiring travel or extra money for license or trespass fee)

For most shots on deer sized game it is hard to pick a bad bullet of 150, 165, or 180 gr in a 308.

I have used several different bullets in the 308 over the years and can say I never discovered a bad one.

If I am hunting in a condition that I might have to make a severe raking shot on a deer, I tend to pick a Premium bullet...

If I was to hunt BIG big game with a 308 I would pick a premium bullet...

My wife shot some BIG African game with a 308 using the Barnes 180 MRX and the 165 Federal Trophy Bonded Bearclaw.

I shot some game including a large Heyena with her 308 and the 165 TBBC with perfect results...

I will admit, I am a Bullet Freek, and I make sure I have a bullet that will take the game I am hunting from any angle...

After all it is the bullet that does all the work...

ALL the travel done...
All the money spent...
All the practice shooting...
All the stalking done...
THE PROPER SHOT TAKEN AND MADE...

In the end, EVERYTHING depends on the BULLET.

EVERYTHING...

I assumed .308 Winchester but hope .308 Norma Magnum.

I am anxiously waiting to try the 165 grain Hornady GMX.

quote:

I don't understand this mentality. You talk like you shoot 365 deer and 365 elk each year with the "everyday go to" comment. When shooting a 308 Winchester, I would use the absolute best bullet available. The irony is the premium bullets are just as accurate or more so.

Yo ar,

quote:

Life's all about "Choices"

No Brag, just Fact and it's not "talk". I have the unadulterated, pure luxery of being able to hunt; well, pretty much any time I desire to; and I elect to exercise this option a lot; much to the chagrin of Mrs. Gerry who would much rather I spend more time at home,

quote:

Life's all about "Choices".

I also live in a country with a 365 day a year hunting season for various game spieces, Roe, Fallow & Red Deer plus Wild Boar. So I am in the field pretty much once a week all year long depending on the season and in the Fall & Winter probably at least 4 days a week. Occaisionally I get lucky, sometimes, not.

Net, I'm extremely fortunate to have the time & opportunity to do alot of what I really enjoy doing. Yes, I personally shoot & participate with others in the taking of a considerable amount of game annually but 730 pieces of game is definately "Too Much-ness".

I also shoot a Competition circuit and (again, according to Mrs. Gerry) spend way-y-y too much time in my basement corner reloading; for myself and my hunting & shooting colleagues who desire a broad spectrum of bullets atop their ammunition running the gamut from vanilla-flavored Cup & Core bullets to some of the most expensive, unique & premium bullets available. To each his own. One Buddy claims my handloads are meticulously, hand-crafted ammunition he has nick-named "GC Gold". He's a Happy-Camper and elected to forego his standard Barnes 180 gr. TSX's this year for Swift 180 gr. Scirocco's in his .300 Win. Mag. Both great bullets; but he considered the Barnse's "too much of a Good Thing" for the game we're shooting.

Actually, my "Go To" bullet for the .308 Winchester is the Remington 150 gr. Bronze Point which performs perfectly the way I've got 'em loaded. Does that mean it's the best or only bullet for a .308 Winchester or the spieces of game that'll be hunted on any given day? Nah, and I've shot a whole bunch of Sierra 165 gr. HPBT's in this cartridge, too. Both have performed just fine (O.K., I could even say, excellently) for me. For spieces of game I shoot the Remington BP's make accurate load in this cartridge with good terminal perfomance. Another Buddy wants the 130 gr. Barnes TTSX's in his .308 Winchester; he simply can't live without 'em.

quote:

They (Premium Bullets) have their place in the Grand Scheme of Things

and I use them also - but not for every application or hunting situation.

No, I don't subscribe to the if it (a bullet) is (supposedly) "the Best" (where's the measure or criteria - price, mono-metal, bonded, jacket-type?) it has to shoot more accurately School of Thought because that's not always the case.

Aynway, we've hijacked enough of t-c98's original thread here concerning his solicitation of a prefered bullet/load in his .308 Winchcester. Based on everyone's input he has made some "Choices" - Cool!

Accubonds have always worked great for me however I've always had better alround performance for 180 gr. in my 30-06 and 308. They seem to carry better hit harder but yet do less meat damage. Just my expereince but in 30 cals I like 180.

I always liked the accubond bullet. They come in all weights & calibers.

quote:

Originally posted by ar corey:
Sorry, you forgot the champion of them all:

The 168 gr. Barnes Tipped TTSX:

S.D. B.C.

.253 .470

they are an awesome projie mate. i used a lot of the tsx and interbonds and did have them both do the odd strange thing but i use nothing but ttsx now. havent had a failure yet and shot game numbering in the hundreds with them now and worked flawlessly every time

In a .308 could you actually go wrong with any bullet listed at 165 grain velocities?

quote:

Originally posted by hunters aim magazine:

quote:

Originally posted by ar corey:
Sorry, you forgot the champion of them all:

The 168 gr. Barnes Tipped TTSX:

S.D. B.C.

.253 .470

they are an awesome projie mate. i used a lot of the tsx and interbonds and did have them both do the odd strange thing but i use nothing but ttsx now. havent had a failure yet and shot game numbering in the hundreds with them now and worked flawlessly every time

Yup, pure poison.

quote:

Originally posted by olarmy:
ar: Don't understand why you don't understand.

Can't speak for 303, but for "everyday use" (in my case that means deer/hogs/antelope, etc) I see no advantage in a premium bullet for cartridges such as the 270/280/30-06/308 etc.

3 major advantages:

- extremely accurate: I find the TTSX to be just as accurate or more so than the Nosler Ballistic Tip. I have not shot the Accubond but have read it equals the Ballistic tip

- 95-100% weight retention: This can almost guarantee a complete bullet exit with the 308 or 30-06 at decent ranges. It can also mean "attempting" a shoulder quarter-to on a bull.

- No blood shot meat: If you do that much hunting you must eat lots or supply others. In your case, a premium is even better based on the smaller game you listed. Rip a Ballistic Tip or even an Accubond through an antelope with a 30-06 at 100 yards and you got lots of jelly to cut out.

i think the 150s are too fast out of a 30-06. i always got lots of blood shot meat. i think things settle down at 165 grains. not many bullets will break and fail at 165 weight in 30-06, meaning, most will work great.

My Savage 11fc in 308Win loves the Barnes XFB's. For elk I use over 46Gr Varget (Max Load)2790FPS 3/4" Groups @ 100M, and for deer I use over 42.5gr Varget 2600FPS 5/8" groups @ 100m.

I checked off the Sierra Gamekings, however I can't speak for them for elk. Great on deer size game. Alway accurate!

TC98;

Which one shoots the best in your rifle?

Buy a few boxes with the same lot # if you can and forget the rest. They all will work just fine, as will the rather plain ones not mentioned (Speer HC, Rem CL, Win PP etc).

I chose the 180 Nosler Partition-Protected Point for my go-to load in my most used rifle-an M98 30/06. At 2700 fs it is flat enough for game out to 300 or so yards w/o fooling with the sights, it has plenty of power, expands quickly for little stuff yet penetrates like a dambuster for stuff like bears and elk and holds to about 1.5 MOA (yes, a 4-5" inch group at 300 yards is tight enough for anything I will likley toss a bullet at).

I bought 10 boxes- the vendor was able to insure all were of the same lot#.

Folks like Graf, Midway etc will likely accommodate your same lot # request if you ask.

Hunting with a .308 does not require premium bullets due to the mild velocities. The Sierra Hollow points, a Cor Lokt, a Hornady Spire Point etc. will perform every task asked of it. I have a problem recommending the expensive Barnes bullets, in that, at extended ranges, you are dealing with a velocity/expansion problem. A Nosler partition is designed to perform at virtually any velocity and would be a good choice if you felt more comfortable with a premium bullet. The .308 will do exactly what you want, but it will do it without needing the expensive premiums.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
My favorite bullet in the 308 is the 165 Trophy Bonded Bearclaw.
The wife and I have used this bullet in the Federal factory load from game such as bobcat, coyote, to deer, wild pigs, zebra, wildbest, heyena, honey badger.

It does not "blow up" the small stuff, and it kills the big stuff...

I have used, and like, a lot of different bullets in the 308, but if I could have only one, that would be my choice.

I'll second that. I just wish they were still available in the original, non-tipped form. I will admit though that the 165gr Gamekings are more accurate out of my rifle.

I would go with Hornady Interlocks just because they have always worked for me. ALL of the others are also fine for the application.