I have just purchased the above subject rifle, and I haven't even mounted the scope yet (2.5-8 Leupold VX-III). Purchase is in response to Obamamania, for which my wife is considering sending me to psychiatrist/Dave Ramsey sessions .

I have heard that these rifles in .308 really like the 150 grain weight class bullets, but I'm not sure.

Any suggestions or experiences with this rifle/cartridge combination would be appreciatied, especially regarding factory first and then handload ammunition. This will mainly be a white-tail, wild hog, sheep (when I save up a lot more) rifle.

Thanks in advance,

Redlander

I had one for bit it was great little rifle and it really liked maxed out 168GR Barnes TSX.

Mine would shoot them way sub MOA.

Two reasonable actions you took. First, buying a good rifle. Next, your wife's appointment for you to a psychiatrist for Obamania. Really, if you precieve a threat to your fire arms, don't go outside without a helmet for fear of meteorites. Seriously.

If you have the bling to buy a Kimber and a Leupold VX-III, you should have the $$$ and interest to set yourself up hand loading. There just is no substitute. Join a gun club and find someone who does. Really, I do and I'd love for someone to ask me to reload for him. It's principle. Like fisherman-tied vs. foreign tied flies.

Hello,
I have shot the 308 for number of years in both match type shooting and hunting and the caliber is inherently accurate to begin with and w/ your quality rifle should deliver fine accuracy with either factory and definitely reloads. Twist is most likely either 10 or 12 and the 12 twist would favor the 150-175 range of bullets.
Either twist will work fine for a sporting rifle. I have found the Sierra Game King 165gr will deliver near the accuracy of the Sierra Match King 168's with either twist at normal hunting ranges. If you do end up reloading, Varget, IMR 4064, RE 15 are all good powders.
As mentioned earlier, reloading is the route to take if you are going to get the most enjoyment/use of your new rifle for price of factory ammo is soaring and you can save quite a bit w/ reloading and also gain the knowledge of just how well the 308 will shoot. It will do most anything the 06 will do other than the heaviest bullets in 30 caliber. You have a good combo with not only the brand of rifle, scope and the caliber selected for your intended purposes.

I bought a 84-M with the prety french walnut.
So far it certainly seems to like your idea of 150 grain bullets.
mine prefers the 150 grain speer hot core over IMR-4064.
It shows some promise with a 165 grain balistic tip over varget.
The only 180 grain load I tried was a box of winchester power points.
It was crazy that such a other wise fine rifle witch shoots quite well could shoot a load so badly.
The targets were fairly typical 100 yard sight in targets with 4, 2X2 black squares and a 1 inch black dot in the center.
I had several sub 1 inch groups with the 150 grain hot core, but the 180 grain Winchester was so bad you could not tell witch 2 inch sqauare I was shooting at.
Not a problem as I prefer 150s and 165s in the .308 anyway.
I have an 06 for 180s and several bigger bore rifles too, so it will be a great deer rifle. And if I find a 165 grain load it likes,it will do fine for elk too.
...tj3006

My montana really likes 150 hornadys at 2900.

I haven't shot my 84M much, only 513 rounds. So far nothing shoots under 2" consistently, average group is 3"-5"@ 100yds. Many types of bullets and weights, powders, re-bedded, re crowned, re free floated, magazine ground so you can close the floorplate without it binding the action, misaligned pillars rebored so that action screws can freely access the holes in the receiver without leaving thread tracks on the interior of the pillars. Mine is one of the most sloppily built guns I've ever owned...

My son's 84M likes plain old Winchester 150 grain Powerpoints as much as any other factory ammo. It shoots close to an inch for three shots at 100, but the groups loosen on the 4th and 5th shot.

Redlander,

My Kimber 84M Montana shoots its loads well. I don't think that one can predict what load will shoot best it that rifle over there.

Just use an appropriate load for the game and distance. I load the 155 Berger VLD's in mine for whitetails.