My brother is going off on a caribou hunt in 2 1/2 weeks and will be using a 308. Unfortunately too many other darn projects going on to work up a load using my favorite nosler partitions so he is going to buy some factory premium hunting ammo, anyone have a preference? The info packet he got says the ranges will be between 100 and 225 yards, and they recommended bullet weights 150-180 grains. I would lean toward the heavy side there, and go with 180's but then I've never shot a caribou either, someone else said 165 gr work fine but he'd never actually shot one either. Anyone have some practical experience and preference here??

TIA!

Mark

Mark, what ever will shoot good in his gun for factory loads. The Remington Core Locks are hard to beat and Federal has some good loads also. If he has a favorite whitetail load, use it.Caribou are not a hard animal to put down.

Mark: Last year we took 8 caribou for 4 hunters. Either Hornadys or Core-Lokts were the bullets used. Three were factory loadings in .308, 30-06, and 7 MM Rem. Mine were Hornadys in 7 MM Rem. Shots ranged from 40 yards to 300 yards. As Al said any whitetail bullet is fine. The .308 guy used Rem 180's.

A 165 gr. bullet would be a good compromise weight. Shoots almost as flat as a 150 gr., hits almost as hard as a 180 gr. I would go with an expanding type bullet, such as a Ballistic Tip or Hornady SST, they perform very well at the modest speeds a 308 will produce.

My buddy & I killed two nice bull caribou in Alaska 1-1/2 weeks ago.

He shoots a .300 WIn & I shoot a .300 Wthby, both of us used Federal premium, 180 grain Nosler partitions with no problem.

I too would agree that any good whitetail bullet would do the job.

Sounds like the Federal Premium ammo with 180-grain Nosler Partitions would be just the thing for this situation. Within the range you specified and with the rifle zeroed for 200 yards, just hold dead on and press the trigger. They run 2400 fps out of my .308 Steyr Scout's 19" barrel are are accurate. In fact, I use 180-grain Nosler Partitions in my standard handload for the Scout, though slightly faster at 2500 fps (slightly more accurate), so that I can just pick up a box of the factory stuff if I don't have my handloads available for some reason and not have to rezero.

Caribou are not noted as hard to bring down with a varirety of cartridges. For close range out to 225 yards in the 308 I would choose the 135 or 150 grain bullet. A well placed shot behind the shoulder should put the bull on the ground with no problem. The 308 lacks the powder capacity to drive the heavly constructed jacket of the 180 to 220 grain bullet fast enough to mushroom properly out past 175 yards. The lighter weight bullet will shoot flatter over that 100 to 225 yard distance in your 308 and release all it's energy inside the animal. Bullet weights from 125 to 165 grains perform best in the small powder capacity 308 case. Bullet placement and the proper weight bullet is the right combination to harvest your Caribou. You want the bullet to release all it's energy in the animal not plow a bullet sized hole through the animal. Good luck and remember bullet placement is as important as bullet selection in the cartridge your using.

Just buy two boxes of ammo of each type from 150 thru 165 gr and try them all at once. Bring bore cleaning stuff and screw drivers to the range and use the one that shot the best.

I would find time to make a load up. You must have a deer load? Ask here for a pet load.

If your going with another buddy I would bring at least one extra rifle between you for backup.

The .308 Winchester is just about perfect for this hunt. Good luck.

Mark- Any of the 165s in the .308 are the best combination. Box of 165 RemCoreLokts is all he needs- and they're cheap!