Has anyone any thoughts or views on using the 123 grain Sako ammo out of a 308Win for small red stags? We are talking animals on the outer isles so they are probably about the size of a woodland hind, maybe even smaller.

Sako market it as designed for deer sized animals so it isn't a varmit bullet and I've seen hinds taken well with it but would be interested in your views.

cao......

One of the most popular cartridges in the UK for Stags is the .270 Winchester and the standard loading a 130 grain bullet, so from my point of view if the Sako bullet is adequately constructed for Deer sized game animals I would not get all wound around the axle for 7 grains of bullet weight.

The .308 Winchester is certainly in the right cartridge class for Stags of any weight IMO, so if the bullet works, I would use it.

If you are talking about 123 grain Sako Gamehead, then Sako do like to sell the ammo as deer ammo, however it´s just a plain vanilla cup and core bullet,

but soft and light, the Vo is 925 m/s, a rather high Vo and I have used that bullet my self in reloading on small game, it´s abselutely devestating, I blew up a fox with it, almost made two separate parts.


I would not use that loading on deer, not on roe or other deer, however if one is in need to have them go down instantly and is less worried about meat loss then they are alright, they shoot great.

Best regards Chris

Caorach,

Is this the cartridge you shoot in the 308 on your regular stalking trips?

I shoot the Gamehead through my 243 in 90gr and for what it's worth I think it is a little fast in expansion for use on the Reds.

I think I have a box of the 150grain Super Hammerheads (which you are welcome to if you are local), which I would prefer for the reds. I don't use them anymore as my 308 throws the odd one as a random flyer, but that has nothing to do with the round just the Vhit powder that my Sauer 202 can't shoot.

That way you can still shoot Sako Ammo and have the same brass if you are collecting it. I'll try to remember to look into my cabinet onight and see if I still have them, Not sure if I already gave them away.

Rgds,
FB

FB thanks for your kind offer but I'm in Northern Ireland so I'm not dead handy :-)

The background to this is that I hope to be taking my rifle to Scotland for stags but the ferries that I'm travelling on will not allow me to carry ammo. Where I'm going (Lewis) there is only one shop that stocks ammo and so I depend upon what they have and the 123 grain Sako was one of the options for 308. The other options were 150 grain Norma which I believe is the Nosler balistic tip and some 150 grain Remington which I have no details about.

My thoughts were that the Sako was probably a bit light and I'm not dead convinced by the ballistic tip idea, though am open to the views of those with experience of it. I need to highlight that I'm a new shooter with almost zero experience in the field so my views are worth just about next to nothing in practise.

I will also get the views of the stalkers I will be on the hill with but I will need to zero the rifle in advance of my stalking days as I don't have any of that ammo here so all of the ammo available would be new to me.

This will be my first ever trip for stags so I'm excited and have loads of questions that for the experienced stalker are probably neither here nor there.

Coarach,

In that case I would say that you should probably make sure you buy two of the three. Check for sure that the Norma is the Ballistic Tip or Not. That way you can pick which of the brands shoots best. Alternatively let someone know what brand you shoot at home and bullet weight and get a box sent upto the shop in Lewis for you to pick up. I'm sure they would be ameanable in return for a bottle of Duty free. (If they can't get you a box of what you want directly with enough notice)

It may make for an expensive(ish) box of ammunition but it will also make for peace of mind when going to the overall expense of such a trip.

When are you travelling?

Rgds,
FB

Caorach, does baggage get xrayed on the ferry?

Norma 150 grain bullets carries a little telltale green cap, they are BT,

http://www.norma.cc/sortimentjakt.asp?Kaliber=22&Lang=1&Kalibernamn=.308%20Win

Perhaps it just me but in the choice between to not so great loadings go with the heavier bullet and more moderate speed.

Best regards Chris

quote:

Originally posted by Boghossian:
Caorach, does baggage get xrayed on the ferry?

Bog ordinarily it doesn't but then if you are travelling with a firearm you may be subject to different security procedures.

I had thought the same thing though....

FB

I'm off early Friday morning so there isn't much scope to do anything complicated. As you suggest FB I will probably just have to take what I can get when I arrive and take a little time to do some testing/zeroing. Hopefully I have arrangements in place to make that possible.

Although I have been planning this for some months due to various complications it has only becoming definite within literally the last few hours.

Thanks to everyone for their assistance and for sharing their knowledge. Based upon the comments from Chris I will give the Sako a miss unless the stalker I am going on the hill with specifically recommends it.

Philip, since when can't you bring your ammo on the ferries? You can bring ammo on a commecial flight?

I understand that you can't bring ammo as a foot passenger as effectively you are sitting on the ferry with a rifle in one case and ammo in another. But if the ammo is in the car what is the problem? I have made this trip with rifle and ammo any number of times and have declared it on boarding with no difficulties.

Check P&O out of Larne.

To Answer your question, buy 150gr ammo when you get there and zero to it, if you are forced down this route.

Good luck and put up a report on your return!

I'm sure the bullet situation will be fine as long as you hit them just right with the pointy end.

Thanks Boghossian, the main purpose of the trip is for trout but hopefully a stag will come my way and I will try to take a few photos and file a report either way.

I'm going out to Troon and ammo can not be carried on that particular boat, I think it is an aluminium hull and that is what makes the difference as P&O allow ammo on some other sailings. CalMac also inform me that they will not carry ammo on their Ullapool-Stornoway service now but this is news to me, perhaps it is a new thing.

I have been using these rounds for about five years and they are my favourite rounds in my .308. I have found them very accurate and devastatingly effective on deer.

I have mentioned them on UK forum but the impression I got was that they were considered a bit unconventional and not too welcome. However the RFD who I got to order them for me now sells more of these than any other make in that calibre.


Grant

Caroach- how did things turn out?

Best regards Chris

Well, I spent two days for stags and didn't get one but I will try to file a report with some pictures in due course, perhaps tomorrow. I had an excellent two days and learnt a lot.

In terms of ammo I followed the general advice and bought some 150 grain Remington ammo and zeroed the rifle with it. I'd made an arrangement to get access to some ground suitable for this process. So, that was a success.