.308 Winchester 150, 180, 220-grain & 30-30 170-grain

[BCM1323654788]

I was thinking about 308's and decided I'd like to find out what the differences are between the loads mentioned, so I did a little figuring.

Here's a comparison between the 150,180, and 220-grain .308 loadings in my reloading manual. For kicks, I threw in a 30-30 number at the end.

The recoil numbers from an 8.25lb rifle are as follows:
150-grain bullet @ 2700 fps = 13.13lbs
180-grain bullet @ 2450 fps = 14.32lbs
220-grain bullet @ 2200 fps = 14.95lbs
170-grain bullet @ 2100 fps = 10.67lbs (30-30 7lb rifle)

Sectional density with Hornady InterLock round nose bullets are as follows:
150-grain = .226
180-grain = .271
220-grain = .331
170-grain = .256 (Hornady InterLock flat point 30-30)

Energy, Momentum, and Taylor K.O. numbers are as follows:
150-grain = 2427ft lbs , 57(m) , 17(k.o.)
180-grain = 2398ft lbs , 63(m) , 19(k.o.)
220-grain = 2153ft lbs , 66(m) , 20(k.o.)
170-grain = 1664ft lbs , 51(m) , 15(k.o.)

Ballistic Coefficients are as follows:
150-grain = .186
180-grain = .241
220-grain = .300
170-grain = .189

A condensed version of Ballistics:

308 sighted in at 100-yard zero, with 1.5" high scope
30-30 sighted in at 75-yard zero, with 0.75" high iron sights

150-grain @ 2700 fps
60 yards ~ velocity (2415 fps) , impact (0.1") , energy (1943ft lbs)
150 yards ~ velocity (2037 fps) , impact (-1.71") , energy (1382ft lbs)

180-grain @ 2450 fps
60 yards ~ velocity (2479 fps) , impact (0.07") , energy (2456ft lbs)
150 yards ~ velocity (2180 fps) , impact (-1.53") , energy (1900ft lbs)

220-grain @ 2200 fps
60 yards ~ velocity (2043 fps) , impact (0.39") , energy (2039ft lbs)
150 yards ~ velocity (1828 fps) , impact (-2.57") , energy (1632ft lbs)

170-grain @ 2100 fps
60 yards ~ velocity (1861 fps) , impact (0.28") , energy (1307ft lbs)
100 yards ~ velocity (1716 fps) , impact (-1") , energy (1112ft lbs)
120 yards ~ velocity (1647 fps) , impact (-2.33") , energy (1024ft lbs)

The idea is to use it as a nice woods gun, and explore the potential of the cartridge.

I'd be interested to hear what 308 loads have worked best and if anyone has experience with the heavier loads. I know I left out the 165-grain bullet (and several others), but it wasn't offered in a round nose and I skipped over it. I may edit the post and add it to the comparison in the future, but for now, these are all round nose Hornady bullets (save 30-30). Feel free to list whatever .308 bullet you've used in the field and how you've liked it, be it mentioned or not.

My guess is that the quickest kills come from the 150's and 165's and that the 180's and 220's may tend to pass through without doing as much damage to surrounding tissue (unless contacting a bone).

 

[ADAduckhuntr]

You sir are an oracle of info.

 

[BCM1323654788]

You sir are an oracle of info.

Yea I've always liked to look into things and compare.

 

[ADAduckhuntr]

My current deer rifle is a TC .308,
Interested in your quest.

 

[EMC45]

Me personal shooting with the .308 would indicate the 150s and 165s would be better suited and keep the heavier 180s and 220s for the 30-06 or .300 WIN MAG. Both for the recoil and the trajectory.

Having said the above I have never killed a deer or anything (other than paper) with the .308. All my kills were with different calibers.

Awesome write up and data!

 

[BCM1323654788]

I just read a little more on the topic and it seems the twist rate of the rifle may determine the maximum bullet that can be used. Seems the 308 is usually offered in 1 in 10" twist and 1 in 12" twist and the shorter twist rates stabilizes the longer bullets better. Some of the information I've read says 200 grains is the limit for 1 in 12" twist and that 1 in 10" will stabilize 220, but I've not been able to find many congruent sources thus far. The test rifle in my reloading manual was a Winchester Model 70 with a 22" barrel and 1 in 12" twist and they didn't say anything about questionable accuracy so I'd say it's worth looking into.

One advantage that the .308 has when compared to smaller calibers is that it's already .308" in diameter. Even if it only expands to 40% (traveling at a slower velocity) it's still about the same size as a 60% expanded .264 bullet.

I would have to estimate that it would get the job done with less damage to the meat (compared to higher velocity, quicker killing 150-168-grain .308 bullets, save hitting bone), yet doing enough damage to surrounding tissues that you could afford to be off the mark by a few inches and not have to worry about following a blood trail for 300 yards. I think it would obviously buck the brush a little better than a .308 bullet weighing 50 grains less and moving 500 fps faster.

You guys might also want to check out these articles which discuss Jack O'Connor's experiments of shooting rifles through brush in an attempt to measure deflection. Some good information.
https://www.chuckhawks.com/woods_rifles.htm
and
https://www.chuckhawks.com/338_OConnor.htm

In case anyone's wondering, I really like deer rifles and I have a couple. I just prefer to buy new calibers as I add rifles I don't yet own to my collection, which is why I look at things like a 308 brush gun, it's just more interesting to me that way.

 

[gh1950]

My guess is that the quickest kills come from the 150's and 165's and that the 180's and 220's may tend to pass through without doing as much damage to surrounding tissue (unless contacting a bone).

I tried 220s in .30-06 for two years - one of those " I read it in a magazine" things.

My experience was exactly what you stated -they passed right through. Weird. Maybe the thing to use on elk or bear or something, but not on south Ga. deer.

Went back to 150 gr., later in .308, for the lower recoil and have been perfectly satisfied. Good pl' Rem. Core Lokts/

 

[davis211]

My loads were always with 150’s in 308. 150 SST has performed well on deer along with the 150 gr power point. Both at standard velocities.
My latest favorite load is the 130gr Barnes at 3150 fps- loaded these up last yr for my son and they performed great. Exits like a golf ball.

 

[BCM1323654788]

I tried 220s in .30-06 for two years - one of those " I read it in a magazine" things.

My experience was exactly what you stated -they passed right through. Weird. Maybe the thing to use on elk or bear or something, but not on south Ga. deer.

Went back to 150 gr., later in .308, for the lower recoil and have been perfectly satisfied. Good pl' Rem. Core Lokts/

Yea I think there's something about having a tougher, deeper medium to puncture, that may help to open up the bullet.

With the less dense GA Whitetails the loss of hydrostatic shock paired with the size of the expanded projectile may equate to less than stellar performance and long blood trails. One thing a standard .243 or .260 would have over the similarly sized expanded 220-.308 would be a lot more velocity, which would impart a lot more damage.

As larger diameter bullets are added to the equation (something like the 358 Winchester where the 308 case was opened up to .358 diameter) the need for less velocity exists, although there is a point with those as well, where the loss of hydrostatic shock would make for slow kills and long blood trails with less than perfect shot placement.

Deer hunters in this area are probably best suited to stick to the 150 and 165-grain bullets and use their best judgment when placing shots through the brush.

 

[EMC45]

Here's a neat little chart I have had for years...