.308 too big for larger pests?

[bladeracer]

No I dont hand load. Unfortunately I dont have the time or patience haha!! I'm using the .308 Hornady 165gr SST. I thinks it's about a 900m/s projectile.

I don't think it takes that much time, or patience, unless you're really trying to get the best results.
I can make my ammo quicker than driving into town for it. And once you've found the load that works, it's pretty easy to churn out 100rds in an evening.

[Aliqua]

It's something I would like to consider in the future, but for now I just need to put my first rounds through the new rifle and then see just how much time I can allocate. Space in my house is also an issue. I will definitely be speaking to you guys when that day comes!

[AussieCapitalist]

Funny you mention 50 cal on rabbits Aliqua. I have seen it and it there is bugger all left, it is rather brutal. I want to drop something big with my 338 lapua one day. Like a massive pig or a buffalo. The 308 has to be the jack of all trade calibres. If you could only pick one most people would pick the 308 because it can drop the little stuff and the big stuff.

[Aliqua]

I only had the opportunity for one purchase... so I think we share the same thoughts!

[SCJ429]

Funny you mention 50 cal on rabbits Aliqua. I have seen it and it there is bugger all left, it is rather brutal. I want to drop something big with my 338 lapua one day. Like a massive pig or a buffalo. The 308 has to be the jack of all trade calibres. If you could only pick one most people would pick the 308 because it can drop the little stuff and the big stuff.

Hitting a rabbit with a 500 A-Square sounds brutal but it is not as effective as you would think. Obviously a bullet with 8,000 foot pounds of energy as going to cause some damage but big bore bullets are not designed to do their best work on this type of game. The 308 has the advantage of having highly frangable bullets like the Hornady ZMax or the Speer TNT. They work well on foxes or rabbits.

[Aliqua]

I have chosen to go with the hornady superperformance 165gr sst in 308. Because I will spend more time at range practicing precision at long distance than I will hunting (at this stage) so it makes sense to calibrate my scope to that... should i take those rounds hunting yes they're more expensive but i dont plan on shooting 100 in a day?

Should hunting become more prominent and I want a cheaper round, I'll recalibrate...

Or if the wife says yes.... I'll get a 2nd rifle and calibrate one for long range and one for hunting hehehe

[SCJ429]

I have never had any luck with Hornady SST, I much prefer a Speer if I am looking for a cheap bullet. The poor accuracy you get with SST can be frustrating.

[TassieTiger]

I’m shouting 180 sst’s and a friend is shooting 140’s in his 6.5 to great effect. The friend shot 5 touching in his 6.5 weekend just gone, but I do see wayward Unexplainable shots every now and then...

[Aliqua]

I’m shouting 180 sst’s and a friend is shooting 140’s in his 6.5 to great effect. The friend shot 5 touching in his 6.5 weekend just gone, but I do see wayward Unexplainable shots every now and then...

I think this would engage the factory vs self loading debate? Factory from what I've heard do not have the same consistency as self loading?

I'm going to try these out, and if not, try another. But the guys at the shop all swore by them with browning. A lot of reviews have said the browning is a very selective barrel.

[TassieTiger]

You’ll have to try several brands mate And probably several weights...every rifle is different - even if you take these out and they shoot pretty good Say 1.5 moa, there will be this nagging little devil prick sitting on your shoulder saying..”.but brand xxx will tighten that group up, you know it will”..and thus begins the journey.

[bladeracer]

I’m shouting 180 sst’s and a friend is shooting 140’s in his 6.5 to great effect. The friend shot 5 touching in his 6.5 weekend just gone, but I do see wayward Unexplainable shots every now and then...

I think this would engage the factory vs self loading debate? Factory from what I've heard do not have the same consistency as self loading?

I'm going to try these out, and if not, try another. But the guys at the shop all swore by them with browning. A lot of reviews have said the browning is a very selective barrel.

In the old days, hand-loading your own ammo would virtually always see improvement over factory ammo. Nowadays, due to improvements in primers, powders, and bullets there is some very, very good factory ammo that can be difficult to better.