Looking for hunting round in .308 or 7.62x51

[C-dub]

For hunting, I'd likely use the Hornady SST bullet.

That is one of the rounds I was finding yesterday that if I can find I'll get some and try it out at the range for accuracy and repeatability.

[C-dub]

I think I can call today's hunt a success. After my online search last night I determined that Academy might be my best option to find one of the hunting rounds.

Score! Academy in Lewisville had one 20 round box of Hornady 150gr SST and the Academy in Highland Village had two. I have three boxes to recheck my 100 yard zero and make sure I can hit where I want with some consistency. Hopefully, that will only take 3-5 rounds and then I'll have plenty for hunting and some spares.

[flechero]

Nice find. SST's are good projectiles. I've leveled an number of deer, yotes and hogs with them in the past.

[The Annoyed Man]

I think I can call today's hunt a success. After my online search last night I determined that Academy might be my best option to find one of the hunting rounds.

Score! Academy in Lewisville had one 20 round box of Hornady 150gr SST and the Academy in Highland Village had two. I have three boxes to recheck my 100 yard zero and make sure I can hit where I want with some consistency. Hopefully, that will only take 3-5 rounds and then I'll have plenty for hunting and some spares.

150 gr?

Hmmm, I hope they group well - you mentioned before that your rifle is set up for the SK 175gr.

Personal example - my bolt-gun (Savage w/ 1:10 twist) hated the 150s (2 - 2.5" groups @ 100) but loves the 165s:



Just a heads-up, which I sincerely hope turns out to be a non-issue.

Beat me to it! A 1:10 twist is going to very much prefer heavier bullets, to the point where if I could not find any heavy hunting loads in the 165 grain to 185 grain range, I would just stick with the 175 grain SMKs, which will be effective.

Those 150 grain SSTs you bought would probably perform a lot better in a 1:12 barrel, if you have access to another .308 with that kind of barrel. They’ll also probably shoot well in the 1:11.5 twist of an M1A barrel, although I don’t know if that load is too hot for the M1A op-rod or not.

[flechero]

A lot of experience above me but having a fast enough barrel to stabilize heavies doesn't always mean they won't shoot normal to light just fine. (or plenty good for a short range hunt) Besides, this isn't a PRS event and the bullseye on a hunt can often be a 6" heart/lung area.

Even a crappy load that does 3 moa can be fine for 100yds and less as anticipated. I suspect you will be fine.

Cdub- your range time will confirm it one way or the other... let us know how it works out.

[C-dub]

Just a heads-up, which I sincerely hope turns out to be a non-issue.

If heavier rounds become available I'll try those out. I'm sure you and TAM are probably correct, but this is what I have at this time. I won't be able to get to the range to find out for two more weeks anyway, so maybe something else will pop up. I don't have high hopes due to everything being so crazy and coming up on hunting season anyway. I'll take my K31 and Enfield when I do go out. If I'm not able to find any heavier rounds and these don't do as well as the older rifles on iron sights I'll go old school.

So far, my biggest concerns in no particular order are as follows.

1. Being able to reliably hit and take a deer humanely.

2. Being able to field dress it. I don't want to shoot one and then not follow through and make my friend do it for me. I'm sure the would, but personally that would suck for me.

I'm fine working on people. I can put my mind where it needs to be for people, but I've never hunted. I'll take some of my lab gloves with me and I think that'll help me get in the right frame of mind to be able to do that. If I get there and don't think I can do that I may not take the shot. We'll see when the time comes, which will probably be early to mid December.

[The Annoyed Man]

...the Fusion line was designed for soft-skinned medium sized game .... in other words, deer.

This gave me a wicked chuckle. I think I'll need to procure some of these, for experimental purposes.

I’m busted.

That said, it really was designed for deer and similar game. But it’s interesting to note that California’s Fish and Game officers who work with the DEA on eradicating cartel weed crops are (or at least, used to be) armed with M1As stoked with Federal Fusion ammo.....as in "deer Pablo Escobar....."

[03Lightningrocks]

Just a heads-up, which I sincerely hope turns out to be a non-issue.

If heavier rounds become available I'll try those out. I'm sure you and TAM are probably correct, but this is what I have at this time. I won't be able to get to the range to find out for two more weeks anyway, so maybe something else will pop up. I don't have high hopes due to everything being so crazy and coming up on hunting season anyway. I'll take my K31 and Enfield when I do go out. If I'm not able to find any heavier rounds and these don't do as well as the older rifles on iron sights I'll go old school.

So far, my biggest concerns in no particular order are as follows.

1. Being able to reliably hit and take a deer humanely.

2. Being able to field dress it. I don't want to shoot one and then not follow through and make my friend do it for me. I'm sure the would, but personally that would suck for me.

I'm fine working on people. I can put my mind where it needs to be for people, but I've never hunted. I'll take some of my lab gloves with me and I think that'll help me get in the right frame of mind to be able to do that. If I get there and don't think I can do that I may not take the shot. We'll see when the time comes, which will probably be early to mid December.

By old school do you mean musket or further back to a spear or club? You can jump out of a tree on it's back and choke him out as well. Much less meat damage this way.

I have gutted so many deer it does not even phase me. I don't really ever remember it bugging me. But gutting a person might be harder on me. I guess it would just depend on how mad they made me.

Seriously though. Darn near any of the guns you mention will do just fine. If you have good vision, you could easily hit your mark out to 100-150 yards with open sights. Just practice the shot at the range. The kill spot on a deer is about a 12 inch area. It is a pretty easy shot to make.

If you can work on people, a deer won't bother you at all. Maybe watch a few good internet videos on field dressing a deer. Some wet wipes will come in handy for wiping the blood off your hands and knife.

[C-dub]

Just a heads-up, which I sincerely hope turns out to be a non-issue.

If heavier rounds become available I'll try those out. I'm sure you and TAM are probably correct, but this is what I have at this time. I won't be able to get to the range to find out for two more weeks anyway, so maybe something else will pop up. I don't have high hopes due to everything being so crazy and coming up on hunting season anyway. I'll take my K31 and Enfield when I do go out. If I'm not able to find any heavier rounds and these don't do as well as the older rifles on iron sights I'll go old school.

So far, my biggest concerns in no particular order are as follows.

1. Being able to reliably hit and take a deer humanely.

2. Being able to field dress it. I don't want to shoot one and then not follow through and make my friend do it for me. I'm sure the would, but personally that would suck for me.

I'm fine working on people. I can put my mind where it needs to be for people, but I've never hunted. I'll take some of my lab gloves with me and I think that'll help me get in the right frame of mind to be able to do that. If I get there and don't think I can do that I may not take the shot. We'll see when the time comes, which will probably be early to mid December.

By old school do you mean musket or further back to a spear or club? You can jump out of a tree on it's back and choke him out as well. Much less meat damage this way.

I have gutted so many deer it does not even phase me. I don't really ever remember it bugging me. But gutting a person might be harder on me. I guess it would just depend on how mad they made me.

Seriously though. Darn near any of the guns you mention will do just fine. If you have good vision, you could easily hit your mark out to 100-150 yards with open sights. Just practice the shot at the range. The kill spot on a deer is about a 12 inch area. It is a pretty easy shot to make.

If you can work on people, a deer won't bother you at all. Maybe watch a few good internet videos on field dressing a deer. Some wet wipes will come in handy for wiping the blood off your hands and knife.

Not that old school. Just iron sights if the lighter rounds don't work as well as hoped for. Although, iron sights will still have to work better than the .308 light rounds if that's all I'm able to procure for that rifle.

It's been a little while since I've stuck my hands in a person or worked on a cadaver, but I've never cut one open myself. I had a job to do and just did it. This may turn out to be the same. Who knows? I do like animals better than most people in general and that might be what's giving me concern.

[03Lightningrocks]

I do like animals better than most people in general and that might be what's giving me concern.

Ain't that the dad gummed truth!

[flechero]

There is nothing wrong with hunting and just watching wildlife... I do a lot more watching than I do shooting these days. The memories can be just as good!

Cleaning a deer properly is not a real messy or difficult once you know how, but I did make a mess the first time or two. The person that invited you should help you through the first one. (I always offer to clean the first one or at least guide my guest through it, hands on.)

Go, have fun... and if any hesitation, just watch them.... you can always say you didn't have a clear shot.

[C-dub]

Good and a little surprising day at the range today.

I did find some heavier rounds, Winchester Super-X 180gr Power Point, and tried those out against the Hornady 150gr SST rounds today. Surprise, at 100 yards the 180gr rounds were around 4-5 MOA, while the SST rounds were about 1.5 MOA. I shot 5 rounds of each. I shot the 180gr rounds first. Four of the 180gr rounds were to the right of the bullseye and only one slightly on the left. The wideness of the the rounds was mostly vertical. I did come back to fire additional rounds after firing the 150gr just in case it was due to a cold barrel starting off. It did not get better with these rounds.

Two of the the 150gr SST rounds were in the bullseye and one other touching. One was just outside and the 5th about 0.5-1.0 inches away. I was surprised and very happy with the Hornady SST 150gr rounds.

I also took my Enfield & K31 Swiss rifles. 150gr for the Enfield and 174gr for the K31.

I was also surprised with these two. The Enfield managed about 2.5 MOA all 2-3 inches high and 1.5-2 inches right. That's manageable. Just aim 2-3 inches low left.
The K31 managed about 3 MOA with all rounds to the right. Three rounds from 1-3 inches high. The other two rounds were even at 1 & 2 inches right. I'd say this rifle was also manageable since it is within 3 MOA.

So, now the dilemma, which rifle?

1. .308 at 1.5 MOA with the Hornady SST on a scoped rifle that weighs in at a whopping 14.4 pounds?

2. Enfield, that belonged to my father-in-law and weighs in at a comparatively svelte 8.8 pounds.

3. K31, bought from a forum member a few years ago that also weighs in at 8.8 pounds.

I'm told that we are able to nearly drive right to the stand, so it doesn't sound like I'll have to carry the rifle far from the truck. I'm really torn between my FIL's Enfield and the AR-10 (.308). I guess my main concern is going with something that is at best 2.5 MOA when I have something else about 1.5 MOA with a lighter round it shouldn't that good with that is scoped with an illuminated reticle I could be more confident with at dusk or dawn. Is 2.5-3 MOA good enough to take a chance with? The guy that is going to take me said they haven't taken one over a hundred yards. I might find myself with one around 50 yards that I could hit a 1.5 inch area with. Good grief!

[03Lightningrocks]

Good and a little surprising day at the range today.

I did find some heavier rounds, Winchester Super-X 180gr Power Point, and tried those out against the Hornady 150gr SST rounds today. Surprise, at 100 yards the 180gr rounds were around 4-5 MOA, while the SST rounds were about 1.5 MOA. I shot 5 rounds of each. I shot the 180gr rounds first. Four of the 180gr rounds were to the right of the bullseye and only one slightly on the left. The wideness of the the rounds was mostly vertical. I did come back to fire additional rounds after firing the 150gr just in case it was due to a cold barrel starting off. It did not get better with these rounds.

Two of the the 150gr SST rounds were in the bullseye and one other touching. One was just outside and the 5th about 0.5-1.0 inches away. I was surprised and very happy with the Hornady SST 150gr rounds.

I also took my Enfield & K31 Swiss rifles. 150gr for the Enfield and 174gr for the K31.

I was also surprised with these two. The Enfield managed about 2.5 MOA all 2-3 inches high and 1.5-2 inches right. That's manageable. Just aim 2-3 inches low left.
The K31 managed about 3 MOA with all rounds to the right. Three rounds from 1-3 inches high. The other two rounds were even at 1 & 2 inches right. I'd say this rifle was also manageable since it is within 3 MOA.

So, now the dilemma, which rifle?

1. .308 at 1.5 MOA with the Hornady SST on a scoped rifle that weighs in at a whopping 14.4 pounds?

2. Enfield, that belonged to my father-in-law and weighs in at a comparatively svelte 8.8 pounds.

3. K31, bought from a forum member a few years ago that also weighs in at 8.8 pounds.

I'm told that we are able to nearly drive right to the stand, so it doesn't sound like I'll have to carry the rifle far from the truck. I'm really torn between my FIL's Enfield and the AR-10 (.308). I guess my main concern is going with something that is at best 2.5 MOA when I have something else about 1.5 MOA with a lighter round it shouldn't that good with that is scoped with an illuminated reticle I could be more confident with at dusk or dawn. Is 2.5-3 MOA good enough to take a chance with? The guy that is going to take me said they haven't taken one over a hundred yards. I might find myself with one around 50 yards that I could hit a 1.5 inch area with. Good grief!

The Enfield sounds like it kind of has some meaning. I would go with that one but I am a little superstitious about hunting. LOL... a little extra good karma never hurts. Just a few more weeks. I bet you are excited.