.308 cast bullet for elk

[dlbarr]

Recommendations on your favorite mould...?

Or even your fav J-bullet?

[megasupermagnum]

Lee 170gr FP. No matter how many custom molds I try, I just can't seem to beat the accuracy of the simple Lee 170gr. When I was last trying to push velocity in my 308 with 1:10" twist, I got all the way to 36 gr IMR 3031 before accuracy started to go south.

[rockrat]

If using a 308, I would probably go with a Nosler Accubond, about 165 grains of it. I do have a 190gr RNFP from a Lee group buy that I might also use as its shot well for me.

[Minerat]

I used 180 gr Speer Grand Slams in mine but if'n I was going cast it would be a 180 gr cast 50/50 lead to WW GC . The one I have is a Lyman 311-407 ranchdog GC and my best accuracy (about 1.5" from rest at 100 ydr) is with 34 gr of 3031 at 2320 fps according to my Labradar. But I don't like to have to chase them so I went to using a 300 wby with 180 gr nosler partitions at approx. 3150 fps

[dverna]

I used 180 gr Speer Grand Slams in mine but if'n I was going cast it would be a 180 gr cast 50/50 lead to WW GC . The one I have is a Lyman 311-407 ranchdog GC and my best accuracy (about 1.5" from rest at 100 ydr) is with 34 gr of 3031 at 2320 fps according to my Labradar. But I don't like to have to chase them so I went to using a 300 wby with 180 gr nosler partitions at approx. 3150 fps

Listen to him.

You can kill an elk with a .243....that does not make a good choice. Cast bullets offer no advantage over a good jacketed bullet...especially in a .308.

[lar45]

My favorite Elk bullet is the Remington 30 cal 165 Corelokt. I've taken 12 Elk with it. 2 more with the 180 Corelokt which didn't seem to be as effective.

[725]

I'm a fan of the 180 Speer Grand Slam, too.

[dk17hmr]

Are you in elk country or is it a once in a while hunt?

I have killed a handful with 178gr eldx from my 308. I don't think I'd purposefully hunt bull elk with a 30 caliber and cast.

[JM7.7x58]

I will be using 180gr Partitions in my 30-06 for elk next season. Roosevelt bull’s can get over 1,000 pounds here in Western Washington. I don’t want to pass on a 250 yard shot because I lack faith in my load.

[missionary5155]

If I was "cast only" for an elk I would go with a 180-200 FN grainer cast of 50-50 paper patch or powder coat and pushed to 2200-2300 if the range was going to be over 200 yards.
Under 200 yards I would still go the same paper patched or PC cast but of WW air cooled.
Carry your 06 with the under 200 yard slug up first and followed by your over 200 yard ammo..

[memtb]

As previously mentioned, is this a once in a lifetime hunt, or do you have the opportunity to hunt every year? Under ideal conditions, and good (really good) placement the .308 Win using cast bullets is more than adequate for elk. But, for consistent, ethical kills on elk.....your opportunity for shots will be very limited. Great, if you will have multitudes of opportunities to hunt an elk and have good self-control.....go for it.

However, if you have limited elk hunting opportunities, if using cast, I’d recommend a substantially larger diameter bullet or a quality jacketed or mono bullet in a .308 Win. for elk hunting! JMO. memtb

[elk hunter]

I've been hunting elk for 60 years and know elk aren't bullet proof but they are tough especially when poorly hit. Yes, you can KILL elk with smaller calibers I've seen it done, but personally I don't think a 30 caliber cast bullet, especially a round nose, to be adequate for elk under any except perfect conditions and that seldom happens. The only elk I've taken with cast bullets have been with a 50 caliber in-line muzzleloader using a 380 grain flat nose conical. It works, but nothing like my go-to 375 H&H with partitions. I've never lost an elk, but nearly did while I was still shooting a 30-06. I made a bad hit late in the day and didn't recover the animal until 2:00 pm the next day. I have no desire to repeat that experience. Elk deserve better.

Just my $ 0.02 worth.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

I've killed a few elk with the .308 using the old 165 gr Failsafe, the 165 gr Nosler Partition and the 190 Hornady Boattail. I liked the performance of the 165 Partition the best of the three. The Failsafe is much like the 'solid' copper bullets available today - Barnes, Hornady and Nosler make them, I prefer the Partition due to the expansion and penetration. Most of the 180 Soft Points will work fine also. With the 308, a 165 or 180 Nosler Partition would be my 1st choice. For ELK, I would not use a .30 cal cast boolit, a .444 or 45-70 cast works fine, maybe a 250gr plus in a .35, but an elk can go a LONG way AFTER you kill them. The .308 is about as small as care to use on elk, fine for cows and meat bulls, but on the light end for the bigger bulls.

[brewer12345]

165 grain partitions. Would not even consider using 30 cal cast bullet on them unless I thought I could get within muzzleloader range.

[MT Gianni]

I would use the RCBS 180 fn at ranges I would shoot one with traditional archery gear. I would use a gun that gave me a quick follow up shot. Further than 40 yards, the 165 gr Hornaday spitzer has worked fine for me. They are not bullet proof, but if hit a little off can go a long ways. There are some species that do not deserve to be taken with light tackle.

[fcvan]

My Wife has been invited to an Elk hunt on private property that is basically land locked by BLM. Farthest shot in a 165 acre meadow with a resident herd, is 125 yards. She's a shooter, both handgun and rifle, and I've watched her nail tin cans at 100 yards with her Glock 23, shooting off hand, from either hand. I told her if she can see it, she can hit it, just hold steady.

Anyway, She told me of the invitation and asked 'do I have an Elk gun?' 'Not yet, babe.' 3, .308 rifles later she has her choice of a SIG 716 Patrol (AR 10) an M1A, and a Mossberg bolt action Scout Rifle. I generally set up shooting practice on varying terrain, natural obstructions, and varied wind directions. Multiple tin cans, various colors, and set her out on a stalk. Best shooting lane might be upwind or obstructed, etc. I have also hung orange vests from a hanger on the far side of the best shot, you know the drill.

I taught her to shoot from anything but a bench, anywhere but an ideal position, and give only a short window to take the shot. Hiking, climbing or descending, stealth, and pick her own line to the target can. The stress inoculation varies, but the goal is to make things less than ideal. She likes these drills, so do I. The selective marksmen from our 'SWAT' team used to do such drills, similar drills for the other operators.

Range safety is first, range realism is second, a good time is what you make of it. You don't shoot a lot while hunting, range day isn't about shooting a lot. When shooting with others, it is more traditional 'shooting on a line' and I end up being more RSO or RM than actually shooting. Those days where I get to shoot are more of a me, or my Wife and me event.

[white eagle]

If I were using a 308 sized case for elk I would make it a 358 Winchester
and have done so with 250 gr Honady's just because like others have said
it was not a magazine perfect set up

[shdwlkr]

.338 win mag with 225 nosler partition bullets

[444ttd]

a 165gr ranch dog. i use it in my 1898 spr armory in 30-40 krag(1930fps/h4198) to kill deer with.

https://throughahunterseyes.com/the-...c-proportions/
https://winchestercollector.org/foru...hn-plute-bull/
http://bugle.rmef.org/publication/?m...964&p=127&pp=1

[memtb]

.338 win mag with 225 nosler partition bullets

My wife’s preferred hunting cartridge for all hunting, though with a different bullet.....a Barnes 225 TTSX! memtb