.308 Win CB Hunting Load Recommendations

[Andy45]

I have a Savage 99 in .308 Win that I'd like to use to hunt deer with a CB load. I've never hunted anything with CB loads before.

Any suggestions on where to start? I've acquired over a dozen .30 cal Lyman / Ideal one and two cavity molds over the last year. I don't expect any shots over 100 yards.

Suggested bullet nose configuration?
Suggested bullet hardness?
Suggested bullet weight range?
Suggested bullet velocity?
Accuracy requirement? - That I already know! :wink:
Thanks, Andy

[Winger Ed.]

I resist the urge to over think things:
At 100 yards, pretty much anything pumped up close to the max. and is accurate (2MOA or better), will do fine.

Cast in .308 will get ya right up and around a factory .30-30.
Before we knew you could only successfully hunt with the latest and greatest magnum,'
topped with a scope the size of your leg---
over the last 100 plus years- millions of deer were taken with the humble .30-30.

My two .30 cal. molds are a RCBS Iron 170RN and 190 silhouette SP.
They both do real, real well on deer in .308 and .30-06 with 4198 or 3031.

[popper]

FN GC 170-180gr whatever fits your throat. 041 or RD design if it fits. ~12 BHN. Up to 2k fps.

[Ithaca Gunner]

277622 RCBS 30-180-fp

[Budzilla 19]

Lee 312-155-R2? 163 grain weight after pc and gas check , sized to .310” over 38 grns of IMR 4895. Seated to the crimp groove, but not crimped. Haven’t chronographed them yet, but boy, do they shoot wonderful. Just my opinion.( laddered up to 40 grains of IMR 4895, but couldn’t gain any better accuracy, so backed off to 38 grains). Good luck

[Andy45]

Thank you guys!
I agree with not over thinking this, but I'm try to make sure I have a very reliable and humane load.
Wounding and losing a deer is totally verboten!

[rintinglen]

I vote with Ithaca gunner and I load those over 36 grains of WW-748. I load them just off the lands, maybe .01" If you could kill it with a 30-30, this will do just as well.

[quilbilly]

It is hard to beat the old Lyman 041 mold for hunting if that is one of the ones you have. I have an old Ideal one-cavity 041 mold that is my go-to foremost local hunting with both my 308's since I don't hunt elk anymore. You don't have to push it that hard either if they are cast only moderately hard. IMHO a terminal velocity of 1500 fps at the maximum range you shoot at deer sized game is more than adequate. For black bear you might bump the terminal velocity up about 300 fps. I can't advise on powder or loads because each of my 308's like different powders to get to the same place.