.308 for Long Range Shots on Deer?

[UTGrad]

Ok so I know there are some better suited "long range" cartridges for deer, but what about the .308? I hunt with a Tikka .308 currently and wonder if it would be suitable for shots at 400 yards. I might get a BDC reticle Nikon and use the Spot On app. Thoughts?

 

[knightrider]

if you can do it, the 308 will do it all day at 400+

 

[UTGrad]

if you can do it, the 308 will do it all day at 400+

I need to find a place to practice in the off season and get a scope with reticle marks. Otherwise I'd be peeing in the wind.

I currently have a Bushnell Elite 4200 3-9x40 on my rig. Great scope, great glass but no additional marks. Out past 300 I'd have to start holding over the back.

I've got a spot where I could easily take 400 yard shots if presented.

 

[drrxnupe]

The 308 is one of several sniper rounds of choice by the feds.

Its all about the shooter. Check out the iStrelok app in iTunes. You don't have to have a BDC reticle to shoot that far. Any scope will do.

 

[Mossy Oak]

400 yards is a chip shot for a .308. By far it is my favorite caliber.

 

[280longshot]

Shoot it and know your dope....

 

[tnyotehunter1]

http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/308win/

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/

http://www.longrangehunting.com/article ... ster-1.php

 

[Jcalder]

Shoot it and know your dope....

X2. Something else that may help would be tactical turrets.

 

[KPH]

A good friend has shot a 1000 with a 308, I will admit he didn't have a great group.

 

[Deer Assassin]

for get those reticle i hate them too busy

get a good scope that will track with tactical turrets

forget hold over dial it and drop it

 

[UTGrad]

for get those reticle i hate them too busy

get a good scope that will track with tactical turrets

forget hold over dial it and drop it

Any suggestions on this type scope? Might be a good off season project to pick up.

 

[tnyotehunter1]

http://www.petersenshunting.com/feature ... ge-scopes/

 

[280longshot]

I've shot a lot of deer using the BDC , you'll like it.

 

[CharlieTN]

The big thing to be aware of BDC type reticles is that they're a starting point. You need to shoot at distance to confirm the holdovers. For myself I prefer a basic Mildot reticle in a front focal plane scope. Doesn't matter what power I'm on, the holdover is the same. Plenty of ballistic programs out there to get you a good idea of what your holdover will be but again you need to shoot at distance to be sure.

 

[gunhuntr]

Ok I hunt with a Tikka .308 currently and wonder if it would be suitable for shots at 400 yards.

Not an expert by any means on long range hunting/shooting but I don't think 400yds. is considered "long" by long range shooters.
When I owned a 308 I shot it out to 300yds. with a K4 Weaver on it and was accurate enough that I could kill big game with it.

 

[Deer Assassin]

for get those reticle i hate them too busy

get a good scope that will track with tactical turrets

forget hold over dial it and drop it

Any suggestions on this type scope? Might be a good off season project to pick up.

easy for 400 yds

get a zeiss conquest 3.5-10x44 #20 reticle send it back to zeiss have elevation knob put on

or 4.5-14 if you want more zoom

if you will stretch it out over 500 id go with zeiss 6.5-20x50 (wish it cam with a 44 mm objective) it comes with target knobs installed


find a super accurate load with a high bc bullet

run it through chronograph at same temps and alt you will be hunting


run it through point blank free software

sight it in dead on 100 yds

reset knob to 0

make cheat sheet

get a solid rest when shooting

watch for cross winds

elevation is easy windage or doping the wind is pure voodoo

 

[Deer Assassin]

i love zeiss

nothing wrong with a leupold vx3 or im sure with the new ones

with leupold you want m1 knobs put on it

do not cheap out on glass

not only does it have to be clear it must track right


i have 3 conquest they all have tracked to 600 yds great

and i had a leupy m4 tracked to 500 great but sold it


do not cheap out on glass

oh a crisp light weight trigger will help

jewell is the best followed by rifle basix and timney IMO

 

[GOODWIN]

.308 will easily get you there...and a lot more. 4200 elite is some quality glass. You may be able to get an elevation turret from Bushnell. Forget the BDC. As someone said "too busy." I bought one a couple years ago on sale and hate it. For another reference point you can figure out where thick reticle point under your crosshair is zeroed on...make sense? I'd start with finding an accurate load with a high BC. 400 should be easy to get to with a little range time

 

[UTGrad]

.308 will easily get you there...and a lot more. 4200 elite is some quality glass. You may be able to get an elevation turret from Bushnell. Forget the BDC. As someone said "too busy." I bought one a couple years ago on sale and hate it. For another reference point you can figure out where thick reticle point under your crosshair is zeroed on...make sense? I'd start with finding an accurate load with a high BC. 400 should be easy to get to with a little range time

You're right, the Elite 4200 is some very good glass...rivals the Zeiss Conquest line. The Elite 4200 glass was made in Japan by Japan's top glass maker. Several reviews where people compare the Zeiss Conquest and the Elite 4200.

Some people try to compare the Elite 3200 and the Elite 4200. The Elite 4200 is an entirely different level and the 3200 isn't bad.

 

[UTGrad]

for get those reticle i hate them too busy

get a good scope that will track with tactical turrets

forget hold over dial it and drop it

Any suggestions on this type scope? Might be a good off season project to pick up.

easy for 400 yds

get a zeiss conquest 3.5-10x44 #20 reticle send it back to zeiss have elevation knob put on

or 4.5-14 if you want more zoom

if you will stretch it out over 500 id go with zeiss 6.5-20x50 (wish it cam with a 44 mm objective) it comes with target knobs installed


find a super accurate load with a high bc bullet

run it through chronograph at same temps and alt you will be hunting


run it through point blank free software

sight it in dead on 100 yds

reset knob to 0

make cheat sheet

get a solid rest when shooting

watch for cross winds

elevation is easy windage or doping the wind is pure voodoo

Thanks DA...good stuff.

 

[AllOutdoors]

Plenty of sound advise given here.

 

[megalomaniac]

IMO, the .308 is NOT a good long range deer caliber. Is it functional... sure... but there's a TON more MOA's to go up on the turret past 500 yards than other calibers out there. You need VERY good ranging conditions, and lighter winds. In the perfect world, 600-700 yds is doable. In the real world, I personally limit myself to 450 with the .308.

If I'm gonna hunt long range (past 500), I'm picking a caliber with more speed and higher BC to minimize my human error.

But I do enjoy shooting my .308 at steel out to 1000. (But that is TOTALLY different than shooting a live critter at that distance)