is this a good hunting load?

[will227457]

.308 168gr federal match HPBT
shoots great just wonderinf how it would work on game

 

[Speckmisser]

Everything about it sounds good except maybe the hollowpoint (hp)part.

I'm going from memory here, but that federal hpbt is a fast, quick-expanding bullet made for light-skinned animals. Even on deer, which are light skinned, it tends to make one heck of a mess. If that round acts anything like the ballistic tips, you'll have near maximum expansion shortly after impact, which means lead and bone shrapnel throughout the wound channel... and a BIG wound channel as well.

It'll probably kill 'em quite dead, but you're probably gonna lose a lot of meat unless that tip really holds together.

 

[Rancho Loco]

Those are match kings. A non-expanding match (target) type bullet...

I would say a big NO to using on pigs or other big game critters.

 

[SDHNTR]

NO, use a bullet designed for hunting.

 

[larrysogla]

As always, Speckmisser hit the nail on the head. Heavy construction bullets(i.e. Nosler Partition bullets, A-Frame bullets, Barnes X bullets, Winchester Fail Safe bullets, etc.) will produce desirable penetration even with hits on the shoulder bone and the thick, tough cartilage shoulder shield/gristle plate on those big boars. Jim Matthews, noted wild hog hunter/publisher emphasizes the need for heavy construction bullets and their excellent penetration to reliably bring down wild hogs. Frangible, light construction bullets as already mentioned by Speckmisser are not the ticket when hunting wild hogs. Penetration is the name of the game. Penetration to reach and destroy the vital organs. When you light off that primer, you want the vital organs destroyed. 'Nuff said.

 

[will227457]

thx for the info, since I don't reload any advice for a good factory load I have a ruger compact 1:10 barrel twist chambered in 308.

 

[Speckmisser]

Lots of .308s seem to love the 168gr bullets. If the Match King ammo works pretty good at the range, you might try the Game King...


Not sure where you're hunting, but if in CA, you might give the Barnes bullets a try. Have a feeling it won't be long before all of our hunting is unleaded... so you may get a head-start on the trend. And those XTP bullets are pretty danged effective too. Check out JJHack's post in the Africa thread for more info on that bullet. I think Federal is loading them in factory rounds.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with the old standards. My own .308, a BAR, really likes the cheap stuff. I shoot 180gr Core Lokt right now, but I mainly bought that heavy stuff because I carry the .308 as a backup gun on elk trips. If I were hunting mostly deer and hogs, I'd probably step back to 168gr again.

 

[jb229]

[attachment=33437:attachment]I've been using Remington express core lokt 150gr .308 for my savage since I bought it 3 years ago. Not once have they let me down and they shoot tight groups and the range. Price is only 15-18 a box. heres a pic of the big boar I shot, He was running away at a slight angle the bullet entered on his side went through his lungs and ended somewhere in his neck. he ran about 40 yards and dropped. he was 300+lbs.

 

[SDHNTR]

Aint nothing wrong with the good old Core Loct. I've seen several truck loads of hogs fall to them. Just go to the store and buy yourself several boxes of different kinds. Try them all and pick the one that shoots the tightest groups. My only caveat would be to stay away from the Ballistic Tip type bullets.

 

[BDB]

I'm a fan of the Core Lokt's too. My gun shoots them well and I buy in bulk when Big 5 has a sale. 2 years ago I'd get them for $9.99 now it seems the best I can find is $12.00.