130 grain Barnes ttsx

Must be at least two duzen different responses above.

Go buy all of them and see which one kills deer deader...

I'm not going to go buy all of them, but I've already bought some and plan to go to the range tomorrow. I've been shooting the Hornady 168 grain ELD-X. They group well and have expanded well on Kansas deer. However, I've shot two deer this fall here and both have gone a long way. It's like there is less expansion on the smaller bodied deer. It's not the gun, I've been to the range since and it still groups well. So, it is either the shooter or the bullet. I have not discounted it being the former.

Thanks for all the suggestions and replies. I do reload and will also order some bullets to try making my own.

155 grain Berger VLD

I don't use a 308 but a good friend of mine does and loves his. He is shooting the norma 150 grain soft points and has been really happy with accuracy and performance on deer.

Long range / heavy critters, I like the Nosler Accubond 165 grain.

Whitetails, I like Nosler Ballistic Tip, but I hunt a couple of places with really long shots. Anything in the 150-180 grain will be fine, but I really prefer the 165 grain for 308.

My .308 is a XBolt Hells Canyon Speed, and it LOVES the superformacne 165s, only gun I own the likes any version of that round.

I also shoot 168 ELDX and have experienced the same with smaller deer running. Does especially. They don't go far, just far enough to make it inconvenient to drag them out. I believe the ELDX was made for stability in long range shots. I wonder if the lack of expansion has something to do with that in the under 200 yard range. I will be experiencing with other loads that keep deer from running. Im not so much concerned about grouping as anything from sub MOA to 2" will satisfy my need for under 200yards.

Both of the deer I'm talking about were average size does at 25 yards. It could have been me, but I think the deer body versus bullet style is what got me. There was no blood sign for 60-70 yards. I'm trying to work on the doe numbers, so I'm probably going back to Partitions.

What is your sight in range, just curious about how close your shooting

I sighted them in at home where I shoot at about 85 yards. The gun is an inch high at that distance.

Probably not the bullet. ELDX are nasty on Alabama deer.

This is what im using except in 168gr

I have not been happy with the 178 gr eld-x on game performance. It shoots good, knocks deer down, but then they get up and run off. Less than stellar blood trails too. My AR10 likes 165 gr Fusuons. Only killed a doe with it so far, went 30 yds, great blood trail.

That said, I've had good luck with the hornady 150 and 165 grain bullets.

I think my 308s need to all be replaced by 7-08s.

I wouldn’t replace the 308 but you can do like I did. Get the 7-08 to alternate with the 308.

All my buddies that were shooting the ELDX bullets have switched. Same story with all of them. They shot extremly well and killed deer just fine but no blood trails and very few pass throughs. They would have a hard time finding the deer if they were in real thick areas which is 90% of what we hunt. It’s a great bullet if your hunting open areas where you can see them run off after the shot. Really tears them up on the inside.

ELDX is not designed for light skinned southern deer at close ranges.

I for the life of me can’t figure out why ppl can’t settle on time tested and proven simple copper jacket around a lead core ammo in a green or blue box. Usually, the cheapest ammo is the best at killing stuff, if it groups. And you don’t need sub MOA to kill deer.

It’s a proven fact that the common cup and core bullets work and have worked for ever. This is still the style bullet I shoot in most of my rifles. Either the blue box federal or the fusions. But since I started loading my own, I did load some TTSXs to try because of all the good things I’ve heard about them. Right now to say I’m pleased with their performance would be an understatement. I would have never tried them if I had to shoot the factory loads as I refuse to pay the high price for that ammo. I’m a cheap bastage most times.

Anyone shooting the Norma 150 gr 308? I got a 10 box deal for $150 back a while, but haven’t had a chance to try them out of my BLR 308. Robinhedd

^^
Shot great at target - killed a mounter with it last year - didnt run 70 yards probably - was not blood at shot site r great blood trail on a 85 yard shot - Prob should give it another chance. Still tinkering/looking. Others really like it - try it..