Observations on taking my first deer with the 308mx

[Mattole]

Thanks very much, ThreeOh8mx. That looks like a great load for much of what I anticipate encountering in my deer hunts. Although occassionally the shots can be very long as well..
What kind of accuracy are you getting with that load?
Thanks again.
Kevin

[Three_oh_8MX]

The 2 groups that I shot were around 2" @ 100yds and 4" @ 200yds, maybe a little more. I was shooting several different loads that day plus we had some range drama. The guy 1 bench over put a 270 round in a 375 H&H Mag and fired it After it quit smoking and they pounded out the 270 case, he went back to shooting Needless to say I moved down a few benches and my targets were mixed up. My buddy notice that I wasn't getting much drop @ 200 - I was busy looking out of the corner of my eye for that guys gun to blow up!

I have 30 of them loaded and ready to go - I just need to find the time to get to the range...

-chris

[Mattole]

Threeoh8MX - Glad to hear you survived you range neighbor's brain lock! Some folks just don't do well around dangerous yet simple things...

I look forward to reading of your next range report. Have you also tried the powder that OneShotTx uses to get his sub-moa groups with the 170 rncl? Just wondering if it would yield the same results for everyone.

I'll have to start researching a fairly inexpensive way to get into reloading..

[NGa.MtnHunter]

I have took 2 deer this season with my new 308MX and have not had no problem with meat lose. The first one is a 7 point I shot rite behind the shoulder thru the heart at about 40 yards and the second is a 5 point I shot thru the neck at around 70 yards. Both deer just had a small enterance bullet hole and just a slightly larger exit hole.

[Mattole]

Nice bucks there, NGa - congratulations. I'm glad to hear that the Marlin Express ammo worked out well for you!

[quietman]

The 2 groups that I shot were around 2" @ 100yds and 4" @ 200yds, maybe a little more. I was shooting several different loads that day plus we had some range drama. The guy 1 bench over put a 270 round in a 375 H&H Mag and fired it After it quit smoking and they pounded out the 270 case, he went back to shooting
-chris

I think I would have taken a coffee break until he left. Holy crap!!

[NGa.MtnHunter]

Nice bucks there, NGa - congratulations. I'm glad to hear that the Marlin Express ammo worked out well for you!

Thanks Mattole. Yeah the ME ammo worked real well for me but I am looken forward to see'n the new Rem ammo because thats what I hunt with in my 336's.

[308/338]

Not for nothing but, You can load a 30 30 with Reloaded # 15, HORNADY  170 GR TO ABOUT 2400 FPS. and AS SOON AS I FIND THE DATA I USED I WILL PUT IT ON MO.

[308/338]

Not for nothing but, You can load a 30 30 with Reloaded # 15, HORNADY  170 GR TO ABOUT 2400 FPS. and AS SOON AS I FIND THE DATA I USED I WILL PUT IT ON MO.

In Modern Reloading by Richard Lee has data for the 30 30 with any Jacketed bullet of 170 grains using Large Rifle Primers,  powder, Reloader 15 starting charge 30.7 grains, max. charge 34.1 grains, 2330 fps. 40500 psi., minimum OAL, 2.525"

I will look for the data I have that show 30 30 win. using Re.15 ch.?, Hdy. 170 gr. at 2400 fps. which fires safe in my 336 Zane Grey and win. 94 30 30. But for now  the above data is good enough.

[308/338]

Good lookn' deer Mattole - we don't start rifle season here for another 3 weeks.

I'm loading the 170gr RNCLs over 40gr of RL15. I do NOT have a chronograph and am guessing at the muzzle velocity (50fps less than what L.F. Combs has published for this load) but here is the ballistic info:

Ballistics Calculation
Input Variables Firearm type   Rifle    Sight Height   1.5
Bullet Weight (grains)   170    Ballistic Coefficient   .182
Muzzle Velocity (fps)   2400    Temperature   59
Barometric Pressure (hg)   29.53    Relative Humidity   78%
Zero Range (yards)   100    Wind Speed (mph)   0


Ballistics Table in Yards
170gr    170 gr., .182 B.C.   www.hornady.com
Range (yards)         Muzzle   50     100   200      300   400       500
Velocity (fps)           2400   2174  1960   1575  1266   1065    949
Energy (ft.-lb.)           2174   1783  1449   936     605   428       340
Trajectory (100 yd. zero)   -1.5      0.2   0.0        -7.7    -29.7      -73.6    -146.8
Come Up in MOA     -1.5   -0.3      0.0   3.7      9.5   17.6        28.0


The following table is provided as a "cheat sheet" that you can tape to your gun.
Ballistics Table in Yards
170gr    170 gr., .182 B.C.   www.hornady.com
Range (yards)               Muzzle    50   100   200   300   400   500
Trajectory (100 yd. zero)   -1.5   0.2   0.0   -7.7   -29.7 -73.6   -146.8
Come Up in MOA            -1.5   -0.3   0.0   3.7   9.5   17.6    28.0

It looks as though 200yds would be about max distance given the old rule of thumb 1000ft/lb of energy required to ethically take deer size game. One observation I would add to the above data, is that my loads in my rifle do not drop anywhere near the 7.7" between 100 and 200 yards.

-chris

This is what confuses me. It is said that a 30 30 has a point blank range of 215 yds. good foe deer size game. bit I also ready 1000ft/lb of energy at 100 yds. is legal in most states and certainly ethical. Here are ballistics by hornady's site.
MV.             100 yds.   200 yds. 300 yds.
2200/1827 1796/1218 1450/793 1186/530
Now gun writers and people fans of the 30 30 and with personal experience say the 30 30 has a point blank range of 215 yds. for deer. As you can see by above ballistics about a 125 yards would be about max.
The leverevolution cartridge meets that ethical standards.
 MV             100 yds.   200 yds.   300 yds.
2400/2046 2150/1643 1916/1304 1699/1025
As you can see LE ammo  has the energy out to 300 yds. to be ethically to 300+ yards on deer. So for a deer rifle with a little bit more buy a few boxes of Leverevolution cartridges and practice + + + instead of a 308 ME.