308 Varmint Bullets for Foxing

[garyb]

So... I've started playing about with my new .308Win

 

I bought it as purely a Deer and Target tool...but that dosen't stop me from having a "play" and I can't help but wonder about knocking up some light weight varmint bullets for it...

 

I've got a 243 which I use soley for Foxing at the mo, and that always does the business.

 

Has anyone here loaded anything like, say 110grn V-max for .308 ? Looks like I can push them quite fast using Varget...

 

If so... What were the results on charlie?

 

Reloading geek?... Yes I am

[Harnser]

why push them fast ? 150 grain .308 bullet travelling at about 2500 feet per second will kill every thing very dead . 150 grain bullet behind 45 grains of vit 140 ,very accurate and very deadly on all game and vermin . Believe me .

Harnser .

Edited September 8, 2010 by Harnser

[njc110381]

If so... What were the results on charlie?

 

 

Just to hazzard a guess as I've never had a .308, I'd say you'd need a shovel if you wanted to pick up the remains!

 

Go for it. It's all good fun isn't it.

[garyb]

Harnser... I know! I'm already using 150grn in it.

 

I just fancied having a play about. It would also be useful, should anything ever happen to the 243 where I might need another CF at my disposal for fast flat foxing.

[al4x]

be interesting to hear how loud it is at night with no mod

[garyb]

be interesting to hear how loud it is at night with no mod

 

I get the feeling you might find out soon

[al4x]

like a child with a new toy

[cooter]

I run 110 V Max over H4895 and you don't get runners.

 

I also run 150grn V Max with the same powder and they are a lot more accurate with a red mist type exit result.

 

They both always deliver a comprehensive clean kill.

[mikee]

I run 110 V Max over H4895 and you don't get runners.

 

I also run 150grn V Max with the same powder and they are a lot more accurate with a red mist type exit result.

 

They both always deliver a comprehensive clean :blink: kill.

 

i should think the only way to pick charlie up after being hit with one of those would be with a sponge

 

mikee

[Dougy]

I tried some 110 Vmax in my 30.06 not sure now what the load was i know the powder was N140 but not sure about weight (its in my book at home) hit 1 fox in the shoulder around 150 yards, i actually thought i had missed as the recoil got me pointing in the next field,but the lamper confirmed the hit. We went over to check and yes it was dead one of last years cubs with the entire shoulder section missing.

[Newsportshooter]

If your into tinkering in the reloading domains why not try making up a subsonic load - with a nice heavy bullet say 180 - 220 grain you would be good out to about 80 yards, quiet and pack one hell of a wallop.....

 

have a gander at this thread and give it some thought.... http://www.quarterbore.net/forums/showthread.php?t=280

 

I also think trail boss powder is available over here which is great for the sub loads... even heard of people opening up the primer hole to 3mm, I assume to ensure a more equal ignition on the corser powder, but not sure how confident I would be giving this a whirl..

 

Do let us know how you get on if you do give it a go.

 

M

[Vince Green]

.308 for foxes ? are you serious? theres dead, very dead, extremely dead and mush. There was an article in target gun a couple of months back where the guy seemed to be using cast .308 bullets for fox. Interesting thought. My mate uses 11-14 grains of Unique behind a .308 cast bullet for target use. He reckons its ace up to 200 yds.

Edited September 11, 2010 by Vince Green

[Vermincinerator]

Gary, if you want to have some fun put away your 308 and load some 55grn Ballistic Tips in your 243.

You will be able to drive them substantially faster then the 110's out of the 308, they will be more accurat and because of a slightly better BC and higher velocity much flatter shooting.

With these you will get plenty of air time and red mist effect

 

Ian.

[activeviii]

sorry i shouldn't laugh but im p1ssing myself here. i cant see the screen for crying. lmao.

 

I was watching a film last night 'Gamer' in the first 10 minutes of it there a guy stood at an exchange booth, he is swapping $5 bills. anyway there's a guy that gets shot or blown up and there blood splatter all over others guys face.

 

I can see it now, charlie at 100 sat looking around and then some ****** with a junked up load squeezes the trigger on it. blood splatter at 100 yards anyone.

 

Mr. Been with the exploding paint can comes to mind as well. *****,,,,,,,

 

 

Phil

[6br]

the .243 is a much better foxing round then the .308.

[jamie g]

i wouldnt want to use 110 grain bullets just for foxing. i would much perfer a nice fast varmint bullet. a 243 with 55 or 58's will be eye opening. if it was me tho i would just go for a nice 70 grain bullet in the 243. there isnt much more drop to a 58 grain at 300 yards. and over that it will **** all over the 58

[garyb]

I KNOW the 243 is much better than the 308 for foxing... You don't need to tell me that or the countless foxes now sleeping in the hedgerows of Hertfordshire....

 

I want a backup option, Should anything ever happen to my 243, or say I run out of Heads etc, which means I "could" at a push take the 308 out instead.

 

Dead is dead, and I won't be eating the slain anyway.

[kent]

Unlike what some have posted to the contrary heavy deer bullets are not that clean on foxes often totally failing to expand in the smaller lighter cavity. Its far better to hit them in the head than Chest when using std 150 grn deer bullets and the like or use a tool more suited. Hit the shoulders and yeah sometimes its very effective but slip one between the ribs and it is farr less impresive, Charlie goes down then gets up and runs off into forestry etc. leading to non recovery and rotting fox carcasses all over the place, maybee lingering death for some. As for using light for calibre bullets like 110 grn .308 most factory guns won't shoot them really well. The bang from a .308" should be no worse than that from any 7.62 nato .(308 win) case 7-08, .260 rem, 243 win etc all being about equal using the same case just a different neck size

[Dekers]

Unlike what some have posted to the contrary heavy deer bullets are not that clean on foxes often totally failing to expand in the smaller lighter cavity. Its far better to hit them in the head than Chest when using std 150 grn deer bullets and the like or use a tool more suited. Hit the shoulders and yeah sometimes its very effective but slip one between the ribs and it is farr less impresive, Charlie goes down then gets up and runs off into forestry etc. leading to non recovery and rotting fox carcasses all over the place, maybee lingering death for some. As for using light for calibre bullets like 110 grn .308 most factory guns won't shoot them really well. The bang from a .308" should be no worse than that from any 7.62 nato .(308 win) case 7-08, .260 rem, 243 win etc all being about equal using the same case just a different neck size

 

 

Seems we pretty much agree on something, but all the .308 has to do is hit a rib on the way on and it will still make a mess of the fox chest area. I have only ever used the .308 a handful of times on the fox, it's not my preferred tool, and it was only about 2 or 3 years ago that my region actually conceded it was ok, they had previously refused to condition my .308 for fox, sighting the reason of Overkill Apparently it is not overkill now!

 

I was out with a pal some months back and he was using a pretty standard 150g SP .308 and took a fox around 100 yards, and it was all but in two pieces when we got there, virtually the whole of the chest area was missing, so they can make a mess!!

 

I have had a few bunnies with the .308, I don't use anything below 150g in it, and that tends to make big holes, but as for destruction, a fast .243 or .223 with a Ballistic tip is FAR more destructive than a Heavy .308, even on the bunny.

 

So I would agree that on the whole Heavy .308 are Not that destructive, but it is rare they are not terminal!

[Dekers]

I KNOW the 243 is much better than the 308 for foxing... You don't need to tell me that or the countless foxes now sleeping in the hedgerows of Hertfordshire....

 

I want a backup option, Should anything ever happen to my 243, or say I run out of Heads etc, which means I "could" at a push take the 308 out instead.

 

Dead is dead, and I won't be eating the slain anyway.

 

 

I think your main issue may well be how your .308 will handle the lighter/faster rounds. Always worth a try though.

 

I suspect a good backup option would be to find some Factory .243 ammo your rifle likes just in case you run out of heads for it!

 

ATB!

[steveford1]

So... I've started playing about with my new .308Win

 

I bought it as purely a Deer and Target tool...but that dosen't stop me from having a "play" and I can't help but wonder about knocking up some light weight varmint bullets for it...

 

I've got a 243 which I use soley for Foxing at the mo, and that always does the business.

 

Has anyone here loaded anything like, say 110grn V-max for .308 ? Looks like I can push them quite fast using Varget...

 

If so... What were the results on charlie? :blink:

 

Reloading geek?... Yes I am

[swiss.tony]

overkill springs to mind :blink:

[steveford1]

Hi garyb

I use a 243 & 308 both sakos i use 150g sp for deer i have used 150 bt on fox with serious damage. i also reloaded 110g bt hornady with 49g of varget this is a very fast round. The round you need even more damage.

try it & let me know !!!!! steve

[kent]

Seems we pretty much agree on something, but all the .308 has to do is hit a rib on the way on and it will still make a mess of the fox chest area. I have only ever used the .308 a handful of times on the fox, it's not my preferred tool, and it was only about 2 or 3 years ago that my region actually conceded it was ok, they had previously refused to condition my .308 for fox, sighting the reason of Overkill :blink: Apparently it is not overkill now!

 

I was out with a pal some months back and he was using a pretty standard 150g SP .308 and took a fox around 100 yards, and it was all but in two pieces when we got there, virtually the whole of the chest area was missing, so they can make a mess!!

 

I have had a few bunnies with the .308, I don't use anything below 150g in it, and that tends to make big holes, but as for destruction, a fast .243 or .223 with a Ballistic tip is FAR more destructive than a Heavy .308, even on the bunny.

 

So I would agree that on the whole Heavy .308 are Not that destructive, but it is rare they are not terminal!

 

 

Yes it is generally terminal with a cavity shot, i have done them with 140 grn 7mm gamekings many times but i like to quickly find were they are and confirm they are not suffering and placement was good (you cant always do that in forestry when they get back to thier feet and run, this worries me if i havent got the dog along. I am not too sure about a rib it depends on the impact velocity and the bullet constuction, my point is heavy deer bullets are unpredictable in terminal effect many think they will simply blow them to bits with a centrefire that big but sometimes you have to use what you are carrying at the time

[Mr_Logic]

Get some 178gr A-max and shoot a fox with that. Then come back and tell me the 308 is less messy....

 

With a softpoint yes, I won't argue, but it's the construction more than the weight that matters. The lighter bullets can be pushed faster, but tbh I wouldn't bother - run the 150gr NBT at 2800-2900 and it'll do what you want no problem.