[BrianK]

I'm getting the dream rifle of my teen years (Oh, how I desired a wood to the muzzle rifle- I still think it's a thing of great beauty) on line after buying it 15 years ago, a Ruger Model 77 International. I'm contemplating using hardcast in it.

I'm looking for a lightweight bullet. I still hunt the Maine woods and the range of the average shot is quite short. Is the 135 gr OK in the .308? Should I consider another? Or is the .308 a bad candidate for hardcast?

TIA guys. (thanks in advance)

 

[Bill Lester]

Brain,

I too have a weakness for Mannlicher-style carbines. A .308 version shooting cast bullets will do a very nice job on Maine whitetails, but I would not use the 135-grain SP design. Not enough meplat for good terminal performance. I would suggest the Beartooth 160-grain FN. Over twice the meplat compared to the 135. I used a
similar weight roundnose mould from Lee with 46.0 grains of IMR 4350 in three different .308's with very good accuracy.