First blood for the Tikka.

G

gtoad

Active member
Our firearms season for deer started last Monday and last for two weeks. I have been out every day....so far nothing.

Well this morning this big male made the mistake of stopping broadside at 180 yrds. So the 178g ELDM from my 308 put him down hard. This tikka with my handload shoots very well.(not fur friendly)
1000001162.jpg
 
I am like you. I couldn’t pass an opportunity to take a coyote. As to the .308, it’s a real hammer. I have taken a few with my Bergara .308 and 110 gr Varmageddons. Hits with authority. Congratulations on the first blood.
 
Nice. You will be hard-pressed to find someone here who will fault you for shifting gears. Many of my deer hunts have devolved (or evolved?) into coyote hunts when one is spotted or I happen upon a nice looking spot to make a stand.
 
6mm06 said:
I am like you. I couldn’t pass an opportunity to take a coyote. As to the .308, it’s a real hammer. I have taken a few with my Bergara .308 and 110 gr Varmageddons. Hits with authority. Congratulations on the first blood.
Click to expand...
David, what load are you using w/the 110 VG. I've got two very finicky .308's that will barely shoot MOA 5 shot groups but I gotta be holding hard that day. The Savage will shoot 125gr NBTs w/46 gr H4895 @ 2910 fps and the BAR likes only the 110 VG w/47.9 gr H 4895 for 3130 fps avg. I've had several .308's that would shoot about anything you fed them, but not these two.
 
jmeddy said:
Good deal Toad. Where you from. The variation in color tells me somewhere possibly East of the Big Muddy.
Click to expand...
That’s kinda what I was thinking too Mike. Seems like the western coyotes are pretty consistent in coloration. Here in the east, coyote coloration is kinda like a can of Planters Mixed Nuts. Mostly plain old peanuts, and a few almonds and hazelnuts thrown in. But if you stick with it you’ll come up with a cashew every once in awhile!
 
gtoad said:
So the 178g ELDM from my 308 put him down hard.
Click to expand...
Shoot 'em with whatcha got in yer hand, but gotta agree, the 308 isn't very fur friendly. :ROFLMAO: That 2nd one sure has a pretty coat.
First coyote w/the .308 Scout, but didn't like the stock even after adding adjustable cheekpiece.
1731626831594.jpeg

bred it with a Tikka; sure feels better now.
1731627129980.jpeg
 
HM, I am shooting 47.0 gr. of IMR-4064 with very good accuracy. The Hodgdon #26 manual shows 47.0 gr. as a starting load at slightly over 2800 fps. Max load is listed at 49.0 gr. I was shooting 130 gr. Barnes TTSX for hogs with a charge of 47.2 gr. with great accuracy. When I tried the 110 Varmageddons I just began a load at 47.0 gr., intending to work up, but Bingo - It was very accurate for use at my 60 yard bait site, so I just left it there and didn't do any further load developing. I haven't taken many coyotes with the .308 since I tend to change rifles and loads to keep things interesting, but the ones I have taken just plain hit the dirt.
 
Yeah, I don't usually push loads. I'm more interested in accuracy than speed. I'm really surprised at the two rifles not shooting. Have had a lot of 30-06 & 308's over the years and they are usually pretty solid shooters. Doubt I'm going to spend any more time playing with them, they're accurate enough for hunting, but I do like accurate rifles.
 
6mm06 said:
HM, I am shooting 47.0 gr. of IMR-4064 with very good accuracy. The Hodgdon #26 manual shows 47.0 gr. as a starting load at slightly over 2800 fps. Max load is listed at 49.0 gr. I was shooting 130 gr. Barnes TTSX for hogs with a charge of 47.2 gr. with great accuracy. When I tried the 110 Varmageddons I just began a load at 47.0 gr., intending to work up, but Bingo - It was very accurate for use at my 60 yard bait site, so I just left it there and didn't do any further load developing. I haven't taken many coyotes with the .308 since I tend to change rifles and loads to keep things interesting, but the ones I have taken just plain
Click to expand...
Mine likes varget,Winchester brass,cci primers seated with a 178g Eldm.
 
That’s interesting on the lighter grain bullets. All my .308’s are Rugers and ALL like 165gr. I just can’t get consistent groups with anything less. Now these are all factory ammo too, no reloads.
 
Spurchaser said:
That’s interesting on the lighter grain bullets. All my .308’s are Rugers and ALL like 165gr. I just can’t get consistent groups with anything less. Now these are all factory ammo too, no reloads.
Click to expand...
Me, too. I've owned a number of 1903a3's, M1 Garand, (4)Mod. 70 (factory and match), all in 30-06 w/1:10 twist barrels and all were very accurate w/150 gr to 190's; most were acceptable down to 110's too. Never tried anything under 168 gr. in the match rifles, so can't comment on those. If a 308 or 30-06 wouldn't shoot the 168 gr SMK, it just wouldn't shoot.

IDK, the Savage has a 1:10 and the BAR 1:12, but neither like the "heavier" bullets.
 
Back
Top