Just picked up my first .308, which ammo should I look for, which to avoid?

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Northern Shooter

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I finally picked myself up a bolt-action .308 and don't know a whole lot about the ammo selection when it comes to .308.

This rifle will be used for big game hunting but also plinking and trying my hand at long range shooting (1km is the goal).

What are the best brands to look our for? Brands to avoid? I'm always on the look out for quality but cost effective ammo.

I see there is a wide range out there from $0.70 surplus 7.62x51 to match grade ammo that will cost over $2/round.

If you were to recommend the best examples for:

1. Cheap plinking ammo

2. Quality hunting ammo

3. Long range precision ammo

What would they be?

Cheers,
 
If I was you I would keep 2 and 3 the same so you are familiar with your dopes in the field. Hornady Precision Hunter?

For 1 anything you can find that you consider cheap
 
In my Tikka 308 the Sako ammo works well for both (hunting and long range). It goes on sale and is a good deal. Plus the brass is worthwhile to hang onto for reloading.
 
mineguy said:
In my Tikka 308 the Sako ammo works well for both (hunting and long range). It goes on sale and is a good deal. Plus the brass is worthwhile to hang onto for reloading.
Click to expand...

I remember the SAKO sale/rebate last year around Boxing Day, i'll keep my eye out for them this year.
 
Make, model and twist rate would be helpful but for long range precision I would recommend / use 168 gr Hornady match ELD. Approximately $60 bucks for 20 rounds loaded or $60 bucks for 100 projectiles.
 
For target shooting my 308 tikka really shines with the Federal GMM 168 SMK's. I've hit 1k before but I also need to stay on top of my dope really well. For hunting ammo, I've tried the nobler accubonds in 165r (I think that was the weight?), did alright with those.
 
good ol' fashioned 150gr federal blue box will kill deer all day long. 180gr blue box works just fine on moose.
 
I've had good results out to 600m with the federal gold metal match 168 gr match kings. for hunting i use the barnes 168 gr ttsx load. less than 1/4 inch shift in point of aim at 100 m.

cheap for match ammo is anything less than $2.00 per round, and that is getting harder to find.
 
OP: To answer your three main criteria:

1) Anything cheap, emphasis on non-corrosive.

2) My browning likes Federal blue box; I've only used the 150 gr.

3) Roll your own.
 
Northern Shooter said:
I finally picked myself up a bolt-action .308 and don't know a whole lot about the ammo selection when it comes to .308.

This rifle will be used for big game hunting but also plinking and trying my hand at long range shooting (1km is the goal).

What are the best brands to look our for? Brands to avoid? I'm always on the look out for quality but cost effective ammo.

I see there is a wide range out there from $0.70 surplus 7.62x51 to match grade ammo that will cost over $2/round.

If you were to recommend the best examples for:

1. Cheap plinking ammo

2. Quality hunting ammo

3. Long range precision ammo

What would they be?

Cheers,
Click to expand...

A good reason to take up hand-loading, a quality 168 gr. bullet, 44 gr. Varget and a Federal 210M primer will tack drive in most .308's. Also much cheaper than any massively over priced factory stuff.
 
I find my .308’s like 165-180gr for hunting loads, non of them shoot any 7.62x51 m80 ball particularly great but I use it to get on paper when sighting in. Have yet to try some 150gr, my Howa seems to like 165gr hornady American whitetail for factory hunting ammo. Fed fusion 165gn and Rem core-lokt 180gr do well in my other’s, good enough for hunting that is.

If I was you I’d buy a couple boxes of different bullet weights from a few manufacturers and see what it likes, maybe you’ll get lucky and it’ll like the cheap stuff for plinking and hunting.
 
Any cheap fmj 147 like winchester service grade to yet on paper
To hunt a 165-180 grain soft point . I use federal fusion polymer tip bonded.
To shoot 1 km a heavier bullet is recommended, from what i read 175 grain is a sweet spot for far shooting a 308. The lighter bullets start to destabilize out near 1000 yards. I use sierra tmk175, 43 grains varget, shot in 24” barrel
 
My LGS had some Barnaul in 140g & 168g in both FMJ and SP, both of which were good for plinking and out to 200yds (all my range has). I don;t know how the SP would work for hunting, expansion-wise. I also used PPU 145g FMJ for targets - and of course Hornady 168g HP-Match FGM-SMK 168g was v-good for distance, such as 180yds goes. My 308 has the DOA-BDC reticle which isn't 'great' for accuracy at the range, tho. All brands were 2-3 MOA @ 180 with that BDC. ;-( And I had a few boxes of mil-surp 150g that was good enough for plinking at those shorter range, too.
Mil was cheapest-under $20/bx, then PPU & Barnaul were 2nd lowest cost, ca $20+tx. FGM & Hornady were highest, ca $40+tx. All pricing was last year, Not current.
 
I shoot Barnaul 168 for 17$/box at 2MOA
I sheet Sellier + Belloit 180gr for 27$/box at 1/2 MOA
Find what your rifle likes and stick to it. Luckily I found out on my 2nd trip.

500$ rifle
75$ scope
Bookbag as a rest

Ammo is very critical
 
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When you say 308, heavy 20" barrel I assume you have the same Tikka T3x CTR like I have. I can only say I've put nothing but reloads through mine and have had good success out to ~800 yards with 168gr Sierra Match Kings
 
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